Toulouse Vineyards & Winery

What a fun wine tasting experience! I’m a big fan of geese and this is a perfect winery to stop by. They have amazing views from the tasting patio. The hosts are super friendly and passionate. The culture and background behind are intriguing. We love the small details of geese everywhere onsite.

Absolutely amazing tasting! The woman serving us was great. Very friendly. Shared a lot of information about the winery and the wines. Also gave us a few local restaurant recommendations. The view is beautiful from the tasting room and deck. A definite must stop on your way to the Mendocino area!

Lovely tasting experience. Friendly service. Nice variety of wines. Waived tasting fee with a single bottle purchase, which was stellar.

Really enjoyed the wine and the tasting room. Cool staff who were friendly. The wine itself was excellent. It's been a while since I've been to a tasting room where I loved the entire flight. We enjoyed the estate pinot enough to walk away with s bottle, along with a bottle of dry riesling. We're going to have to come back again in a few months to see if we love it again so we can consider joining.

One of my favorite wineries for pinot. The tasting room is nice, but sit outside on the porch for a fabulous shaded view. They allow outside food and your dogs on the property too!

A magical Anderson Valley winery experience. The natural beauty surrounding this family owned gem is filled with majestic vistas and a genuine passion for their various varietals. Entering through the gated drive accompanied by the whimsical geese leading to the tasting room is a smile on your day. Silky Pinot Noirs await you along with new found botanical offerings and Alsace magic. Fun, genuine and tale filled staff engage the tasting room as you look out over the incredible views. All around great experience and wine. Fantastic!

Toulouse is a gorgeous vineyard with delicious wine and friendly staff. We stopped in on our honeymoon and the staff member there that day was so sweet. She took our reservation super last minute and made it very fun. They have some of our favorite wines. My only issue was with shipping. We live on the east coast and shipped three bottles back to our home to enjoy but they somehow overheated and all of them had burnt wine on the inside and all 3 bottles were turned and did not taste like they used to. We’ve done many wine subscriptions in the past and never had this issue so I was disappointed. Overall a necessary visit in Anderson Valley, but don’t bother wasting the money to ship more home.

Being in the wine industry. Erica and Marcela were amazing host's. It became pretty busy and the team work and smiles, and the knowledge of the wines made it a very good experience. Of course the quality of the wine added to the experience. I had preconceived idea of what I was going to buy from past experience. But the Hungarian Oak Pinot Noir Estate is my new favorite.

If you are driving up to Mendocino or anywhere remotely close to this winery, it is a must go. The view is breathtaking and spectacular, and then wine is some of the best Pinot noir you'll ever have. Also, the staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming. This has been a family favorite and a MUST since we discovered it.

Toulouse Vineyards is tucked away in the beautiful Anderson Valley and we loved our visit here! Our host was so friendly and kind and we were warmly welcomed! I love that Anderson Valley has such a relaxed vibe. The whole area is such a hidden gem that is becoming less and less hidden because so many people have found out about the incredible wines they produce in this area. The view from the deck is absolutely stunning! It was so nice to sip wine, sit back, and take in the stunning view! They have amazing hospitality and all of their wines that we tasted were incredible! Pinot Noir is my favorite type of wine and their Pinots are phenomenal! With that being said, we loved their white wines as well. Highly recommend booking a tasting if you are in the beautiful Anderson Valley! We are looking forward to coming back again soon!

On our way to Ft. Bragg we decided to stop in! So glad we did! Warmly greeted and a wonderful experience. The lady was so nice and knowledgeable. They had pretzles, water and Halloween treats as well. We walked away with 4 bottles and they waived the tasting fee. The view from the tasting room was stunning! We will be back. (I do not remember the name of our tasting person but she had on the Ratatouille costume! She was awesome!)

The nicest people you'll meet work here plus the wine is amazing! A recipe for perfection. It's a beautiful location with views across the valley, delicious, bold pinots and a laidback atmosphere you just have to check out!

