Buena Vista Winery
Buena Vista Winery
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
A recommended wine-tasting venue in Sonoma Valley.
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- jmbc04Hudson River Valley, New York322 contributions"Count" on an Enjoyable VisitBuena Vista claims to be the oldest continuous operating winery in CA and was allegedly founded by Hungarian Count Agoston Haraszthy, so lots of colorful stories around the founder and there are lovely and expensive bottles of wine depicting some of the founder's adventures as part of their Founders Collection. We had the option of either an indoor or outdoor tasting and our wine steward spent a lot of time with us and customized the tastings to our preferences. We ended up joining their wine club (no fee) which gives us the option of visiting several other wineries in the Napa and Sonoma area. This was one of the more enjoyable wine tastings that we did. The walkway leading up to the winery from the parking lot has some interesting and corny signage, but it is all in good fun. Tip- the Sonoma visitor booth offered 2 tastings for the price of 1 which we were allowed to apply to the more expensive reserve wine tasting (the fee was waived with our membership and first order).Visited September 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 21, 2023
- vanessabramirezMiami, Florida38 contributionsBirthday TreatWhat a treat to celebrate my 50th birthday! This winery is beautiful and the wine was amazing! Our host, Millie, was very knowledgeable, kind and funny (my Boricua ❤️!). The tour was very informative but relax. We also got to see the caves and drink wine from a barrel. Couldn’t ask for more. Definitely will come visit again.Visited April 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 3, 2024
- RIch H22 contributionsA+++ Experience and wine tastingWalked in a little hesitant about the commercial aspects of the historic winery, BUT….this was the best wine and wine tasting experience we had in both Napa and Sonoma valleys! Vasile, was an Awesome wine host and made our experience a Wine Trek Experience! We lost count and direction of which wine tasting we were doing and need up tasting about 12 wines…at the same cost of the 5-wine experience. EVERY wine we tried was incredible, and we left a new wine member with cases flowing to us in Texas, twice a year in the wine club. A+++++ would definitely come back to Sonoma to visit Buena Vista!Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 11, 2024
- Stephanie C3 contributionsMorning at Buena VistaSuch a nice tour and beautiful grounds, even for February. Our guide was energetic and shared lots of great information about the origin of the winery as well as the process of the winemaking, which is always interesting to me. There's a little hedge maze on the property that can be easily navigated, depending on how much wine you've sampled.Visited February 2024Traveled with friendsWritten May 30, 2024
- Louise MCastle Rock, Colorado3,983 contributionsBeautiful historical property!Full disclosure--we had a reservation to taste wine but cancelled it, due to pacing ourselves wisely. But we did come to the winery just to see the beautiful, historical grounds. It was so worth the time; what a lovely place, and so rich in history. The walk from the parking lot takes you through the history of winemaking in Sonoma as well as of the winery itself. We had a very educational journey, and walked through the maze on the way back. Next time we'll make sure to do a tasting though!Visited June 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 28, 2024
- Ken S7 contributionsNew Aristocratic Tasting Experince.We have been members at Buena Vista for 10 years now and have always had a great experience. This time we were hosted by Vasile in the 1872 Cave located in the Champagne Building (near the famous Bubble Lounge). We started off with some La Victoire Champagne while we toured the 2nd and 3rd Floors of the Champagne Building. If you get a chance to see the 3rd floor museum I highly recommend it. We continued the experience with a 2010 Otelia Pinot Noir that was amazing. After 14 years it presented soft with the usual cherry notes but with a surprising chocolate finish. We contrasted the taste with a 2022 Pinot Noir from Buena Vista's new north coast AVA. From there we moved to a 1998 Cabernet Sauv from Carneros of all places. This bottle pre-dates JCB ownership by about 10 years. The cool climate Cab tasted well. I think it still had a few more years life. From then on we sat in the Cave and tated the 2015 Buena Vista Chateau Grand Reserve Napa Cabernet. Amazing bottle! We finished off with the Aristocrat (plus a few bonus poors!) If you are looking for a unique tasting experience, a Sonoma History lesson and some great conversation, then treat yourself to new Aristocratic Tasting! Cheer!Visited July 2024Traveled with familyWritten July 22, 2024
