Nestled in a lovingly restored 1940s Craftsman, just steps from the Sonoma Plaza, the Lake Sonoma Winery Tasting Room offers simple luxury at its best. An elevated service level that’s unhurried, unpretentious, and engaging reflects the winery’s expertise in providing world-class hospitality. Overseen by Stephen Steiner, a French Laundry & Meadowood alum, the tasting room’s stylish yet cozy lounge interior provides an intimate setting to enjoy their wines indoors. There is also a private tasting room with an adjacent private patio for larger groups (up to 20) or for club members who wish to bring guests to enjoy the beautiful wines of Lake Sonoma.

For those wanting an al fresco experience, make yourself comfortable on the deck complete with firepits for wine tasting on cooler days. This shaded area offers guests the option to taste five wines from their lineup of locally grown varietals or you can enjoy wines by-the-glass (or bottle) along with a delicious cheese & charcuterie board. Along with most of Sonoma’s businesses, Lake Sonoma Winery is pet friendly so leashed dogs are welcome outside during your visit.  

Insider Tip: The best way to access the tasting room is to park on the west side of the Plaza (on 1st St W) and enter along the alleyway between the Fairmont Gallery and Sign of the Bear Kitchenware.

Winemaker Sessions

Every Thursday in October, join Winemaker Jaime (“JJ”) Dowell as she steps away from the vineyards for a few hours to host a new series of Winemaker Sessions in the tasting room. JJ’s impressive wine career includes winemaking roles in the Napa Valley with Round Pond Estate and Alpha Omega Winery as well as Bonny Doon Vineyards in Santa Cruz and even further afield at the famed Villa Maria Estate in Blenheim, New Zealand. Stop by from 4:30 to 6 p.m. to sip on JJ’s personal selection of award-winners, library wines, and new releases while she shares the up-to-the-minute happenings of harvest, her winemaking philosophies, and favorite food pairings for each of the wines. It’s your opportunity to hear directly from the expert–whether you’re a novice or wine geek–all questions are encouraged to learn more about Lake Sonoma’s vineyards and wines. Reservations for all tastings are on Tock: exploretock.com/lakesonomawinery.

With JJ at the helm of their boutique collection of wines, the awards for their wines made with hand-selected fruit from the prestigious sub-appellations of Sonoma County keep coming in. Most recently, the winery received top marks at the San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition winning a Gold Medal for their 2019 Lazy Dog Vineyard Malbec [The Tasting Panel 93pts]. Bright and well structured, this fruit-forward wine shows blackberry fruit with savory notes and big tannins for a full finish [$45/750ml]. Other medalists and high-point scorers are their
2019 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon [$55/750ml] and 2018 Sonoma County Boar’s Blood Red Blend
[94 points The Tasting Panel [$60/750ml]. Coming soon: new releases of 2021 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and 2019 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Perks of Being a Member

Join the wine club to receive notification of new releases and access to the winemaker’s preferred selection of seasonal and limited production wines. Your all-access pass to Lake Sonoma wines includes priority status at pick-up parties and winery events. Members enjoy complimentary tastings in the Tasting Room and can fully customize their shipments at  all levels. Bonus: Take 50% off shipping charges on 6-bottle club orders and 12-bottle memberships receive penny shipping ($0.01) on club orders. More information on Lake Sonoma’s Wine Club at lakesonomawinery.com/wine-club.

Click here for reservations.