12 Sonoma Wineries That Are Surprisingly Kid-Friendly

Visit Sonoma wine country with kids? Absolutely, you can!

A family trip to America’s most beautiful wine country is more in reach than you think. Known for its family-owned wineries, beautiful parks with rolling hills, and farm-to-table cuisine, Sonoma, California offers the perfect blend of relaxation meets fun family getaway!

Trade in a busy sightseeing itinerary for a glass of crisp Chardonnay while you watch the kids play bocce ball or picnic in a vineyard. And when you’ve had enough wine (or is that really possible?), spend time together exploring the outdoors with easy hiking trails and horseback riding.

Ready to plan your trip to Sonoma with kids? Read on for our kid-friendly guide to creating a memorable wine country getaway the whole family will enjoy.

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The Best Time to Visit Sonoma with Kids

Sonoma benefits from a temperate California climate, so you can visit just about any time of year and be comfortable. That said, there are a few things to consider when deciding which season makes for the best time to visit Sonoma’s wineries with kids.

Sonoma Valley in the Spring

Spring is an ideal time to visit Sonoma, with wineries not being too overcrowded. In the spring you’ll encounter “Bud break”, or the start of the growing season, when the first buds emerge on dormant vines. This typically occurs from March to April, with some wineries holding special events for the occasion, such as La Roche Winery ‘s Bud Break Jubilee or Cline Cellar’s Bud Break Hike.

Sonoma Valley in the Summer

Summer is undoubtedly the busiest time of year to visit Sonoma wine country with kids. Yet with so many wine tasting experiences being outdoors, there’s nothing better than basking in the sun with a crisp glass of rose. You’ll want to plan well in advance, as tasting reservations (highly recommended, if not required) will fill up much more quickly. 

Sonoma Valley in the Fall

As the weather starts to turn, you’ll find harvest season in full swing from late August to October. Another busy time for Sonoma wineries, there’s plenty of fun activities for the whole family, with harvest dinners, grape stomping and wine making all in action. If you want to avoid the crowds, visit after peak harvest in October and November, when the wineries will be much quieter, yet the weather still mild.

Sonoma Valley in the Winter

For a more quiet experience with few tourists, winter is a lovely time to visit Sonoma. If you’re looking to stay warm indoors, be sure to confirm if children are allowed inside the tasting room and keep in mind that many outdoor tasting experiences will also provide heaters and fire pits.

Winters in Sonoma brings a higher chance for rain, so it’s best to skip this time of year if you’re wanting to enjoy outdoors activities. That said, don’t let the chilly weather totally deter you: you can still enjoy a nice glass of Cabernet Sauvignon by a cozy fire pit.

Family-Friendly Hotels in Sonoma, CA

The Lodge at Sonoma, Autograph Collection

The Lodge at Sonoma combines a laid-back vibe with upscale amenities, including spacious rooms, family-friendly on-site dining, plus a large outdoor pool and cozy fire pits for evening gatherings. Just a stones throw way from downtown Sonoma, the hotel offers a free shuttle to Sonoma Plaza, as well as day passes to borrow for nearby activities.

Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn

A classic favorite for families, The Fairmont Mission Inn offers beautiful Spanish-style architecture, lush gardens, and a pool heated with geothermal waters. With on-site perks like bike rentals and a bocce ball court, the Fairmont is ideal for parents who want a blend of luxury and kid-friendly activities. Don’t miss the daily lobby wine tasting and free shuttle to Sonoma Plaza.

Getting to Sonoma with Kids

Flying into Sonoma wine county with kids? You have a few airport options to choose from.

The closest airport is Charles M Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa, just under one hour’s drive from Sonoma Plaza. This smaller regional airport has limited flights but good connections to many west coast cities.

If you’re looking for a more affordable option, or want to add San Francisco into your trip, both San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Oakland International Airport (OAK) are 1 hour and 30 minutes away. The drive will be a little more unpredictable though, with unpredictable traffic and toll roads to consider.

You can avoid the San Francisco Bay Area altogether by flying into Sacramento (SAC), which is also a 1 hour and 30 minutes drive to Sonoma. With less traffic, yet still reasonably priced options throughout the US, it would be my airport of choice for most looking to head straight to Sonoma.

Laura’s Tip: Traveling with young kids? Read our list of the best airplane toys for toddlers to keep them entertained on the journey.

Getting Around Sonoma Valley with Kids

Whichever airport you choose, renting a car is highly recommended for visiting Sonoma with kids. While Uber and Lyft are available for short journeys, they’re not reliably to travel throughout the valley (not to mention the added flexibility of having your own car). We use RentalCars.com to find the most affordable rental car options (bonus: almost all of their rentals have flexible cancellation policies).

