Wine Tasting with Petaluma Style

When in doubt, wine it out at Petaluma’s outstanding wine-tasting venues

Petaluma’s rolling hills, river, and proximity to the coast are perfect for wine grapes. Petaluma even has its own AVA (American Viticultural Area). Learn about the Petaluma Gap, then come taste its unique, fog-kissed wines at a tasting room in Petaluma, or find them on your dinner menu. Here is a sampling of some of the wine tasting experiences that await you in this Sonoma County river town.

Right in historic downtown, near Petaluma’s riverfront is the exceptional Adobe Road Winery; partake in sips of high-quality, expressive wines. Be sure to ask to taste one of their many wines that have earned 90 points or higher from Wine Spectator. Adobe Road’s new tasting room and event center will open in 2025.

In the heart of downtown on Petaluma Boulevard, Black Knight Vineyards is perfect for lovers of pinot noir and estate sparkling wines, produced from fruit grown on the 140-year-old estate.

For something a little different, Sonoma Portworks is the only winery in Sonoma County that specializes in ports and after-dinner wines. Experience a flight of the cellar’s finest wines and grappa on their new umbrella-covered patio.

Or explore the best of local and international wines at Petaluma’s tasting rooms. La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge features an extensive international wine list while serving up a tasty menu of paninis and pizzas at their outdoor tables in Theatre Square. Vine & Barrel is sure to dazzle even the most discerning of wine aficionados with its massive collection of more than 600 wine bottles on display. Purchase a bottle, then bring it to a street-side table to pair it with some tantalizing tapas.

Well-traveled folk often say Petaluma reminds them of Tuscany. Nestled in the hills about 15 minutes west of town, McEvoy Ranch with 18,000 tress is the largest producer of Tuscan-style, estate-grown olive oil in the US. Sample their oil, taste their distinctive wines from Petaluma Gap vineyards, or shop their outdoor market. Want some wine with your cheese? Marin French Cheese is another 30 minutes out, but is a tasting experience all its own with award-winning cheeses and a picnic area by a pond.

If you stay at Hotel Petaluma, you’ll be perfectly positioned to enjoy the wines of the husband and wife team who are Barber Cellars. Lorraine and Mike pour award-winning wines in their tasting room in the Petaluma Cheese shop adjacent to the delightful Hotel Petaluma courtyard. And it’s perfect for a wine and cheese tasting.

Head out to the countryside just north of Petaluma for a picnic and a bottle of wine at Karah Estate Vineyard. The 35-acre winery specializes in estate-grown Burgundy-style pinot noir and smaller-batch estate chardonnay.

Overlooking the Petaluma River, Keller Estate Winery offers one-hour tastings and tours of the estate’s wine cave. Be sure to make reservations.

Plan ahead for a unique wine tasting adventure

Red, white, blush, or port, you’ll find the perfect wine with an inviting atmosphere and/or spectacular view at Petaluma’s wineries and tasting rooms. While some tasting rooms don’t require a reservation, the very best way to guarantee your perfect wine tasting experience is to call ahead and make reservations. Many wineries and tasting rooms have a menu of various experiences and hours can very by season. For a full list of wineries with addresses and phone numbers, see our printable resources page.