Handley Cellars

Great wine (especially their 2018 Zinfandel), friendly staff, gorgeous views of the valley, and level 2 charging for your EV while you sip! Bonus: This was the first place I got to try Pinot Grapes! (prior to pressing, squeezing, etc.)

The vineyard and tasting room were beautiful!! We had a great selection and our host was so helpful with shipping our bottles back home to North Carolina. Delicious wines, we can't wait to continue enjoying them back home!

What a fantastic spot! The wine was pretty good, but honestly, it was the views and overall experience that blew me away! The staff are quite friendly and knowledgeable about the wines that they sell. Highly recommend! FYI: they do not sell food/snacks, so come prepared!

We really enjoyed our stop at the Handley Cellars. The tasting was free and with a very knowledgeable and courteous staff. They made us feel right at home while we sampled their variety of selections. We purchased several bottles and came back when our vacation was ending to get some more! Definitely worth a visit if you enjoy wine!

I’m giving this 4 stars because I know they can be a 5 if the service was better. The first time my husband and I went, the tasting room manager was attentive and full of stories about the vineyard and wine. He offered ones off the tasting menu and really made us feel like a part of the story. Since then (2019), the service has been mediocre at best which is really unfortunate because the wine is spectacular. To us, the relational component makes a difference in what we buy.

My husband and I had a wonderful time at Handley Cellars. Gail in the tasting room was a lot of fun and poured some terrific wines. The Syrah is definitely my favorite, my husband liked the Primitivo. We will definitely be back.

Been a club member for over 20 years. And the reason is it's simple, excellent crafted wines. Beautiful location friendy staff

Lovely wine tasting area with beautiful decoration and a welcoming feel. Kathryn was very knowledgable, friendly and accommodating. The wines are delicious, purchased four bottles for a reasonable price. Worth the visit :)

We had a wonderful experience at Handley Cellars. Incredible wines and wonderful people. I can't recommend them enough.

This was a beautiful location with both indoor and outdoor seating. It was the first wine tasting my husband and I did on our trip. Price wise, it was one of the cheapest, but the pours of wine were pretty small. The whole experience took about 40 minutes. We'd booked a picnic table for afterwards in case we needed to sober up before leaving. It didn't end up being particularly necessary, but it was a nice setting and a beautiful day to enjoy it.

Wonderful time with delicious wines. Staff is so friendly and knowledgeable, super cozy with a wood burning stove and best of all my best girl got to come in with us. We will definitely be back.

What a great local winery and wine, recommend stopping whenever you're in Anderson Valley!

We were on our way back home and decided to stop in and try this place. The scenery was beautiful and were greeted by friendly staff right away. There was plenty of seating available outside and was very relaxing for our tasting. I am partial to reds and they had a nice variety, some slightly more tart than what I prefer but to each their own. However, we both really liked their 2016 Zin so purchased a bottle of that. My guy and I really enjoyed our sommelier, and since I'm late on this post forgot her name unfortunately. I recognized her Michigan accent from my home state so was nice to chat about that. I highly recommend this place for a tasting out on their beautiful patio, outgoing staff, and hope to return!

My friend and I chose to go to this winery because we were looking for dog friendly wineries in the area. This was listed as dog friendly, and the photos of the tasting room area looked visually pleasing, so we decided to check it out. It wasn't too busy at all when we went on a Sunday afternoon. Derek was our wine attendant and was very knowledgeable and friendly. He made us feel very welcomed there. Great dude, give him a raise for us. The winery is full of cute and niche decor that the owners collected from all over the world. It felt very down to earth. We loved how tranquil the patio was, plenty of shade, lots of beautiful statues, and lovely scenery overlooking the vineyards. If we're ever in the area again, we'll be back.

Lovely patio. so-so wines. You could definitely do better in Anderson valley. Our server was kind but not really well-informed. We also witnessed an interchange with a different staff member that definitely did not need to happen in front of guests. The standout wine here is definitely the Syrah. The gewürztraminer is respectable but the chardonnay was just plain odd.