If you really want to avoid driving, plan to stay in Sonoma proper and book a car service to get you to and from the airport. From there, you can access a hotel shuttle to Sonoma Plaza or consider e-bike rentals to help you get around the valley with minimal effort.

Tips for Visiting Sonoma Wineries with Kids

As you plan your trip to Sonoma with kids you’ll find that many of the amazing wineries are family-friendly and welcoming to families! However, there are a few things to look out for as you plan.

PS. Traveling with a baby? Be sure to download our baby travel packing list so you don’t miss a thing.

Look for Outdoor Spaces

The easiest way to ensure a winery is family-friendly is by looking for outdoor experiences and picnic areas. Even if you can’t do a formal tasting, many wineries will have an outdoor space where you can purchase a bottle or glass of wine from the tasting room to enjoy outside at your leisure. This is a great option for families who don’t want the structure of a sit down tasting. 

Making Tasting Reservations with Kids

As you may already know, most Sonoma wineries will require a reservation. Sure, walk-ins are welcome during the quieter months, but if you know me, you know I don’t like to leave anything to chance when traveling with kids. 

The good news is all of the wineries in Sonoma make it very easy to book online! 

Here’s a few tips as you make your reservations:

• Many wineries offer multiple different types of tasting experiences. Be sure to look for any that note it being a 21+ experience and avoid.
• Try to book seated and/or outdoor tastings. The last thing you want is to be standing at the tasting bar with the kids at your feet. 
• If you are not required to pay in advance to secure your reservation, be sure to include children in the total guest count so that the winery can allocate enough seating for you.
• If you are required to pay in advance to secure a reservation, book only the adult tastings. Later in the reservation, you will usually be given the option to add a note of how many children will be joining the party (or if not, be sure to call the winery directly to let them know). This is important because it’s the only way you’ll guarantee your children have a seat, even if not tasting.
• Review the winery’s cancellation policy. Unexpected things happen when traveling with kids, so you’ll want to be sure you aren’t going to be out a large deposit if you have to cancel last minute. 
• Lastly, for my accessible travel friends, be sure to note any mobility restrictions. I made sure to add that Sophie had a wheelchair, but that we could navigate it over somewhat bumpy terrain. This helped give the winery a heads up that we might need assistance taking an alternate route to the outdoor tasting area.

I would recommend booking 2-3 wineries per day to keep a good balance of wine experiences and more exciting activities for the kids. As far as how many days you need in Sonoma, 3-4 days is a good amount of time to get a mix of everything Sonoma has to offer, making it a perfect choice to maximize your vacation days with a long weekend trip.

Keeping Kids Entertained at the Winery

While many Sonoma wineries are family-friendly with open space for children to roam, it’s important to be respectful and not disrupt others around you. After all, wine tasting should be a relaxing experience!

Be sure to bring plenty of activities to keep children entertained (I have no shame in bringing out the iPads in these circumstances!).

The great thing about travel is that no matter where you are, there’s always a learning opportunity, so lean into this in Sonoma. Even though you’re tasting wine, you’ll inevitably also be learning about the land and farming techniques.

And one last note: although outside food is generally not allowed (most wineries will have some sort of food for purchase), we did bring in a small snack box stored discreetly in our bag for those “I’m so hungry” emergencies.

A Note about Sonoma vs. Sonoma Valley vs. Sonoma County

A little disclaimer: when people talk about visiting Sonoma, they could mean a lot of different things. You have Sonoma (the city), Sonoma Valley (a specific wine region, aka AVA – American Viticultural Area), or Sonoma County (which is comprised of nineteen separate AVAs!).

A lot of articles about the most family-friendly wineries in Sonoma are actually talking about Sonoma County wineries, including the Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley Vineyards to the far north. Bear in mind, it takes over an hour to drive the entire Sonoma County from north to south!

So for the purpose of this post, we’ll be strictly talking about Sonoma Valley – the area directly surrounding the city of Sonoma, from Kenwood in the north to Carneros in the south (plus the smaller Sonoma Mountain and Moon Mountain AVAs, if you want to get really specific). You’ll find you can reach any of these wineries in 20 minutes or less from Sonoma Plaza.

And here’s the best part: we personally visited 10 out of the 12 wineries on this list, so you can trust me when I say these truly are the most kid-friendly wine tasting experiences for families in Sonoma.

12 Best Kid-Friendly Wineries in Sonoma

Now that you have all the details on how to book your kid-friendly trip to Sonoma, let’s get down to the fun stuff: family-friendly wineries! 