- SeeTheW0rld62Sunnyvale, California2,328 contributionsGood wines in a nice settingWe went here for wine tasting with a group and we sat outside at a picnic table. We tasted 4 wines and they were good. Service was excellent. The prices that most wineries charge for tasting is getting ridiculous. They charged us $45 per person which is quite high. $10 of the charge was simply because there were 8 people in our group. $45 is more than some of the bottles cost, and 4 tastes equals about 1-1.5 glasses of wine. So we paid $45 each for a glass of wine. It used to be that if you purchased wine, the tasting charge was waived, but Buena Vista and many other wineries don't do that anymore.Visited September 2024Traveled with familyWritten September 15, 2024
- David S1 contributionA must stop!A must stop for anyone visiting the Nor Cal wine regions! I’ve been going to BV for the last 8 years and have never once had a bad experience. The team there is beyond friendly and accommodating. They are beyond friendly and welcome all with open arms. Whenever I have friends or family visit Sonoma/Napa I tell them this is a must stop. They make so many different wines it hard to find someone who can’t find something that they like. And their portfolio spans every price point you can think of. If you want a solid daily drinker for $45 that punches above its weight class, BV has it. If you want a top of the line Cal Cab for a couple $100, they have it. Or if you want something in between, they have that too! Brandon and his team are awesome. I can’t stress enough how big of a must stop BV is. I’m a member of about 8 wine clubs, work part time in the wine industry, and can not say enough good things about BV. Fun fact, they’re one of very few wineries that allow people under 21. Not to taste. But to be with the party. Which is big for parents with kids. Or DDs.Visited September 2024Traveled with familyWritten September 22, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
488 reviews
Excellent
299
Very good
117
Average
39
Poor
19
Terrible
14
Emily
1 contribution
Jun 2021 • Couples
Don’t waste your time at Buena Vista Winery. This is a very touristy and commercial winery, please spend your money on a family owned business that will appreciate and respect you. My host forgot to return my credit card when I spend over $150 on two people for an afternoon wine tasting. When I returned to retrieve my card they were very flippant and insisted that they did not have the card even though it was as my only stop of the day before realizing my card was missing. They took no accountability for the situation and offered no assistance. Do yourself a favor a go somewhere that will appreciate your business and with better wine.
Written June 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lexibelle
Phoenix, AZ1,708 contributions
Jul 2021
This was the second tasting we booked while we spent a week in Sonoma, the first was in Napa and this was fortunately very near our BNB in Sonoma and is one of the oldest wineries. There's lots of history here about the original owners and the current owners. The first thing I noticed was all the dogs. This is a dog friendly winery and I wished I had known coz my little fur baby would have enjoyed it so. Having said that we lucked out and got the cave room for our tasting which might have not been possible with a dog. Brandon was our sommelier and he offered to do his own suggestions vs what was in print on a menu. I'm so glad we went with his suggestions, everything was wonderful and we ended up purchasing the last pour, the Port which is delicious!! We were allowed to drop ship to different locations, one being Alaska for early Christmas presents. We also ordered a side of a cheese plate which was ok but nothing really special. I think Covid challenges has something to do with that. There's a lot to see all over the grounds and the also the wine press which included a museum of sorts of the history of the winery.
Written July 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
theerika
Chicago, IL281 contributions
Jun 2021
Can't decide whether to rate this a three or a four. In the end, I settled for a three, as the experience is highly overpriced, pours are minuscule and you really do not get to see anything on the basic tasting ticket. (We went after California had reopened and had wrongly assumed we'd get to see the interior of some of the buildings). Our server was knowledgeable, but it felt a bit rote/scripted and sales-oriented, unlike our experience at Obsidion, which was more individualized. The tale we were told was one that pushed the identity of the Count and gave the mis-leading impression that the place was still family-owned and local. When I asked about it now being part of a larger conglomerate, she was quick to change the subject. I wish they could just be honest about what they are today, rather than push the mythology of the past as enduring into the present. The winery itself has beautiful grounds and is very atmospheric...but there are plenty of atmospheric wineries here in Sonoma so no need to go to this industrial windery.
Written June 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
debdirection
Indiana53 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
For a special wine experience, become A Count for a Day at Buena Vista Winery.
Inside the cave, a “blend your own wine” experience allows you to taste, mix and bottle your best blend.
