Before there were vineyards in every valley north of San Francisco, there was Buena Vista. Founded in 1857 by Hungarian immigrant Agoston Haraszthy, the self-styled Count of Buena Vista and California's first great wine visionary, it was the first gravity-flow winery, the first to use hand-dug caves for aging. A California Historical Landmark, the original press house and champagne cellars built in 1862 still stand. Purchased in 2011 by Jean-Charles Boisset, who restored the estate to its original ambition. Today Carneros vineyards supply the estate's top tiers. A living monument to the origins of California wine.
Carneros Pinot Noir, Los Carneros: an elegant, cool-climate Pinot Noir from the estate's Carneros bottling.
Carneros Chardonnay, Los Carneros: a balanced, bright Chardonnay in the same refined Carneros style.
Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma: a bold, structured reserve-tier Cabernet from prized Sonoma and Napa fruit.
The Count Zinfandel, Sonoma: a rich, brambly Zinfandel named for founder Agoston Haraszthy.
Sparkling Brut, Sonoma: a traditional-method sparkler honoring the winery's historic Champagne cellar.
Haraszthy, the "father of California viticulture", still lends his self-styled title to the Count's Club, and guests can taste inside the Cave of Curiosity, one of his original hand-dug caves from the late 1850s. The guided Barrel Tasting and Winery Tour was ranked fourth in the nation by USA Today readers in 2025, and the Fountain Courtyard pours the sparkling wines in the open air. The six-tier portfolio also includes Merlot, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma and Napa fruit.
Built in 1862 as the state's first gravity-flow winery, the Press House remains the tasting room, California Historical Landmark No. 392, still serving flights from the stone floors where California commercial winemaking effectively began. Under Jean-Charles Boisset's stewardship since 2011, the estate hosts seated tastings, a Wine Tool Museum, sparkling-focused tastings in the Bubble Lounge, and the original Champagne Cellars. Standing-bar tastings of current releases ($30) or Private Reserve ($50) run alongside seated Signature ($40) and Private Reserve ($60) tastings; members taste complimentary with up to four guests. Open 10:30 to 5 on weekdays and 10 to 5 on weekends. Voted Best Winery in the 2024 Sonoma Valley People's Choice awards. On the Sonoma wine walk it is the grand destination at the end, a mile northeast of the Plaza, a required stop for anyone interested in the origin story of California wine.
