North Russian River Valley

Albini Family Vineyards is one of Sonoma's smallest bonded operations, a Windsor family estate making 275 to 500 cases a year of unfiltered Merlot and Zinfandel from their Russian River vineyards. Don and Lynne Albini do every step by hand. The most uncompromised garagiste experience in the county.

A small Latina-owned family estate on the volcanic hillsides above Santa Rosa, in the Fountaingrove District AVA. Winemaker Belén Ceja produces about 1,500 cases a year, anchored by an estate Cabernet Sauvignon with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, rosé of Cabernet, and a Bordeaux-style red blend. Poured from Bacchus Landing in Healdsburg.

Founded in 2002 by Al and Janis McWilliams, who bought the 36-acre Westside Road estate in 2004 and planted it in 2006. Winemaker Matt Courtney joined in 2013 after a decade at Marcassin; sons Mark and Ben now run the business. Native ferment, unfined and unfiltered, in a Japanese-garden setting.

The Bacigalupi family has farmed Westside Road since 1956, when Charles and Helen, a dentist and pharmacist, bought the Goddard Ranch. Their 1964 Wente-clone Chardonnay went into the 1973 Chateau Montelena that won the 1976 Paris Tasting. The estate label launched in 2011; four generations farm under winemaker Ashley Herzberg.

Three sisters founded Breathless as a tribute to their mother, crafting méthode champenoise sparkling wine just off the Healdsburg plaza. Winemaker Penny Gadd-Coster guides the cuvées, poured as seated flights in an Art Deco tasting room built from reclaimed shipping containers — with sabrage lessons and a garden patio.

Founded by the Hanson family in 2017; 'bricoleur' is French for a handyman who builds something thoughtful from what's at hand. Tom Pierson took over as head winemaker in late 2025, with co-winemaker Bob Cabral. Pond-side pavilions, bocce, and gardens feed a six-course menu under Charlie Palmer's direction. Reservation only.

Founded in 1965 by Davis Bynum, the first winery on Westside Road. Bynum bottled the first single-vineyard Russian River Pinot Noir, the 1973 Rochioli, and helped establish the appellation. Sold to the Klein family in 2007, with winemaker Greg Morthole leading since 2010. Tastings now pour at Rodney Strong.

Founded in 1896 by Giovanni Foppiano, a Genoa Gold Rush immigrant. The family survived Prohibition selling winemaking kits; a 1926 raid dumped 100,000 gallons into a creek. In 1967 Louis J. Foppiano released the first commercial Petite Sirah, the house's longtime anchor. Sold to Courtney Benham's CMB Wines in 2024.

Founded in 1982 by Gary Farrell, assistant to Davis Bynum and Rochioli collaborator, who built the glass-walled winery on a Westside Road hillside in 2000. Farrell sold in 2004; now owned by Bill Price (Three Sticks, Durell, Gap's Crown) and Vincraft. Director of Winemaking Theresa Heredia has led since 2012.

David Hirsch planted his ridge above Fort Ross in 1980, among the first to see that extreme coastal sites could grow great Pinot Noir. The estate is now regarded as the birthplace of the true Sonoma Coast style, a 72-acre vineyard along the San Andreas Fault. Daughter Jasmine now leads.

Founded in 1882 by Czech immigrants Francis, Anton, and Joseph Korbel, the Guerneville estate has been the Heck family's home since 1954. One of America's oldest operating sparkling-wine houses, Korbel sits on 600 acres along the lower Russian River, its brick winery and rose garden listed on the National Register.

Founded in 1974 by Damaris Deere Ford — great-great-granddaughter of John Deere — Landmark is best known for Burgundian-varietal whites and Pinots. The Russian River tasting room at Hop Kiln Estate, acquired in 2016, occupies a National Historic Landmark 1905 stone hop kiln on Westside Road.

Founded by Baron Ziegler (also of Banshee Wines) and winemaker Rob Fischer, Marine Layer opened its downtown Healdsburg tasting room in 2021. The label sources Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from cool, fog-influenced Sonoma Coast sites: Petaluma Gap, Gap's Crown, Sebastopol Hills, Green Valley, Occidental, and the estate Marine Layer Vineyard.

The Martinelli family has farmed the Russian River Valley since Giuseppe and Luisa Martinelli planted vineyards in the late 1800s, after emigrating from Tuscany. Today the family makes Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Syrah from estate vineyards including the legendary 60-degree Jackass Hill Zinfandel block. Tasting room on River Road.

A 710-acre estate straddling North Russian River Valley and Chalk Hill, with 350 acres preserved as Forever Wild. The vineyards trace to 1972, first planted as Balverne; Bob Stein acquired it in 1991 and launched the Notre Vue label in 2017. Block 23 Terrace and Lakeside Pavilion overlook the vines.

Founded in 1996 by veteran winemaker David Ramey and Carla Ramey after stints at Matanzas Creek, Chalk Hill, Dominus, and Rudd, the label is known for low-intervention Burgundian Chardonnay and Bordeaux-influenced Cabernet. Now run by son Alan and Claire Ramey, with David still consulting. Tasting room on Healdsburg Avenue.

Joe Rochioli Sr. came to Westside Road in 1938, and son Joe Jr. planted the seminal West Block of Pinot Noir in 1968, among the first Pinot vines in the Russian River. Founded as a winery in 1976, Rochioli is run by third-generation Tom Rochioli, winemaker since 1985. Allocation only.

The Rockpile AVA has no public tasting infrastructure, so the Wilson Artisan Wineries family brought the wines down off the mountain. The lounge sits in downtown Healdsburg, steps from the Plaza, pouring Rockpile-AVA flights from the 800-acre mountaintop ranch above Lake Sonoma. Zinfandel-driven, with Bordeaux and Petite Sirah folded in.

Founded in 1999 by Daniel Duncan as a sister winery to Silver Oak, Twomey expanded beyond Napa Cabernet into Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Merlot from Sonoma, Mendocino, and Oregon. The Westside Road tasting room sits on a 109-acre Russian River estate. Winemaker Nate Weis leads. Seated tastings by reservation.

Founded in 1979 by amateur winemakers Burt Williams and Ed Selyem in Forestville, Williams Selyem became the most coveted Pinot Noir mailing list by the mid-1990s. Sold to John Dyson in 1998, it moved to a Westside Road estate in 2010. Jeff Mangahas has led the cellar since 2011.

Windsor Oaks shares its 710-acre Estate Lane property with sister brand Notre Vue, both owned by the Stein family. The Balverne label, founded in 1972 and once poured at the Reagan White House, was revived in 2012. Bordeaux varieties and single-vineyard Chardonnay from hillside blocks across three AVAs.