While tasting fees and other expenses are on the rise, there are still plenty of wineries in Napa and Sonoma counties that have remained affordable. To prove it, The Chronicle wine team has compiled a list of recommendations for wine tastings priced at $30 and under.
These 28 tastings cover all types of Wine Country venues: the classic tasting bar; private vineyard-view tables; chic urban wineries; beautiful and bucolic estates; and buzzy natural wine havens. All produce good wines that represent excellent values. High-end Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir abound, but there’s also a brigade of fun, lesser-known grape varieties. (Have you ever tasted Grignolino?)
Many of these spots still welcome walk-ins, too, another Wine Country pastime that’s increasingly hard to find these days. If you plan things right geographically, you could visit many wineries on this list in one day for less than a Benjamin — just like the good old days.
If cost isn’t a factor, check out Esther Mobley’s recommendations for the Bay Area’s best wineries. — J.L.
The outdoor tasting area at A. Rafanelli Winery, a highly respected producer of structured red wines, in Healdsburg.
Ramin Rahimian/Special to The Chronicle
A. Rafanelli Winery
Many tastings at Rafanelli, a highly respected producer of structured red wines in Dry Creek Valley, take place among the wine barrels inside the cellar. It’s emphatically not fancy, designed to be more educational than recreational. The Rafanelli family’s Zinfandels and Cabernet Sauvignons have deservedly earned a fan club for a long time, but if you’re looking for white wine, this isn’t the place — it’s all reds here. — E.M.
Tasting fee $25. Open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Monday. 1685 W. Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. 707-433-1385 or arafanelliwinery.com
The tasting patio at Smith Story Wine Cellars, located at Bacchus Landing in Healdsburg.
Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle
Bacchus Landing
This classic, Mediterranean-inspired compound is one of the most affordable spots in Wine Country. A winery collective located just outside of downtown Healdsburg, most of Bacchus Landing’s boutique tasting rooms — including Smith Story Wines, Dot Wine and Aldina Vineyards — offer tastings for $25. Each tasting room has its own design and vibe, and in one afternoon, visitors can pop into several to try a wide array of wines sourced from all over California. Bacchus Landing also has a market, so you don’t even need to leave for lunch. — J.L.
Tasting fee $25. Walk-ins welcome. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday-Monday, Tuesday-Wednesday by appointment. 14210 Bacchus Landing Way, Healdsburg. 707-395-0697 or bacchuslanding.com
The wines of Belden Barns rustic, mountain winery in Santa Rosa.
John Storey/Special to the Chronicle
Belden Barns
This very rural Sonoma mountain estate is a magical place — literally, depending on who you ask. Guests from all over the world have come to hang a wish on the Belden Barns wishing tree and many have claimed theirs came true. Tastings at this family-owned winery take place in or around a rustic barn that used to be a dance hall, and they include more vino than most: seven wines, from Pinot Noir to Grenache to Grüner Veltliner. — J.L.
Tasting fee $20. Open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. 5561 Sonoma Mountain Road, Santa Rosa. 415-577-8552 or beldenbarns.com
Customers sample wine inside the wine cave at Bella in Healdsburg.
James Tensuan/Special to The Chronicle
Bella Winery
This Dry Creek winery is utterly charming. Choose between a tasting in the cozy wine cave or on the sunny lawn, shaded by olive trees. On weekends, this dog- and kid-friendly spot frequently ramps up its experience with live music, games and food, like wine popsicles. Flights include six wines, such as a unique blend of a rosé and red wine, and a Zinfandel from gnarly, 100-year-old vines planted above the wine cave. — J.L.
Tasting fee $30. Open 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. 9711 W. Dry Creek Rd, Healdsburg. 707-473-9171 or bellawinery.com
Try unconventional varieties like Gringolino at the Brendel Wines tasting room in downtown Napa.
Brendel Wines
Brendel Wines
Pop into this relatively new, downtown Napa tasting room for a flight of minimal-intervention wines that pay homage to classic Napa winemaking. Brendel, which also offers wine by the glass, produces balanced wines that are low in alcohol and not overly extracted; plus, the winery works with some hard-to-find grape varieties, like Gringolino and Tinta Cao. The tasting room’s bright and bold design caters to a younger crowd, and it’s open later than most. — J.L.