Returned here after a previous visit a few months back and had some more great wines and conversation with the same lady who helped us the last time. The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay here are very good and for the quality the prices are reasonable. They have a nice little patio where they do the tastings and both times we were here we got to meet some nice dogs and cats (and their owners). This place is worth putting on your itinerary.

I really want to give this place a higher rating but from the experience I had it felt so displaced. We arrived after finishing coming from Lula Winery (great place by the way) and we're greeted but almost with annoyance as we were a large party. I never caught the name of the lady hosting but she was a short hair blonde woman who gave Karen Vibes as she was not very nice or courteous to our arrival. An older woman was also there and she was somewhat more pleasant but not memorable, which sucks because she gave loving grandma vibes at first until the rest of our party showed up. We didn't have a reservation, but we also don't expect that from a winery from previous experiences, and the fact that we're traveling and they're located literally in the middle of no where didn't seem right to expect that from passerby's. We weren't allowed to come in because they only sat for a table for 2-4 guests? It was so un-inviting and poorly received to welcome guests that have never been to their winery. I really wanted to give it a chance because it's a beautiful property. So anyway we don't have a reservation but they said we could sit in the picnic area and order by the glass ... we have never tried their wine so... not sure that really would work effectively. We sit in the area they say to sit but they don't come to us nor tell us what the arrangement is for ordering wine so we were out there for 10 minutes before I decided to walk in and ask if they would tend to us only to find out that we had to go to them and order wine inside. We left there not trying not one of their wines because they treated us as if they didn't care and didn't want our patronage. I was so disappointed in that level of treatment. Dare I say it was because we were darker skinned or looked middle class, but it almost felt that way? We drive by a General Store on our way back to our Airbnb and I tell them of our experience and they mention how their original owner passed away and how she would never have treated us that way. It was somber to say the least because the thought of not tending to potential customers seems mind boggling. I couldn't believe it that we weren't treated with more decency. I hope the level of service improves for any large parties who simply wish to try wines and enjoy a good time. Let alone to Celebrate a couple of birthdays. Thanks Handley Cellars for such a displeasing first encounter.

Go big or go home, they said. Well if you come to Handley Cellars, you definitely won't wanna go back home anytime soon! This beautiful winery and tasting room is located in the quaint town of Philo right off of highway 128. Their signage is hard to miss as it is big and bright and located on the right side of the highway if you are coming from Booneville. The drive up the small hill is fun and it exposes you to their lovely vineyards. Their patio is actually located on the right side of their tasting room as opposed to in the back. They have a very spacious outdoor area with plenty of tables and some nice shaded areas for those super warm days. Inside, you will find their tasting room with two different tasting bars. I did my tasting at the bigger bar that has a cabana-like structure. The staff here are some of the most jovial that I've come across in a while! Now to the wines; Handley has quite a spread here! I tasted their 2016 Pinot Noir Rose, 2015 Pinot Gris, 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, 2014 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, and their 2014 Yorkville Highlands Pinot Noir. I'm not the biggest lover of white wine, so I knew that I probably wouldn't be a fan of the Sauvignon Blanc. Their Sauvignon Blanc actually wasn't as tart as some that I've tasted in the past, but it wasn't my favorite. Also wasn't a big fan of their Pinot Noir Rose, but I think it's because I prefer sweeter and bubblier rose. This rose was more on the tart side. I was, however, really surprised by their Pinot Gris! It was smooth and fruity with nice hints of pear that I really enjoyed. I would totally sit out on the patio on a hot summer evening and sip on that Pinot Gris! I also really loved their 2014 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir! That Pinot was straight fire! They age many of their wines in steel barrels which contributes to the smoothness of their wines. This particular Pinot was light and silky and appealed the most to my taste buds. The 2014 Yorkville Highlands Pinot is made in a barrel that's set higher up in the hills, so the taste is a little more peppery with high notes of cherry. If you're looking for something with more of a kick, this Yorkville Pinot is definitely the way to go. Overall, I had a wonderful experience at Handley Cellars and I would definitely come back! I highly recommend their 2015 Pinot Gris and their 2014 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir.

