Taft Street Winery (Sonoma, CA)
Advice on how to get the most out of your travels!
- $5/person
- Walk-in
Great For:
- Intimate experience
- Outdoor music
- Russian River Charm
Overall Rating (4/5)
- $
- Sebastopol, CA
Wine
The wine was fine, nothing remarkable but good, even better once you see the price tag. Given that my husband and I are in Sonoma almost every weekend, we have a very high bar for wine; an average (3/5) rating is actually really good!
| Varietal | Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| White | ||
| Pinot Grigio | $16 | Dry, refreshing white wine with hints of pear |
| Sauvignon Blanc | $18 | Acidic, citrusy, fairly typical Sauv Blanc |
| Chardonnay | $20 | Oak fermented Chard, creamy with a strong finish |
| Rose of Pinot | $18 | My favorite of “light wines” dry and crisp with a fruity nose |
| Red | ||
| Merlot | $20 | My favorite of their reds; well balanced, smooth rich wine with a nice lingering finish |
| Heritage Blend | $24 | Fruity and spicy blend, very drinkable |
| Pinot Noir | $25 | Classic Russian River pinot at one of the lowest price points I’ve seen |
For more details on their wines, their online wine shop offers an academic level of detail about each wine, down to the PH level; perfect place to start training for your Master Somm exam 🙂
I always feel funny saying this but I also really loved the labels! Most wines had cute drawings on them 🙂
Service
Service was very friendly. We came in close to closing time and didn’t feel rushed at all. Our server even gave us a couple of extra pours of wines that he had open.
Grounds
The grounds really have everything! Most of all, the style is true to the spirit of the winery: focuses on simplicity and community. The tasting room itself is tastefully decorated with minimalist modern elegance. If you want to enjoy your wine outdoors, you have the option of the patio or picnic tables.
Outback, the winery has a bocce ball court and an outdoor stage for their summer Sunday music series. In terms of wine scenery, you can wander around the side and see the production area. Also, the winery is located in the heart of vineyard country, views of vines and nature abound in all directions.
Club
The Taft Street President’s Club is a bit different than other wine clubs in that you have the option of customizing your twice a year, six-bottle shipments. Each shipment is $100 on average. Members also enjoy discounts of at least 15% depending on how many bottles are purchased, complimentary tastings and invitations to member only events.
Something that makes Taft Street Special?
I’m a sucker for maps; I spent quite a while gazing at the hand drawn map of the Russian River Valley that Taft had on their wall. This map definitely inspired a craft project that I’m hoping to do for the wall of our Russian River house! To others, probably the thing that makes this winery so special is their summer outdoor concert series.
Where are some of your favorite local tasting experiences?