I just have to shoutout Erica for the most incredible experience at Toulouse. We did a walk-in on Saturday and were instantly welcomed. The wine is some of the best- great pinots & a beautiful/herbaceous vermouth aperitif. The vineyard has gorgeous views and a great outdoor deck. Erica was attentive to our group, provided in-depth knowledge about the wines, and was just a pleasant person to interact with. We had plenty of wine from the tasting and some bonus pours. I will recommend this place to anyone in the area, absolutely worth the trip. Our experience was so great, we even became members! Thanks again, Toulouse!

Toulouse is always a treat for us! We discovered them back in 2021 and typically like to make a pit stop while camping at nearby Hendy Woods State Park. For $25, we enjoyed a tasting of five pours, as well as a few additional extras. They even had Amaro and Vermouth available. Tasting fee is waived if you purchase bottles. Service is friendly and attentive, and they also have a dog friendly patio.

Making our way back to Sacramento after spending the weekend on the coast, my husband and I stopped by Toulouse Vineyard. I was thrilled when we were immediately greeted by the vineyard dog. She was so kind and such a pleasant surprise. She thoroughly enjoyed the belly rubs, and I wish we had our dogs there with us. But back to the wine - we enjoyed a wine tasting out on the patio. They had space heaters going since it was a brisk, not quite spring day. They offered a nice explanation with each wine and it was the perfect way to end our weekend getaway.

What a great winery with yummy wine, amazing customer service and beautiful views. The ladies were very attentive and not stingy with their pours during our tasting. They even offered several others which weren't on the tasting menu! If they still have it in stock, highly recommend the Clone 667!

Just 2 1/2 hours north of San Francisco, you'll find this gem of a winery that's as gorgeous as it is welcoming. Stunning views? Check. Fabulous wines? Double check. The vibe here is totally unpretentious, making it a delightful escape from the everyday. The staff is incredibly friendly and impressively knowledgeable, adding to the overall charm. And let me just say, the view--easily one of the best in the valley--pairs perfectly with a glass of their estate-grown wine. We've been loyal wine club members for about five years now, but our love affair started a decade ago. Tastings are complimentary for members (a major perk!) and very reasonably priced for visitors. This isn't Napa, folks--this is a laid-back wine haven where you can sip, savor, and actually relax. Favorites? The whites--Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer--are heavenly. But don't sleep on the reds; they're just as incredible. Gorgeous vineyards, exceptional wines, and a welcoming atmosphere. What more could you want?

The best Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley and wonderful staff. Love the vineyard and now they have ducks and geese to go along with the friendly dogs. So rare to find such an amazing wine collection that is not owned by a conglomerate or a large producer from outside Anderson Valley. Friendly, beautiful- great experience regardless of rain or shine (we've been there every season)

Great variety of wines there Anderson Valley an estate Pinot are delightful. The owner Vern and winemaker are super friendly and cool. White variety of prices with very affordable seeded tasting options, but they have great variety of wines.

I hadn't been to Toulouse in several years and decided it was time for another visit. I arrived at opening on a Saturday skeptical that they be able to take me and they were able to take my group right then. I was nervous about being there with a toddler but the tasting was so casual that my partner could take the baby for walks to the goose pond if she became fussy. I'd recommend the vineyard side patio if you are uncertain of your baby's endurance, though we sat on the view patio, which had a breathtaking view. The two ladies who served us, one with an infant and another with four kids, were so sweet and welcoming. Toulouse is known for having some of the best wines in Anderson Valley and we agree. We left with a couple of bottles. I'm definitely putting Toulouse in my regular Anderson Valley rotation.

This was a recommendation from a family friend -- this place is a little slice of heaven. Exceptional service. You can bring your lunch from an outside place and enjoying tastings here. New favorite!