Five star all the way. I am a huge fan!! Came here last weekend for a Yelp and CellarPass tasting event. The tasting room and vineyard are absolutely beautiful. They have a variety of white and red wines to choose from. Staff at Handley Cellars were so accommodating and friendly. They went above and beyond to ensure guests were having a great time. Among all the wineries I visited that day, Handley Cellars was the only one where I made a purchase. I like smooth and sweet white and red and was super impressed by their late harvest Riesling. I am usually a bit indifferent towards Rieslings but man this late harvest Riesling they have is perfection! It's actually a dessert wine that has a clean and crisp fruity taste with a hint of honey. It's very refreshing and not overly sweet. Sunshine in a bottle is a perfect description. Plus who doesn't like honey, honey?! It's not cheap by any means but I had to have it. When I got home after a long day sipping through Anderson Valley, I was so excited to take my bottle of sunshine out but noticed that the bottle had wine all over it. I was very frustrated and wondered why it was like that. Did I just get a bad bottle? I called Handley Cellars the following day. Chris spoke to me on the phone. He happened to be the same gentleman who helped me with my purchase at the event. I explained to him what had happened. It turned out it was because I left the bottle of wine in the car all day in almost 90 degree weather. I had no idea that caused the wine cork to pop! Now I know! Chris said he wanted me to enjoy my wine and do what is right. He took down my information and promised to ship me another bottle free of charge! Two days later I have a brand new bottle of the same late harvest Riesling sitting at my desk! Wow! Talk about stellar customer service!! Thank you so much Chris and Handley Cellars. You have gained a loyal customer. I can't wait to visit this awesome winery again. When I want to enjoy a bottle of sunshine or need an excellent dessert wine for a gift, I know where to turn to!!!

We have arrived in the heart of Pinot country and to have Handley Cellars welcome us was a treat! Yelpers near and far congregated at this lovely host winery for Yelp's Grape Escape 2017 ~ Alexander Valley. They pulled out the red carpet for us Yelpers on a lovely Saturday (Nascar & Pride weekend). The weather was perfect with light winds. I'm still glad I brought my Yelp fan hahaha. This was an EPIC Grape Escape and Handley Cellars poured some delicious wines. As I'm sipping and mingling, the Pinot Noir stood out the most, and I thought to myself "duh" we're in Alexander Valley. This property is gorgeous and unique, sit in one of those chairs inside the tasting room. There's something about Alexander Valley wineries compared to Napa - unpretentious. Thank you for the stellar hospitality. It was a nice drive from Marin, not that far approximately two hours if one leaves at the crack of dawn. I love that we get to visit such wineries in California, it's just a drive away. 'Til we meet again ~ cheers and see you on Yelp!

They were racist. My friend and I had a tasting reservation through the White Wine Festival. When we arrived, the first thing they said to us was that they were full and couldn't accommodate us. They didn't even ask whether we had a reservation. After clarifying that we had a reservation and being seated, two other parties that arrived later were seated and given their tasting and food before we were. We had to physically get their attention and ask to start our wine tasting. It was so unacceptable and very clear that it was because they were racist. Don't go.

Wine, view and wine educator were all very enjoyable. Beautiful location and tasting room. Reasonably priced wines that were delicious.

Hubby and I were in Anderson Valley for white wine weekend, and we decided to start our Sunday morning here at Handley. They were offering brunch with tastings for their open house that day, so we each got one small plate of eggs, bacon, and potatoes with our wine! We had a wonderful time. Beautiful scenery outside, great decor inside, friendly staff, and tasty wines! We ended up buying two bottles of wine to take home and enjoy - a Pinot Blanc and a Riesling. We were able to bring our dog inside the tasting room with us, but they also have outdoor seating that would be nice when the weather's warm!

