The Sonoma Valley Tasting Pass is a great way to taste at family-owned wineries and tasting rooms at a reasonable price. If you love geeking out on unusual selections, we’ve put together this list to help you target specific bottlings at each of the wineries and tasting rooms offered by the pass.
While grapes like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are the most popular grapes planted throughout Sonoma Valley, there are also plenty of other varietals to explore--many of them planted by the valley's original wine-growing pioneers and some planted for their suitability to the climate and soils here.
Check out the tasting pass details for more information on pricing and the contents of the individual tasting experiences.
ANABA WINES
Everything about a visit to Anaba is unusual, from the pickleball court at the entrance to their indoor and outdoor seating options—with the latter flanked from the Pacific breezes with a plexiglass wall as to block the wind without obstructing the view. Combining luxury with warm hospitality, the winery also offers an interesting array of unusual grape varietals. Be sure to check out their Sonoma Valley Picpoul Blanc and their Landa Vineyard Viognier—all stunners next to their incredible selection of pinot noirs and chardonnays.
BEDROCK WINE CO.
Getting geeky is a complement at Bedrock Wine Company, co-founded by Morgan Twain Petersen, son of Ravenswood Winery’s famous Joel Petersen. Taking the family love of Zinfandel to the next level, Morgan and his business partner, Chris Cottrell, source their grapes from some of the oldest vineyards in the United States, often field blends with a dominant percentage of zinfandel—all selections are sure to impress the geekiest of wine snobs. Be sure to you try their Alta Vista Gewurztraminer, their Bedrock Vineyard Carignan, Compagni Portis Heritage, Dolinsek Ranch Heritage, Nervo Ranch Heritage and Oakville Farmhouse cuvees, to name but a few!
CADDIS WINES
Nothing could get geekier at a winery or tasting room than having the opportunity to taste with the winemaker himself! Such is the experience at Caddis Wines, which you can taste alongside co-owner and winemaker Chris Sorensen himself. Chris and his wife, Courtney, have a strong focus on Bordeaux varietals, but it’s not every day that you’ll find a Knight’s Valley Malbec or a Livermore Cabernet Franc! Ask Chris to explain why those are exciting to him and you’ll open your palate to more than just Sonoma Valley.
FULCRUM WINES
As masters of balance, the team at Fulcrum aims to achieve a more European style of wines where bright, fresh, low-alcohol wines offer both pedigree and quaffability (the wine geek word for “drinkability”) reign supreme. Most unusual are their two dry-style gewurztraminers, as great to drink alongside al pastor tacos and a bahn mi sandwich as they are alongside French pâté. Find out why gewurztraminer is such a great match for Sonoma Valley…
GUNDLACH BUNDSCHU
As one of Sonoma Valley’s oldest family-owned wineries, Gundlach Bundschu was founded in 1858 as Rhineland Farm, a tribute to German varietals. Focusing on small-lots of premium wines throughout the North Coast, the Bundschu family gradually planted to more classic varietals, but still keeps true to its Germanic roots with their Sonoma Valley Gewurztraminer. In addition, they have some of North America’s most unusual single-varietal bottlings in their Sonoma Valley Petite Verdot, and their Sonoma Valley Tempranillo—two ‘musts’ on your tasting pass journey.
LA PRENDA
The Hill family of La Prenda Wines has been farming the vineyards of Sonoma Valley and beyond for three generations, and they have been bottling their own cuvees since 2020. They are unusual in that these farmers-turned-winemakers are not only making their own wine (and still selling their grapes) but they have also a special affinity for pinot grigio—also known as pinot gris. This pink mutation of pinot blanc can be both soft and crisp. You’ll want to try their Napa Valley Pinot Grigio, their Hartz Vineyard Pinot Grigio “the Copper,” for sure. And be sure to ask about their bottlings of sémillion, a grape typically blended with sauvignon blanc in Bordeaux. You’ll find it showcased in their Fifth Hill Indian Springs Sémillion. And last, but not least, no geek is a geek without some pét-nat on hand, a sparkling wine using grapes fermented on native yeasts with limited skin contact. La Prenda has two!
POMME CIDER SHOP & TAP ROOM
As a cider shop and tap room showcasing fermented apples, Pomme’s whole existence is completely unusual in a valley full of fermented grapes! Proprietors Rick Tranchina and Jessie Ealy are the ultimate geeks in that they source ciders from Sonoma County and around the world. In addition, they offer a surprising selection of pét-nats, grower champagnes, and much more. Before you visit, check out their calendar of events to see which chef pop-up is heading their way—the perfect way to geek out with bubbles of all kinds.
