Best Russian River Valley Wineries – Spotlight
If you’re looking for the Best Russian River Valley Wineries you’re in the right spot. Wine Routes has years of experience helping locals and tourists discover the best wineries in Sonoma County. The Russian River Valley is home to 200+ wineries that span through the communities of Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Windsor, and Forestville.
Our Best Russian River Wineries tasting itinerary takes you on an adventure through the western stretch of the Russian River Valley, starting at BACA Wines near Healdsburg then South West to Notre Vue, Inman Family Wines, Croix Estate and ending at Hook & Ladder.
Click here to start this Best Russian River Valley Wineries Wine Route.
To start this route, click on the map below. You will get turn-by-turn directions and details about each winery’s offerings. Don’t forget to rate and review the wineries and let us know what you think.
THE BEST RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY WINERIES
BACA Wines – Healdsburg
779 Westside Rd. Healdsburg, CA 95448 – (707-721-8625)
Purchase Wines – Zinfandel – White Blend – Rosé
A 5 minutes drive from downtown Healdsburg along Westside Road sits BACA Wines. When you arrive, you’ll be greeted with a splash of Ring Around the Rosé. All that is left, is to to relax and sip in the views of Dry Creek’s beauty. The tasting room features world class artwork, a knowledgable hospitality team and luxury Zinfandels. Owned by the Hall Family, BACA Wines is a modern Zinfandel producer fostering a sense of adventure and discovery.
BACA Wines sources fruit from prominent vineyards in Calistoga, Russian River, Rockpile, Howell Mountain, and Paso Robles. Utilizing optical sorting, exacting fermentations, and French oak barrel aging, BACA Wines aims to craft wines that reflect a sense of place and climate. The BACA Wines portfolio includes the following Wines: Double Dutch, Cat’s Cradle, Somersault, Home Base, Bleachers, Marbles, Tug O’ War, and I Spy. Additionally, they produce a canned wine called Ring Around the Rosé, also made from Zinfandel.
Insider Tip – BACA Wines has 5 tasting experiences, including the BACA Sensory Experience, Zinfandel & Chocolate Pairing, Varietal Exploration Flight with Artisanal Cheese, and the Current Release Tasting. Experience range in price from $35.00 – $80.00
Notre Vue Estate Winery & Vineyards – Windsor
11010 Estate Ln. Windsor, CA 95492 – (707) 433-4050
Purchase Wines – Champagne, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc
Breathtaking…
There are only a handful of experiences in life that can be described as such – a moment so awe-inspiring that you take pause.
In 1992, we were captivated by just such a moment, as we stood atop a ridge overlooking 710 acres of breathtaking, rolling hills of Sonoma County countryside. This incredible landscape forged over eons would one day fulfill our vision as the Notre Vue Estate. We have established an agrarian heritage through thoughtful determination. The estate vineyards are tenderly cared for and are the foundation for our wines.
Preserving the natural beauty of the land has always been at the heart of our vision. For this reason, the estate includes 350 acres of protected open space land, preserving the beauty of Notre Vue Estate for generations to come. This synergy creates a harmony that supports the abundant wildlife as well as the natural flora and fauna.
Inman Family Wines – Santa Rosa
3900 Piner Rd. Santa Rosa, CA 95401 – (707) 395-0689
Purchase Wines – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Blend-Sparkling, Proprietary Blend, Rose, Pinot Gris
Inman Family Wines is the go-to destination for Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs
Certified “Sonoma Sustainable” since 2016, Inman Family is passionate about growing grapes and making wines as naturally as possible, to ensure they embody not only the pure personality of the fruit, but also the singular character of the place where the grapes are grown.
Renowned for their OGV Estate Pinot Noir and an intentional direct-to-press Endless Crush® Rosé of Pinot Noir, guests are invited to taste wines among the vines, often with the winemaker Kathleen Inman.
In addition to single vineyard Pinot Noirs, Inman Family produces Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Extra Brut Luxe Cuvée, Brut Rosé, and a Blanc de Noir.
Croix Estate – Santa Rosa
5700 River Rd. Santa Rosa, CA 95401 – (707) 887-2703
Purchase Wines – Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Red Rhone Blend, Chardonnay
Croix Estate began with the founding vintage of 2012, followed by the opening of our winery in 2018, and the steadfast continuance to achieve perfection in the glass annually.
The initial concept of Croix was a quixotic collage of random ideas and wines: shock art labels, uncommon grape varieties, uncommon wine regions, no wine made more than one vintage, and on it went from idea to idea, most of which were done, being done, or being re-conceptualized by many others in search of repurposed uniqueness within the winemaking community. Rather than chase a creative, newly used concept, we determined to distill the purpose of Croix Estate into a fundamental pursuit of perfection.
Hook & Ladder Winery – Santa Rosa
2134 Olivet Road Santa Rosa, CA 95401 – (707) 526-2255
Purchase Wines – Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Red Blend, Zinfandel, Rose, Sangiovese
The Next Generation of Russian River Valley Wines
Hook & Ladder Winery continues the legacy of one of Russian River Valley’s most influential wine families. Founded in 2003 by pioneering growers and vintners Cecil and Christine De Loach, and helmed today by their grandson, winemaker Jason De Loach, Hook & Ladder showcases the diversity of the appellation the family helped to define, in a portfolio of limited-production bottling’s from their Russian River Valley estate vineyards. The name Hook & Ladder pays homage to Cecil De Loach’s 17- year career as a San Francisco firefighter.
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