For some people, sensitivities to histamines or sulfites can put a damper on their enjoyment of wine. That’s where Sol Rei Wine comes in. Set in a charming courtyard off the Sonoma Plaza, the winery specializes in wines low in histamines and without added sulfites.
The story
When Katherine Kitzmiller retired from the tech world, she planned to buy a hobby vineyard. But before she could pull the trigger on a purchase, she developed a sensitivity to wine that threatened to derail her agrarian dream. Instead of giving up, Kitzmiller began sending wine samples to a lab for analysis. She found that histamines and sulfites were the likely culprits. Both occur naturally in wine, but for those with sensitivities, they can lead to headaches (histamines) and asthma-like symptoms (sulfites). At age 63, Kitzmiller put her retirement plans aside to launch a winery devoted to low-histamine wines made without added sulfites.
Kitzmiller had little experience making wine, aside from a yearlong internship at an organic vineyard and winery, so she recruited winemakers Greg and Kyle Stokes, along with Marco Cappelli, as consultants. To keep histamines to a minimum, her team practices careful hygiene in the vineyard and winery to make sure damaged grapes — the kind that can introduce histamine-producing microbes — don’t make it into the wines. Though the wines do contain natural sulfites, the winery doesn’t add any during production.
With a name that means “sun king” in Portuguese, Sol Rei made its debut with the 2023 vintage. The winery sources sustainably and organically farmed grapes from vineyards in Sonoma County, the Sierra Foothills and other appellations. Wines are produced in the Sierra Foothills — the Stokes’ home base.
Sol Rei makes 1,000 cases per year, with a lineup that includes Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Zinfandel, a red blend and a sparkling Blanc de Blancs.
The vibe
Sol Rei sits among the Sonoma Court Shops, with Sosie Wines as a neighbor. Opened in December 2025, the space is bright and appealing, decorated with soft green and earth tones. The room is compact, with comfortable yet chic table and banquette seating.
On the palate
If you have questions about histamines and sulfites in wine, you’re in luck. Sol Rei might be the only tasting room in California with its own wine science educator. Ask away. Or, if chemistry’s not your thing, just sit back and enjoy the wines.
The tasting room offers three flights ($35-$55), with some selections paired with focaccia and olive oil or Syrah-infused truffles from Kollar Chocolates in Napa Valley. Wines are also available by the glass.
The 2024 Private Reserve Red ($52) from the Alta Mesa AVA, a blend of Mencía and Petite Sirah, is fruity and medium-bodied, with plummy notes and soft tannins. Hailing from the Sierra Foothills, the 2023 Syrah ($52) has a dark-fruit profile with appealing savory notes. Bubbles fans will find lots to like with the Organic Blanc de Blanc ($74), made by Penny Gadd-Coster of Breathless Wines fame. Crafted in a subtle, off-dry style, it has a toasty, brioche aroma, a creamy texture and a string of fine bubbles.
As with any wines made without added sulfites, you’ll want to drink these while they’re young. Sulfur dioxide is widely used as a preservative in winemaking, so wines without it tend to have a shorter shelf life.
Beyond the bottle
For some adult-style fun down on the farm, get tickets ($95) to the Summer Bar(n) Crawl. Scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, June 6, the event will be held at Charlie’s Acres Farm Animal Sanctuary in Sonoma. Guests can meet the sanctuary’s rescue animals at each barn while sampling local wines, then sit down to a plant-based barbecue picnic lunch from Nova Terra Kitchen & Creamery. charliesacres.org
Sol Rei Wine, 25 E. Napa St., Suite E, Sonoma. Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Tuesdays. 707-460-2276, solreiwine.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.