Tasting fee $30. Walk-ins welcome. Open 12 p.m.-7 p.m. Thursday-Monday. 1227 1st St, Napa. 707-963-8774 or brendelwines.com
Guests sip wine while outside The Drink in Healdsburg, which is jointly operated by two wineries, Leo Steen Wines and Rootdown Cellars.
Brontë Wittpenn/The Chronicle
The Drink
This funky warehouse-like space in the outskirts of Healdsburg is home to two top-notch winemakers, Leo Hansen and Mike Lucia. Hansen’s Leo Steen label is best known for its complex, mineral-driven Chenin Blancs; Lucia makes an eclectic range of wines under his Rootdown, Cole Ranch and Es Okay labels. Visitors can choose to taste just one winemaker’s creations, or both. The Drink also serves espresso from a stylish cart every morning, along with pastries from local bakery Quail & Condor. — E.M.
Tasting fee $30. Walk-ins welcome. Open noon-4 p.m. Sunday and noon-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 53 Front St., Healdsburg. 707-433-3097 or thedrinkhealdsburg.com
The Bocce ball court at Furthermore Winery in Sebastopol.
John Storey/Special to the Chronicle
Furthermore Wines
A striking giant Sequoia shades visitors who sit in the tasting grove at this Sebastopol winery, where the outdoor area also features a large bocce court. Hosts will come out to fill your glass at a leisurely pace, taking you through a flight of about six wines. The best option is the mixed flight, which includes a crisp and just barely sweet Blanc de Blancs, rosé and a few of the single-vineyard Pinot Noirs the winery sources from well-known vineyards throughout the state, such as Sierra Mar in Monterey County and Gap’s Crown on the Sonoma Coast. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own picnics, and there’s live music every Sunday April-October. Note: The winery has a new tasting lounge in downtown Healdsburg at 328A Healdsburg Ave., where there’s also live music, DJ sets and stand-up comedy scheduled on a weekly basis. — E.M.
Tasting fee $30. Walk-ins welcome. Open 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday-Friday and 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. 3541 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol. 707-823-3040 or furthermorewines.com
Winery guests take part in a tasting at Iron Horse Vineyards, known for its crisp bubbly, in Sebastopol.
RAMIN RAHIMIAN/Special to The Chronicle
Iron Horse Vineyards
For well-made sparkling wine and stunning vineyard views, come to Iron Horse, located at the end of a winding dirt road in Sebastopol. Wine tasters are scattered throughout the gorgeous property — some may stand at the bar, others around a wine barrel, others in a secluded gazebo behind the winery. A glass of Iron Horse’s crisp, bracing bubbles is one of the best ways to enjoy a hot Sonoma County afternoon. — E.M.
Tasting fee $30. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. 9786 Ross Station Road, Sebastopol. 707-887-1507 or ironhorsevineyards.com
J winery in Healdsburg offers an array of experiences, from a bar tasting to a multi-course wine and food pairing.
Brian L. Frank/Special to The Chronicle
J Vineyards & Winery
A pioneer of California sparkling wine, J Vineyards was also one of the first wineries to launch a robust food and wine program; its Bubble Room serves a fancy five-course tasting menu for $200 per person. But J, which was founded in the late ’80s, hasn’t forgotten Wine Country’s humble roots. It’s one of the few wineries that still offers a classic bar tasting — five Russian River wines, including both bubbly and some still selections — at a no-frills, standing-only counter inside their ivy-clad estate. — J.L.
Tasting fee $30. Walk-ins welcome. Open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. 11447 Old Redwood Hwy., Healdsburg. 707-431-5430 or jwine.com
A tasting at Joseph Swan Winery in Forestville is one of the best values in Sonoma County.
Preston Gannaway/Special to The Chronicle
Joseph Swan Vineyards
This beloved Russian River Valley estate has million-dollar views, but a tasting flight costs just $20. It’s truly one of the best values in Sonoma County. Joseph Swan’s wines are routinely excellent, and the winery has developed a strong following for its Pinot Noirs and Zinfandels. You may also get to taste some more unusual offerings like Valdiguie and skin-contact Grenache Blanc. — E.M.
Tasting fee $20. Open 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday. 2916 Laguna Rd., Forestville. 707-573-3747 or swanwinery.com
The chill, al-fresco tasting area at Kivelstadt Cellars & Winegarten in Sonoma.