Handley is a must see destination for any lovers of true organic spirit. Lush astounding flavors. Elegant ambiance on a wisteria covered patio, overlooking the grape vineyards and old farm house.

Best Pinot in Mendocino county bar none; and the prices are reasonable. Beautiful vineyard ambience; seating inside and out. Start with the Pinot Anderson as the everyday. Fruit forward with nice body. Pinot RSM is amazing. Some excellent whites too including Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer, and Riesling. Tasting room manager Chris is very accommodating and service oriented. Great guy.

We went to taste and the lady did not tell us there was a tasting fee, after tasting she said it was 15 each. We asked about buying a bottle of wine to cover and she said we had to buy 3 bottles of wine per person to cover the tasting. Absolutely insane, we will never be back!

Handley was our first stop on my very first visit to Anderson Valley as part of Yelp's Grape Escape. Perched on a knoll, this welcoming spot has a nice view out over rolling hills full of grapevines. We spent some time on their lovely outdoor patio, under a wisteria-covered trellis. The staff could not have been friendlier and treated us to Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir Rose, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. We enjoyed them all, and took home some Rose and Pinot to enjoy later. For wine club enthusiasts, they have a variety of flexible options. Check out their Brightlighter Selection for 4 bottles 3x a year. Fewer bottles per shipment spread out over more shipments helps keep home wine storage from overflowing. I hope more wineries start to do this! The tasting room staff also said membership grants you access to the rental house on the property as a bonus. We'll be back, and we'll bring friends. Great experience all around.

I brought a friend for her first visit to wine country in July. Our second stop was Handley Cellars where we met Stephen Anderson at the tasting bar. Stephen had a wonderfully pleasant manner and we could tell instantly that he really knew his wine. We stayed at the bar for about half an hour talking with another couple that was visiting from Orange County. We had a pleasant conversation with them and never felt rushed by the staff. After they left, we asked Stephen about the patio outside the tasting room. He suggested that we could finish the tasting on the patio. As it was such a beautiful day, we agreed that it would be a great idea. Stephen set up a flight of red wines for us on the patio and gave a brief, but thorough presentation on each of the wines. We noticed that a group of women came onto the patio with a picnic lunch. We asked Stephen about it and he said locals frequently brought lunch or snacks to accompany tastings. He invited us to do the same. Since my friend and I had been on the road for almost two weeks on an extended trip, we relished the idea of taking a break and enjoying lunch in such a picturesque setting. We hastily created some appetizers from the left overs in our ice chest to pair with the wine tasting. We were especially surprised by Stephen's laid back, no-pressure-to-buy-attitude. So, of course, we purchased a bottle of 2015 Chardonnay and enrolled in a membership. We would both highly recommend a stop at Handley Cellars! They were so good that they turned out to be our second, and final stop in wine country because my friend felt no one could have done any better. Oh, and the wine was excellent as well!

Thank you Handley Cellars for hosting the Yelp Elite kickoff. It was my first time visiting and I loved it. Being greeted with a beautiful Rose was such a treat. Elegant and clean it was the perfect accompaniment to the Ahi Poke bowls. My hubby enjoyed the mountain Pinot, I think he hid a few bottles in the trunk:-0 The tasting room is a nice relief from the heat. Loved the patio seating and live music! Overheard the wine club perks--dibs in the guesthouse? Wow! Can't wait to visit again.

Wow, what a wonderful visit my husband and I had. The location, views, atmosphere, service, and wine couldn't have been better. I cannot recommend a visit enough and we look forward to going back. We also walked away with a bunch of wine! Cheers!

