Medlock Ames Winery at Bell Mountain Ranch

We've been members here for 8 years now. Ames Morison is a great winemaker and they have an ideal spot for wine growing. Great tasting room on Hwy 128 and an amazing farm, Bell Mountain Ranch (where the vineyards are) off Chalk Hill Road is beautiful. Eric Eichholz is a superb host and very knowledgeable of their wines and the property. Always a great experience.

Picturesque and charming winery, tucked away in the winding roads of Healdsburg. Very friendly service, along with fantastic wine. Serene setting to just enjoy the good life with friends and family!

We “accidentally” went to the winery and not the tasting room. In between tastings, Eric accommodated us outside to a bottle and a couple of tastings. He was extremely personable and knowledgeable and the history of the winery and their conservation is unique. We loved the wine so much that we became members and will be back!

Loved our first-ever visit to Bell Mountain Ranch. Wow, what beautiful grounds and views. Shirley treated us like old friends and took such good care of us during the tour and tasting. Highly recommended if you’re in the Alexander Valley.

We had such a lovely tasting this morning & hike up Bell Mountain for Earth Day. Taking home some bottles of The Flag. Thank you, Ames and Shirley. See you again soon 🍷

We booked a private tour of Bell Mountain Ranch and ended up spending three hours touring and tasting at this incredible property. We learned so much about Medlock Ames' organic farming practices and winemaking in general thanks to the welcoming and knowledgeable staff. The only thing better than the views at Bell Mountain are the wines themselves. We can't wait to return.

Great experience. It is a lovely property to visit and Eric made it both educational and fun. Unlike a lot tasting these days you are just sitting down there go through a few wine, we spend quite a bit time with our little ones walk around the property. Highly recommend!

After doing a LOT of research on the vineyards, wineries and tasting rooms in Sonoma, I found Medlock Ames and their Bell Mountain Tour & Tasting. I was very interested in the regenerative, organic, and sustainable focus that Medlock Ames has, as well as what promised to be an immersive experience rather than just a few pours at a commercial tasting room. I went with a friend and both of our expectations were not only met, but were far exceeded by the experience. We were greeted by the warm, hilarious, and exceedingly knowledgeable Eric, their senior wine educator, who handed us a deliciously chilled glass of sparkling wine as soon as we got of our car. Along with the incredibly magical location nestled in the vineyards, rolling hills, and beautiful oaks, the highlight was definitely Eric's enthusiasm for the place, the wines, and the people that comprise Medlock Ames. Everyone we met was so kind and happy to have us there, and they all went above and beyond to make it a wonderful experience. On top of it all, the wines we tried were absolutely scrumptious (and the accompanying cheese pairings were just as delicious). It was an incredibly fun and memorable afternoon, and I hope to be back again in the future!

Love this winery! Discovered it a few years ago and joined their club. We had a fantastic tour and tasting with Eric, even in the pouring rain. When we went back this fall with a group of friends, we again requested Eric. It was a lovely day and we took our first tasting out to the vineyards, where he explained all about the winery, their employees, the history, the grapes, etc. Then we went to the communal garden, that employees can use, and which also contributes to the local food banks. Our tasting was set up outside, overlooking the vineyards. We were presented with a cheese plate, and it was explained that each cheese would go with one of the wines. (Btw, the cheeses were amazing.) It was such a fun and educational tasting, with Eric throwing in a few wines that were "off the menu." Everyone enjoyed it so much, we laughed a lot, and we were so happy to be back.

Outstanding...This was a chance booking for us, and surprisingly, turned out to be our favourite winery of the weekend. Hands-down! Terrifically, lovely venue & top of the notch staff, who were both warm and knowledgeable, So awesome to have such terrific wines from a REGENERATIVELY farmed vineyard. I was surprised & pleased to notice these wines are not only superb in quality, but are produced both organically and regeneratively. To witness this winery that straddles two counties, being planted and maintained in this way, has produced both distinguished and stellar Wine! No exaggeration. MEDLOCK AMES, for both flavour and excellence, gets my five star vote!

This winery is so beautiful and picturesque. Eric was such a wonderful host explaining the history of the winery and its focus on organic and regenerative farming. The Burning Daylight Sauvignon Blanc was perfection and the Yarrow Merlot was one of best merlot wines I've tried. We join d the club and can't wait to come back.

Absolute best! We had a wonderful private tasting with a great host. He was informative, gracious and so friendly. The setting, the decor and of course the wine were all top notch. We joined the wine club we enjoyed it so much. Highly recommend.