Stephen Lam/The Chronicle
Kivelstadt Cellars
Kivelstadt does not feel like your typical tasting room. Instead, it’s a chill “winegarten” with picnic tables, lounge seating, firepits and lawn games. Kivelstadt offers traditional tasting flights ($35) of its eclectic wines but also mixes things up: Try a vertical tasting ($30), featuring four vintages of either a Rhone blend or old vine Carignan; or a side-by-side tasting ($20), which compares two distinct styles of the same grape variety. The winery also has wine on tap and by the glass, plus a full food menu, dog menu and kids playground. — J.L.
Tasting fee $20. Walk-ins welcome. Open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday-Monday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. 22900 Broadway, Sonoma. 707-938-7001 or kivelstadtcellars.com.
Visitors are typically greeted by friendly dogs at Laura Michael Winery in Calistoga.
Jess Lander
Laura Michael Wines
Friendly dogs will likely greet you in the parking lot of the unfussy Laura Michael Wines in Calistoga. Don’t let the power substation next door ruin the vibe; this is one of the few places left in Napa Valley where you’ll typically taste with the owners. It’s quaint and meant to be about the wines, which are made in very small quantities and priced at an incredible value (hello Rutherford Cabernet for $65). The tasting lineup of five wines also includes a few selections from outside of Napa, like a Mendocino Chardonnay and Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. — J.L.
Tasting fee $30. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. 2250 Lake County Hwy., Calistoga. 707-942-9251 or lauramichaelwines.com
The easygoing Limerick Lane Cellars tasting room in Healdsburg is surrounded by thick, craggy, head-trained Zinfandel vines.
RAMIN RAHIMIAN/Special to The Chronicle
Limerick Lane Cellars
This easygoing tasting room is surrounded by thick, craggy, head-trained Zinfandel vines — fitting for a winery that’s dedicated to old-vine Zin. A flight here is comprised mostly of Zins, and they’re some of the best in Sonoma County, unfailingly balanced and vibrant. Although the standard tasting takes place indoors at the bar, it’s also possible to reserve an outdoor space for $35. — E.M.
Tasting fee $25. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. 1023 Limerick Lane, Healdsburg. 707-433-9211 or limericklanewines.com
Winemaker/owner Matt Licklider pours wine for people at the Lioco Winery tasting room in Healdsburg.
John Storey/Special to the Chronicle
Lioco Wine Co.
Lioco’s tasting room is one of the best places to stop for a drink on the downtown Healdsburg square — and one of the most affordable. This excellent producer specializes in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay made in a bright, low-alcohol style, along with varieties like Carignan and Gruner Veltliner. Although appointments are recommended, especially if you want a more in-depth experience for a group, this is one of the rare spots that also welcomes walk-ins. — E.M.
Tasting fee $25. Walk-ins welcome. Open noon-7 p.m. daily. 125 Matheson St., Healdsburg. 707-395-0148 or liocowine.com
McKenzie-Mueller is a tiny, family-owned Carneros winery that has flown under the radar for decades.
Jess Lander
McKenzie-Mueller Winery
This tiny, family-owned Carneros winery has been around since the late 1980s and sells grapes to some big-named producers. Yet it flies under the radar. Co-founder Robert Mueller learned his craft at Robert Mondavi and now makes an array of wines, including Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This is a great place to taste wines with some age. Currently, McKenzie-Mueller is pouring a lot of 2016 and 2017 vintages, with a great library of wines going back 20 years or more available for purchase. Tastings take place in an idyllic garden with vineyard views or inside a rustic barn. — J.L.
Tasting fee $25. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. 2530 Las Amigas Road, Napa. 707-252-0186 or mckenziemueller.com
For $25, you can taste some of Merry Edward’s entry-level Pinots in Sebastopol.
Rachel Bujalski/Special to The Chronicle
Merry Edwards Winery
The single-vineyard Pinot Noirs that made Merry Edwards Winery famous are available in a $45 flight at the Sebastopol winery. Alternatively, for $25 you can taste some of the winery’s entry-level Pinots — blends of various vineyards in the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast appellations. You’ll also get a taste of Merry Edwards’ Sauvignon Blanc, a richer version of the grape variety than many of the tropical, tart bottlings out there. — E.M.
