Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States, it is 60 miles north of San Francisco.
The city is a popular destination for exciting activities, like wine tasting, wineries tours, and boutique Shopping.
If you are crazy about wine tasting, your getaway in Santa Rosa will undoubtedly be satisfying, as this city has some amazing vineyards with world-class wines, rich heritage, and incredible surroundings.
Are you planning a getaway to Santa Rosa? Here are the best wineries in Santa Rosa, CA.
Best Wineries in Santa Rosa, CA
1. Matanza Creek Winery
Matanza Creek is in the remote but gorgeous Bennett Valley region of Sonoma County.
Since it was founded in 1977, the winery has built its name on Merlot and Sauvignon, the two varieties that flourish in Sonoma’s temperate climate.
Matanzas Creek also produces small quantities of Bordeux-style red, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.
All of the winery’s fruits are sourced from sustainably-farmed estates littered all over the county’s moderate interior and cool coastal AVAs.
This winery is a destination to enjoy the rustic country charm. Besides wines, Matanzas Creek is also famous for their magnificent lavender gardens.
The distinctive character and charm of Matanzas Creek’s Winery, lavender fields, vineyard, and gardens have made the estate recognized worldwide as a premier California wine country destination.
Visit this winery and stroll the grounds, enjoy their picnic areas, or play a game of bocce. It is one of the fun wineries in Santa Rosa, CA.
Address: 6097 Bennett Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, United States
2. D’Argenzio Winery
D’Argenzio is a family-owned and operated winery that started as a hobby for wine-making before it became a tasting room in 1994. It is one of the top wineries in Santa Rosa, CA.
The winery started its wine crafting journey with 120 cases of Old Vine Zinfandel but now produces 1,500 cases yearly with various varieties to celebrate their Italian origins and Sonoma County home.
D’Argenzio Winery specializes in a selection of wines from Sonoma County’s most prominent appellation and a distinct collection of Italian varietals.
The Santa Rosa winery offers antipasti boards, wine tasting, tours, bocce ball, wood-fired pizza, a patio area, and hosts many special events.
For couples that want to have their wedding at this location, the on-site team offers three spaces to accommodate 140 guests.
D’Argenzio Winery & Tasting Room allows couples to utilize their in-house catering team, Cibo Rustico Pizzeria, which deals in different types of hand-crafted wood-fired pizza produced in the old-world style.
From your bridal shower to rehearsal dinner, and reception, this on-site team will do everything to actualize the day of your dreams.
Address: 1301 Cleveland Ave Ste, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, United States
3. Harvest Moon Estate Winery
Harvest Moon Estate and Winery are famous for their Zinfandel. Furthermore, the estate produces little Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Syrah and Petite Sirah, Alta Mesa Malbec, and Dry Creek Cabernet Sauvignon.
Visitors are invited to explore the charming and relaxing tasting room and to sample Harvest Moon’s outstanding selection of wines.
From August to October, you can sit and drink on their patio and crush pad and watch firsthand how they craft their grapes into wines.
Besides tasting, the winery holds or is a part of different events throughout the year.
Harvest Moon Estate Winery’s daily pouring selection varies from a dry rejuvenating Gewürztraminer to grand Pinot Noirs to various vintages of Zinfandel.
They also make two dessert wines: Ice-style Gewürztraminer and Estate Late Harvest Zinfandel.
Address: 2192 Olivet Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, United States
4. Hook & Ladder Winery
Hook & Ladder was founded by pioneering growers and vintners Christine and Cecil De Loach in 2003. It is steered today by their grandson and winemaker, Jason De Loach.
Cecil De Loach was a San Francisco firefighter for 17 years, and the name Hook & Ladder pays tribute to his career.
Hook & Ladder specializes in small bottlings of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Bordeux-style mix gotten from the family’s sustainable-farmed vineyard in Russian River Valley and Chalk Hill, its sub-appellation.
Hook & Ladder also sells and produces estate-grown Olive Oil from trees planted at their Los Amigo Ranch.
Their tasting room is decorated with fire station t-shirts gifted to the winery by visiting firefighters from around the globe.
Address: 2134 Olivet Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, United States
5. Balletto Vineyards
Balletto Vineyards is a family-owned and run winery. They produce one of the rare estate-grown and bottled wines in the Russian River and West Sonoma Coast.
They have 100 percent control from the vineyard to bottle and only pick the best vineyards and blocks for their wines.
Balletto Vineyards specialize in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which are always grand, balanced, and tasty.
The staff at this winery is polite, engaging, and knowledgeable, the owners are great people, and the surroundings are beautiful.