Sharing a wonderful experience with family and friends, enjoying the wine tour, wonderful grounds, even meeting one of the proprietors, Ames.

Ana amazing visit during a Yelp event.. This place is a hidden Gem.. This location is definitely a destination, not something you plan on whim because they take reservation. The location: The place is hidden so make sure you check your map or Waze before driving in to Healdsburg. Once you enter The winery your greeted by big shenanigan beautiful trees perfect for shade on a hot summer day. The Vineyard has a man-made pond which also serves as they're watering for their plants. Everything they service organic and based on the plants planted by their barn they truly live up to their word. It has beautiful landscape and definitely worth the trip. The food: Shoutout to #JohnAsh catering company- the food was Delish.. My favorite was the chicken marinated overnight in buttermilk and garlic .. delicious! They also have little cones filled with tartare and green sauce. Yum! Selections from the winery: My fave was the Chardonnay.. very refreshing and partner well with everything they serve. Not to be beat is there a estate olive oil that I took home a bottle and I cannot wait to put on any of my steam vegetables... I heard they have a great Pinot.. but only available to members. Over all, I am so lucky to find this winery..

This is the most beautiful winery. But of a drive to get to but well worth it. Quite a variety of wines her, with all the wine made with estate grapes. I like all the wines, but favorites are Heritage, Right Bank, and Kate's and B's. The tasting has an excellent cheese pairing. Oh and the olive oil! It's all we use, we buy it by the case.

We came here for a tasting and tour and it was great! We were running a few minutes late but luckily they were very nice about it, and hey the other folks already waiting got to have a second pour of the chardonnay, so win win! We walked around as our tour guide showed us around, the history. We had two other tastings while we walked and when we headed back inside, they had set up a lovely dining table with more tastings along with a cheese platter. I think the cab and secret ingredient were our favorites, and we picked up a bottle of the snake pit as well since the other guests said that it was really good. we also bought some jam that was on the cheese platter. The cheese and wine paired so well! Overall we had a blast, and the personal touches and attention were awesome.

We really enjoyed our recent tour and tasting at Bell Mountain ranch. Shirley was very knowledgeable about the wines and wildlife and took great care of us! Would recommend the tour. Wines are excellent too.

Beautiful place! I love their Rose wine, which, if I recall correctly, has a touch of chardonnay in it. Their merlot is not as strong as others, which works well for me. On our visit, they allowed us to pick fresh, organic strawberries from their farm. Definitely worth the drive.

My first North Bay event as a +1 brought me out to Medlock Ames, a 100% organic winery. Thanks to this event, I, now, consider Medlock Ames one of my favorite wineries. They pride themselves on small batches of delicious, organic wine. We tried everything from the rose to the chardonnay to the cab. I enjoyed everything that we tasted. Super easy on the palate. After taking a tour of their winery and garden, I also purchased a jar of their house made citrus marmalade. This spot has got it all right. Prices of all of their wines are extremely reasonable. The staff members appear to love their jobs which translates to excellent customer service. Getting here was interesting! Make sure you keep your eyes open as the sign isn't in plain view off the path. I used waze but still missed my turn. It is absolutely beautiful at this winery. They have ponds which they use as a means of irrigation. The greenery is stunning and the winery is perfect for any occasion. 5 solid stars.

Medlock Ames is more than a winery- it's an adventure. After a steep, winding drive on Highway 128 into the Alexander Valley, you take an even more white knuckle drive down the main driveway to the winery itself on Bell Mountain. It's worth the time. The hostess, Chelsea, was excellent in leading the tour, describing the tour's history. The winery staff are superb. After touring the winery grounds, seeing their vineyards and fruit&vegetable gardens, there is a curated wine&cheese tasting along with their proprietary jams&jellies. Medlock Ames is as talented with their foods as their wines. While their Alexander Valley tasting room is more accessible, their Bell Mountain estate is an adventure.

The wife and I stopped in to the tasting room on a whim (mostly due to my wife having the Maiden name of "Medlock") on our way to another winery. After our visit, we immediately became wine club members. As our week was winding down, Chelsea told us we needed to visit the ranch to get the full experience of Medlock-Ames. We are so glad we did! Audra was a great host, and very knowledgeable on all things wine and the entire area. We look forward to our 3 bottles every quarter, and it's truly a hidden gem. Make sure to follow on their social media accounts, they are very active and provide great insights on the wine making process at Medlock-Ames.