Tasting fee $25. Open 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. 2959 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol. 888-388-9050 or merryedwards.com
Nalle Winery is a small, family affair in Dry Creek Valley.
Brian L. Frank/Special to The Chronicle
Nalle Winery
Dry Creek Valley’s Nalle is a small, family-oriented affair, and on a sunny afternoon its back patio may be filled with regulars whom the Nalle family greets by name. The casual tastings here used to take place inside the winery itself, among the barrels (and underneath a basketball hoop); now, they’re mostly outdoors, where tasters get a prime view of the vineyards. Old-vine Zinfandel is Nalle’s forte, and the family has been making a restrained, food-friendly version of the wine for decades. — E.M.
Tasting fee $30. Appointments strongly recommended, but walk-ins permitted pending availability. Open 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. 2383 Dry Creek Road., Healdsburg. 707-433-1040 or nallewinery.com
Nichelini Winery is the oldest continually operated family-owned winery in Napa Valley.
Nichelini Winery
Nichelini Family Winery
Founded in 1890, Nichelini is the oldest continually family-owned winery in Napa Valley and it shows (in a good way). Seemingly frozen in time, visitors see the original stone winery, family home and a giant Roman press. The winery is about eight miles off Napa’s main roads, so tastings — four wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Sirah — set in a lush picnic area are quiet, relaxing and unrushed. You can walk in here, but because it’s a bit remote, a reservation is recommended. — J.L.
Tasting fee $30. Walk-ins welcome. Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday-Sunday. 7950 Sage Canyon Road, Napa. 707-963-0717 or nicheliniwinery.com
Pax Wines’ buzzy tasting room is located within the Barlow in Sebastopol.
Pax Wines
Pax
An early adopter of California’s natural wine movement, Pax operates a chill tasting room, outfitted with a turntable and roll-up doors, that is always one of the busiest spots within the Barlow in Sebastopol. The New California flight ($25) features four grape varieties that aren’t very common in the U.S., like Mission and Vermentino. Pax also offers wine on tap for $10-$12 and bottle service (several are priced at $30 and under). — J.L.
Tasting fee $25. Walk-ins welcome. Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 6780 McKinley St., Suite 170, Sebastopol. 707-331-1393or paxwine.com
The Porter Creek Vineyards tasting room in Healdsburg is a refreshingly low-key, family-run place.
RAMIN RAHIMIAN/Special to The Chronicle
Porter Creek Vineyards
Located at the base of a hilly bend in Westside Road, Porter Creek is a refreshingly low-key, family-run place whose wines punch way above their weight. Whether you sit outside among the vines or opt to hang out inside the rustic, cozy tasting shack, the winery offers a delightful, relaxing, not-too-fancy experience. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the specialties, but don’t sleep on Porter Creek’s robust Zinfandel or its floral Viognier. — E.M.
Tasting fee $30. Open 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. 8735 Westside Road, Healdsburg. 707-433-6321 or portercreekvineyards.com
The patio outside the Ridge Vineyards tasting room in Healdsburg.
RAMIN RAHIMIAN/Special to The Chronicle
Ridge Vineyards – Lytton Springs
Old-vine Zinfandel is the specialty at the Healdsburg location of Ridge Vineyards. Like Ridge’s original winery in Cupertino, this location charges a very reasonable tasting fee of $25. Don’t miss the balanced, exuberant Zins here, most of which come from historic vineyards, especially the Geyserville and Lytton Springs bottlings. — E.M.
Tasting fee $25. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. 650 Lytton Springs Road, Healdsburg. 707-433-7721 or ridgewine.com
Wine tasting at Rochioli Vineyards in Healdsburg, set deep in the wooded Russian River Valley.
Max Whittaker/Prime/Special to The Chronicle
Rochioli Vineyards & Winery
Deep in the wooded Russian River Valley, but only 10 minutes from Healdsburg, Rochioli’s terrace is a quiet, intimate and laid-back setting for a wine tasting with vineyard views. Here, the history runs deep; the Rochioli family was one of the first to farm grapes in this area, dating back to the mid-1900s. Tastings include a flight of three or four wines, and a cheese plate can be added on for an extra cost. — J.L.
Tasting fee $25. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday-Monday. 6192 Westside Road, Healdsburg. 707-433-2305 or rochioliwinery.com
The recently renovated tasting room at Rodney Strong Vineyards in Healdsburg.
