Forget the flowers, the card and the carefully crafted post on social media - this Mother's Day, treat Mom to something that she could really use: some downtime with a nice glass of wine.
For the bubble loving mom: Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, Sonoma: Named after the matriarch of the Ferrer family, Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards is a great place to start the day for a bubble loving, "every day is a celebration" kind of mom. Make an appointment for a tasting on the patio, which will make mom "ooooh" and "aweee" with its expansive vineyard views and colorful surroundings. (Courtesy photo)
Treat mom to a flight of Gloria Ferrer's finest sparkling wines, including the Royal Cuvée, which was served to the King and Queen of Spain, paired with tasty local cheeses and charcuterie. Join a tour group to see the caves and winery and don't miss the displays of antique wine glasses from Mrs. Ferrer's personal collection, inside. Reservations recommend, 707-933-1917, 23555 Hwy 121, Sonoma, gloriaferrer.com. (Photo by Paige Green)
For the art loving mom: The Donum Estate, Sonoma: Treat mom to a world-class art and wine experience. Make sure she wears comfortable shoes: a visit to the winery may begin with a hike through the gardens, vineyards and rolling hills of the Carneros-based property. Dotted throughout the landscape is a multi-million dollar sculpture collection, which includes works by Keith Haring, Louise Bourgeois, Yayoi Kusama, Ai Weiwei, and Fernando Botero. (Courtesy photo)
After snapping a photo of mom with her favorite artwork at Donum Estate, take her to the tasting room for an intimate tasting of chardonnay and pinot noir paired with panoramic views that mom will never forget. Tastings are by appointment only. 24500 Ramal Rd, Sonoma, 707-939-2290, thedonumestate.com.
For the green thumb mom: Ferrari-Carano, Healdsburg: A consistent favorite for wine lovers who like a little "green" with their cabernet, Ferrari-Carano will impress mom with five spectacular acres of gardens. Created by avid gardener Rhonda Carano, the gardens were planned and planted over 16 months. Mom can wander the property with a glass of rosé, sipping away as she explores Italian and French style gardens and park-like settings, with over 2,000 species of trees and shrubs - all marked with signage. (Courtesy photo)
Springtime is the perfect time to visit Ferrari-Carano, when over 10,000 tulips and daffodils flood the gardens. After the tasting, head down to John Ash & Co. in Santa Rosa, which is owned by the winery, to treat mom to a gourmet dinner. 707-433-6700, 8761 Dry Creek Rd., Healdsburg, ferrari-carano.com.
For the dog loving mom: Mutt Lynch Winery, Windsor: The entire family can enjoy a wine tasting at Mutt Lynch - including mom's favorite fur-babies. Winemaker Brenda Lynch and her husband Chris founded their winery as a tribute to [wo]man's best friend, and Mutt Lynch Winery is just that: "all things dog." At their downtown Windsor tasting room, mom can let her pup run free while she sips through chardonnay, zinfandel and cabernet - all with dog-themed wine labels.
The Mutt Lynch tasting room features plenty of water, treats and toys, and an impressive selection of wine and dog-focused gifts you can purchase to surprise mom and furry friends alike. 707-687-5089, 9050 Windsor Rd., Windsor, muttlynchwinery.com. (Photo by John Burgess)
For the cat loving mom: Preston Farm & Winery, Healdsburg: For every dog loving mom, there's a cat loving mom (and some moms love both!). Preston Farm & Winery is quite possibly the only cat-friendly winery in the country. The family-owned winery in Healdsburg is organic and biodynamic, spanning 125 acres filled with lush vegetable gardens, olive groves, sheep, vineyards, and yes - cats! Over a handful of cats roam the property, many ready for belly rubs.
Be sure to pack a picnic of mom's favorite bites, because a trip to Preston Farm & Winery isn't complete without an al fresco lunch on the scenic picnic grounds paired with the winery's famous red jug wine. Make sure mom tries her hand at bocce and checks out the farm store, where the Preston family sells estate-pressed olive oil, olives, sourdough loaves, pickles, meats and fresh produce - all made, raised and grown onsite. 707-433-3372, 9282 W. Dry Creek Rd., Healdsburg, prestonfarmandwinery.com. (Courtesy photo)
For the foodie mom: St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, Santa Rosa: Whether she's a cooking show junkie or an aspiring Alice Waters, foodie moms will love St. Francis Winery & Vineyards. The palatial property has been named one of the top 100 restaurants in the country by users of OpenTable, a restaurant reservation website. Zagat calls it a "one-stop wine-and-food pairing experience," as the small dishes served during the winery's seated, multi-course pairing compete with the famed French Laundry, no formal dress required.
Mom will find inspiration on the St. Francis Winery menu, which changes regularly based on the seasons. Currently, it includes cucumber gazpacho, Moroccan fish tagine, bourbon glazed pork belly, grilled zabuton (steak), and coffee-cocoa-hazelnut trifle, all prepared by award-winning chef Bryan Jones. Produce is sourced from onsite, organic gardens that mom can wander, glass in hand. Reservations recommended, 800-795-6674, stfranciswinery.com.
For the eco-chic mom: Benziger Family Winery, Glen Ellen: Did you grow up with a mom who loved to make her own worm compost? Then a trip to Benziger Family Winery is in order for your Earth-loving mother goddess. A leader in eco-friendly wine production and farming, Benziger Family Winery specializes in organic wine and green farming practices. In 2000, the winery became biodynamic, which is the highest level of organic certification. Join mom on board one of Benziger's daily tram tours and experience a behind-the-scenes tour of of their estate.
On the 45-minute Benziger Family Winery tour, guests explore the grounds, including visits to the fermentation facility, crush pad and caves, followed by a tasting. Mom will also get to see their sheep in action, who help clear the land of weeds. The tour ends with a tasting of the winery's estate wines in their tasting room. 707-935-3000, 1883 London Ranch Rd., Glen Ellen, benziger.com.
For the DIY mom: Dry Creek Vineyards, Healdsburg: Dry Creek Vineyards offers crafty DIY kind of moms a chance to try their hand at making their own wine. The 185 acre, family owned and operated estate winery specializes in hearty red wines. It was the first winery built in the Dry Creek Valley after Prohibition and prides itself on sustainable farming methods that include fish habitat restoration and an insectary garden.
During the Dry Creek Vineyards Meritage Blending Experience, mom will play winemaker, crafting her own Bordeaux-style blend by tasting and measuring varietals like merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot. After finishing her blend, she'll cork and label her custom bottle to take home to enjoy. Reservations required, 800-864-9463, drycreekvineyard.com.
Forget the flowers, the card and the carefully crafted post on social media – this Mother’s Day, treat Mom to something that she could really use: some downtime with a nice glass of wine. We’ve rounded up some of the best Sonoma County wineries for Mother’s Day visits. Click through the above gallery for details.
