WALT Wines

We had the most friendly, educational, and fun Pinot tasting at Walt. Our wine educator was Elan; and he was simply lovely! He guided us through the different kinds of soil, regions of grape growing and flavors. It was just perfect! We highly recommend Walt for their exceptional tasting wines and their amazing and fun staff, like Elan. Just a wonderful experience!

If you are in Sonoma Square or just love great wine, this tasting experience and the incredible wine (and huge shoutout to their Champagne they cultivate from France) is not to be missed. This is an experience where you feel seen and engaged in the tasting experience. With people like Alejandro helping doing the pouring and education it is no wonder this is one of the best tasting experiences you can have in all of Wine Country.

Great last minute member tasting to escape Carl the fog. The WALT staff including Terry were super accommodating. They were also super friendly to my friends 3 year old who was hanging out with us. The outdoor space was comfortable and the atmosphere was friendly. Can’t wait to go back!

Amazing Pinot Noir experience at WALT wines, Napa - such a great find! We accidentally passed by WALT Wines in Napa and saw the “1,000 Miles of Pinot Noir” sign — we just had to stop! Ended up tasting 5 different Pinot Noirs from all over California (from north to south), and it was so cool to taste how the different soils and climates change the flavor. The vibe was super chill, and the staff was awesome. Totally recommend this spot for any Pinot Noir fan!

I love Walt! I have been a wine club member for about the years. Anytime I go I've had Elan as our host. He is great! Love how easy going he is and his personality. Eventhough I have been there so many times I still learn at least one new thing when I'm there. The wines are great! I love the new champagne they recent have added to the Walt family of wines. Great service and I don't think I'll ever stop my membership with this winery. My favorite wine there is Coners. They also have a chocolate tasting that is amazing and so fun with a group!

Had a fantastic time here. The pinot noir selection was impressive, and the quality was exceptional. But what really made the experience stand out was the knowledge and expertise of the staff. My host, Kyle, was incredibly knowledgeable about the wines, sharing fascinating insights into the vineyards, and the nuances of each varietal. It was clear that they were all passionate about the wines and eager to share that passion. Left feeling educated, enlightened, and eager to return. If you're a wine enthusiast or just looking for a great experience. Walt is a must-visit!

I had such a lovely experience tasting that I returned the next day to try more wines. Jennifer answered all of my questions and I learned a lot. This is the best glass of Pinot I have ever had, and I was surprised that their new Champagne line is so well done. The actual tasting room is charming.

Fun tasting. Great crew waiting on me. They were open to making a customized experience at my request. The new Champagne was excellent. Thank you!

Did I just sign up for another wine membership in a place I do not live - why yes I did! And it's because I enjoyed Walt Wines so much! My husband and I were vacationing in Sonoma and happened upon Walt Wines. We did not have a reservation but the hostess assured us it would be a short wait and handed us some rosé to sip on. The rosé was delicious so we decided to wait. In just a couple of minutes we were taken to a beautiful outdoor bench with four gorgeous tasters of Pinot Noir waiting for us. I'm from Oregon so Pinot Noir is my favorite and I do consider myself pretty picky in regards to my pinots. Our sommelier was Elan and he was an absolute delight and so knowledgeable and passionate about the wines we were tasting. We ended up signing up for their wine club and walking away with four bottles of our favorite pinots. Thank you Walt Wines for a fantastic time and delicious wine!

THE BIG: If you're into pinot noirs, WALT wines is the place to be! Located right off of the square in Sonoma. Tasting room is relatively small but aesthetically very pleasing. THE BLACK AND WHITE: The wife and I came here on a Friday afternoon right before we were heading back to SF. We didn't have a reservation but thankfully they were able to slot us in. For the tasting, we started off north in Oregon at the Shea Vineyard before heading down to The Corners, Close Pepe and Bob's Ranch down in Santa Barbara. It's amazing to taste essentially the same grape but in different growing conditions. Education-wise, our pourer, Terry, was awesome and took us on a journey of WALT wines. THE FINAL BAMBOO: The damage done for 2 tastings was ~$80. The tasting pours are generous and you get to truly differentiate the compositions of pinot noirs from Oregon to Southern California.