We went here for the first time on Labor Day weekend and was well served by our hoist . A nice and tranquil place of rest before we returned to the city

Great wine, beautiful views, friendly staff! What else could you ask for? Anderson Valley is known for their pinots and Toulouse totally leans into them. All the pinots are fantastic but they don't stop there, all their wines are really fantastic. The price points are aligned with the Sonoma county pricing. I believe it was $50 a bottle for their nicer Pinot but they start at around $35. The view was amazing and the atmosphere was casual. (Nothing like Napa) They offered complimentary snacks but allow outside food. We packed a small picnic of charcuterie which was super perfect for the occasion. The tasting tables are large enough to accommodate. The staff was covid aware and wore masks. They also disinfected in between tastings. We genuinely felt safe and were so thankful they were open to accommodate us. If your looking for a destination to get out of this house, I would highly recommend this one.

If I could give this place 0 stars I would. We were denied access to a glass of wine of Riesling (that's on the menu) because it wasn't "open" yet our server Rita was willing to open it for two of us, which I thought was SUPER silly. That is called false advertisement & Buisness can get sued for that in the state of California. Anyways, the view was gorgeous & they only give you Stacey pita chips. When we finished our first glass of wine I asked our server for another glass and we were denied for another glass an HOUR before they close. Our server decided to serve two other customers but reject us. I don't think I will EVER come back here. I Don't recommend anyone to come here. I honestly think our server was prejudice towards us. I don't care how "pretty" our view is. It's not worth the terrible service . Never in all my years of going to a winery have I felt that I have been mistreated like this place did. If you go to this place watch out for the women named Rita with the wavy hair she might just disrespect you as well. That woman should be terminated. Shame on this winery.

Just follow the geese to this amazing winery. Be careful, even with the geese you might miss the gated entrance. All worth it once you climb the steep driveway and arrive at the tasting room on the hill. The views are stunning and the wine is delicious. Pinots for days and also other spirits. The staff is always friendly and their members get good deals on cases. Highly recommended! Ps. Make a reservation first.

Valentines Day adventures in the Anderson Valley with our friends @ Toulouse! Absolutely fantastic! Thank you Erica for your hospitality and fun stories shared. Great to see Vern and chatting about a few health tips as we indulged ourselves in silky smooth Pinot Noirs and various other varietals. A newer discovery of the botanical, floral and incredibly tasty Amaro, Vermouth and Quina Rita releases were a really nice surprise. The genuine laid back nature of this family owned winery showcases her passion and natural beauty. The property itself as you enter through the gated entrance drive guided by various legions of geese (Goose for Toulouse) is a true visual splendor. Rolling hills of vineyard and Redwoods welcome you to an environment of sheer beauty and calm. A winery experience which all around will put a smile on your day. Cheers!

Loved everything about this place. The views were amazing here. The service was great! The girls that worked here were very friendly & educated us very well on their wines. Loved how welcoming this winery was and also the wine was very good. Definitely would come back

This is my favorite winery all time. Laid back feel as consistent with the valley but the wine here is really great. Been coming here for over 10 years the wine is the best in the valley. It's hard to go wrong with any Pinot in the region but Toulouse is the best. Have a great deck looking over the river you can sit back there and hang out all day inside or out front. Throughput the years sometimes will stop by and purchase a few cases retail and enjoy at home.

We've been members here for years. The staff is really great. Super friendly and helpful. If it's at all nice, which it often is, you've got to taste on the deck. It has an amazing view. Their Pinot is top notch. This area is a great point region and Toulouse runs the gambit on the range of Pinot styles. If you like Pinots you'll be very happy here. They have some unique wines too. As well as some great whites. Check it out.

I was a club member years ago and was surprised to discover yesterday that they now have joined the ranks of many Napa wineries that overcharge for tastings. Two out of four of us tasted two of their reds and were charged $25 each. The pours were small and not worth the $25 charged. We will NOT be returning to this winery. There are wineries just down the road that charge a more reasonable $15 per tasting or have no tasting fee at all.