Without further ado, the best kid-friendly wineries in Sonoma, California:

1 | Buena Vista Winery

Buena Vista Winery is a must on our list because of its significant place in Sonoma wine history as the birthplace of winemaking in California. Founded in 1847, it was not just the first winery in Sonoma, but all of California! 

Buena Vista is one of the few wineries that actually allows children to accompany you at the tasting room bar, however there won’t be any seating options for them, so I do not recommend this. Instead, spend a little more for a seated tasting and add-on a cheese or charcuterie board to keep littles entertained with kid-friendly bites.

2 | Cline Family Cellars

Cline Cellars offers a few different tasting options for families, making it an excellent kid-friendly winery option. Book an outdoor seated reserve tasting for a relaxed experience (the outdoor area is tented in the off-season, so you’ll stay plenty warm outside). Be sure to bring a quarter to feed the fish in the backyard pond. 

For an equally relaxed experience, opt for the pondside picnic area which offers a lovely place to spend the afternoon. This experience includes 2 bottles of wine, plus a charcuterie board or picnic basket lunch (and keep in mind, you can always seal and take your wine to-go – no need to drink it all there)!

3 | Larson Family Winery

One of the most laid-back winery options on this list, we didn’t make it to Larson Family Winery on this trip, but it offers so much for families!

With their “build your own charcuterie board”-esque menu, it’s the perfect spot to mix wine tasting and light bites. Families will feel right at home with expansive lawns where children can run and play.

While you’re there, consider adding in a fun family activity to engage the kids: from a wooden glider rental to cornhole and bocce ball courts, there’s nothing boring or stuffy about this winery. 

And a bonus for dog lovers: Larson is a dog-friendly winery (leash required). They even have four of their own resident winery dogs, Rosko, Louise, Gus and Rocky, that kids will be excited to meet.

4 | Benziger Family Winery

One of my favorite Sonoma wineries we visited, Benziger Family Winery in Glen Ellen offers a Tractor Tram Tour which takes you through their Sonoma Mountain Estate, teaching visitors all about their unique biodynamic farming practices. The tour includes a tasting in the vineyard, a visit to the production area, and ends with more tastings at this kid-friendly wine bar.

For a simpler experience, children are welcome at the main indoor tasting bar as well.

5 | Landmark Vineyards

The northernmost winery on this list, Landmark Vineyards is a family-friendly winery just outside Kenwood, California. About 20 minutes north of Sonoma Plaza (barring any traffic), Landmark offers one of the most beautiful winery settings, with its expansive back patio, pond, gardens and views of the hillside vineyards.

A great place for kids of all ages to unwind and explore, we came to Landmark for their Bocce and Wine experience! This outdoor tasting experience includes 2 hours of time at the bocce court and a curated cheese and charcuterie board.

6 | B.R. Cohn Winery

I didn’t expect to love B.R. Cohn Winery so much. In fact, I only booked it because it was one of the few wineries open on Thanksgiving day. But we left it joining our first wine club ever, so that tells you just how much we loved it!

B.R. Cohn was founded in 1984 by Bruce Cohn, manager of the famous band The Doobie Brothers. Bruce had bought the estate in 1974 as a country escape for his family, back when most of the land was used for farming and dairy. Years later, as winemaking began to flourish in Napa & Sonoma, he came to find out his new country home was sitting on some of the richest soil in all of Sonoma Valley!

Delicious wines aside, the property is gorgeous with outdoor shaded tasting areas and expansive vineyard views. While it was rather quiet during our visit, the estate comes to life in the summertime with outdoor events and live music concerts.

Laura’s Tip: B.R. Cohn Winery’s Olive Hill Estate is named for the over 450 Picholine Olive Trees throughout the property and lining the drive up to the house. These 150+ year old trees were brought to the estate directly from France are still used to produce Picholine olive oil, which you can purchase in the tasting room!

7 | Bartholomew Estate

Bartholomew Estate doesn’t allow children in their tasting room, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have an amazing wine experience here with kids! Just outside the tasting room, enjoy a picnic in Antonia’s Garden, a lovely spot with picnic tables and shade trees set on a rolling hillside. In our opinion, it’s the best winery for indulging in a leisurely afternoon with kids in Sonoma.

The winery not only offers, but encourages families to take a bottle of wine to go in the garden (plastic tumblers are also available for sale, if needed). Adults can also alternate tastings inside while the other tends to the kids outside.

We opted to bring our own picnic lunch from Spread Kitchen, a local favorite for Lebanese fare. A grab-and-go picnic style lunch can also be ordered to-go from Sunflower Caffe, or curate your own charcuterie board at Sonoma Cheese Factory in Sonoma Plaza.