This wine tasting experience never disappoints. We joined this winery our first time here. We look at the quality of wines, the customer service, as well as the hours of the winery (we like to taste during the week) and whether or not we can bring guests and if we can switch out our selection if we want something different. This place ticked off all the boxes!

Terry did an amazing wine tasting for our group of 4 wine drinkers. He was absolutely excellent! So knowledgeable about the wine and the winemaking process. The Pinot Noir wines at Walt were simply incredible! My faves Gap's Crown, Bob's Ranch, Sierra Mar, Rose' from Pinot Noir, and Rita's Crown. The tasting room was spacious and the atmosphere was wonderful. Terry showed us a short film with aerial views of the vineyards producing the grapes of each wine we tasted. Awesome, just awesome! Add Walt, located off Sonoma Square to your tasting journey.

Great wines and atmosphere. Staff are knowledgeable and provide a memorable experience. Definitely recommend the elevated pairings as the wines are food friendly and approachable.

Our party of 4 had the chocolate and wine tasting paring. Our host was Elan and he was engaging, informative and an absolute pleasure to spend our afternoon with. The wines parings were a homerun with the chocolates which were beautiful made. If you're in sonoma Plaza, do not skip this winery

Jessie was our host. He is very knowlegeable and taught us a lot of stories about wines especially different regions of Pinot noir. We came to Sonoma to research Pinot noir, so it really helped the information. He also gave us excellent service. Don't miss the opportunity to go there for the wine tasting.

Jennifer was very cordial and knew so much about the wines. I loved the Pinot Noirs and joined your wine club. Thank you for the wonderful experience.

I was in Sonoma for the weekend, and my friends (who are Hall Wine members) invited me to join them for a tasting at Walt Wines. WOW! I had no idea what I was in for, what a pleasant surprise! It was a lovely day and we were seated outside under the big beautiful Redwood, and our host, Elan, was the host with most! His personality, knowledge of Pinots, and his passion and enthusiasm made for such a FUN learning experience! He took us on a tasting journey spanning 1000 miles of vineyards from the coast of OR to CA, and they were all so delicious in different ways! If you love Pinot Noir, make yourself a reservation with Elan, since this place is not to be missed! I look forward to returning with my family and friends ~ Cheers!

Love love Walt!! I've been a member of Hall Wines (owned by the same folks) and have visited here so many times. Before going to Walt, I didn't think I liked Pinot Noirs. And then I realized I did. Services is always great. The inside space is a bit small so ideally you can visit on a warm or at least not rainy day, to enjoy the wines outside.

Cute tasting "home" off 1st in Sonoma so it's tucked a tiny bit away from the main square. They took our party of 6, last minute and did an excellent job. The wine flight was well thought out and presented. My only complaint was the ambience fighting with the outdoor elements lol We very much enjoyed the wine but in heat reaching 100 & winds kicking the pollen in our glasses, we rushed thru the flight to get our whole party in the comfort of neighboring AC.

I have a 3.5 year old and 16 month old, and this is the first time I never felt welcome at an establishment (wineries and breweries included). If you say that you allow children, then you will have customers who show up with children who behave like...children. But just because you say you allow kids does not mean you are a kid friendly establishment. There is a difference. Our server was very nice and did ask once that the kids keep it down so they don't disturb the other guests, but our biggest insult was the server named Jesse for the table behind us. My daughter was twirling next to his table of two, and he bent down and asked her to not disturb the other guests, then proceeded to crack a joke to those two customers where one of them said "cheers to that", and he explained how he never could handle the responsibility of kids and that's why he has a cat at home. Cracking a joke at my child's expense to another customer while we are right behind you is one of the most despicable things I've ever experienced in the food service industry. He probably thought we didn't hear him, but everyone at our table did and agreed it was incredibly rude and unprofessional. Maybe this place would be better off switching to a "no kids allowed" policy. Additionally, we had scheduled this visit weeks in advance, and at the last minute they told us someone had messed up the reservations because they had a private event at that time, and they needed to bump up our reservation by two hours. This meant the grandparents weren't able to make it and join us. After an inconvenience like that, you think they would have been a little extra polite. I will say after tastings we usually purchase a few bottles of wine to take home, but this time we left with zero. If you're looking for a kid friendly place in Sonoma to visit with your family, this isn't it.

