I t wasn’t too long ago that most wineries offered free tastings, but as the crowds grew, so did the prices. Now it’s not uncommon to be standing at a busy winery counter in the middle of summer holding your glass forward for the next pour of a $35 flight while you ask your friends, “What wine are we drinking now?”
It might seem hard to believe, but it’s still possible to plan an entire trip to wine country without having to pay for a single tasting. You heard that right: no gimmicks, no coupons, just good wine for free — that is, if you plan it right.
Many of the places on this list are family run — the kinds of wineries where the tasting host is apt to be the owner, and the wine tells a story of the landscape, the winemaking process and the varietals. So stay a while, explore the grounds, and grab a bottle for later.
Korbel Champagne Cellars
Just outside Guerneville, Korbel features an extensive menu of bubbly, which makes choosing your four free pours a difficult feat. The summer crowds can also be difficult — your best bet is to go in the off-season, which provides a great opportunity to chat up the hospitable tasting-room staff and learn tips like this: there are actually two free tastings at Korbel. Start with the main tasting room, and then take the cave tour through their cellars, which features history on the winery, a short lecture on how the champagne process has changed throughout the years and a peek at the largest champagne bottle. The tour ends back at the tasting-room deck, where you get yet another free tasting. And after all the bubbly, we suggest you buy your designated driver lunch at their cafe.
Jacuzzi Family Vineyards
Yes, as in the hot tub. A family of many talents, this winery outside of the town of Sonoma sits among Instagrammable vineyards and offers five free pours for any group of five or less. But you’ll want to make sure to stash at least $5 in your pocket for a different sort of wine tasting: the chocolate wine shot. Consisting of a wine of your choosing in a chocolate shell, this shot is flavorful, just a little weird and totally worth it.
And after all the wine swishing and shooting, you may be a little buzzed, so head to the adjacent building for an olive-oil tasting. The Olive Press is an award-winning olive-oil producer, and this business deserves a visit on its own accord; it’s just good luck that it’s next door to a winery.
Cline Cellars
Just down the street from Jacuzzi, Cline Cellars offers a variety of reds and whites, but it’s the grounds that make this place a stand-out. It’s spread out across 350 acres, and the free tour touches on only a portion of the estate but manages to bring you past the barrel room, an old railroad car, aviaries, extensive gardens, six ponds and a museum that features very familiar subject matter to anyone who grew up in California — missions. Maybe you haven’t thought about the missions since you were in the fourth grade, but the museum features all 21 missions made for the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in 1939. After the tour, make your way to the tasting room for five free pours, and definitely don’t skip the Zin.
Francis Ford Coppola Winery
While Coppola Winery features an array of paid tastings, they also offer two free pours of their Rosso & Bianco wines. But this Geyserville winery is much more than a tasting room, and it’s best to make a day of it if you can. First, if you’re visiting between April and October, don’t go without a reservation at the pool. And here’s an insider tip: reserve as early as possible — they open reservation times in April for non-members — for one of their poolside cabines, which offer amenities like a private shower and complimentary cans of Sofia. After the pool, grab a bite at Rustic, play a game of bocce ball, and visit the movie gallery. The film-centric mini museum features Oscars, costumes, scripts and props from an array of Coppola films, and is a must-stop for any Godfather fan.
Rodney Strong Vineyards
This Healdsburg winery is definitely one to visit during the off-season, when you won’t need a weekend reservation or have to deal with the crowds in the barrel room or at the tasting counter. Experiencing the winery without crowds allows for a much more leisurely tasting of their free Sonoma County Wine Tasting; but if you want to keep sipping, go for the $10 Estate Wine Tasting, which features small-batch wines. And if you happen to visit when the weather’s nice, grab a bottle and picnic supplies from the tasting room and hang out on their lawn for the rest of the afternoon.
J. Rickards Vineyards & Winery
If you’ve ever wanted to learn about winemaking, this is the place to start. The family running this Cloverdale winery will gladly answer all your wine-related questions while generously pouring their reds and whites. This winery is also a good place to stop for lunch — if you’ve thought ahead and ordered one of their delicious box lunches. Either way, the mellow vibes and valley views form a stunning backdrop against which to relax with a bottle of rosé.
Merry Edwards Winery
If you’ve never experienced a private tasting, this is the place to do it. Make a reservation for a group of eight or less, and you’ll get the VIP treatment (for free). The private tasting allows for a more in-depth conversation with your host, and you get to learn about the winery’s history and the chemistry of the winemaking. But if you don’t make a reservation, you can still score a spot at their Sebastopol tasting-room counter, which is more likely to have room for drop-ins during the week or off-season. And while their tastings are free, their wines are not, so definitely be prepared to shell out some cash if that Russian River red is just too good to not bring home.
Sunce Winery & Vineyards
A laid-back winery, this tasting room outside of Santa Rosa is reminiscent of the backyard you wish you had, complete with vineyard views, a bocce ball court, picnic tables and a resident dog. With five free tastings and reasonably priced bottles, Sunce will make you want to spend the whole day there, and that’s exactly what many people do — pop a couple of bottles, nosh on sandwiches and hang out until the early evening. But if you can’t make it out to the vineyards, they also have a tasting room in downtown Healdsburg and one in Kenwood, at which they pour all the same wines for free.
Locals Tasting Room
Featuring wines from small family-owned wineries, this downtown Geyserville spot is sure to introduce you to an array of new wines with their extensive tasting list — and I mean extensive. With a list that’s upwards of 70 wines long, you should let the staff know what you do and don’t like, as they’re knowledgeable about each varietal on the menu. And since it’s not uncommon to try upwards of 10 different wines while you’re here, we suggest this as a good stopping point. Not only is it open later than many other wineries, but also it’s located next to a great pizzeria — Diavola.
Fat Grape Winery
While most of the wineries on this list are located in wine country proper, this last winery is the only one that can be visited via Muni. Located in an old naval brig on Treasure Island, Fat Grape Winery features free pours of sulfite-free wines in a laid-back atmosphere, with perhaps the friendliest tasting-room staff you’ll ever meet.
And while the other six wineries on Treasure Island charge a tasting fee, they’re worth a visit too. Make a day of it by bringing your bike, which will allow you to move quickly among the wineries dotting the island.
