Want to visit the wineries with the most beautiful gardens and landscaping on your next visit to Sonoma? IntoWine.com has scoured Sonoma County to find the best wineries for group picnics. The list below is in no particular order.
Chateau St. Jean Kenwood - A "must visit" stop on any Sonoma wine tour. As its name implies, Chateau St. Jean has a majestic, stately feel to it. Nestled at the base of a mountain side with beautiful gardens and impressive architecture, it is an ideal place for wine lovers seeking a picture-esque tasting experience. More...
Bartholomew Park Winery Sonoma (City) - Bartholomew Park Winery is -as its name implies- park like. Set in the rolling hills a few miles Northeast of Sonoma Plaza, Bartholomew is quaint, breezy, green, and soaking in Sonoma history. Picnic tables are strewn throughout the grounds making Bartholomew an ideal place for a cozy picnic. Word has it the Wall Street Journal named it Sonoma's best place to "pop the question". More...
Viansa Winery Sonoma (City) - Viansa offers a gourmet Italian style deli to go with the tasting room and the common theme is for visitors to pair great wine with great food. Plenty of picnic tables exist and an expansive green lawn awaits those looking to spend an afternoon sipping wine under the Sonoma sun. Public tastings are offered as are tours. A huge white "tent style building" exists for those looking to host events at Viansa. More....
Cline Cellars Sonoma (City) - An unpretentious old country home, Cline offers expansive picnic areas, a half dozen fountains and pools (no swimming), a bird zoo, and just plenty of beautiful flowers, trees, and plant life to make for a peaceful day at the winery. More...
Gundlach-Bundschu Winery Sonoma (City) - Gundlach-Bundschu Winery is expansive and massive with a big focus on visitors enjoying the surrounding property. Plenty of tables and shelters exist for picnicers. Gundlach-Bundschu is ideal for people seeking a cozy place for a blanket picnic. Hiking trails exist for those looking to explore the grounds or have a more scenic picnic. More....
Buena Vista Winery Sonoma (City) - Just a few minutes from Sonoma Plaza. Buena Vista feels though like it's far away as you traverse a handful of windy dirt roads that seem to be heading nowhere. Were it not for some very well placed signs reassuring you that your GPS isn't broken, you would never think you were heading towards a beautiful winery. Buena Vista feels like a state park with much tree cover and an old country barn feel to it. California's first winery, Buena Vista has a rich history that is well documented on the walls of the tasting room. Plenty of picnic tables are available though not much in terms of open lawn space for blankets. More...
Matanzas Creek Winery Santa Rosa - Scenic and beautiful with the ubiquitous smell of lavender permeating the grounds, Matanzas Creek Winery is a "must visit" for people looking for a great -off the beaten path- tasting experience. More...
Paradise Ridge Winery Santa Rosa - Located in what seems to be your normal, everyday, upscale suburban Santa Rosa neighborhood, Paradise Ridge couldn't be more opposite to the staid confines of its suburban neighbors. The tasting room rests on a hillside and offers an amazing view of the vineyards surrounding it. Family owned since inception, the grounds reflect the passions -wine, art, family- of the Byck clan. Sculptures by local artists are placed throughout the grounds giving the winery the appeal of an outdoor gallery. Better yet, let's call it an art park. Yet nothing is stuffy or pretentious at Paradise Ridge. You can host an elegant wedding reception there as easily as you can lay down a blanket and enjoy a wine and cheese lunch with your significant other. More....
Benziger Family Winery Glen Ellen - Benziger is a must see destination spot for people planning a Sonoma winery tour. Beautiful, with a "Garden of Eden" feel to it, Benziger offers just about everything you can want in a winery experience with great wines, beautiful gardens, grand views, bio-diversity, hourly tours, picnic grounds, and even a playground for the kids. More....
More coming soon.......