USA TODAY 10Best
The Best Wine Tasting Room is in Sonoma, According to Readers
Best Wine Tasting Room (2021)
The quality of a tasting room can make or break a wine tasting. A comfortable, elegant tasting room with a knowledgeable staff can elevate the entire experience.
- Rava Wines - Paso Robles, Calif.
- Boordy Vineyards - Hydes, MD
- Big Cork Vineyards - Rohrersville, MD
- Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery - Hammondsport, NY
- Duchman Family Winery - Driftwood, TX
- Stoller Family Estate - Dayton, Ore.
- Hermit Woods - Meredith, NH
- Long Shadows Vintners - Walla Walla, Wash.
- Louis M. Martini Winery - St. Helena, Calif.
- Corner 103 - Sonoma, Calif.
No. 10:
Rava Wines is known for their sparkling wines, which visitors can sample in the contemporary tasting room and sprawling patio just 15 minutes outside downtown Paso Robles.
Photo courtesy of mactrunk // Getty Images
No. 9:
Located in northeastern Baltimore County, Boordy Vineyards is Maryland’s oldest winery. Their historic 19th century preserved fieldstone barn serves as their tasting room and a host facility for live music, private parties, and corporate events.
Photo courtesy of cyano66 // Getty Images
No. 8:
Big Cork Vineyards, located about thirty minutes south of Hagerstown, Maryland, provides a “state-of-the-art” tasting room for its visitors. Private wine tastings for small groups by appointment, plus ticketed events featuring award-winning wines, are available. In addition, the tasting room sells wine, “grab-and-go” food, and winery merchandise.
Photo courtesy of vndrpttn // Getty Images
No. 7:
About ninety minutes south of Rochester, New York, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery offers a world-class tasting experience. Their modern tasting rooms provide knowledgeable staff, exceptional views, and personalized experiences for their adult guests. Small groups can also book a Progressive Tasting Experience, with different stations throughout the tasting rooms and a theme-related selection of wines.
Photo courtesy of Claudio Padiar // Getty Images
No. 6:
Located in the Texas Hill Country, Duchman Family Winery offers a Tuscan-themed tasting room with tall ceilings and stone walls. Guests can enjoy a six-wine varietal tasting or book a private tasting and educational experience for a more intimate encounter.
Photo courtesy of Mike Haverkate / Stoller Family Estate
No. 5:
The eco-friendly tasting room at Stoller Family Estate has something for everyone — excellent Oregon wines, an expansive lawn for picnicking, Adirondack chairs, Frisbee golf and even a tire swing for the little ones. The views from the tasting room rank among the best in the Pacific Northwest, if not the country.
Photo courtesy of Ðлик ФаÑÑ...ÑÑдинов. // Getty Images
No. 4:
Located on Meredith Bay, less than an hour from Concord, New Hampshire, Hermit Woods Winery offers its guests a fun and educational tasting room experience for wine lovers of all backgrounds. Both guided wine tastings and self-guided wine flights are available, including tips on pairing wines with various food choices.
Photo courtesy of Long Shadows Vintners
No. 3:
Allen Shoup, the founder of Long Shadows Vintners, struck up a friendship with Dale Chihuly in the 1980s. Today, the Chihuly Tasting Room features work by the famous glass artist, including a custom chandelier and a custom-designed installation inspired by the fields of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Photo courtesy of Louis M. Martini Winery
No. 2:
The gem of the newly restored Louis M. Martini Winery is the Crown Bar, a tasting room featuring warm wood tones and a glass wall with views into the barrel cellar. Visitors can also taste outdoors in Martini Park or in the Heritage Lounge, designed for tasting small-lot wines.
