Sonoma Weekend Wine Tasting Guide
Have you been dreaming of taking a trip to Northern California’s wine country, but don’t know where to start?
There are so many options when planning a visit to wine country. We have spent plenty of time exploring what the region has to offer, loving every minute of it. Our favorite part is the seemingly never-ending bounty of vineyards and wineries to choose from, each offering a unique approach and experience to tasters.
If you’re looking for a soft landing, try a visit to Sonoma. It’s twice the size of Napa Valley, with a bit more of a laid-back atmosphere and plenty of sprawling nature to explore. Sonoma is friendly and approachable, and we think it’s the perfect entry into California’s vast world of wine.
Read on for our recommendations for a weekend trip to Sonoma.
Sonoma Wine Tasting
The Classic: La Crema Winery Estate at Saralee’s Vineyard
You’ve may have heard about the first winery on our list, and you might have even purchased a bottle or two to accompany dinner at home or a gathering with friends.
La Crema is a well-known brand, but don’t be tempted to forgo a visit to their tasting room because they’re mainstream. We’re here to tell you that the hype is well-deserved, and La Crema is definitely worth a visit!
Located in the heart of Sonoma, the La Crema Winery Estate at Saralee’s Vineyard is a sprawling 265-acre property that sits in the Russian River Valley AVA (American Viticulture Area). With soil predominantly of sand and pebbles and a cool fog that rolls in each morning and evening, this terroir is ideal for growing chardonnay and pinot noir grapes. It’s no surprise that chardonnay and pinot noir are what La Crema does best!
During our recent visit, we reserved the “tour and tasting” experience, which includes a walking tour of the vineyard, a cruise along the vistas overlooking the historic estate, and an intimate tasting of chardonnays and pinot noirs grown onsite alongside those from other California AVAs.
Tasting at La Crema is an education in terroir. The vast differences in the chardonnay grapes grown onsite versus those grown in other areas show just how much location plays a part in winemaking.
Start with the chardonnays and learn what it is about this California classic that truly speaks to you. We loved the range we found: the chardonnay from Los Carneros was fruit-forward and crisp, while the Kelli Ann Vineyard chardonnay had more dominant notes of brioche and toast with a rich buttery mouthfeel (thanks to its significantly longer aging period in French oak barrels). All-in-all, we found the chardonnay grown onsite at Saralee’s Vineyard to be our favorite, loving its bright acidity and notes of tree fruit.
You’ll find as much variety sampling La Crema’s pinot noirs. Some were light, silky and earthy, while others were more plush, full and textured. The Bellflower Vineyard pinot noir stood out for us—a pinot on the fuller end of the spectrum that we’d love to pair with a cool-weather meal like braised beef short ribs with roasted root vegetables.
Read more about our visit to La Crema here.
The Wild Beauty: Matanzas Creek Winery
Located in the Bennett Valley, Matanzas Creek Winery is truly breathtaking. The sprawling grounds, including a lavender field that they actually make soaps and home products from each harvest, are reason alone to make the trip. We loved tasting our wine outdoors, but their modern and sleek tasting room is just as picturesque with incredible views of the gardens and lush landscape surrounding the winery.
Matanzas Creek made its name producing sauvignon blanc and merlot, which is fairly unique in Sonoma County. Most wineries in this region are known for their Burgundian varietals (chardonnay and pinot noir, like La Crema!). Go for the chance to try something outside of the norm, and truly spectacular at that. We recommend their “comparative tasting” experience to try out the same grape varietals grown in different areas.
Our favorite white was the Bennett Valley sauvignon blanc—light and layered with notes of tree fruit, citrus and basil. We’ve never tasted anything like it, and can’t help but wonder if the lavender plays a part in its beautiful fragrance and palate. The Jackson Park Vineyard merlot was another winner, with single-vineyard production from grapes grown on the Matanzas property. We loved the jammy blueberry palate balanced by notes of spicy Mexican hot chocolate and black pepper. A treat!
Be sure to take a stroll around the grounds after your tasting. You’ll find majestic old growth California oaks adjacent to the tasting room, bright poppies bursting with color and if the timing is right, the fragrant lavender field in full bloom.
Learn more about Matanzas and schedule a tasting here.
The Home Away From Home: Moshin Vineyards
For over three decades, Rick and Amber Moshin have produced some of the most versatile vines of Sonoma’s famed Russian River Valley AVA. We love this vineyard for many reasons, but we definitely recommend it to wine drinkers curious about natural and sustainable winemaking techniques. If you love pinot noir above all else, this one’s also for you!
Moshin Vineyards is family-owned and operated, with hand-crafted red, white and sparkling wines that pair with special occasions just as magically as they do the day-to-day. The tasting room reflects their family vibe—comfortable, refined and inviting. Outside of the tasting room, you’ll find ample patio space and thoughtful accommodations to take in the beautiful property in fresh air.
Go for the reputation of world-class pinot noirs, but stay for the hospitality. We loved our tasting, hosted by Rick and Amber themselves! The pair are so generous with their experience and time, and made us feel right at home as we sipped while learning about their diverse array of wines and listening to stories about their time in the vineyards.
The Moshin wine lineup is thoughtful and fun, and each bottle is perfect on its own or paired with your favorite meal. We loved the easy-drinking and crisp 2019 rosé of pinot noir and the bright and zesty 2019 vermentino (hint: pair this with your next cheese board).
The star of Moshin’s show was the 2017 pinot noir, Lot 4. We found it impeccably smooth and velvety, with complex and layered notes of raspberry, rose petal, forest floor and baking spices. This pinot is one of the greats, with the potential to age beautifully and really open up over time. You can bet we took a bottle home to enjoy later.
Read more about our experience at Moshin Vineyards here.
If you love wine and meeting the dedicated people behind it, head to the Moshin Vineyards website to schedule a tasting.
Final Word
We’ll leave you with this: wine country and all of its options can be overwhelming, so start small. Pick a vineyard or two and schedule a tasting. Bring a few bottles home with you. The experience of drinking wine from a place you’ve visited is incredible. You’ll make memories and relive them again as you share a bottle of what you’ve discovered with friends and family at home. Best of all, wine country will be waiting for you to return for your next weekend trip!
Have you traveled to Sonoma? What are you favorite places to taste wine?