Dawn Heumann
Rodney Strong Vineyards
This Sonoma County stalwart got a big makeover last year, renovating its tasting room that first opened to the public in 1970. There’s a stylish indoor lounge and tasting bar, lots of terrace seating at the edge of the vineyards and tables situated among the old oak fermentation tanks inside the cellar. For $30, visitors can choose either a flight of Rodney Strong wines, including its structured, ageworthy Alexander’s Crown Cabernet Sauvignon, or a flight of wines from its sister label, Davis Bynum, which produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. — E.M.
Tasting fee $30. Appointments strongly recommended, but walk-ins permitted pending availability. Open 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Monday. 11455 Old Redwood Hwy., Healdsburg. 707-431-1533 or rodneystrong.com
Lush and shade tasting areas at Rombauer Vineyards in Calistoga.
Jess Lander
Rombauer Vineyards
Rombauer’s signature buttery Chardonnay isn’t for everyone, but it’s also not the only wine available. The tasting flight includes a diverse selection of wines, including a Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. If you prefer a less oaky Chardonnay, tell your host and they’re likely to oblige. Visitors can also be picky; book the complimentary By the Glass reservation and order the glass or bottle of your choice to enjoy while soaking up Rombauer’s far-reaching hilltop views. You can even bring your own picnic provisions. — J.L.
Tasting fee $20. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Monday. 3522 Silverado Trail N., St. Helena. 866-280-2582 or rombauer.com
Amanda McKenna, director of hospitality, sets up a tasting at Ryme Cellars in Forestville.
Randi Lynn Beach
Ryme Cellars
This stylish, compact tasting room in Forestville serves an array of excellent wines, many of them boundary-pushing, like the skin-contact “His” Vermentino (a contrast to the non-skin-contact, more straightforward “Hers” Vermentino), and a translucent-red Alicante Bouschet — the sort of crushable red that’s begging for a chill. It’s the rare tasting room that will satisfy both a drinker of eclectic, natural-leaning wines and someone who veers toward classic styles of reds like Pinot Noir. — E.M.
Tasting fee $30. Open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday-Monday. 6450 First St., Forestville. 707-820-8121 or rymecellars.com
The al fresco tasting space at Seghesio Family Vineyards, located in downtown Healdsburg.
Brian L. Frank/Special to The Chronicle
Seghesio Family Vineyards
This fun tasting room is hidden on a backstreet just a block away from the downtown Healdsburg square, making it the rare winery that’s walkable from hotels and restaurants. A sprawling lawn is peppered with tables and lounge seating for groups of various sizes, plus there’s a bocce court. Book ahead for a guided tasting or stop in for wine by the glass or bottle. Seghesio makes tasty versions of Italian varieties like Barbera and Vermentino, though its main focus is brambly, single-vineyard Zinfandel. — E.M.
Tasting fee $30. Walk-ins welcome. Open 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. 700 Grove St., Healdsburg. 707-433-3579 or seghesio.com
Guests mingle inside the Tank Garage Winery’s gas station-turned-tasting room in Calistoga.
Michael Short/Special to The Chronicle
Tank Garage Winery
This vintage gas station turned wine tasting room is a go-to spot for Bay Area millennials seeking something different from the traditional Napa wine experience. (For starters, Tank is the only winery around with a pinball machine.) Tank produces one-off wines — typically unconventional blends with irreverent labels — which means every visit brings something new. The tasting room gets pretty busy on weekends, so reservations are recommended. — J.L.
Tasting fee $30. Walk-ins welcome. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Monday. 1020 Foothill Blvd., Calistoga. 707-942-8265 or tankgaragewinery.com
Guests stand at the bar inside Unti Vineyards’ tasting room in Healdsburg.
Michael Short/Special to The Chronicle
Unti Vineyards
Lovers of Italian wine should seek out a visit to Unti, which specializes in grape varieties grown around the Mediterranean. That means southern Italian specialties like Aglianico and Vermentino, along with southern French varieties like Syrah and Grenache. Tastings are casual, but appointments are required. Unlike many wineries that offer a set flight, Unti lets visitors choose six wines from a long menu of options. — E.M.
Tasting fee $25. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. 4202 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. 707-433-5590 or untivineyards.com
Jess Lander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicle’s senior wine critic. Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Source: https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/cheap-wine-tastings-17500172.php