No. 1:
Lloyd Davis, founder of Corner 103, created this Sonoma tasting room for all those people out there who might feel a little intimidated by the wine world. The staff insure an educational and comfortable tasting experience that includes wines from Corner 103 and the rest of the Sonoma County American Viticulture Areas.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning tasting rooms!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Dynie Sanderson
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has... Read More
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has been a food, wine and travel journalist and digital influencer living and indulging in life in the Napa Valley and around the world for over 25 years. She was founder, publisher and editor of GuestWest Magazine, Napa Valley’s first luxury lifestyle magazine; Food and Flavor Editor for Napa Valley Life Magazine and contributor to a variety of food and wine publications. Always seeking out the next wine region or food and wine festival to experience around the US and around the world to add to “Dynie’s Delicious Destinations.” Follow NapaFoodGal on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Dynie Sanderson
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has been a food, wine and travel journalist and digital influencer living and indulging in life in the Napa Valley and around the world for over 25 years. She was founder, publisher and editor of GuestWest Magazine, Napa Valley’s first luxury lifestyle magazine; Food and Flavor Editor for Napa Valley Life Magazine and contributor to a variety of food and wine publications. Always seeking out the next wine region or food and wine festival to experience around the US and around the world to add to “Dynie’s Delicious Destinations.” Follow NapaFoodGal on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Jill Barth
Jill Barth is a wine, food and travel... Read More
Jill Barth is a wine, food and travel journalist—a regular contributor to Forbes and USA Today 10Best, where she is a wine country travel expert panelist for the Reader's Choice Awards. Jill is a Provence Wine Master and travels all over France as well as the U.S., Europe and South America to cover both well-known and still-secret wine regions for publications such as Wine Enthusiast, Decanter, Forbes, Courrier International and more. Jill was awarded a fellowship by the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers and her blog, L'Occasion, was named Best Overall and Best Writing at the Wine Media Awards.
Jill Barth
Jill Barth is a wine, food and travel journalist—a regular contributor to Forbes and USA Today 10Best, where she is a wine country travel expert panelist for the Reader's Choice Awards. Jill is a Provence Wine Master and travels all over France as well as the U.S., Europe and South America to cover both well-known and still-secret wine regions for publications such as Wine Enthusiast, Decanter, Forbes, Courrier International and more. Jill was awarded a fellowship by the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers and her blog, L'Occasion, was named Best Overall and Best Writing at the Wine Media Awards.
Shana Clarke
Shana Clarke is wine, sake, and travel writer and... Read More
Shana Clarke is wine, sake, and travel writer and author. Her work has appeared in Saveur, Fortune, CNN Travel, NPR, Wine Enthusiast, Hemispheres, and Fast Company. She was shortlisted for the Louis Roederer 2020 International Wine Writers’ Awards and ranked one of the “Top 20 U.S. Wine Writers That Wineries Can Work With” by Beverage Trade Network in 2021. She holds a Level 3-Advanced Certificate from Wine & Spirit Education Trust and is a Certified Sake Sommelier. In addition, she is author of 150 Vineyards You Need To Visit Before You Die and the contributing author to the North America section of The Wine Lover’s Bucket List. Follow her on Instagram on @shanaspeakswine or view her work www.shanaspeakswine.com
Shana Clarke
Shana Clarke is wine, sake, and travel writer and author. Her work has appeared in Saveur, Fortune, CNN Travel, NPR, Wine Enthusiast, Hemispheres, and Fast Company. She was shortlisted for the Louis Roederer 2020 International Wine Writers’ Awards and ranked one of the “Top 20 U.S. Wine Writers That Wineries Can Work With” by Beverage Trade Network in 2021. She holds a Level 3-Advanced Certificate from Wine & Spirit Education Trust and is a Certified Sake Sommelier. In addition, she is author of 150 Vineyards You Need To Visit Before You Die and the contributing author to the North America section of The Wine Lover’s Bucket List. Follow her on Instagram on @shanaspeakswine or view her work www.shanaspeakswine.com
Ziggy Eschliman
Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal, Ziggy... Read More
Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal, Ziggy Eschliman is among America's most enthusiastic, authoritative and entertaining libation experts. Her internationally known company, ZigStyle, combines her artistry for wine country entertaining and gardening while integrating her expertise of wine & spirits, showcasing a unique lifestyle. For over 25 years Ziggy has set and reported trends in all things wine and spirits. Her radio shows are broadcast throughout wine country and are available online.
Ziggy Eschliman
Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal, Ziggy Eschliman is among America's most enthusiastic, authoritative and entertaining libation experts. Her internationally known company, ZigStyle, combines her artistry for wine country entertaining and gardening while integrating her expertise of wine & spirits, showcasing a unique lifestyle. For over 25 years Ziggy has set and reported trends in all things wine and spirits. Her radio shows are broadcast throughout wine country and are available online.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