The tasting room and winery are housed in an expansive building that looks like a warehouse, but once you step inside the tasting room, you almost feel like you are inside a Tuscan Villa.
A fine selection of gifts related to wine is showcased around the room. There are self-guided tours if you feel like going outside to stroll around the vineyard.
Guided vineyard and winery tours are available, but you must book an appointment.
Address: 5700 Occidental Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, United States
6. Donelan Family Wines
Donelan was established by Jone Donelan, who now operates the business with his sons Tripp and Cushing. It is a tiny boutique winery crafting Chardonnay, Viognier, Roussanne, Syrah, Grenache, and Pinot Noir.
The traits of perfection are showcased at Donelan Family Wines through their limited productions and hand-crafted artisan wines.
For a private, relaxing tasting experience with varieties of wines meant to be enjoyed, you can visit this family winery and its tasting room.
Donelan Family Wines offers two extraordinary tasting experiences for their visitors.
The first is the Donelan Portfolio Tasting which allows visitors to sample a flight of at least 4 of the recently released wines. It lasts between 45-60 minutes.
The second is the “Road Less Traveled” Tasting. Here visitors will sample a flight of at least six newly-released wines. The tasting lasts between 60-75 minutes.
Visitors are welcomed by appointment for a private tasting every day between 10 am and 4 pm.
Address: 3352 Coffey Ln STE D, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, United States
7. Paradise Ridge
Paradise Ridge is a family-owned and operated winery founded in 1991.
The winery is nestled on a 155-acre estate In the center of Sonoma County wine county.
Paradise Ridge offers stunning natural vistas facing the vineyards and the Russian River Valley.
When you visit this winery, you will discover why it is on the many “best winery tours in Napa and Sonoma” lists.
Paradise Ridge also features wines from the Russian River American Viticultural Area.
The winery has sculpture groves and different event spaces perfect for elegant events and private gatherings.
Address: 4545 Thomas Lake Harris Dr, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, United States
8. St. Francis Winery & Vineyards
For more than 50 years, this winery has defined Sonoma County’s greatness by producing award-winning wines of the highest level from mountains and valley vineyards all over the region.
The state-of-the-art winery constructed in 1999 includes a 457-kilowatt solar energy system.
The winemakers, Chris Louton and Katie Madigan, continue the long tradition of crafting elegant and fruit-driven wines from the finest appellations in Sonoma County.
Their dedication to showcasing the best of Sonoma expands to the Tasting Room, which combines award-winning wines with gorgeous views of Sonoma Valley.
Visit their stunning mission-style Visitor Center to experience their excellent wines and knowledgeable staff.
Whether it is your first rodeo at a wine tasting or you are an avid collector, you will discover a satisfying experience.
Also worth checking out if you visit St. Francis Winery & Vineyards is the bell tower embellished with a bronze bell that weighs 1,000 pounds.
Address: 100 Pythian Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95409, United States
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9. Sunce Winery
Sunce Winery was established in the heart of the Russsian River Valley in 1991. It is one of the fun wineries in Santa Rosa, CA.
Sunce Winery, which means sun in Croatian, is situated on one of the old roads in Sonoma Country, where olive trees once towered the landscapes. Now, 100 years old head-pruned vines assert their magnificence.
The winery crafts many unique varietals, vineyard designates, and traditional blends.
Sunce Winery is famous for its stellar single vineyard designated wines, including their own Zora’s Estate Pinot Noir.
Cradled in this peaceful environment, the winery provides a serene, romantic, and down-to-earth atmosphere.
Enjoy a picnic on the deck and partake in a game or two of bocce balls. Walk around the estate Pinot Noir Vineyard and if you catch a glimpse of France, the winemaker, ask him to give you a tour of his barrels.
Address: 1839 Olivet Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, United States
10. Inman Family Wines
Inman Family Wines produces Pinot Gris, Pinot Noirs, Sparkling Wines, and Chardonnay.
Experience their wines in a stylish, relaxed environment encircled by their gorgeous, regeneratively farmed Pinot Noir Vineyard.
They strive to make their wines naturally with little or less human intervention to ensure they symbolize the grapes’ personality and the place where they grew.
Inman Family Wine’s experience holds on Thursday to Friday from 11 am to 4 pm at the winery.
Address: 3900 Piner Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, United States
11. Hanna Winery
This winery has been a local favorite since it was opened in the 1980s. It is one of the best wineries in Santa Rosa, CA.
Hannah Winery offers picnics under a popular oak tree and a prime location between Santa Rosa and Sebastopol in the Russian River Valley.
The winery has over 600 acres of land, with nearly 259 acres planted in the Russian River Valley, its Bismark Ranch in the Mayacamas Mountains, and Alexander Valley.
