When Bill and Caryn Reading announced their retirement from Sonoma Portworks earlier this year, some fans worried that the new owners would discontinue their favorite port-style wines. Instead, Heringer Family Estates has added to the Petaluma tasting room’s lineup and rebranded the venue as Portworks Wine Lounge.
The story
Bill Reading launched Sonoma Portworks in Sonoma Valley in 1994 with a dream of making balanced, small-batch fortified wines. The winery’s first release, Deco, definitely caught people’s attention; it combined Cabernet Sauvignon with chocolate essence for a luscious twist on traditional port.
Reading expanded the operation to Petaluma’s Foundry Wharf in 2003 and added a tasting room in 2007. Four years later, Reading’s wife, Caryn, joined the business full-time. They added new ports to the lineup, as well as distilled spirits and Sonomic Almost Vinegar, a sweeter, less acidic take on balsamic vinegar.
This spring, the Readings sold the business to Heringer Estates, longtime grape suppliers for Sonoma Portworks and third-generation grape growers in Clarksburg. Now operating as Portworks Wine Lounge by Heringer Estates, the tasting room pours ports alongside the Heringer family’s organically farmed table wines. Deneice Knotts remains the dedicated Portworks winemaker, producing up to 1,000 cases each year across 10 fortified wines, hazelnut-infused sherry, and a fig liqueur.
The vibe
Portworks Wine Lounge is set inside the Foundry Wharf complex, in an under-the-radar business district on Petaluma’s West Side. Along with a parklet for outdoor sampling, the industrial space features a corrugated tasting bar, rustic tables and original barrel-hoop artwork created by Bill Reading. A curtain separates the tasting room from the production area in the back. If you peek behind the partition, you can spot the modified solera system used for the winery’s Maduro tawny port, and glimpse sets of rubber boots the cellar crew wears when foot-treading grapes.
On the palate
For something fun and different, try the Rosé Port of Tempranillo ($25/500ml). The wine has a deep pink hue, berry flavors and a nice balance between sweetness and acidity. (Portworks recommends mixing the port into a spritz with sparkling wine and a slice of orange. As someone who finds Aperol way too cloying, I am 100% down with that.)
I also enjoyed the new Tannat Port from the 2021 vintage ($36/500ml) — a ruby-style port with notes of red cherries and medium sweetness. Among the dry table wines, check out the 2021 Heringer Estates Teroldego ($38) from Clarksburg, a medium-bodied red with a silky texture and notes of black cherry. The winery also produces white wines, sparkling wines and even a Delta-inspired wine slushy.
Tasting flights cost $20 and range from port-only lineups to flights of Heringer table wines to mixed samplers. Wines by the glass cost $10 to $12. For an extra 20 bucks, add a port-friendly plate of cheeses, dark chocolate, and nuts. In the coming months, look for expanded tasting experiences, live music events, and sofas for a more lounge-like atmosphere.
Beyond the bottle
Foundry Wharf lies within Petaluma’s Downtown Warehouse District. Set between D and I streets, it’s a short walk from the Theater District and well worth a ramble for its eclectic mix of independent businesses. Browse Petaluma Pottery for beautiful handmade tiles and dinnerware by FLM Ceramics, or restock your supply of local olive oils at the McEvoy Ranch Outlet. Pop into the Juice House Co. for organic, cold-pressed juices, or peruse Petaluma Coffee & Tea for house-roasted coffees and bulk teas. If you’re craving lunchtime sustenance, Pearl offers vibrant Eastern Mediterranean-inspired eats and a thoughtful international wine list. You can even grab fresh seafood to take home at Hog Island Oyster Co.’s Petaluma Pickup Window.
Open noon to 5 p.m. Sunday to Friday and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday. Portworks Wine Lounge, Foundry Wharf, 613 Second St., Petaluma. portworks.com
Tina Caputo is a wine, food, and travel journalist who contributes to Sonoma magazine, SevenFifty Daily, Visit California, Northern California Public Media, KQED, and more. Follow her on Bluesky at @winebroad.bsky.social, view her website at tinacaputo.com, and email her story ideas at tina@caputocontent.com.