Amanda was an extremely helpful advisor giving tips and hints regarding tasting, smells and likes.
Adding a cork, our personalized label including naming the bottle was a great experience!
In addition, the grounds are incredibly beautiful and wine is reasonable priced.
Inside the cave, a “blend your own wine” experience allows you to taste, mix and bottle your best blend.
Amanda was an extremely helpful advisor giving tips and hints regarding tasting, smells and likes.
Adding a cork, our personalized label including naming the bottle was a great experience!
In addition, the grounds are incredibly beautiful and wine is reasonable priced.
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna C
Chicago, IL55 contributions
Jul 2021 • Friends
This was a great winery, we did not do a tour but an indoor tasting, which was great and personalized. They have some interesting history, being the first winery in established California, and had some interesting stories about the recent wildfires and how it impacts vintages. Also has a great wine cellar. The property is beautiful and they have a hedge maze too. Super fun!
Written July 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mythreechicas
Philadelphia, PA143 contributions
Jun 2022
Our adult family of 7 visited Buena Vista last week and highly recommend this winery! Definitely reserve the Bubble Room, with its Gatsby inspired decor. Don, our host, was entertaining while being unobtrusive and gave us plenty of time to chat among ourselves. It's a quirky place a short drive from Sonoma Square, and one well worth the visit!
Written June 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cindy W
New York City, NY1,331 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
After some extensive research about which wineries to visit in Sonoma, I decided on this one. The tasting fee ($25pp) was very reasonable, there were time slots available for the day we wanted, and the location was close to San Francisco.
We were seated outside on a beautiful Sunday morning facing the cellar that was built in the 1800s. Our host/server/sommelier Dese was friendly and knowledgeable. We hit it off right the way as we found out he is also from the east coast!
We went with the press house tasting (4 glasses - Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Zinfandel, and a red blend) with an order of the charcuterie ($30). We learned about the history of the winery and the story behind each pour. We also got a mini tour of the cellar and got to visit the bubble lounge.
The ground is beautiful with lots of seatings outdoor, a mini maze, and a “museum”. Be sure to stop by this winery during your visit to Sonoma.
We were seated outside on a beautiful Sunday morning facing the cellar that was built in the 1800s. Our host/server/sommelier Dese was friendly and knowledgeable. We hit it off right the way as we found out he is also from the east coast!
We went with the press house tasting (4 glasses - Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Zinfandel, and a red blend) with an order of the charcuterie ($30). We learned about the history of the winery and the story behind each pour. We also got a mini tour of the cellar and got to visit the bubble lounge.
The ground is beautiful with lots of seatings outdoor, a mini maze, and a “museum”. Be sure to stop by this winery during your visit to Sonoma.
Written October 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SeeTheW0rld62
Sunnyvale, CA2,328 contributions
Sep 2024 • Family
We went here for wine tasting with a group and we sat outside at a picnic table. We tasted 4 wines and they were good. Service was excellent. The prices that most wineries charge for tasting is getting ridiculous. They charged us $45 per person which is quite high. $10 of the charge was simply because there were 8 people in our group. $45 is more than some of the bottles cost, and 4 tastes equals about 1-1.5 glasses of wine. So we paid $45 each for a glass of wine. It used to be that if you purchased wine, the tasting charge was waived, but Buena Vista and many other wineries don't do that anymore.
Written September 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg C
Raglan, New Zealand9 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
We had pre booked a wine tasting for 2 at Buena Vista and also pre ordered the charcuterie plates for 2. We arrived 15mins early to be greeted by no one. We found our way to the bar area and were told we would need to wait but couldn’t sit down or wait at the bar as all those places were reserved. Note, there were empty spots everywhere. So we waited outside in the rain.
We were then taken to another building and waited again for our host. We were then offered a choice of seating in the Bubble Room or Cave. We took the Bubble Room. A mishmash of cheap kitch and poor taste. Anyhow that’s subjective but we were then asked to pick our wine tasting, we advised we had pre booked, we were told that didn’t matter we still needed to choose which tasting we were having. Rather poor that they weren’t aware of our pre booked plans.
