7 Exceptional Wine Tasting Experiences in Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino

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The Donum Estate: A merger of wine and art: The Donum Estate in Sonoma pairs world class estate pinot noirs with fine art. A visit to the winery begins 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, on par with those of renowned art museums: among other internationally acclaimed artists, works by Keith Haring, Louise Bourgeois, Yayoi Kusama, Ai Weiwei, and Fernando Botero are exhibited here. ("Love Me" by Richard Hudson; Photo by Anthony Laurino)

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After the hike, Donum Estate visitors can settle into the newly built tasting room; a sleek space that offers a contemporary take on the traditional farmhouse. Private tastings are held in an intimate, brightly lit room with panorama windows overlooking the Carneros hills - the windows open with the touch of a button. Tastings are by appointment only. thedonumestate.com. (Photo by Margo Moritz)

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Private tastings at The Donum Estate overlook estate vineyards and the rolling hills of the Carneros winegrowing region. (Photo by Sarah Stierch)

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"King and Queen" by Keith Haring is part of the sculpture collection at The Donum Estate in Sonoma. (Photo by Anthony Laurino)

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Napa Valley Wine Train: Let the train be your designated driver: The Napa Valley Wine Train recently underwent a multi-million dollar facelift, following a change of ownership. Wine and train enthusiasts can now choose from dining journeys, day trips, and "Quattro Vino Tours," which (a little confusingly) includes three separate tours (and not four, as the name indicates). One of these tours, "The Estate Tour," takes train travelers on a six-hour drinking, eating, drinking, eating - you get the picture - journey. Thankfully, you're not driving. Instead, you're riding in a renovated, velvet drenched 1920s Pullman car while watching Napa Valley vineyards roll by.

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The Estate Tour includes a four-course meal, served between stops at three wineries. The tour is intimate - a handful of guests participate, and only get together as a group during winery visits. The first winery stop is Chandon (bubbles) followed by Hall Wines (fine art) and finally Inglenook (history). During the winery visits, tour participants learn about the history of each winery while tasting wines. This insider experience gives the tour a VIP feel. The Estate Tour is $332 per person, reservations required. winetrain.com (Photo courtesy of the Napa Valley Wine Train)

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Breakfast is served on the Wine Train: ciabatta with smoked salmon and caviar, berry parfait, and steel cut oatmeal brûlée. (Photo courtesy of the Napa Valley Wine Train)

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The final stop on the Napa Valley Wine Train's Estate Tour is the historic Inglenook Winery. (Photo courtesy of Inglenook Winery)

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Russian River Vineyards: Rustic west county paired with farm-to-table food: Located on a historic farm that dates back to the 1890s, Russian River Vineyards in Forestville serves West County wines in a rustic, farm-to-table setting. Opt for the casual "Wine Social" tasting and belly up to the outdoor bar, or try a self-guided tasting at one of the picnic tables, ordering from a well stocked menu of rose, sauvignon blanc, gewürztraminer, merlot, and their speciality: pinot noir. Wines are terroir specific, an homage to the Sonoma soil that co-founder, winemaker and 4th generation farmer Giovanni Balistreri loves. (Courtesy photo)

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While sipping wine and sampling small bites at Russian River Vineyards, guests can tour the 1.5 acre organic gardens, play a round of bocce, listen to live performances by local musicians, and explore the vintage cars and historic hop kiln architecture of the tasting lounge. Tastings can be followed by lunch or dinner at Russian River Vineyards' onsite restaurant, which serves organic farm-to-table cuisine, using produce sourced from the onsite garden and prepared by newly appointed executive chef Ben Davies. Tastings vary depending on bottle purchase. russianrivervineyards.com (Courtesy photo)

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Russian River Vineyards features a bocce court, live music 7-days a week, and small bites guests can enjoy with their wine tastings. (Courtesy photo)

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The onsite restaurant at Russian River Vineyard serves organic, farm-to-table cuisine daily. (Courtesy photo)

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Ram's Gate: Palate play and visual pleasures: Ram's Gate Winery in Sonoma focuses on small lot chardonnay and pinot noir, and offers a pairing of wine, food and architecture aimed to please palate and eye. The winery, designed by architect Howard Backen (whose other works include MacMurray Ranch, Cliff Lede Winery, and Meadowood), offers views of vineyards - and the nearby Sonoma raceway. The interior design is also worth taking a closer look at, as it merges indoor and outdoor with contemporary, yet comfy, furniture and impressive fireplaces. (Photo by Christopher Chung) 