The casual Wood-sided tasting room has a small awning-shaded patio in front with some chairs and a fountain.
Another deck is at the back beneath redwood trees and has better protection.
Inside is a lovely little place with a wood-tasting bar, gift items, and polite and attentive staff.
Address: 5353 Occidental Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, United States
12. Pellegrini- Olivet Lanes
Pellegrini Wines is a family-owned and operated winery in Santa Rosa. This winery has been growing and producing wines in Sonoma Country for four generations.
They are committed to crafting small-lot vineyard-designated Pinot Noir from grapes grown in many high-quality Russian River vineyards.
Pellegrini Wines are produced using grapes from selected vineyards in the country, including their Olivet Lane Vineyard.
Furthermore, they make regional appellation wines of Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Rosè, and Sauvignon Blanc.
Besides their appellate blends, they produce barrel selections and small lots of single vineyards to share with visitors and their wine club.
Address: 4055 W Olivet Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, United States
13. Battaglini Estate Winery
Battaglini Estate Winery is a family-owned and managed boutique winery in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County. It is one of the top wineries in Santa Rosa, CA.
When you visit this rustic winery, you will feel as if you have been transported to Italy as the owners welcome you.
Listen to some Italian music, play some bocce ball, or let Giuseppe tell you stories with stories of Lucca.
You may come for the lovely setting of the winery, but you will stay behind for the wines.
Battaglini Estate Winery is home to some of the oldest vines in the state, as their Petite Sirah and Zinfandel vines were initially transported from Tuscany in 1885.
They craft wines the traditional Italian way using only dry farming techniques, natural fermentation, and hand pruning.
Request a library tasting, as they offer vintages from 2001.
There aren’t a lot of local wineries that can offer such a large selection of top-notch older vintages but still maintain an approachable pricing structure.
Battaglini Estate Winery is only open by appointment.
Address: 2948 Piner Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, United States
14. DeLoach Vineyards
DeLoach Vineyard, situated in the middle of Sonoma’s prominent Russian River Valley, is a pioneering producer of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel Winery.
The winery has more than 45 years of experience testing with the perfect mixture of rootstock, clones, and soil, resulting in a record of producing top-tier eco-friendly wines.
When you visit, expect to taste award-winning wines at DeLoach Vineyard’s tasting room.
Take a winery tour to learn all about their vineyard management and winemaking procedures, or join their wine club to receive exclusive access to their limited-production wines.
Visit DeLoach Vineyards and taste the outcome of their passion for sustainable winemaking and producing top-quality wines.
Address: 1791 Olivet Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, United States
15. Martin Ray Winery
Martin Ray Winery was established in 1943 by Martin Ray, a pioneer of contemporary winemaking in California.
Today the winery crafts different wines from grapes grown in the state, focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other Bordeaux Varietals.
Martin Ray’s Chardonnay is regarded for its harmony of acidity and apples, citrus, and pear fruits.
This winery’s Cabernet Sauvignons are full-bodied and rich with black fruit and a solid tannic structure.
Martin Ray also makes other wines, including Zinfandel, Syrah, and Merlot.
Besides its estate-grown wines, the winery obtains grapes from different vineyards throughout the state.
Martin Ray Wineries have received many accolades and high ratings from wine publications and critics.
Address: 2191 Laguna Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, United States
16. Belden Barns
Belden Barns is a beautiful thirty acres of vegetables, organic vines, and fruit trees, including cider apples, citrus, and stone fruits.
This true California gem is perched on the Northwest Shoulder of Sonoma Mountain.
Belden Barns, which produces exceptional wines, is owned by a couple, Nate and Lauren Belden.
The storybook setting of this winery includes a gorgeous, rustic 1880s-era white barn, a world-class vineyard, a farm of sustainably grown, small-scale food products, and a wishing tree.
The wishing tree is a stunning live oak in the center of the vineyard that was influenced by wishes hung on the owner’s friend’s wedding day.
Nate and Lauren now encourage guests to hang a wish in the tree when they visit the property.
The couple has created a magical experience with the winery, and they are living out their fantasy.
They are whole-heartedly committed to producing top-quality products while building a sustainable family business.
Address: 5561 Sonoma Mountain Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, United States
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Plan a Trip to Santa Rosa
As the largest city in Sonoma County, Santa Rosa offers tourists world-class famous wineries, wine-tasting expeditions, and breathtaking vineyard sceneries.
From small family-owned businesses to larger businesses, the city has a myriad of wineries to pick from.
So what are you waiting for? Start planning your wine tour in Santa Rosa, CA.