A group of us went on a recommendation from a friend. We loved the rolling property. Lucas was our guide and he took us to the garden at the farm, where we ate strawberries and tomatoes right off the vine! The wine/cheese pairing we had on the porch was very enjoyable and relaxing. Lucas even gave us an extra tasting since it was my brother in law's birthday. It's definitely worth the $40 to go here. You even get to sample a $95 bottle of wine.

My husband and I have been wine club members here since the first time we visited, which was about 5 years ago. (This review is long overdue.) I'm going to try and be concise here and summarize what this winery represents to me. Authentic California (olive and oak trees intermingle with old grapevines). Honoring the forces of nature (Bio-Dynamic). Beautiful (their Bell Mountain property is absolutely stunning). Varied (they produce a variety of different wines, all so different but all wonderful). Organic (before organic was even valued in the wine world). Smart. Creative. Tasteful. Although my palate has changed over the years (I favor lighter, more nuanced wines now over big deep reds) I still enjoy all the wine that comes out of this place (and they make some pretty intense reds). Their tasting room down in Alexander Valley is gorgeous as well... they did such a phenomenal job renovating and designing the property. Beautiful vegetable garden, outside patio, and a clean and modern interior. We love stopping by for a quick tasting and cheese pairing when we pick up our allotment. In the summer they have live music outside which is super fun too :)

Had a superb time here over the weekend. Kathryn gives an excellent tour and is clearly passionate about what she does. The grounds are bucolic and I love their garden. To top things off, their wines (both whites and reds) are top-notch. I had not heard of Medlock Ames until recently, but their wines are on par with the best, especially their surprisingly complex Lower Slope Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cab. I was treated to their 2006 Cab as well and adored it. The tour and wines are highly recommended.

Had the opportunity to tour the ranch and sit down for a tasting in June when out of town guests were in town. Definitely worth the effort to go to the ranch and not just the tasting room in Healdsburg, although the folks there were very helpful in helping me make our reservation. The story of the winery is charming and walking up and down the hills from the one acre staff garden and learning about their philosophy for creating their wines and olive oils among other things (like the plastic containers attached to the olive trees to lure and drown a pest that would otherwise kill the trees) was very interesting. Walking through the cellar was a relief because, being June, it was a hot day. And, the tasting was set out beautifully on a covered deck. Joined their wine club so now looking forward to our first shipment of wine from Medlock Ames.

Highly highly recommend. Very small winery with an incredible tour to really see the entire process by this small but might staff. Beautiful property. Definitely a special experience!

We had a wonderful tasting experience with Christian. Beautiful setting and excellent wine.

Beware of their membership.. they don't give you any notice and send wines . And give you the run around when you want to cancel the order

Great wines and tasting room set up is comfortable and wine club members get cheese pairings with each wine you are tasting. The quality of their wines really shine as you can tell they are more interested in producing quality over quantity. The way wine should be made so you can enjoy every sip from start to finish. Try this place out for a most enjoyable encounter.

My husband and I are members of the wine club, which we love. This week we had the opportunity to visit the ranch for a tour and tasting and had an absolutely wonderful experience. Mario was our guide and was informative, welcoming and all around wonderful. He took us around the winery, barrel room and guided us through a seated tasting with a cheese and meat plate, which was delicious! Thank you so much for such a wonderful, memorable experience!

Attended for a #yelpevent. Otherwise, to be honest- I never would have found this winery.. Like... Ever! The story of the wine farmer and wine maker is cute, and it's nice to hear that 20 years of college friendship can bring two people together to create such a beautiful space. I like the winery's #organic values, and how they keep cameras around so they can monitor the wildlife that comes into the property. BEARS??? The food was catered by #JohnAshCo. I've already given a Yelp review on them, so I won't go into details on the food... After all, I was here for the wine, and the ambience. It was a HOT day outside... If I were to return to the winery, it would be on a perfect September afternoon. There were plenty of trees to provide shade... But let's face it... Heat is heat! The tour down to the wine cellar was nice, for two reasons. We got to hear/taste fresh out of the barrel, and it was nice and COLD down there. :) Steep walk up the side stairs and we're back to the main gravel road... Which reminds me- wear flat shoes. I wore heels, knowing I was going on other adventure following this event. But yeah... Flats only for the ladies. The wine was good, and light. I can't say it was the "best" I've ever had, although it wasn't too oaky, and it didn't make me have that bloating feeling afterwards. I normally like reds, but I ended up purchasing the 2015 rosé, and the 2014 Pinot Noir. The owners, staff, and scenery were all amazing! I can't say enough how wonderful ALL of the staff were. Oh! And the #organic veggie and fruit gardens... Great additions! Thank you Kevin, Yelp, and the Medlock Ames Winery for hosting such a wonderful event!