Ilan is an excellent host and very thoughtful about wine recommendations and the local area. I have visited and been hosted by him many times over the past 2 years

We joined last year per a friend's recommendation. A few months ago, my husband and I, wine club members, walked in for a tasting. There was a young girl at the front desk who rudely told us there was an hour wait. We said we were members and just wanted to get a glass of wine. She said that wasn't possible. Are you serious?! So rude. Furthermore, when we quit the club, no one emailed or called to ask why we were quitting. Apparently Walt is not into customer service AT ALL. Very disappointed Walt.

Being a wine club member at one of WALT's sister wineries (e.g. BACA, Hall) means that I'll likely be returning here to WALT Wines for further opportunities to taste wine while picking up my wine allocation. For that, it's pleasant and as good as it needs to be. For those looking to go wine tasting in Sonoma though? For that I'd go elsewhere. Simply put, WALT Wines is just lacking all of those things that many people (self-included) enjoy about the act of wine tasting. The wine itself is good, certainly (they specialize in Pinot), but the property isn't what most of us think of when we set out to taste wine in Sonoma County. It's a simple little house with outdoor seating in front, on the side, and out back. Think cute and quaint with nary a vineyard in site, as opposed to luxurious or beautiful. WALT Wines, unfortunately, doesn't possess the sort of license that allows them to pour glasses of wine or allow one to purchase and enjoy a bottle on-site. This is a tasting only facility and the size of those pours is regulated. It's close to the Sonoma square and if you're already in the area seeking a casual wine tasting experience WALT will do but for a glass or bottle of wine and that quintessential wine country experience, I don't find WALT to be a wine country must.

If you love Pinot Noir and are looking for a small tasting room right off the square in Sonoma you've found your spot! Knowledgeable staff to answer questions and guide you down the coast from Oregon to Southern CA trying different varietals. Dog friendly outside and the perfect spot to do a quick tasting before dinner in the square.

Can't recommend this enough! We didn't like Pinot noir before going but ended up loving it. We actually went to another tasting after and it didn't compare at all after being spoiled with Walts Wine. Mike helped us and he made the experience amazing! I recommend the chocolate and wine tasting!

The wines were delicious, as usual. And it was great weather to be outside. Our person was fantastic; she was knowledgeable and helpful. I was less impressed, however, by the front desk person; what's the problem with giving more than a splash? If not for that, I'd give a 5-star rating.

Extraordinary wine and extraordinary service. I waited a couple days to write this review because I wanted to get it right. My friend and I visited Sonoma for a few days and reserved a chocolate and wine pairing at Walt. Our wine educator was Elan. Now this is the important part: Elan turned a tasting into a sensory experience. Now the wine is excellent but what took everything to the next level is Elan. He challenged us with hints and pairings, guiding us through the different Pinots with different chocolates. His enthusiasm and superior service were what made this the best tasting, pairing wine experience I have ever had.

We've been to the Walt in Napa, across the street from the Oxbow but decided to give the Sonoma location a spin since we happened to be in the area. The tasting experience is more or less the same--you'll start with a glass of chardonnay, then move onto 4 single-vineyard pinot noirs from Willamette (OR), Anderson Valley (Menodocino), Petaluma Gap (Sonoma), and Santa Rita Hills (Santa Barbara). As with the Napa location, the wine educators are really knowledgeable--not just about Walt wines, but the vineyards, vineyard management, and even AVAs. If you're into pinot noir and interested to see how different clones grown in different regions are expressed differently in the wines, you'll really enjoy the tasting at Walt. For me personally, although I love the exploration of pinot from Oregon to Santa Barbara, the winemaking style isn't my favorite. These are some very lush, high alcohol pinots, one topping out at 15.1% (The Corners, Anderson Valley)--Dry Creek zin territory--and some of the elegance and expressions of terroir are simply overpowered by very dominant fruit, new French oak, and explosive alcohol. I can understand many people might love this style of pinot, but it gave me palate fatigue pretty quickly. That being said, if you're looking to include a tasting or two in your day trip to Sonoma, you will be blown away by the hospitality and learn more than you could ever want about different pinot clones, diurnal shifts and how terrain can impact it, soil composition, etc. A+ tasting experience, even if I wasn't the biggest fan of the wines.

