Sonoma County Vineyard Walks

Exceptional winemaking starts in the vineyard; discover how on guided hikes or your own.

There’s nothing like getting out in the vineyard to help wine lovers appreciate an essential fact: those storied bottles enjoyed at home and in fancy restaurants are first and foremost agricultural products. Before winemakers work their aging and blending magic, grape growers jam with nature, making decisions—often in concert with winemakers—about when and how to prune grapevines, manage the clusters, and harvest the fruit.

Vineyard walks and hikes take place throughout Sonoma County. The possibilities range from a guided stroll at an upscale winery to several self-guided tours. Most of the hikes listed below take place weather permitting.

Guided Walks with Tastings

Alexander Valley Vineyards

History lesson at 19th-century homestead

Alexander Valley Vineyards in Healdsburg occupies part of the 19th-century homestead of Cyrus Alexander, for whom the winery and the appellation are named. Vineyard hikes pass by the winery, the original 1868 Alexander Valley school, and Alexander’s homestead, concluding with a picnic lunch outside the tasting room.

Bacigalupi Vineyards

Vineyard tour with a scenic valley view at Pinot pioneer

A fifth-generation family member leads a moderate hike through historic and recently planted vines at Bacigalupi Vineyards. As growers, the Bacigalupis were among the pioneers of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir – the family is also known for supplying many of the grapes in the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, the winner among California and French white wines poured at the 1976 Judgment of Paris blind tasting. A tasting of estate wines follows the walk (when offered, on Fridays from late spring to early fall). Note: Vineyard tours are on hiatus during 2026, but the winery plans to resume them in 2027.

Gundlach Bundschu

Fun walk, army-vehicle tours at winery dating to 1858

The team at Gundlach Bundschu, a winery dating to 1858, conducts vineyard-and-cave tours highlighting the sustainable practices used on its 320 planted acres. From late spring to early fall, guests can board a Pinzgauer Swiss Army vehicle and ride through the estate.

Jordan Vineyard & Winery

Sublime photo ops at hike through winery’s 1,200-acre estate

Participants hike in style through Jordan Vineyard & Winery’s 1,200-acre Healdsburg estate. The 3-mile “moderate hike” (lead photo) is typically offered a few times each spring, and sometimes in the fall. The walk begins with light breakfast items at the winery’s château. Along the way, you’ll pass by the pollinator garden, bee sanctuary, the executive chef’s organic garden, and the property’s vineyards and olive trees. The views and photo ops are sublime at the hilltop Jordan Vista Point. After returning to the château, you’ll taste the current Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon vintages over lunch.

Other Walks and Tours

Bartholomew Estate Vineyards and Winery

3 miles of trails at historic property

A bit more than 2 miles northeast of Sonoma Plaza, Bartholomew Estate Vineyards and Winery farms 22 acres of certified organic vineyards surrounded by the 375-acre Bartholomew Park. In the 19th century, this was the estate of Count Agoston Haraszthy, a pioneer of California winemaking. Before or after a tasting of wines that might include Sauvignon Blanc, a Marsanne/Roussanne white, Zinfandel, or the Press Release red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and sometimes Zinfandel, you can stroll past the ferns and trees that line 3 miles of hiking trails. On some days, the views from the hiking area’s upper portion extend to San Francisco. The elevation gain is 170–640 feet, and parts of the hike are difficult; stick to the paths around the grounds and vineyards for a less challenging stroll. Tip: To experience the park on horseback, book a trip with Sonoma Valley Trail Rides.

DeLoach Vineyards

Theater of Nature is winery’s “outdoor living room.”

The free Theater of Nature garden at DeLoach Vineyards highlights the benefits of organic and biodynamic farming. Plantings include colorful flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables, and graphic displays cover topics such as the role of the lunar calendar in biodynamic farming. The Russian River Valley winery welcomes guests to picnic in this “outdoor living room.”

Sonoma County Vineyard Adventures

Free self-guided tours at several wineries

St. Francis, Balletto, Paradise Ridge, and other wineries offer free self-guided vineyard tours year-round. Appointments aren’t required – find the first stop or ask in the tasting room and head into the vineyard. Placards along the way explain farming techniques, among them the use of wind blowers to combat winter frost and nesting boxes to support owls for rodent control. Tip: You don’t have to pay for a tasting to explore the vineyards, though you’re welcome to do so.

Tram and Trolley Rides, ATV Tours, Luxury Trekking

The Biodynamic Tractor Tram Tour at Benziger Family Winery is among Sonoma County’s most popular learning opportunities. From May through October, guests embarking on the Tour de St. Francis experience the vineyard up close on a pedal-powered trolley. In addition to its Vineyard Stroll & Tasting, which takes in estate vines and an insectary garden, Dry Creek Vineyard also hosts the Bold Dreams ATV tour.

Wine Country Trekking organizes European-style, luxury self-guided hiking trips throughout Northern California, including a five-day, four-night excursion from Bodega Bay to Healdsburg. 

This story first appeared online in 2017; it was most recently updated in 2026.