Whether you're a Wine Country visitor on a Thanksgiving getaway or a local looking to get away from relatives, there are plenty of winery tasting rooms that are open this Thursday.
Benovia Winery, Santa Rosa: Benovia has been producing estate pinot noir, chardonnay and zinfandel in the Russian River Valley for over ten years. Tastings take place in a former ranch home, with fireside tastings available (perfect for a chilly Thanksgiving Day) and views of their estate Martaella Ranch vineyard, which is named after the founders' mothers. Open for 10 a.m. Spark Notes tasting and 10:30 a.m. Estate tasting on Thanksgiving Day, 707-921-1040, benoviawinery.com.
B.R. Cohn, Glen Ellen: Founded in 1984 by Bruce Cohn, the manager of the rock band the Doobie Brothers, B.R. Cohn offers tastings of their vast portfolio of wines, as well as estate olive oils and balsamic vinegars. The tasting room is located in a former ranch home, built in 1920, and includes a display of music memorabilia from Cohn's music career. Open for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. tasting appointments on Thanksgiving Day, 707-938-4064, 15000 Sonoma Hwy, Glen Ellen, brcohn.com. (Courtesy photo)
Castello di Amorosa, Calistoga: One of the most famous properties in Wine Country, Castello di Amorosa is a tasting room and winery built as a 13th century Tuscan castle. Serving Italian wine varietals, tasting experiences include a tour of the castle (nothing says "Thanksgiving" like a Middle Ages torture chamber) and a private tasting of wines. Family friendly. Open from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, 707-967-6272, 4045 Saint Helena Hwy, Calistoga, castellodiamorosa.com.
Cline Cellars, Sonoma: Sustainably farmed and family-owned since 1982, Cline Cellars offers wines for every palate, including Rhône varietals from 100-year-old vines, day drinking chardonnay and single vineyard zinfandel. Tastings take place at their historic farmhouse and tours are offered of the property, which includes a visit to the barrel room, the California Missions Museum, and a meet and greet with the estate farm animals. Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, 707-940-4044, 24737 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, clinecellars.com.
Clos Pegase Winery, Calistoga: Design meets wine at Clos Pegase Winery. Their Calistoga winery was designed by famous architect Michael Graves, in a Postmodern style. Get a glass of wine in their tasting room and wander the eco-friendly gardens, or make a reservation for a cave tour, which offers tastings in their 20,000 square foot wine cave. Open 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, 707-942-4981, 1060 Dunaweal Ln., Calistoga, clospegase.com.
Cosentino Winery, Napa: In 1989, Cosentino created The Poet, the first designated Meritage blend wine in the United States. Producing primarily Bordeaux varietal wines, Cosentino wines are reasonably priced. Their patio was recently renovated and includes a fireplace and lounge-like atmosphere. Open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, 707-921-2848, 7415 Saint Helena Highway, Napa, cosentinowinery.com. (Courtesy photo)
Del Dotto Estate, St. Helena: One of three Del Dotto family wineries, Del Dotto Estate in St. Helena serves as a tribute to the family's Venetian heritage. Best known for their cabernet sauvignon, Del Dotto sources fruit from a variety of Napa Valley vineyards, and a touch from Sonoma County. Opt for the cave experience, which guides guests through the winery's expansive caves and offers barrel tastings and food pairings. Open by appointment from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, 707-963-2134, 1445 St. Helena Hwy, St. Helena, deldottovineyards.com.
Elizabeth Spencer Winery, Rutherford: This winery is located in the heart of Napa Valley in a historic post office built in 1872 in the village of Rutherford. Owned by husband and wife team Elizabeth Pressler and Spencer Graham, the winery produces primarily Bordeaux varietals with a touch of grenache, pinot noir and syrah. They offer four types of tastings, including their reserve wines and an educational blind tasting. Open for signature tastings at 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, 707-963-6067, 1165 Rutherford Rd., Rutherford, elizabethspencerwinery.com.
Girard Winery, Yountville: Cabernet sauvignon rules at Girard, which was founded in 1975. The tasting room, located in downtown Yountville, offers one-on-one tastings with staff, including one entirely devoted to cabernet sauvignon, featuring five cabernets from fruit grown throughout Napa Valley. For those seeking other options, they also offer plenty of chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, and viognier. Open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, 707-968-9297, 6795 Washington St., Yountville, girardwinery.com.
Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, Sonoma: Owned by the Cline family, Jacuzzi represents the family's Italian heritage with sustainably farmed Italian wine varietals and cabernet sauvignon. Their tasting room is an elegant, Italianate-style property with a piazza with vineyard views that will transport you to Italy. Jacuzzi is also home to the Olive Press, an olive oil producer and custom crush for locals who grow their own olives. Open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, 707-931-7576, 24724 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, jacuzziwines.com. (Courtesy photo)
K Squared Cellars, Windsor: Named after winemaker and owner Andrew Moore's two children, Kaylie and Kyle, K Squared Cellars produces rosé, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, merlot, and zinfandel from Russian River and Dry Creek Valley. Their intimate, appointment-only tastings take place in a working winery, surrounded by barrels aging fine wine. Open from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. by appointment on Thanksgiving Day, (707) 687-3300, ksquaredcellars.com. (Courtesy photo)
Pax Mahle Wines, Sebastopol: Taste some of the North Coast's finest syrahs and less common grapes (think trousseau gris and valdiguié) in a cozy, urban tasting room. Open for wine tastings at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. 6780 McKinley St #170, Sebastopol, 707-331-1393, paxwine.com. (Photo courtesy of Pax Mahle)
Lauterbach Cellars: A labor of love by retirees Stew Lauterbach and his wife Barbara Swary, Lauterbach Cellars has been producing Pinot Noir and Syrah, including sparkling wine and rosés, since 2000. A boutique production, they produce wines from their 10.8 acres of sustainably grown vineyards. Tastings at Lauterbach are intimate experiences, with an educational tour of the small winery, a barrel tasting, “sometimes some blending,” and a plentiful amount of wine to enjoy. Open by appointment from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, 707-578-0537, 3420 Woolsey Rd., Windsor, lauterbachcellars.com.
Sonoma Coast Vineyards, Bodega Bay: If a trip to the Sonoma Coast is in the plans this Thanksgiving, then Sonoma Coast Vineyards (SCV) is a must-visit. Using grapes from five Sonoma Coast vineyards, most of which are very small and mere miles from the ocean, SCV produces sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and pinot noir. Their tasting room is nestled on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, 707-921-2860, 555 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, sonomacoastvineyards.com. (Courtesy photo)
Swanson Vineyards, Rutherford: Francophiles will appreciate the offerings at Swanson, which include tastings of rosé, cabernet sauvignon, and sweet dessert wines in the Parisian salon-inspired tasting room. Appointment only, Swanson's tastings include food pairings and chocolate accompaniments in a colorful setting surrounded by French antiques. Open by appointment from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, 707-754-4018, swansonvineyards.com. (Courtesy photo)
The Flight Deck, Healdsburg: Whether you're seeking a pre-game splash before Thanksgiving dinner or you want to spend an afternoon exploring wines from throughout Northern California, the Flight Deck has got you covered. Wine guides serve flights based on appellation and varietal, and custom flights based on your tastes, all for $20. All the wines are from the wine bar's mother company, Vintage Wine Estates, which includes Girard, Viansa, Middle Sister, Windsor Vineyards, and Clos Pegase. Call ahead and see if there are special offerings, such as weekly food pairings (popcorn and bubbles, or zinfandel and cupcakes). Open for tastings at 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, 707-921-2893, 308B Center St., Healdsburg, theflightdeckhb.com.
Ty Caton Vineyards, Kenwood: Small, family-owned Ty Caton Vineyards welcomes guests to tastings in their unpretentious, Kenwood tasting room. If the weather is nice, sit on the patio for your tasting of sauvignon blanc, cabernet, syrah and malbec. Be sure to try Ty's estate olive oil and mustards. Open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, 707-938-3224, 8910 Sonoma Hwy 12, Kenwood, tycaton.com. (Courtesy photo)
V. Sattui Winery, St. Helena: Founded in 1899 in San Francisco by Italian immigrants, V. Sattui relocated to Napa Valley in 1976 to produce Italian-inspired wines. Today, they make a wide variety of wines, ranging from chardonnay to cabernet - even sparkling and dessert wine. Various tastings are offered, including fireside and al fresco tastings. You can also pick up a panini or some pasta from their onsite deli for a picnic on the grounds. Open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, 707-963-7774, 1111 White Ln., St. Helena, vsattui.com.
Viansa Sonoma, Sonoma: Viansa is one of the first wineries to greet Sonoma Valley visitors from San Francisco. Originally founded by members of the Sebastiani family, an iconic name in winemaking, tastings are offered daily at their tasting bar. They also offer private tastings, including fireside food and wine pairings, and al fresco tastings overlooking the valley. Open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, 800-995-4740, 25200 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, viansa.com.
Whether you’re a Wine Country visitor on a Thanksgiving getaway or a local looking to get away from relatives, there are plenty of winery tasting rooms that are open this Thursday. A Thanksgiving visit to Sonoma and Napa wineries is also a good excuse to start your Black Friday shopping early and bring home bottled gifts (to yourself, or someone equally deserving of a special treat). Click through the gallery for details.