I think that Handley Cellars has everything that one could possibly want in a Deep End Anderson Valley winery, plus a few little extras more, that make it a really unique and enjoyable stop. For one, the tastings are varied and complimentary, in keeping with the area's "non-Napa" sensibilities. For another, there is a full range of white and red wine, from Alsatian varietals to Burgundian reserve selections to red-fruited, robust wines from the Redwood Valley where warmer weather allows Zinfandel and Syrah to ripen. There is also a lovely garden with lavender landscaping and wisteria all around, inviting one to linger with an extra glass or bottle of wine, once the "hard work" of tasting is over. What you would not expect is the array of rare ethnographic artifacts and Asian art and sculpture, some of which is used to decorate a beautiful and relaxing side patio, where rattan chairs with plush cushions positively pull you into their orbit. The surrounding vines are not for display, but the source of many of the wines you will taste. Very outgoing staff guide you through the tasting process and fill in where needed details about the winemaking founder, Milla Handley, and her decades of experience creating award-winning wine in California. There is even a free EV charging station (during tasting room hours), in case you're coming here in your Tesla, Volt, or Nissan Leaf. This is definitely a good idea given the location, which is beautiful but remote, the perfect place for trying new wine. I really enjoyed the Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc here, and these are generally not my favorite whites. The Anderson Valley and estate Pinot Noir are also excellent, and the Syrah and ZInfandel are quite interesting, too, a touch different than Sonoma-styled Zins or those from Lodi or the Sierra Foothills. Don't miss out on the Petite Sirah, either, which is distinctive and definitely a good choice for people who can't get enough of this wine. While I think it would be interesting to see what sort of wines Handley could make with Italian varietals, I suspect that their wide range of primarily French wines will please most customers. As with a stop at nearby Navarro, it's best here to budget 90 minutes to 2 hours to enjoy the tasting and then choose something you really liked to "revisit" in a glass or by the bottle. No need to feel rushed here! If you've never been to the Anderson Valley to taste wine before, I think that including Handley on your list is a great idea. Hope you'll feel the same way, too!

Handley Cellars is a beautiful property in the Deep End section of the Anderson Valley, with wines of depth, character, and clarity to match. Over 40 years of pioneering effort by the founder, Milla Handley (one of California's first female winemakers), have created a solid foundation upon which the next generation works, churning out small but exquisite batches of white, red, rose, and (once more) sparkling wines that are crowd-pleasing but also terroir-driven, and if you take the time to focus on the varietals that are in your glass (as opposed to just glugging them down), you'll notice some really subtle things. The Sauvignon Blanc here - it has ... real distinction. The Gewurztraminer - it tastes ... as good as it smells (which for a Gewurz is high praise, indeed). The estate Pinot Noir - it smells ... like crushed rose petals and tastes like crushed wild red berries mixed with a hint of wet autumn leaves and forest mushroom (which is about as good as Anderson Valley Pinots get, although the wines from nearby winemaker, Toulouse, are quite comparable as well ). The Pinot Gris - it ... wait, what's Pinot Gris, anyway (as opposed to the ubiquitous restaurant standby, Pinot Grigio)? Who knew this wine could be so delicious! The Zins and Syrahs, from Redwood Valley, are also excellent, but my heart belongs to their Anderson Valley wines, which seem to have the subtle, yet strong, aromas and flavors that make this place such a hidden gem in Californian wine country. Still! Maybe it's because this place is not within an easy drive to San Francisco. Maybe it's the winding roads from Cloverdale into Boonville and Philo. Who knows? But if you love Alsatian, German Rhine/Mosel, and Burgundian wines, you really ought to check out Handley. You will find very intelligent and accommodating people (Stephen, who has backgrounds in history and museum studies, was pouring wines the day we visited), complimentary tastings (we tasted 8 or 9 wines), and a beautiful array of outdoor and indoor locations to enjoy the wines. The gift shop section, along with the museum quality ethnographic objects from Africa, SE Asia, and the Pacific (Handley's father was a famous explorer in the 1920s and 30s), they all make this so much more than a tasting room. They make it a quintessential Mendocino wine country experience! Note: 6 bottle purchase comes with a 10% discount. The stainless steel insulated stemless glasses for sale at the gift shop are also great for road trip wine tastings.