Great experience. Jesse was very willing to share his knowledge of the Walt pinot noir family of wines and history. We are members but always enjoy learning something new with each visit.

We always have a great experience at all of the Walt properties as well as Hall. The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable. The wines are equally great. Special shout out to Terry and Ted. They are the best! We're very happy that we are members

great variety of single vineyard wines and knowledgeable staff to explain difference. Excellent tasting experience.

BEST TASTING OF MY LIFE! I had waited over 2 years for this tasting and it did not disappoint. When we had initially went to Sonoma in 2020, I had wanted to try this place, but it was too packed and we couldn't get in. This time, I told myself I would reserve early and get the chocolate tasting. I am soo happy that I did!! Everything was perfect from the atmosphere to the staff & especially the wines & chocolates!

When we lived in so cal. Well before the great movie came out, I binge read Sideways by Rex Picket. Bae was shocked as I never read a book cover to cover in two days. So she read it and also loved it. We of course loved the movie but the constructive out crop of all that was to learn, to respect and to appreciate a fine Pinot Noir. While I have a pretty good food palate, I don't think I have it honed in when it comes to wine. My scale doesn't vary from 4 buck chuck to high end... taste is taste. And we LOVE the Pinots from WALT. So far I haven't tasted anything objectionable. Bae joined their wine of the month club so we get a couple of bottles delivered; or in this case, beautiful spring day, new whip, and a long weekend to boot... let's go pick it up in person and schedule a tasting too. Bae was navigating on her phone because she was too lazy to give me the address to plug into the SAT-Nav (as my British pals call it) so we went 35 minutes outta the way and missed our allotted time. Totally booked they still accommodated us "members" by setting us up a little informal sampler tasting right at the front door on beach-wood patio chairs n table. I'm sure they would have kept pouring had we decided to keep trying, but I'm a total wuss and had to drive. Tasty, drinkable social and fun. All without having to get SIDEWAYS to appreciate! I have another reason to have a high regard for this wine. Bae mistakenly brought this wine and we left it unopened at a socially distanced friends gathering. The next day our friends who are wine snobs called raving, ranting, oohing and aaahing about that WALT Pinot she left at their house. "You guys are great friends welcome anytime ...will name the grandkids after you" kind of gushing. "Sweet!" Said I "Damn it" said Bae! "That was not a cheep bottle of wine" below her breath! "Glad you enjoyed it!"

We had such a lovely time at WALT Wines today. Great tasting wines and excellent service. Our server Jesse was delightful and knowledgeable! I also appreciated that, when I had to step away from the table with my fussy baby, another employee of WALT (I didn't get her name) kindly invited me to sit in a private, air conditioned room, away from the heat that was making the baby fussy. I was able to soothe baby quickly and then make my way back to the table to sip the delicious Pinot Noir flight.

Well, we have found another new favorite wine spot! I sure do love exploring Wine Country so when we booked a gorgeous hotel in Sonoma for a night, the research began. I was originally drawn to WALT Wines because of the beautiful signage they have outside of the perfect, cottage-y looking home {the tasting room} - A brick structure with a Blue and Yellow W {my favorite colors}.. How do I not check this place out?! While walking up to the tasting room, it was more than I could have hoped for and more beautiful than the pictures portray. I think I even said to my husband, I want to live here! Super cute and quaint! Since they have re-opened with the Covid-19 CA restrictions, they are taking every single precaution - Limited reservations, tables located at least 6 feet apart, the entire team wearing a mask from start to finish as well as sanitizing stations located around the property. Thank you - This made us feel super comfortable while venturing out to taste some FAB wine! You all know that I am a sucker for good customer service - Huge shout out to Austin for providing us with a phenomenal experience! From the second we walked in, Austin gave us a warm welcome and treated us like royalty. He was more than knowledgeable about each and every wine {and region} that was served to us - He told us about his favorites and after telling him what we liked, he pin-pointed the ones he knew would be our favorites. For those that know us, my husband and I can be a bit goofy at times {we always like to joke around and have a good time} - Which we did with Austin and he immediately picked up on our crazy sense of humor. At some wineries, the "sales pitch" at the end can be a bit much but Austin was clear, concise, and very direct as to what the wine club entailed {without the typical "sales pitch} - And guess what?! We joined yet another wine club! The wines themselves are amazing! Each tasting will start out with two whites followed by four different reds {they are known for their Pinot Noir's}. These were a few of our favorites: The 2018 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, the 2018 Sierra Mar Pinot Noir, the 2017 Corner's Pinot Noir as well as the 2018 Clos Pepe Pinot Noir. We are so excited to be a part of their Wine Club and try more delicious Pinot's! A bonus to joining the club - You also get complimentary tasting at four {yes, four} additional tasting rooms - Score!

