On day three, we had to “take it easy” because we were going to a wedding that night… Well – not really, we still got some good tasting in 🙂
Day 3… Five Wineries in Sonoma/Kenwood:
- Buena Vista (Between Downtown Napa / Downtown Sonoma):
- Pros: Great selection of wines, very unique labeling and brand management, separate facility available for “bubbles”Â
- Cons: Bubble Lounge is by-appointment-only, some of the facility décor is strange (e.g. cardboard cutouts of famous people are looking at you as you walk in through the garden)
- Overall Score: 7/10 – worth a visit and good for groups
- Gloria Ferrer (Sonoma):
- Pros: Good sparkling wines, elevated views of the valley, great snack options (meat trays, cheese boards, etc), reasonably priced
- Cons: Less intimate, they try to pump as many people through as possible
- Overall Score: 7/10 – probably worth the trip, especially if you want some sparkling options
- Kunde (Sonoma/Kenwood):
- Pros: Beautiful grounds, cave tours, solid wines with a few that aren’t distributed
- Cons: Somewhat corporate, attracts large tour groups
- Overall Score: 6/10 –  worth a trip, but may be a bit too corporate for some
- VJB (Sonoma/Kenwood):
- Pros: Fantastic flatbreads/food, cool atmosphere
- Cons: Didn’t try any of the wine besides the rosĂ©, so unable to share much more
- Fun Tip: You MUST try the avocado, mozzarella, tomato flatbread if you go!
- Overall Score: 6/10 – good stop for food if you’re in the area
- Chateau St Jean (Sonoma/Kenwood):
- Pros: Great chardonnays, unique grounds with several different tasting areas (outdoor/indoor)
- Cons: Rather corporate, sort of what you’d expect for something distributed so broadly nationally
- Overall Score: 5/10 – probably not worth the trip unless you’re really into Chardonnays
Til Next Time,
Michael