Very nice tasting room overlooking the valley. A good variety of wines compared to the Pinot Noir that is so dominant in this region. Wines were good but nothing jumped out at me as being excellent.

Came here with my friends and absolutely loved it! Plenty of yummy wine, friendly staff, and worth the drive. Amazing windery, and definitely great for photos and memories. They have both red and white wine to chose from, and we made some purchases there.

Awesome Pinots! Had a bottle of their 2015 Pinot at a bistro in Kelseyville. So the next day my husband and I made our way over to Handley Cellars and had the pleasure of having Gail pour for us. She was a very friendly/fun lady. We enjoyed several of their pinots as well and bought a couple of choice bottles! So fast forward to girls weekend...took my girlfriends over again to Handley. Same great service with Gail and same great wines! A must visit when in Anderson Valley!

Stunning setting, wonderful service, and the two beautiful wines for which Anderson Valley is famous... Alsatian whites on the one hand, and Pinot Noir on the other. A small, gracious outdoor deck, a stunning array of antique Asian sculptures collected by one of the ranch's ancestral owners, there may or may not have been a tasting fee but there was nothing pushy or commercial going on, everything here was perfect. This is the California wine country we all fell in love with 20-30 years ago.

Beautiful property with picnic areas to eat a snack or lunch and enjoy a glass of wine. We came on a Saturday in the fall with our picnic basket ready. We first did a tasting and were warmly welcomed. The tasting is vast with plenty of whites and reds to try. No one in our group was wowed by the reds and thought they were pretty light but we did all enjoy the reds and bought a few bottles. Their red table wine is very good, as well as the Zinfandel. The woman pouring was nice but seemed a little stand-offish by the four of us for talking throughout the tasting. Or who knows but overall we really enjoyed our experience at Handley and I would send friends/family there to check it out.

Wow, what an amazing winery. Not only outstanding wine but an outstanding experience overall. We stumbled upon this place coming back from Fort Bragg and decided to check it out. First off, the location is GORGEOUS. Beautiful patio overlooking the hills and stunning vineyards. Then, the wine tasting started. The list is extensive! There were SO many wines to try and we had a hard time picking our favorites. They specialize in delicious, citrusy whites, fruity Pinots, and an incredibly juicy Syrah! Chris helped us and he couldn't have been more hospitable. He was super knowledgeable and you could tell he's super passionate about wine. He really took his time and chatted with us to find out what we liked and what we didn't like, and brought us wines that weren't even on the tasting menu! I think we tried close to 10-15 different wines! We'll definitely be back. My advice? Drink lots of water and make sure you take your time here... it'll be well worth it. Oh, and ask for Chris!

Handley first gets points for being open past 5pm. Sweet. Second, Allie, who lead us through our tasting, was definitely the most thorough and informed person we spoke with about wine in Mendocino. She knows her stuff and knows the Handley wines very well. The tasting portion is very generous, and there are tons of wines to try. We really liked their pinot noirs and had trouble choosing which one to purchase. Ultimately, we went with their Mendocino County, mostly for sentimental reasons. Their wines were very different than others we tasted on this trip. If you like surprises and unique wines, check out this spot. Their shop in the front is a little weird, IMHO. But it's sort of amusing to peruse, as well.

Made a recent trip back to Anderson Valley after many years. Handley is always a place I visit and it is one of the few wineries that still does not charge for tastings. The only thing that has changed is that they do not currently make a sparkling wine but their selection of pinots is still quite good; among the best in the valley.

This is our favorite winery. The wine is fantastic and Chris always takes good care of us. If you're touring Anderson Valley, you should stop here.

My favorite winery! The wine is amazing and they treat you like family. We have been coming here and buying wine for more than 20 years and the wines keep getting better. Chris and the staff are wonderful. The Ranch House is like coming home and I look forward to coming back again and again.