Walt is so much fun! On a side street away from the hustle and bustle of the main drag, the wines are excellent! I hate Chardonnay, but their Chardonnay is delicious! Both times we've been in we were waited on by a gentleman named MK, who is quite funny and incredibly knowledgeable about the local regions and wine offerings He's so fun, and we will be back to visit again! Thanks!

We very much enjoyed our wine tasting with grant this afternoon in Walt Sonoma. I came here with my wife and her mother. It was a perfect day to sit outside on the patio and to enjoy our flight of wine. Grant was attentive and informative but not at all over bearing. After tasting here on many occasions this was our best experience by far. Next time we come back, I would definitely request grant as our wine educator on the next visit.

Elan. Elan. Elan. We loved Elan. They accommodated us last minute on a Tuesday morning. Honestly, it was the best experience we had during our time in wine country. It was educational and delicious. Elan was passionate about what he was doing and it resonated through the whole experience. He made us feel like we'll be friends for life. We joined the membership and cannot wait for our first shipment!

We took a mental health day from work after a tough loss in our family and headed up to wine country. Somehow we totally forgot that many wineries are closed on Tuesday so we opted for some lunch at El Dorado and figured we'd try our luck finding an open winery on the square. I was eyeing Walt from our table as it looked cute and had a nice safe outdoor area and low and behold I had bookmarked it on Yelp ages ago because of their pinot-rep. There were only two other parties there when we arrived and we were given a choice of outdoor tables, well distanced. Each pinot was a delight and, though pricier then we're used to in Sonoma for both tasting fees and bottles, we took home a couple bottles we were really impressed with in the hopes we might save them for something special. Terry helped us out and he did a wonderful job of educating us on the offerings and their vineyard sources...he also did a great job entertaining our one year old. :)

This was my 2nd time visiting Walt Wines just off Sonoma square, the last time was November 2019. The wines are delicious, spanning numerous single vineyard pinots and a few chardonnays. Our host Michael was terrific, and well balanced in his relaxed yet attentive approach. Outdoor seating is plentiful, note pic of us under the resident giant redwood! Reservations are definitely a good idea. This is a target visit for discerning wine enthusiasts.

A lovely tasting experience due to the shady patio and the friendly gentleman that assisted us. My cousins and I did the special tasting of the day, which included five tasting glasses. All the Pinots were refreshing and delicious. I could taste several notes in each wine and I really liked that we were about to taste such an array of options. They really have something for everyone with different taste buds. I prefer sweeter wines so the rosè we sampled was perfect for me. Very subtle, fruity and crisp. The smell alone had my mouth watering. This was my first time wine tasting and of the three wineries we visited, the WALT was my absolute favorite for many reasons: 1. The gentleman that assisted us was very friendly. He gave us the run down of each wine, made casual conversation and happily took photos for us. 2. The patio area is completely shaded so it was really nice to sit out and chat with everyone. 3. Prior to dinner, more of my family met up with us and we were told that the tasting period was over but that they could share amongst the rest of us. I had the best experience at the WALT and enjoyed my time here. I will defintently be back next time I'm in the Sonoma area!

Our server was excellent! And, of course, the wine was amazing. Our experience there was well worth it. I highly recommend WALT's place to everyone!

