Top Carneros Wineries to Visit - Sonoma Side

In search of fine Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sparkling Wine | Tour the Top Carneros Wineries in the Carneros Wine Appellation of Sonoma County

Gloria Ferrer

The Carneros wine appellation is renowned worldwide for its fine Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and sparkling wines. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards located here thrive on the mild summer days and the cooling afternoon breeze from the San Pablo Bay. For this tour we have selected a mix of wineries that will provide you a memorable experience in the world famous Carneros wine region. The Carneros wine appellation is located at the southern end of Napa and Sonoma Counties. See map for details. Carneros Wine Map

Winery Descriptions, Driving directions, Tasting Room Hours

Directions: The Carneros wine region can be approached from either the Golden Gate Bridge or the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Usually, the Golden Gate Bridge route contains less traffic obstacles. These tour directions are from the Golden Gate Bridge but can easily be reversed. Please refer to our map of the Carneros wineries. From the Golden Gate Bridge, take Highway 101. Exit 101 to Highway 37 towards Vallejo. Turn left onto Highway 121 towards Sonoma and Napa.

Cline Cellars
Although the Carneros region is recognized for its fine Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, the Cline winery was one of the first to grow Rhone varietals in the cool climate of Carneros. Cline produces a Syrah and Viognier as well as the rarely-produced varietals of Marsanne and Rousanne. The tasting room is a restored 1850 farmhouse and is very charming. The extensive grounds are quite beautiful, providing a good spot for a picnic lunch. In addition to its 350 acres of vineyards in the Carneros region, Cline also has vineyards in Contra Costa County, and near the town of Petaluma in Sonoma County. Cline is on Highway 121 about 4 miles from Highway 37.

Tasting room open daily 10 am to 6 pm.
Phone (800) 546-2070, E-mail: info@clinecellars.com, Cline Cellars

Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves
One mile away from Cline is the entrance to Gloria Ferrer, the producer of fine sparkling wines. Watch for it on the left. Gloria Ferrer is a very beautiful and elegant winery set back on a hillside. The tasting room is set up like a wine bar. You pay by the glass for a very healthy taste of wine. You can sit and relax either inside or outside on a terrace. In addition to their sparking wines, Gloria Ferrer also produces a Chardonnay, Merlot, and Pinot Noir. You can bring your lunch, order a glass of fine sparkling wine, and sit out on the terrace enjoying the spectacular vineyards below. Weekends are popular, so getting a table can be a wait.

Tasting room open daily 10:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Phone (707) 996-7256, E-mail: info@gloriaferrer.com, Gloria Ferrer

Schug Carneros Estate Winery
This winery is located at the northern end of the Carneros appellation just before the Sonoma Valley and Sonoma Mountain appellations begins. This is a lovely drive along Bonneau Road to the Schug Winery. The winery is a small family-owned winery specializing in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from their estate Carneros vineyards. The tasting room atmosphere is friendly and welcoming.The estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are consistently good and priced at a good value point. To get to Schug, drive north on 121 to the big intersection. Take a left on Bonneau Road.

Tasting room open daily, 10 am to 5 pm, (707) 939-9363 ext. 202
Email:david@schugwinery.com  Schug Winery

Robledo Family Winery
Robledo Winery is not to be missed, a Mexican family-owned winery in Sonoma County. Reynaldo Rebledo migrated here from Mexico in 1968 and began learning the winery trade from the ground up. He started out in the vineyards as a farm worker. Over the years he became an expert at vineyard management. In the mid 1990’s the family formed a Vineyard management company and made its first major purchase of 30 acres of prime vineyards in the Carneros region. Now the winery owns vineyards in Napa and Lake County, in addition to Carneros. All their wines are delicious and the Sauvignon Blanc goes well with a picnic lunch that you can enjoy out on the Rebledo picnic area. To get to Robledo go back out to the big intersection and go north on Highway 116 towards Arnold. Turn left at E. Bonness Road and then a right on Bonness Road and watch for the winery sign.

Tasting Room is open by appointment Monday to Saturday, 10 to 5 pm, Sunday, 11 to 4 pm.
Phone: (888) 939-6978, e-mail lazaro@robledofamilywinery.com Robledo

Larson Family Winery
A visit to the Larson Family Winery is a much different experience than any other winery on this wine trail. The atmosphere here is relaxed and laid back. Tom and Becky Larson are the owners and you are likely to find them at work on the premises. The winery was once the site of the largest rodeo in the Bay Area. A beautiful mural in the tasting room depicts this event. Behind the historic Captain's house, which is available as a vacation rental, is the Sonoma Creek. It is hard to imagine that steam ships once traveled up Sonoma Creek to dock here. Best of all, though, are the wines. The estate Chardonnay, which comes with a screw top, is very fruity and balanced. The estate Gewurtztraminer is a delightful, refreshing wine, and the Pinot Noir an outstanding, flavorful wine. There is a very nice picnic area complete with a Bocce Ball court. This winery is back on Highway 121 on the way to Napa. From Robledo, go back on 116 and turn left at the big intersection and within a mile watch for the sign to Larson on the right.

Tasting room open daily 10:00 am to 5 pm
Phone: (707) 938-3031 ext. 20, E-mail: becky@larsonfamilywinery.com
Larson Family Winery