Too tense? Gotta go to Toulouse~ This precious winery was our first stop on our Mendocino/Fort Bragg Vacation which started yesterday. I made reservations the previous day for 11AM and the lady on the phone gave pretty easy instructions on how to get in to the winery. Long story short, when you get to the gate you call their phone # and they give you the gate code so that you can enter. Fancy~ When we got there we were greeted by one of the staff and informed that they had complimentary snacks(small bags of chips. I totally yoinked some Cool Ranch Doritos...) and water should we need it. All staff had masks and everyone was super friendly. What was more impressive was the view once we got to the our table on their patio balcony. It was super homey too. There was a couple of families there and also doggies! So pretty sure this place is pet friendly. The tasting itself went really well. I enjoyed how much variety they had with their tastings and their recommendations of what kind of food you should eat with the particular wine. My favorite was the Rose and the Merlot. The Rose tasting very similar to Strawberries. The Merlot tasted like it could hang with a bold red like a Cab or Zin. It definitely had a lot of stuff going on. One thing was for sure. I definitely felt loose after my visit here. Toulouse was the perfect way to start our wine adventure yesterday!

It's true... I'm in LOVE!!! Toulouse just swooned me like no other. Up until now, Navarro was my favorite winery to visit in the Anderson Valley. But, woooo baby! Toulouse is seriously about to take the cake! It all started with the simple but enchanting drive up to their estate. Talk about a hidden gem! Toulouse is hidden high up in the Mendocino hills with views that will instantly take your breath away. They have a quaint and intimate indoor tasting bar and several covered picnic tables near the entrance. But on a beautiful day, you must... MUST taste on their back patio. It's amazing. TRULY! You will feel like you're on top of the world. Breathtaking views! Breath. Taking. Views. And, they appear to be forever endless. I would pay for this view. But, the serenity that you will feel while you're out tasting on their back patio is seriously indescribable. Toulouse is dog and kid friendly. So many adorable doggies graced their back patio during my last visit. You'll receive a full service tasting no matter where you're sitting. No need to get up and run back to the tasting bar for a refill. You can bring outside food to the winery as well. DO IT! Pick up a sandwich at one of the delis nearby and enjoy it their delicious wines. Oh yes, their wines are delicious! If that view isn't enough to make you go wild, then the wine will definitely do it. Literally enjoyed just about every wine that I tasted here! Their Pinot Gris is some of the best that I've ever tasted! Great floral notes, beautifully peachy, and a wonderful light citrus that I crave for during the hot summer months. Their Petite Sirah is out of this world! If you're a Pinot Noir lover, you will LOVE this Petite Sirah! It's so smooth and fruity, I couldn't believe that it was a Petite. Both bottles came home with me. What I also love about Toulouse is that you can purchase wine by the glass! The sommeliers are some of the most friendliest and passionate that I've ever come across (they are also very beautiful too!). No pressure to purchase and you won't feel rushed to leave. But, you WILL purchase because the wines are too incredible to NOT to. A tasting is only $5 and includes a tasting of 5-7 wines. The pours are heavy and they will let you revisit to see which ones that you really like. The $5 is waived with a bottle purchase. There are all sorts of really fun trinkets for sale in their indoor tasting room. And, you can't forget to take an obligatory picture in front of their estate! Magnificent is what Toulouse is to me. I cannot wait to come back!!!

Toulouse Vineyard is a beautiful venue with the tastings on the balcony overlooking vineyards and the mountains. I personally was not a huge fan of the wine but it was interesting to try the Valdiguié, which is like the California Gamay. Service was friendly and laid back. They also let you bring outside food to snack on.

Can't believe we don't spend more time in the Anderson Valley. With wonderful tasting rooms like Toulouse we will definitely put the area on our fave list. Lovely views, charming service and great wine. What more could you desire! We picked up the Riesling. Refreshing and slightly dry. Perfect with a simple charcuterie. Looking forward to our next visit.