I was visiting home (Sonoma) this past weekend to celebrate an early Mother's Day for my mom. We had brunch at EDK on the plaza and decided to go for a wine tasting after brunch so we walked over to Walt. We are not members and didn't have a reservation but they were still able to accommodate our walk in group of 5. Terry led our tasting and he was extremely knowledgeable and provided an excellent tasting experience. We all bought some wines to take home, but when I got back to my apartment in San Francisco I realized I had been given the wrong wine. So I called them the next day and they were so accommodating when it came to resolving the mix up. They were going to ship the bottle I should've received but when I let Terry know my address he offered to hand deliver the bottle on his way to a Giants game that week. Talk about going above and beyond! We loved the delicious pinots and their customer service handling this scenario exceeded my expectations. Thank you again Terry, we will definitely be back!

I am a member of Walt since 2016. This wine club is excellent. I normally always pick up my wine shipments and therefore normally visit them at least every quarter. They are always great. Their service is great. Their wine educators that have been there for some time are great. I really like Terry and Michael. Terry truly educates you on the wine and Michael is also great.

This is our Go-winery for outstanding Pinot noirs. We have been there a number of times and also joined their wine club. In addition to offering delicious wines, their customer service and is exemplary. This time our 'Wine educator' was Jeanette Sillet. Not only is she knowledgeable but her understanding of customer service is exceptional. We will continue to come back and look forward to seeing Jeanette again.

Some of the best Pinot around combiners with superb service and knowledgeable wine educators (especially at the Sonoma Square outpost) for a wonderful day. These are big and bold, truly the cab lovers Pinot. Bob's, Rossela's, Sierra Mar and Clos Pepe are our favs.

Our first trip to Sonoma. Terry at Walt was a big part of our positive experience in Sonoma. He was knowledgeable, put up with our questions and he didn't make us feel rushed through. Even accommodated starting us earlier than our planned tasting time. Thank you for making this a great trip.

Excellent service and wine. Came here for my birthday today and was my first wine tasting of the day and by far my favorite. Dee did a great job and really made it special. Highly recommend!!

We visited Walt Wines yesterday and had just an over- the-top experience. As world travelers who have been in almost every wine region on every continent, we know an authentic but original experience when we participate in one. Elan (Alan) was our host and he took us through an exciting guided journey as we traveled with him 1800 miles tasting pinots. It was educational, enlightening, fun and left us wanting more. Congratulations to him and Walt Wines, which always deliver. We are locals in Sonoma and will continue to bring our many friends by for a great experience. Cheers, Connie and Bill

Love WALT in Sonoma! Great Pinots from multiple regions, chocolate pairing and food pairing options. The backyard vibes is also a plus, very relaxing and welcoming.

Service and ambiance is definitely outstanding. Perfect place to try some excellent Chardonnay and Pinot noir with friends and family. However their store policy does not allow you to bring outside food or snack unlike the parent winery at Hall, so if you are looking to pair your wine with some of your favorite cheese or bread, you are definitely out of luck, thence only 4 stars.

Our favorite place to visit while in Sonoma. Love the atmosphere. We've been drinking Walt Wines for 8 years. Our favorite We're Members of the Wine Club. Also get membership pricing at Hall in Napa.

We had a wonderful tasting outside under their coast redwood tree. Elan was our guide through the tasting. He did a fabulous job helping us understand the differences between all the Pinot Noir varieties. It was fun to taste the variation that different climates and soils give to the wine.

If you want to be told politely to go F yourself today or tomorrow or anytime in the future for A PARTY OF ONE for absolutely no reason then I'd say come here. They're just too busy, on a Thursday, or a Friday or really whenever to have you. Enjoy our wines...at Raley's or other fine merchants (who won't tell you to go f yourself) near you!

Fantastic experience! Austin was the perfect combination of information, history, personal taste and knowledge of Sonoma in general! Fun time sitting in the shade in the front courtyard, we were able to experience a Chardonnay then move on to 4 flavorful Pinot Noirs! Definitely loved the laid back vibe, too!

Elan was the absolute server. Would recommend him over and over. Made the experience so much better by having him.

My wife and I recently visited Walt and we're not happy at all with the service. We were lead to a private tasting room where we were given a flight of Pinot wines. All good till our host just referenced us to scan various codes to hear about the different wines. These short few minutes of videos told us virtually nothing about the individual wines other then location and soil type. Two of the clips were identical even though the two came from different Vinyards...