Thanks to Yelp for this event we never would've otherwise found this gem! We thoroughly enjoyed the thoughtfulness of the entire event, but most importantly we really enjoyed all of the wines and that's quite a statement because normally the first winery we go to we're extra picky about everything we try. Literally every wine poured was delicious. We had a rose, Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet and a red blend. All were fantastic. We went home with rose, Chardonnay and a citrus marmalade that is it of this world. My wife says it's really reallyyyy homemade and you can tell the difference. We will definitely return.

This was one of the best corporate dining, excursion experiences we have ever had. Jim (winery President) and Ames (winery cofounder and winemaker) were a dream to work with. They met us at the winery when we arrived then Ames took us on a tour of the vineyard, winemaking facility, and garden as well as talked us through how it all started. It was such a genuine touch to have the winemaker meet us. Jim was super transparent leading up to the event in regards to the menu, headcount, agenda for the evening, ect. He even sat with us at dinner to answer questions and tell us about the wine we were enjoying with the course. I cannot wait to return and it is all thanks to Ames and Jim!

We went on the tour with Dan! The winery was gorgeous and I learned so much. The grounds are beautiful and they have clearly thought carefully about what they want their wines and the experience to be like. After the tour, we came back to a beautiful set table. The wines were so wonderful, may aunt joined her first wine club after years of wine tasting. We also took home so olive oil and citrus marmalade!

This is a good wine tasting room - Medlock Ames identity as a winery is very much about sustainability and keeping its operations in harmony with nature. Their tasting room isn't in the vineyard, which means it isn't as magic as others we visited. Still, the building and site are beautiful - very minimalist with a small farm plot that mimics the winery itself. They offer quite a few different kinds of tasting including a wine and cheese pairing we watched another group enjoy. Our own tasting was decent but maybe because it was 4 pm we just weren't that enthusiastic about what we tasted. Overall a good stop if you are in the area and interested in fully organic, almost biodynamic wines.

I love this place. Usually I don't drink Cab's.... They conformed me! I can't wait to see what a visit to "the ranch" will be like. My mom and I enjoyed our visit so much we became wine club members. The thank you note I just received in the mail from Chris confirms, I made a wise choice. Cheers

Yelp fixed the accuracy of the map. Google hasn't yet but the directions here should get you there just fine.

What an amazing spot. I attended a Yelp Elite event here. The winery has a separate tasting room in Jimtown, but you can visit the winery by appointment. It is so beautiful there it is worth the trip; definitely off the beaten path. The wines are all estate grown and the same sense of detail that was put into planning the property shows in the wines. I usually don't buy white wines, but I bought a bottle of their chardonnay. We tried all their wines paired with delicious bites from John Ash & Co. All the wines were very good and their hospitality was off the charts. I will definitely go back.

Attended a fun Yelp event on the Medlock Ames ranch on Chalk Hill Road. Note that there's a small tasting room that's easier to get to on Alexander Valley Road, but the ranch is worth the drive. Such a beautiful setting! I had one of my best wine cellar and grounds tours ever from Medlock Ames staff member Stacy. Not only was she very knowledgeable about wines, but she was passionate about sustainability and organic farming, a cornerstone of the Medlock Ames wines. The Estate Red was my favorite wine -- a great choice if you like Bordeaux blends.

I did a tasting and the tour of the winery with my parents. The tour really wasn't that impressive - particularly for $40 per person. You walk around the grounds for a few minutes looking at the vineyards, but you don't really see much or learn anything about the wine making process. What I found the most disappointing was how passive aggressive the host was when we didn't want to buy any wine after the tour and tasting. Again, this is after paying $40 per person for the "tour" and a tasting. And to top it off, they don't apply any of your tour or tasting payment towards the purchase of any wine. There are probably at least half a dozen vineyards where you can have a better experience at the same or lower price.

Beautiful facility, delicious wine. All organic vineyards and farm are part of the tour. The staff were all professional and informative, too. I really enjoyed the visit there today!

Medlock Ames offers a ranch tour where the production facilities are. Don't miss this opportunity. Not quite off the grid, they use full solar power. Really enjoyed their wines. Tasted in various stages of production to appreciate the growth of the wines. Have a case on the way to our house. Go there.

