10 Best Sights in Kenwood, Napa and Sonoma

Sommeliers, critics, and collectors extol the Pinot Noirs and Cabernet Sauvignons of Csaba Szakál, En Garde's Hungarian-born winemaker and owner. To create what he describes as "aromatic, complex, lush, and juicy" wines, Szakál selects top Sonoma County vineyards for the Pinots and the Napa Valley's Diamond Mountain, Mt. Veeder, and other high-elevation sites for the Cabernets. Not afraid to heavy up the oak on the Cabernets, he nevertheless achieves elegance as well. The winemaker is equally precise about hiring staffers for his modest highway's-edge tasting room along Kenwood's brief commercial strip. Well-acquainted with his goals and methods, they provide a wealth of knowledge about wine making and California viticulture. If you're lucky, Szakál will be around to discuss his wines (he loves to), which also include Chardonnay, other whites, and rosé of Pinot Noir. Visits are by reservation, with same-day appointments sometimes possible.

Olive trees ring the outdoor wine garden attracting most of the action at Greg and Lindsay Hamilton's joyful roadside tasting room. The couple—he's from Scotland, she's a Californian—started their journey as vintners making garage wine together. These days, Sonoma Valley native Jess Wade crafts a sparkling blanc de noirs, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, a GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) blend, and The Phoenix, a lush mix of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. The last wine's name refers to Greg and Lindsay's rise from the ashes of the home they lost in the 2017 Wine Country fires. Though a calamity, the Hamiltons credit the blaze with spurring them to achieve more quickly their goal of establishing a wine brand. Hamilton Family Wines is next to Vaughn Duffy Wines; the two operations pair well as examples of newer first-generation labels.

In 2009, after participating in various aspects of the wine business—working in tasting rooms, as a harvest intern, at a wine shop, and at a custom-crush wine-making facility—Matt Duffy bought a ton of Pinot Noir grapes and launched Vaughn Duffy with his wife, Sara Vaughn. That first Pinot Noir, from a Sonoma coast source, garnered positive reviews. Since then, the two have added several Pinot Noir blends and single-vineyard bottlings to their lineup, along with Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, rosé of Pinot Noir, and Carignane, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah reds. All the wines are reasonably priced given the quality. At the label's small tasting space (with patio), you'll likely hear the inspiring Vaughn Duffy story firsthand from one of its amiable namesake owners.

The stylish roadside tasting room of this producer of small-lot reds sits on the valley floor, but owner Brion Wise's winery and vineyards occupy prime acreage high in the Moon Mountain District AVA. The winery made its name crafting big, bold Cabernets, later introducing Pinot Noirs from Sonoma County and Oregon's Willamette Valley. The lineup also includes Chardonnay, a rosé of Pinot Noir that quickly sells out, and the Cabernet-heavy blend Trios, whose grapes, all from the estate, include Bordeaux red grapes plus Syrah and Tannat. There's also a Napa Valley version of Trios. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, but walk-ins are often accommodated. A tasting here may whet your appetite for a visit to the estate, done by appointment only.

Winemaker Robert Rex of Deerfield produces "clean wines"—low in histamines and sulfites—the better to eliminate the headaches and allergic reactions some red-wine drinkers experience. Rex accomplishes this with no loss of flavor or complexity: his wines are bold and fruit-forward, with a long finish. To sip ones that include several Bordeaux-style reds, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and the White Rex white blend, guests walk deep into a 23,000-square-foot cave for a seated tasting in a relaxed, loungelike space. Reservations are required.

Some of the best Kenwood wines—Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and a red blend—are made from Sonoma Mountain AVA grapes the winery farms on the author Jack London's old vineyard. Kenwood, established in 1970, is best known for these wines and its widely distributed Sauvignon Blanc. Since its purchase by France's Pernod Ricard, new to the brand are the top-of-the-line The Barn Chardonnay and The Barn Pinot Noir, whose labels depict the 1906 barn, still in use, erected by the property's original vintners. Tastings are by appointment, though last-minute weekday visits are usually possible.

Founded by its namesake family more than a century ago, this Sonoma Valley operation prides itself on producing 100% estate wines from its 1,850-acre property, which rises 1,400 feet from the valley floor. Kunde's whites, the winery's best offerings, include several Chardonnays and a Sauvignon Blanc, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and a Zinfandel from 1880s vines among the reds. Reservations are required; call ahead for same-day visits. The Mountain Top Tasting, a vineyard tour by luxury van to a tree-shaded ridge with broad valley views, ends with a sampling of reserve wines. It's offered mid-spring–mid-fall.

The Normandy-style castle visible from the highway was intended as winery owner Steve Ledson's family home when construction began in 1989, but this 16,000-square-foot space has always been a production facility and hospitality center. Pourers stationed amid a warren of tasting rooms introduce guests to the several dozen mostly single-varietal wines Ledson makes, everything from Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon to Rhône varietals such as Syrah and Mourvèdre. The on-site Marketplace sells salads, sandwiches, artisanal cheeses, and other edibles you can enjoy on the picnic grounds (no outside food, though).

Nestled at the foot of Mt. Hood, St. Francis has earned national acclaim for its pairings of wines and small bites. With its bell tower, red-tile roof, and views of the Mayacamas Mountains to the east, the winery's California Mission–style visitor center occupies one of Sonoma County's most scenic locations. The charm of the surroundings is matched by the wines, among them Cabernet Sauvignon and rich, earthy Zinfandels from the Dry Creek, Russian River, and Sonoma Valleys. The five-course pairings might include Chardonnay with lobster bisque or Cabernet Sauvignon with wine-braised beef ribs.

This Tuscan-inspired courtyard marketplace with tasting spaces and food shops is a fine spot to sip wines, enjoy a pizza or a deli sandwich, and just relax. Mostly from Italian varietals, the wines are, like the complex, less rustic than in the old country and clearly adapted for contemporary American tastes. This isn't always a negative: the best wines—the Barbera, the Sangiovese, and the Montepulciano—are lively and clean on the palate. Reservations are required for seated tastings. For gourmet dolci, check out the Wild Truffle Boutique, which sells Italian gelato and artisanal truffles and other confections.