Top Family-Friendly Wineries in Sonoma County

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Top Family-Friendly Wineries in Sonoma County

By Dena Roche May 31, 2022

Today many families are vacationing in Sonoma County, and Mom and Dad don’t want to give up the chance to spend the day tasting the wines that made the area famous just because the kiddos are on the trip too. Thankfully, even though wine might be for adults only, many Sonoma County wineries have estates and tasting rooms that are family-friendly.

Here are our favorite kid-friendly wineries in Sonoma to swirl, sip, and enjoy great wine that not only allow kids, but have a few surprises on property to keep them entertained, too.

Benziger Family Winery
Photo Courtesy of Benziger Family Winery

This family winery uses Biodynamic farming processes to produce award-winning, organic wines. Located in Glen Ellen on Sonoma Mountain, Benziger’s Tractor Tram tour is one of the most kid-friendly vineyard tours in Sonoma County. The 75-minute adventure takes guests on a tractor tour of the vineyard to learn about the sustainable farming processes. Afterwards parents can enjoy a sampling of four limited production wines.

1883 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen, CA 95442, (707) 935-3000

St. Francis Winery
Photo Courtesy of St. Francis Winery

For over 50 years St. Francis Winery & Vineyards has been wowing the wine world. From planting the first merlot grapes in Sonoma Valley, to the certified sustainable wines it makes today, the Santa Rosa estate is a favorite of visitors. Kids will be enchanted with the bell tower on property where a 1,000-pound Italian cast bronze bell rings out on the hour. Children are welcome to accompany parents as they enjoy the classic wine tasting.

100 Pythian Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95409, (888) 675-9463

Seghesio Family Vineyards
Photo Courtesy of Seghesio Family Vineyards

Since planting its first vines in 1895, Seghesio Family Vineyards has been known for some of the top zinfandel in Sonoma County, along with interesting Italian varietals. A family-friendly way to visit the winery is with the Bocce & Bottles experience. Mom and Dad can enjoy a bottle while the family plays a high-stakes game of bocce ball.

700 Grove Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448, (707) 433-3579

Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Photo Courtesy of Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville has created a Hollywood dream wine experience for families. Owned by the iconic movie director, Francis Ford Coppola, the extensive estate offers kid-friendly delights at every turn. Older children will enjoy simply walking through the tasting room looking at all of the movie memorabilia, including an original Tucker automobile, Don Corleone’s desk from the Godfather, and Oscar statues. The family-friendly winery offers a truly unique experience with its pool and cabine reservations. With two swimming pools on the estate, families can book a private cabine that includes pool passes, lounge chairs, and a private shower. The kids can swim and the parents can enjoy a summertime sip of the Sofia rosé.

300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, CA 95441, (707) 857-1471

Imagery Estate Winery
Photo Courtesy of Imagery Estate Winery

A side project of winemaker Joe Benziger, Imagery Estate Winery in Glen Ellen focuses on art and fun. Each bottle is adorned with art commissioned for the winery. While most experiences are reserved for adults only, the kids can tag along for a wine tasting at the bar or during a bottle-service picnic table reservation, available for groups up to eight. After a wine tasting, enjoy the estate’s many kid-friendly outlets, including bocce ball, giant jenga, and cornhole.

14335 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen, CA 95442, (877) 550-4278

Hook & Ladder
Photo Courtesy of Hook & Ladder

Started by San Francisco firefighter Cecil De Loach and his wife Christine, Hook & Ladder pays homage to firefighters worldwide. The Santa Rosa family-friendly winery is known for estate bottlings of pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and Bordeaux blends. Inside the winery the kids will enjoy looking at all the different fire station T-shirts decorating the walls, and outside at the classic red trucks. Bocce ball and cornhole can keep the kids amused while Mom and Dad enjoy an outdoor tasting.

2134 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, (707) 526-2255

DeLoach Vineyards
Photo Courtesy of DeLoach Vineyards

In addition to creating Hook & Ladder, Cecil De Loach founded his namesake vineyard, DeLoach Vineyards. The winery is known as a pioneer producer of pinot noir, chardonnay, and zinfandel in Sonoma County. The family-friendly winery appeals to kids because of its Theater of Nature experience. On this self-guided tour families will wind through the 20-acre organic farm seeing a culinary garden and composting area, and most fun for kids, the vineyards’ chickens, sheep, and goats. For a unique tasting for the adults, select the Burgundy and Sonoma tasting that compares the pinot noir and chardonnay of California to the same grapes grown in France.

1791 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, (707) 755-3300

Buena Vista Winery
Photo Courtesy of Buena Vista Winery

Founded in 1857, Buena Vista Winery is the oldest commercial winery in California and is also one of the most fun for kids to explore. Tours are led by actors in period attire and take visitors to the wine caves and historic wine museum. There’s also a picnic area and hedge maze on property for the little ones to enjoy while the adults belly up to the bar for a tasting or head to the Bubble Lounge to sip some sparklers.

18000 Old Winery Road, Sonoma, CA 95476, (800) 926-1266

Conclusion

With these eight family-friendly wineries in Sonoma, the entire family can enjoy a vacation to California’s beautiful Wine Country. From unique tours to outdoor games, these kid-friendly wineries cater to everyone in the family toasting to making memories in Sonoma.