The host poured us a lovely Chardonnay in a massive red wine class. Wine was tasted comments were made and then we moved to a Pinot. Poured straight into the same massive glasses we had just finished drinking the chardonnay out of. I know right!! WTF. The young man hosting us, when we asked for fresh glasses for their next wine, replied that they did not have enough glasses for that!! We understand that some wineries utilise the swish with the next wine before tasting method but we had just had our host pour Pinot straight onto a Chardonnay. The host miraculously found us fresh glasses and we tasted our wine. We paid and left. Without the charcuterie as that never appeared. It appeared the Buena Vista team weren’t prepared for the rain or the numbers of people. We travelled a long way and pre booked every thing. They should have been aware of our arrival and what we had booked. Very poor
We were then taken to another building and waited again for our host. We were then offered a choice of seating in the Bubble Room or Cave. We took the Bubble Room. A mishmash of cheap kitch and poor taste. Anyhow that’s subjective but we were then asked to pick our wine tasting, we advised we had pre booked, we were told that didn’t matter we still needed to choose which tasting we were having. Rather poor that they weren’t aware of our pre booked plans.
The host poured us a lovely Chardonnay in a massive red wine class. Wine was tasted comments were made and then we moved to a Pinot. Poured straight into the same massive glasses we had just finished drinking the chardonnay out of. I know right!! WTF. The young man hosting us, when we asked for fresh glasses for their next wine, replied that they did not have enough glasses for that!! We understand that some wineries utilise the swish with the next wine before tasting method but we had just had our host pour Pinot straight onto a Chardonnay. The host miraculously found us fresh glasses and we tasted our wine. We paid and left. Without the charcuterie as that never appeared. It appeared the Buena Vista team weren’t prepared for the rain or the numbers of people. We travelled a long way and pre booked every thing. They should have been aware of our arrival and what we had booked. Very poor
Written November 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
worktotravel14
Trenton, NJ3,804 contributions
Jul 2021
This is known as the oldest winery in Sonoma County. You can mix and match tastings to get a variety of what Napa has to offer. While we thought the atmosphere was absolutely delightful and our tasting adviser very rich with knowledge, we were not keen on the wines. So you have to think about this as an experience and one that you shouldn't miss because there is nothing of it's kind.
Written September 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
During the build your own bottle experience, is there an option to ship the bottle? Thanks!
Written September 9, 2018
Dear Kristin,
Thank you for reaching out. Yes, we do ship blended wines!
Hope to see you soon.
Cheers and regards,
Written September 10, 2018
Do you have to pay to do a tasting or can you by a bottle and sit on the patio? Also can you bring your own picnic? Is there food available for purchase?
Written August 10, 2017
You can do a tasting or buy a bottle and relax here. I would bring my own picnic rather than purchase there.
Written August 24, 2017
Has anyone done the 'Be the Count' tasting?
Written December 7, 2016
We did. The Count was great. There were eight of us and we all enjoyed this a lot. We plan to take friends next month so they, too, may enjoy this fun, informative experience.
Written December 7, 2016
Hello! How much we're the tastings in the bubble room?
Written August 10, 2016
We attended a special event associated with San Francisco magazine although we were the only couple there at the time which included bubbly with a cheese tasting for $30/per person with Amanda who was with us for an hour. Another group did come through during that time just to see the room.
Written August 10, 2016
trying to decide which tour to take...first time to California. It would be my husband and our two daughters and a son in law. Trying to decide between the grand reserve tasting or the barrel tour. I know that we do want to see the caves. Thanks for any input. Will be there in 2 weeks
Written May 10, 2016
We haven't done either of those, but we've done for the "Be the Count" tour ... that was amazing! If you have time, we highly recommend it.
Written May 16, 2016
Good day -- My princess and I will be coming up in October and I can't decide which Tour.
Your description of your tour interested me.
Can you tell me the exact name of that Tour so I can reserve it?
(the names of the Tour are listed on the website).
THANK YOU!
Written August 25, 2015
Planning a trip to Sonoma on September 3rd. What time do the tours start and what is involved. Need reservation?
Written August 6, 2015
Hello! We look forward to visiting with you on September 3rd. We do offer our historic wine tool museum tour and tasting through the day at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. The cost is only $25 per person. We do ask that reservation be made in advance for this experience, please contact us at 800.325.2764. We hope to see you soon!
Cheers!
Michelle Davis
Wine Club Assistant Manager
Written August 9, 2015
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