Great views, beautiful vines around you and friendly staff members...with great pino selection at reasonable price. They don't have food other than crackers and cheese you may buy yourself, but overall great experience and perfect to stop 45m out of Mendocino. Don't forget to make reservation...

Beautiful vineyard with an expansive view of the Anderson Valley. We could see the Hendy Woods Redwood Grove from our spot on the balcony. It's a family-owned vineyard with delicious varietals. I loved the Rose and especially the Valdiguié, something I've never tried before. You need to make a reservation to visit right now and when you get there they buzz you in the gate.

Looking for beautiful wine and people? Forget Napa and come to Philo. Calm peaceful vineyard just 2 hours away from busy SF. Erika is most helpful getting us in for wine tasting at last minute request. Of course one must try their various Pinot Noir. The merlot also remarkable.

This winery is perfection! Everything you want on a peaceful wine tasting day. Friendly service, beautiful views, extreme peace, and great wine of course. You can make this as a first stop if you're doing multiple wine tastings towards the coast. We had a wonderful time sitting and enjoying a full tasting on the back patio. My aunt and uncle are members at this winery so they showed us the ways at Toulouse. The day we came to visit there was even a photographer from the SF Chronicle coming to feature the winery in the news! A great sign. Another very important part of the winery experience which they have nailed is the bathroom situation. Clean, easy, and convenient. Very key when you're going through a full tasting. Parking is easy, and location is on top of a hill with plenty of signage to help you get there. We stopped on our way out to Mendocino, and I hope we have the chance to make it back out here again!

Wonderful experience at Toulouse! The staff were all very knowledgeable and friendly. The wine was outstanding. Most notably for my personal taste was their Zinfandel. I highly recommend making a reservation on the deck! The view is gorgeous!

This was our second stop on our wine tour up to Fort Bragg. This place is so cute! There's a ton of indoor seating and a huge deck in the back to go sit and enjoy your wine. They bring your tastings to you so it doesn't matter where you sit. Indoors or outdoors, you have an amazing view of the beautiful mountains and vineyards that the winery overlooks. There's also seating in the front, bigger tables with a shaded area for larger parties or if it gets really crowded. Keep in mind, there's a $10 tasting fee if you don't purchase a bottle. The decorations are awesome indoor and all the servers are really friendly, this is an awesome stop on your wine tour!

Awesome vineyard and tasting room. Instead of vineyard views, you're surrounded by beautiful lush greenery. Their Pinots are fantastic. Great customer service. I left my ID behind and they immediately sent it back to me. Thank you

First of all, how do you give a winery anything less than 5 stars?!?! Lol The wine was so good! The lady serving it, I can't remember her name, things started to get blurry as this was our second stop, was so fun! Holy smokes she was a riot and boy did she keep the wine flowing! Recipes for some of the wines we tasted... yup and yay! The lady, I shall name her wine steward extraordinaire, offered to take a picture of our group of lovely ladies, UNSOLICITED! She was just that cool! I think it may be on the website. I should probably check lmao We we're feeling it for sure but that could have just been the wine I would love to go back but I live in Oceanside. If I don't make it back, someone please go for me!! It's worth it!!

Another Anderson Valley Gem! We always stop here when we visit. It's nestled up on a hill and the views from the tasting room and deck are beautiful. They have a great selection of both reds and whites and are know for their Pinot Noirs. They waive tasting fees with wine purchase and the staff is very friendly and attentive. Last time we went they gave us a couple of their engraved wine glasses with our purchase.