My husband and I had such a nice experience here. What a gorgeous location and tasting room. The wines were so very good and the staff helpful and charming. Gail was so good to us and really made our experience pleasant. After purchasing wine, we took a glass to the patio and relaxed there. This is a neat place!

The tasting room and grounds are beautiful and unique. The wine is delicious, with so much variety there's something for everyone. Chris and staff treat everyone who walks in the door like friends. The pourers are knowledgeable and educated about every wine they serve and can guide you through your tasting. Definitely a must to stop here, especially if you're on your way to or from the coast.

Great wine and friendly staff! Most of the varieties are not distributed so it's worth the stop. The tasting room is small, so if the parking lot is full, try another winery and go back when there are less people.

Handley Cellars is the best winery I have ever been to. The wine is great, but what really makes it stand out to me is the experience. I have been here twice. The first time I thought I would be going in for just a free tasting, but the sommelier who helped us was so friendly she really made the experience. Not only did we get to do a tasting, but she brought us black berries from the farm to pair with the wine. We were there late in the day on a Sunday and since they were about to close she took us on a tour of the winery and the gardens/farm. The location is beautiful, especially around sunset. We were given some produce from the farm, and chocolates to take home. I ended up purchasing a membership which I never thought I would do, as well as two bottles of wine then and there. Recently I went back again, and this same person invited us to come see how wines are made. It meant we had to get up really early, but the experience was amazing. I learned how red wines basically need to be mixed more than once a day, and about how the process the grapes, and the yeast that are used, and more. I have never had such outstanding service and will be back to visit Handley many times in the future I am sure. Thanks again.

A beautiful patio area provides for great seated tastings with lovely surroundings of the vineyards, water tower, barns, crushpad, etc. This place has some great AV history and the team is friendly and informative. Nice wines. Check it out!

Very good wines, especially the estate gewürztraminer, chardonnay, and pinot noir. Also, the syrah was top notch. Jeremy was thoughtful and entertaining. Mary made a pleasant cameo appearance. What a great place to spend a couple of hours!

It feels wrong to disagree with my Cheese monger/wine connoisseur friend, Jeff D. After all, HE'S in the biz; HE'S the expert. But Yelp is all about opinions and although I may not have the wine erudition of JD Cheese Monger Extraordinaire, Handley's vintages definitely don't send me--not even a little. They're just OK. Add to that the lady pouring for us on a Monday seemed...uh...out of sorts? She wasn't hostile, she just wasn't friendly. She was idling in neutral making her seem UNfriendly because most of the time the people pouring the wine seem like they're on mood elevators or perhaps they're just drinking a lot of their product. Generally speaking, you always get lots of strokes from wine folks. "Another taste of the Zin?" "Doesn't that just go down so well?" "Where you guys from?" Handley Lady didn't muster a smile or bust a question. I do hope she didn't have a recent death in the family. Perhaps a spat with the spouse? A tussle with the teenager? A twister with her sister? It really must bite to have a job where you're supposed to be cheery all the time. Everyone has a right to have a bad day or a bored with their job day. Our Handley server just stood out badly against the backdrop of "happy to be pouring our wines for you today" people we'd already met. The vistas from the tasting room are fabulous and the room is done in exotique. Lots of artwork and tchotchkes from Southeast Asia and elsewhere. And I do love the Handley basket weave logo which is not only on the labels but also on the front gate and here and there around the tasting room. There's a nice shaded picnic area, too. Not sure what their dog policy is but it might be a nice place to park your pup while you sip some vino. Maybe you'll like it better than I. 'Cause it's all about opinions.

BEST AND PLACE EVER.!! The manager Chris is just amazing huge parties small parties he is the nicest manager ever.! The wine speaks for itself and the prices are extremely reasonable I can't wait to come back thank you again Chris for all your help.! I will be coming back every year for that late harvest Riesling

Pinot noir, pinot noir, pinot noir!! Do I need to say again I'm a pinot noir fan? It's a pretty quiet and serene property with friendly staff and free walk-in tastings. They do a solid 2012 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir (although 2010 was the year that sweeped awards) reasonably priced (around $32) and a really fun 2013 Gewürztraminer.