Outside of the winery’s picnic area, Bartholomew park offers hiking trails and even a Winery Trail Ride on horseback (this experience is limited to children 12 and up).

8 | Schug Carneros

Sadly, Schug Carneros is one winery we didn’t make it to on this list, but it’s not for not trying! An overtired Sophie meant we had to cut it from our list in lieu of a nap, but it’s a must on our itinerary for next time!

Situated on the western edge of the Carneros AVA, Schug’s rocky soil and cool winds produce the award-winning Pinot’s their famous for. A classic wine tasting experience takes place tucked away on their sunny courtyard with vineyard views (plus, you can add individual cheese and charcuterie boards to your tasting experience for just a few dollars more).

9 | Roche Winery

Like many others, the Roche family purchased land in Sonoma in 1976 as a weekend escape from their busy lives in San Francisco. Born to Irish immigrants and growing up farming themselves, they hoped to raise crops on their small hobby farm. A year later, they had moved to Sonoma permanently and began learning about winemaking through the parents of their children’s classmates.

Decades later, Roche Winery remains family-owned, producing great wines like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that the Carneros region is so well-known for. The large outdoor patio provides a relaxing, laid-back space for families to enjoy their wines, complete with adirondack chairs, fire pits and a small grassy lawn. Families are also welcome to explore the full estate and walk the vineyard grounds on their own. For a quick kid-friendly snack, head inside to their small deli case and shop.

10 | Viansa Winery

Perhaps some of the best views in the Carneros region can be found at Viansa Winery, a sprawling estate inspired by the Sebastiani family’s Tuscan roots. 

Inside the tasting room you’ll find a large Italian deli, making Viansa an ideal spot to grab a bottle to go while enjoying a picnic on the main lawn and picnic tables (no reservation required)! Or, book a private seated tasting overlooking the vineyards and Napa-Sonoma marsh for a taste of their most popular Italian varietals. 

For an extra special visit, consider booking their Private Outlook or Fireside Wine Tasting experience (but note, you may be required to pay an extra seat fee or adult tasting fee to enjoy these experiences with kids).

11 | Kunde Family Winery

On the northern edge of the Sonoma Valley you’ll find Kunde Family Winery, a large estate winery in Kenwood. Children are welcome in the indoor/outdoor 202 Lounge or you can book a seated wine tasting in the Kinneybook Room and patio. If you wish to skip the formal tasting experience, there are plenty of outdoor areas to relax and sip, like the waterside adirondack chairs surrounding the property’s pond.

Pair your trip to Kunde with outdoor dining at Salt & Stone, a buzzy Kenwood eatery with a spacious outdoor patio known as “Kenwood’s gathering place.”

12 | Gundlach Bundschu

Last but not least, don’t miss the historic winery of Gundlach Bundschu, the oldest still family-owned winery in California now producing regenerative organic certified wine.

Owned and operated since 1858, Rhinefarm Estate is a short drive from Sonoma Plaza and offers parents a relaxed, family-friendly environment for wine tasting. We added a full cheese and charcuterie spread (served in a cute little picnic basket!) and enjoyed tasting several unique wines in the courtyard overlooking the property’s lake.

Families with kids over the age 13 can also enjoy tours of their wine caves or a “Pinzgauer” off-roading vineyard tour to learn more about the regenerative winemaking process at Gundlach Bundschu.

Bonus: Wine Tasting in Sonoma Plaza with Kids

While there are so many kid-friendly Sonoma wineries, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention another excellent tasting option for those visiting Sonoma with kids: Sonoma Plaza!

Sonoma’s town square is an especially wonderful alternative for groups with more than one family, with parents having the opportunity to take turns wine tasting at one of the many tasting rooms surrounding the plaza. Kids will be happy to enjoy a picnic and playground time in the plaza.

On the southeast corner of the plaza, you’ll find a myriad of choices for tasting rooms, like Caddis Wines, Kamen Estate Wines and Bennett Valley Cellars, to name a few. These tasting rooms are small and intimate with a more refined feel, making them better for an adults-only experience. 

On the northwest corner of Sonoma Plaza, pop into WALT, Auteur Wines or Hawkes Wine, three adorable tasting rooms set in restored bungalow homes. All three allow children at their outdoor seated tastings as well, should you need to bring the kids along.

After reading about all of our favorite kid-friendly Sonoma wineries, I hope I’ve convinced you to take the leap and bring the kids to wine country! The Sonoma Valley is really an incredible spot for a family-friendly vacation that both you and the kids won’t soon forget.

Would you take your kids to wine country?

xo laura