We had the pleasure of taking a private tour of Medlock Ames winery this past weekend. We have been fortunate to have been to wineries all over the world. All we can say is "Wow", what an awesome experience. The location and the grounds of this magnificent winery was over the Top. It compares with our experience at Poggio Rubino winery in southern Italy, and that was the best winery and experience that we ever had. Stacey was our guide around the property and the facility, she was absolutely exceptional, very knowledgeable and fun to be with. Did I mention the outstanding wines. If you are a very picky wino, you will love their wines. It was a perfect 10!

I heard about them from my local wine spot (3rd corner in Ocean Beach). Went with my family today for a tour and tasting with Stacy. Hands down the best tour and tasting we did this trip! Very educational and beautiful! Couldn't ask for more.

I searched and searched to find a winery in wine country that does tours, not just tastings AND during the week... I found Medlock Ames. I called to ask about booking and the woman on the phone told me that she would call me back soon to set up something for the next day. That day came and went, so I called the following day to see if she fell off the planet and left a message. She later, called back and she told me that she called me and left a message. I still have yet to see proof of either on my phone. ;-P After she called me back, we set a tour up the next day. $35/ person which includes wine tasters. From Walnut Creek, it was a 2 hour drive, but a very beautiful one! Winding roads, beautiful homes, dozens of wineries and little towns. It's hard to find down a few hidden driveways, but a beautiful find. We (my parents, my husband and myself) toured with a man, I believe his name is Chris. He was new to doing tours, but worked there for 5 years or so. He was very polite, very attractive, kept your wine glass full and knew the answers to every question we threw at him. He was so passionate about his job and so excited to answer all my weird baker terminology questions. After we got to see the machinery, the aging and cleaning process, the aging/storage supply and the grounds, we got to sit in a beautiful room and try all of their organic wines. Some chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, rose, port, merlot, etc. Some aged longer than others and some in different seasons. They don't force wine on you, but if you do plan to buy any bottles, they are a good price. They have round-country shipping services and a club you join to have a package delivered every few months of wine. I can't say enough about this place. I strongly suggest for someone who wants to get past just sitting in a room with tourists, tasting wine. Thanks Chris for a great visit!

The Medlock tasting room is well worth a stop. The staff was super fun and friendly which really made for a great experience. The tasting room is not in the same location as the winery itself (which you can also visit) so be aware of this. The tasting room is a very well designed, modern-industrial building right along side a huge vineyard. Out back you'll find a great garden complete with bocce ball court and pizza oven where outdoor events are held. It's just a very peaceful space. The tasting room also has a full bar which opens at 5pm. I believe there were 3 separate tasting options $10, $15 and $25. So there's something for every budget. If you buy a bottle, the tasting fee is waived (so buy a bottle). They don't produce a great deal of wine, about 5000 cases I think, so finding their wine outside of the winery itself can be difficult. The Medlock wines were all very nice. Some I liked a bit more than others but there were not any I disliked. Next visit I'll check out the actual winery but the tasting room won't disappoint.

Always friendly, palate-friendly and wallet-friendly wines with a great seating area, delicious little cheese pairings and an amazing place to see the splendor of Alexander Valley with a glass of wine and maybe a friend and puppy... Highly recommended.

Spent a lovely birthday on a yoga and wine tour (atmanitours.com) at Medlock Ames Winery. Hermine is an amazing soul who led an outdoor morning yoga class overlooking the beautiful vineyards. Was great way to relax, reflect, and open the senses for the wine tour to follow. Stacy gave a wonderful tour of the property, giving the history of this amazing organic, fully sustainable winery with stops at their organic vegetable garden, tank room, and barrel room. At a outdoor communal table we tasted Medlock Ames delicious wines paired with cheese, salami, and estate made olive oil. Finally a delicious lunch made from veggies from their organic garden. Couldn't ask for a better day and would recommend to anyone wanted to explore a beautiful winery off the beaten path in Healdsburg.

This place is nice but the service here was pretty bad. The price on there menu said one price and the were charging us more than what the menu price. The two stars are only for thier nice garden and out door patio.

Really bummed that our group had such a bad experience when we shelled out for their most expensive tasting option. The hostess was just snotty and we didn't find out much other than bio of the owner. The barrel tasting was like nail polish remover/pencil eraser. Nothing we tried was amazing, which is sad because they have a great cocktail program and nice staff at their other location.

We're Medock Ames fans. Great wines, friendly staff. Ranch tour was enjoyable as well.

We are members of their wine club and wanted to check out the winery on our latest trip to the area. We had a wonderful tour of the property! Enjoyed eating the blackberries in the garden. We had a great lunch from Jimtown on the porch while we tasted the wine! The wine was great! Overall a fun and relaxing time!