Absolutely stand up people who went completely out of their way to help a couple of strangers out. Their wines were delightful too. I will never forget this place and can't wait to go back hopefully with my date :)

All I can say is wow. We visited the winery on June 11th. I planned a relaxing weekend im mendocino for my little sister's bachelorette party. This was our first stop on Saturday and it set the bar really high. Our server was absolutely delightful.... so friendly and informative. We sat on the patio and she brought each wine and poured it for us outside while we relaxed under the tree on the comfy couches. I can't even remember how many wines we tried, had to have been at least 9 or 10. My mom and I were so impressed with the experience that we bought 6 bottles of wine and joined the wine club. I can't wait to go back! Thank you Handley for an absolutely wonderful wine tasting experience.

I grew up in this beautiful area of salt, sand, fog and wines and vines all around me. It was not until I left the area to go to college, gain a career and come home again did I truly appreciate all of Mendocino Counties beauty and gifts. ONE of those many gifts are the wines that are produced here in Mendocino County! Handley Cellars is one of my very, VERY favorite wineries in ALL of California. First of all, unlike some of the wineries and vineyards in more 'commercial' areas of growth, this vineyard/winery just pops put at you along the crooked, remote, winding highway 128 in Anderson Valley after swooping in under the trees off the coast. My family used to always say that Anderson Valley was a cool, little 'secret' of lovely vines and once found, there truly would be no need to venture for wines anywhere else. Having the perfect climate for Pinot, Chardonnay, Gewurtztraminer grapes. Mendocino County is pure perfection for grapes. My first visit to Handley was over this past holiday season.. I actually drove for once, rather than my usual mode of transport via air, so that I could bring home lots of wines , ( cheeses, sourdough, crab, Russian River Brews!), from home. I did just that! I am def not a Chardonnay drinker, but Handley's 2013 Chardonnay sold me. My husband and I love good Pinot Noirs and our 'splurge' was the 2012 RSM Pinot.. 2011 was a tough year for Pinot grapes so 2012 was a nice surprising vintage! In fact, we loved so many of the wines and the way they are grown, mostly on the estate, family owned ,considered 'vegan' that we joined their wine club. I want to pretty much keep the benefits of this club a secret, they are just that good! I will tell you this: even if you don't join the wine club to have what I consider gifts of beautiful wines that come once in awhile to your home or invites to great cellar events at Handley, at least get into this cellar. They all love wine, vines, grapes. The tastings are gratis.. something you don't find in the more 'glam' , commercialized wine areas of California , for sure ! The tasting pours are generous and the hosts are informative and nice. Bring a picnic or bread and cheese for the grounds , because this place, like much of my home of Northern California, is too beautiful to pass up.. Salut!

Having room for just one more winery, we headed up to Handley Cellars. The place was eerily deserted and the inside was desolate. We later found out they were making room for the Pino fest that was happing the next day. The woman doing the tasting was nice and initially said there'd be food pairings with our tasting. But the only food we got was a single cracker each with a dab of really good chicken liver pate. Wine here was so-so. All the whites were too mild for my liking. The best wine was a Pino Noir that was only available to club members. Booo! But it was our third free tasting of the day so we were pretty happy regardless. And they had free recipe cards of all the foods we supposedly should have had. Come over and you can try my pate =] I think we bought a couple bottles from here as well.

The facilities were really nice...probably the nicest of the wineries we stopped by. We brought our lunch and ate in their little garden area which was perfect. There is also a fantastic view of the biggest expanse of grape vines I've ever seen from here. The wines were mostly just OK...except for one pinot noir that was really good. I appreciated that we didn't have to pay for wine tasting. This was the only winery of the day where we encountered Napa-like snootiness.

Best winery in Philo. It was like a free wine buffet! They let us try everything free. Needless to say it was a fantastic experience and we bought lots to go.