The county's port specialist, founded in 1994 as Sonoma's only dedicated port house and now run by Heringer Estates. Tucked into the riverside Foundry Wharf just southeast of downtown, the casual, industrial room pours small-batch California ports, sherry, and grappa. Their motto: drink dessert first.
613 Second St
Sonoma County's only dedicated port house, founded in 1994 by Bill Reading, who pressed grapes by foot and infused one of his ports with dark chocolate to create the cult-favorite Deco. Tucked into Petaluma's Foundry Wharf, the cozy, art-filled room, hung with barrel-hoop sculptures Reading made himself, invites you to "drink dessert first."
After the Readings retired in 2025, Heringer Estates took the reins, rebranding as Portworks Wine Lounge while keeping winemaker Deneice Knotts and the full port lineup: Deco chocolate port, Aris, the twelve-year Maduro tawny, the Petite Sirah and Cask Reserve ports, and the hazelnut Duet, plus sherry, grappa, and Sonomic "almost vinegar," now joined by Heringer's organically farmed Clarksburg table wines. Cheese boards and parklet seating available.
Winemaker
Crafts the port lineup at Petaluma's Foundry Wharf (the Deco chocolate port, Aris, and the twelve-year Maduro tawny), now under Heringer Estates after founder Bill Reading's retirement.
Owner
Mike Heringer is owner and CEO of Heringer Estates, the Clarksburg farming family that grew grapes for Sonoma Portworks for more than twenty years. When founders Bill and Caryn Reading retired in 2025, the Heringers took over, keeping the winemaker and the full port lineup while adding their organically farmed Clarksburg wines, food pairings and events.
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