Wineries near Nicasio

“Too much heavy-handed focus on guests spending money in their Star Wars gift store. First 2 wine pours we had while standing and with guide narrating. Next were seated pours of only 2 reds with a tasty charcuterie board that we were not allowed time to finish in order to press on to the the museum tour and gift store. We were told we could wrap the snacks in a napkin and hide somewhere if we wanted to finish the food outside these buildings. Tacky when we were tasting $77 wines. The guide and 2 trainees handed us all shopping baskets to fill at the gift store. We did not. Go for the great Star Wars art museum with great guide, if possible but skip the wine tasting. Also, their wine is not cheap. Maybe you're paying for their Skywalker bottle logos too???“

“First time. Stopped in for a glass while I was waiting on my daughter. They were just opening up but very welcoming and gracious. The Rose’ I had was very nice. Will be back.“

“Great vibe, good beer and wine, fun venue for live music.“

“Santori Wine is truly a remarkable experience with breathtaking scenery. What we truly loved is the wide range of remarkable red wines with full body that can be enjoyed at any occasion. The Sangiovese and Zinfandel are huge favorites but John's Super T Nappa Valley and the Cabernet are not to be missed! Thank you so very much for your artistry and hospitality!“

“Stubbs Vineyards is high on a mountain top just over the Marin County line from the town of Petaluma. Winds stream in off the Pacific through this region the way they flow into San Francisco most afternoons, laden with a dominant marine layer and the chill off the Pacific. There are really only two wines that thrive in this climate. In fact, by comparison, the famous Napa/Sonoma Carneros Appellation is a good deal warmer. The soil here is rich and imparts the kinds of qualities you would expect to find in finest areas of Burgundy.We were actually looking for something unique, within an hours drive of downtown Sonoma's Plaza and as I combed through listings of small wineries near Petaluma, California I clicked on the Stubbs Vineyard website, which is ironically not in Sonoma County, OR Petalums.Mary Stubbs and her husband purchased the property in the 1980s without a single structure on it. They set about building their home on the property from scratch. The architectural wonder of the structures they created capture perfectly the feel of the land around it.Stubbs is perched, high atop magnificent hills west and south of Petaluma and the few buildings perched high in the hills match the soul of these vast rolling hills. Yet the wines captured us more.Mary Stubbs is the driving force behind this very small winery. Stubbs Vineyard's biggest year was about 2,700 cases. Yet you will find their magnificent, Burgundian style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the finest restaurants in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. For the many who have fallen away from Chardonnay in favor of Sauvignon Blanc, you are in for a pleasant surprise with the more clean, mineral-centric white burgundy style Mary's winemaker has delivered.Even without the wine, a visit to this bucolic space is breathtaking. But, Oh, the wine. But plan ahead.Mary can only offer limited tasting opportunities because she is also does her own sales and marketing and is often in personal touch with the host of restaurants fortunate enough to be able to offer Stubbs Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Do plan early if you want the opportunity to taste her wines and visit this incomparable boutique winery or check the many great restaurants who offer Stubbs Wines in the Bay Area.Mary's passion is broadcast beautifully by the quality of the product she produces. Her grapes are grown sustainably. Power for the vineyards are generated with wind and solar technology. Her grapes are organic. She only uses grapes from her own small vineyard plots and they are perfectly positioned to produce these two grapes in a way our wonderful Sonoma Carneros Region can't match.“