Spend enough time in wine tasting rooms and eventually you will learn that when it comes to Pinot Noir, clonal selection really matters. Grape varietals are like other fruits and vegetables. Not all look or taste the same, and it is often the very rare, heritage varieties that produce the most memorable wines. The king of Pinot clones is arguably that sourced from Burgundy's Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, and suitcase clones of this highly prized grape type have been smuggled into California and Oregon, where it has taken root in various cult vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Santa Lucia Highlands, the Willamette Valley, and the Sonoma Coast. Why does this matter if you are planning a visit to Toulouse? Do they grow Pinot from the legendary and mysterious DRC clone? No. They use other clones, very good ones (Dijon, Pommard, Wädenswil) just not DRC. But ... they do make a superb Pinot Noir from the Weir Vineyard in the Yorkville Highlands that does. It's gooood. You will want to share this with your closest friends. It is reasonably priced at $55 retail, less of course if you join the club. Other top Pinot producers like Williams Selyem source from this vineyard, but each winemaker treats the grapes differently once they have been picked, and the Toulouse touch is quite nice: rich fruit, subdued but enticing spice, alluring floral aromatics, balanced food-friendly acidity, moderate toasted oak, semisoft sweet tannins, and good aging potential. I was drawn immediately to the 2013 vintage, which was open in the tasting room as a bonus pour, but others might lean more towards the newer 2014 release. Potato, Potawto. The 2014 Anderson Valley Pinot, made for earlier drinking enjoyment from Toulouse estate vines, was excellent, too. It's not a beauty contest here. They are all well made wines and I'd go with your first impressions when it comes time to selecting a bottle to take home. Also, you will likely want to buy the Estate Riesling. They only farm 1 acre of it so the supply is limited and it won't likely be open in the tasting room. Don't worry. If you like Alsatian wines, you will want to try it. If not, go with the Pinot Gris or Gewürztraminer. A white and red make a nice 2-pack to remember your visit. And don't forget the animal head wine pourer aerators used in the tasting room and for sale. Get one! The titanium coated ones are especially tempting. They ensure drip-free pouring and add a nice bit of fresh oxygen to the opened wine as it enters your glass. Sure, you can still decant the wine ahead of time, but they make nice conversation pieces and are functional and pretty as well. And weather permitting, check out the vines during your visit! The owner, Vern B., started out growing grapes before he learned to make great wine, and they are well trained, tightly spaced, and immaculately trellised: a gardener's dream. And say hello to the tasting room parrot before you leave!

Toulouse is a local fan favorite for its laid back atmosphere paired with excellent estate and single vineyard wines. Pinot lovers will be thrilled but if you enjoy Alsace style white wines, the Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer are not to be missed. The winemaker also makes some bigger red wines like Merlot and Petite Sirah sourced from Sonoma and Mendocino sites, but all wines are limited production and available only on a seasonal basis, so you won't know exactly what will be on the tasting room menu until you get here. Very nice outdoor and indoor seating areas with a picnic table set up near the vines for meals or extra wine when the weather permits. Toulouse started as a Vineyard and became a winery almost by accident, but a most fortunate one for the Anderson Valley! It adds another element to an already appealing place and a stop here pairs nicely with a tasting at nearby Scharffenberger Cellars, with minimal overlap in terms of the wines being poured. Toulouse is definitely deserving of its high rating on Yelp and would be a great choice for people who are new to wine tasting in Anderson Valley, along with places like Husch, Handley, and Navarro. Be sure to include them all when planning your next multi day visit to the area!

Friendly vineyard, but the wine wasn't of my taste (tasted young and undeveloped). Host was great. It was just a personal preference

It's all slow, easy, porch-living days here at ultra chill, country charmed Toulouse. Indeed, you do come up the hilly driveway path to get "too loose" here. With views PLUS a Pinot Blanc without having to make the trip up to Oregon, winner! Tastings used to be free here. Some large parties used and abused, drank too much and bought nothing, and now the tasting fee is a grand ol' $5. Liked many of their wines, but no more Pinot purchases for us, thanks. Can Can Blanc (blend 70% pinot gris, 30% Riesling) is what they call it. Beautiful in the mouth, nice white. Grabbed. The view off of their deck behind tasting counter is worth a quiet moment or two. Great to be located on a hill. Tess and other dog on property as friendly and relaxed as can be. Free pet therapy along with fun and non-pretentious wine tasting!

