Sonoma: with kids!
For when you can't get a babysitter, but still want (need?) wine
Newsflash: I have a child. She’s an absolute ham. She can’t talk yet, and she certainly doesn’t know the taste of wine (I swear!), but we’re already working on her nose. And I’m sure she already knows what dark cherry, cedar, and banana smell like in a glass. She’s years away from being 21, and in the meantime, I need wine more than ever. So I’ve been diligently noting which wineries pour beautifully and are genuinely child-friendly.
Bonus: all 3 of these also welcome dogs, —which, yes, we also have (“tastings near dog-friendly hikes” is also a list in the making).
Reeve: bucolic fun for well behaved children (and dogs)
Reeve is set amidst the serene beauty of oak trees and vineyards (and an occasional goat and chicken). Think trendy, bucolic farm, in the best way possible. The focus is Pinots, though they do have a couple of bigger reds, too. While they warn it's not the ideal place for "active" children (their words not mine), we found it thoroughly child-friendly.
Tasting Experience:
Rustic lights, cozy heaters, sitting out on anorak chairs or on their patios overlooking the vines. Thoughtfully provided blankets, and a bite with your tasting (it was a pizza made with farm grown veggies for us). It all felt pleasantly effortless in that very curated way.
Notable Varietals:
🍷Red: Pinot Noir (their flagship varietal, with multiple single-vineyard Pinot bottlings) but they do also have some special releases of Gamay and some bigger wines, too, with Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon blends.
🥂White: Chardonnay, Riesling, Vermentino, and a rare Falanghina (not all are always available).
Other Essentials:
🔗 Reeve
🍷📅✅ Booking Link
🍾💲 Median Bottle Price: $$$ ($40-$70)
MacRostie: as chic as they come (for families)
A chic hilltop estate with panoramic views of the Russian River Valley, MacRostie is the poster child for elegance with a side of approachability. Their focus is on single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with the occasional Syrah and sparkling bottling. They also host a Sunset Series: monthly events featuring rotating pop-up chefs, live musicians from Sonoma County, and large-format pours from their cellar.
Tasting Experience:
Outdoor terraces offer stunning views, and the contemporary tasting room nails that wine-country-modern aesthetic. The staff is warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely happy to chat terroir while your little one tries to eat a grape leaf. You can pre-order bites for your group when booking—tiny sommeliers included.
Notable Varietals:
🍷 Red: Pinot Noir is the flagship red but MacRostie historically also produces limited Syrah.
🥂White: Chardonnay is the signature white, with some Sauvignon Blanc and various Rhône whites.
Other Essentials:
🍷📅✅ Booking Link
🍾💲 Median Bottle Price: $$$ ($40-$70)
Sutro: views (and wines) worth working for
Founded by artist-turned-winemaker Alice Warnecke Sutro, this small, women-owned winery uses minimal-intervention approach, yielding robust yet balanced Cabernets and Merlots, alongside a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, all reflecting the unique terroir of the volcanic soils and river-influenced microclimate.
Tasting Experience:
For something a little more adventurous, you have to earn your wine at Sutro. Embark on a 1.5 mile hike through the volcanic terroir of Warnecke Ranch to enjoy the exceptional views that lend insight into the flavor profiles of the Sutro wines. Finish with a tasting hosted at nearby Medlock Ames Bell Mountain Estate & Winery. (Sutro does not have a tasting room of their own).
Notable Varietals:
🍷 Red: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is what you’re here for
🥂White: Sauvignon Blanc
Other Essentials:
🍷📅✅ Booking Link
🍾💲 Median Bottle Price: $$$ ($40-$70)