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Select the Palate Play tasting at Ram's Gate, which includes a pairing of five wines with seasonal food in a working kitchen setting (it will give you kitchen-envy for sure!). Executive Chef Taylr Behnam serves up a new pairing daily, utilizing seasonal produce and local, sustainable meats and seafood, with all pairings adding up to a hearty lunch. If that's a bit much for your appetite, opt for a casual tasting on the patio, which includes a tour of the winery. Order a cheese plate and relax the day away. Tastings start at $45. ramsgatewinery.com. (Courtesy photo)

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Enjoy a cheese and charcuterie plate with a casual wine tasting on Ram's Gate's patio. (Courtesy photo)

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Gary Farrell: New tasting room offers upgrade in style: Gary Farrell Winery in Healdsburg is a must-visit for lovers of chardonnay and pinot. The recently renovated tasting room overlooks green forests and offers a refreshing experience at a winery that has been producing acclaimed wines for over 35 years. It's a modern yet relaxed space in which guests can taste wines created by winemaker Theresa Heredia, formerly at Joseph Phelps Vineyards. (Courtesy photo)

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After touring the Gary Farrell winery and cellars, guests can settle into comfy chairs inside or outside and prepare for a guided tasting of five single vineyard wines, both chardonnay and pinot noir, paired with local cheeses and nuts. Tasting room associates are attentive, offering details on the terroir, winemaking processes, and the landscape. Chardonnay enthusiasts should ask for a splash of the Russian River Selection Chardonnay, which was named best wine of 2017 by Wine Enthusiast. Tastings start at $55. garyfarrellwinery.com. (Courtesy photo)

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Gary Farrell winery underwent a multi-million dollar renovation, reopening in early 2017. (Courtesy photo)

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Stony Hill Vineyard: A tasting that makes you feel like family: The historic Stony Hill Vineyard began as a personal project for wine lovers Fred and Eleanor McCrea, who purchased the Napa Valley hillside property in the 1940s. The McCreas experimented with growing grapes on the property and made small batches of wine for themselves to enjoy. In 1952, they released the first Stony Hill Vineyard wines, including gewürztraminer, riesling and semillon, which the winery continues to produce to this day. Initially, wines were sold exclusively to friends and family and through an allotment-only mailing list. (Courtesy photo)

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Stony Hill Vineyard remains a family-owned and operated winery, now run by son Peter, his wife Willinda and their daughter Sarah. Winery guests travel through state park lands and up the winding roads of Spring Mountain to arrive at the McCrea family home. Here, they can check out the family's book and art collection, before taking a seat on the patio and tasting riesling, gewürztraminer, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, and late harvest semillon, while taking in Napa Valley views and listening to McCrea family stories. Tastings are $45. Reservations required. stonyhillvineyard.com.. (Courtesy photo)

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Stony Hill Tastings include an exploration of the winery's most iconic wines, which were sold only by mailing list (considered by many to be the first wine club) for decades. (Photo by Alex Rubin)

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Stony Hill is home to some of the oldest riesling vines in the United States. (Photo by Alex Rubin)

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Goldeneye: A must-visit for pinot fanatics: People who love pinot often head north of Sonoma County to Mendocino's Anderson Valley, where Goldeneye is located. Founded in 1996 by the family that owns Duckhorn Vineyards in Napa, the winery is one of the first pinot noir producers in the region now synonymous with pinot. Their intimate, unpretentious tasting room is nestled among redwood trees, hilly vineyards, and perfectly planted gardens. Call ahead and book an Estate Tasting on the shaded patio, which was recently renovated. (Courtesy photo)

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Depending on when you visit Goldeneye, you'll have the opportunity to taste not only pinot noir, but also rosé, gewürztraminer (another varietal Anderson Valley is famous for) and perhaps Goldeneye's sparkling wine - a new addition to the winery's lineup well worth a dip into the wallet. The relaxed tasting, which often includes cheese and nuts to pair with the wines, is guided by a wine educator who knows everything there is to know about pinot. Tastings start at $15. Reservations recommended. goldeneyewinery.com. (Courtesy photo)

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