We, love the wine. Been club members for years....Love VERN & his wine!!! His staff staff as always are wonderful as always!!! The new tasting room, patio and view is amazing. Hands down best winery. We love Anderson Valley & Mendocino.

We recently visited Toulouse with our dog and were pleasantly surprised with the new tasting room (I believe it's been around for 6 months). The staff here has always been very friendly and we've had a great time tasting here. The first time we were here, my husband was told that he could take our dog to a hollowed out tree on the property...they both loved it! The wine tasting experience was very nice. They give you these tasty cheese crackers to munch on while tasting. Tasting is only $5, but it is waived if you buy wine. The last time we were there, the gal pouring for us was super friendly and very knowledgeable of the wines (I think her name may have been Alice?). She even took our photo on their nice outdoor patio overlooking Anderson Valley (see my photos). We really like the whites in Anderson Valley, but the Pinot Noir from Toulouse is really good too. Wines we've purchased: Lautrec Pinot Noir (currently on sale), Estate Pinot Noir, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat. Toulouse is a great spot for wine tasting with a very friendly staff. The atmosphere is very casual and our dog loves going there. We will definitely make the trek out at least once a year to visit!

This is our go-to winery in Anderson Valley. Beautiful views, casual vibe, reasonable fees and good wines. Always feel like family here, and they love dogs. This winery really encompasses the best of what there is to love about this less well-known wine country.

This has become one of my favorite wines. I'm always surprised and delighted when I see it on a menu Great little vineyard.

We LOVED Toulouse! We visited in November around Thanksgiving and it was one of our top 3 wineries in the area. The back deck had gorgeous views and the wine was delicious! If we are back in the area we will definitely be back!!

Outstanding wine! This Fench dog approves! 0f Pinot Noir, in Hungarian Oak. Moreover, I do love the Valdiguié, the only place, that I saw this was Joseph Swan!

Love Toulouse. I first discovered Toulouse in 2010 when wine tasting with my girlfriend. We wanted to discover what was north of Sonoma County. It takes a long winding road to get there. But once you arrive in Anderson Valley you have truly arrived in a different world. Huge redwoods. :30 from the Pacific Ocean. Incredible weather. A former firefighter who bought land up here. Long before it was popular. Great Pinots. Great value. When in AV. You must stop here.

This is a really great stop if you are wine tasting near Mendocino! Driving in it looks super low key, we had slight trouble finding the tasting room but after that everything was great! Really unique wines and not as crowded as some of the other tasting rooms we had visited. The deck view is amazing, worth sticking around. Picked up two wine glasses, a few bottles, and some other things on my way out. They really did such a great job with this place.

We bought every single wine that we tasted. Beautiful wines and a beautiful patio. They also had fun animal head pourers for sale. Well worth your time visiting if you enjoy fabulous wine.

Toulouse was the last stop of our Anderson Valley wine tour, and the most fun. Of course, we had already been drinking since noon, and Vern, the winemaker, was kind enough to stay late to see us after closing at 6pm -- plus there was no tasting fee. Again, there was no pretentious vibe here, and we were greeted with hugs and a pair of playful pooches. We felt right at home. Vern and his wife own the vineyard, and produce amazing wines. We tasted several wonderful wines, but we loved the Riesling and Pinot Gris, and ended up purchasing both. Oh, and the Trader Joe's cheese crackers he put out for us were the bomb -- yum! Vern was such a fun guy, and we spent quite a while just hanging out with him. I just love how welcoming he was. It really seemed to be a common attitude of so many of the people we encountered at all the wineries we visited. Vern really did go above and beyond to accommodate us though, by staying over an hour after closing time. I'm convinced -- once you go Anderson Valley you never go back to Napa Valley.