Fees for wine tastings in Sonoma

[Jenise]

So our group of eight travelling together to Sonoma for wine tasting is running into some obstacles with regard to cost. Everybody in the group can afford the fees, but we were hoping to visit around 10 wineries over a three day period--that will add up. What Beth, who is making the arrangements is finding is that the fees are fairly high and in most cases they're flat-out not forgiven against purchases.

In some ways I understand, in some I don't. I'm sure they all have to have some defenses up due to the prevalence of bachelorette parties and the like--unserious people just out for a good time. Not what small wineries need to waste their time and wine on. But we're all serious wine people. Is there something Beth can do to convince them otherwise?

Here are the results I know about so far:

Idyllwild (Healdsburg) Tasting with cheese plates etc. $65 pp and does not waive the fee due to being small
Ant Hill (Healdsburg) Limited to groups of eight or less. We might be 10, so that's a no go
Carlisle Winery (Windsor) out of wine till April and will need to see how it goes closer to that time
Ryme (Healdsburg) Open 10 to 3 for tastings $55pp and box lunches available for purchase. They do not waive the fee as they are a small winery
Trombetta wine (Forestville-north of Sebastopol) $50 pp and will not waive the fee
Acorn (Healdsburg) Have not been able to reach yet


Once out of Sonoma, things get a bit more reasonable:

DRNK (Sebastopol) 30$ for tasting fees are waived if you buy 3 bottles of wine
Fog Crest (Sebastopol) 20$ for tasting and waived if you buy a bottle
Furthermore (Sebastopol) $25 a person and waived if you buy wine (not sure if there's a quantity min or not)

One person in the group has responded to the above with a proclamation that she will not go to any winery that charges because that's "dumb business practices". I don't quite agree with that, I know the pandemic has changed a lot of things. I also don't want to go to the big wineries--the kind with bus parking--that may not charge or charge as much or care how big your group is because those aren't the kind of wines I'm there for.

Can anyone help me make better connections?

Dry Creek Vineyards, Healdsburg has tastings. I don't know the cost (I'm a club member). Good wine. 707-433-1000. There's a better than even chance that the person who answers the phone will know my name.
Hawkes has a tasting room in Jimtown (Healdsburg) 707-433-4295. $30/person, and another one in Sonoma (downtown) that's open on weekends. 707-938-4620. Also $30. They're basically a cab house, but they do Merlot. a chardonnay and usually a rose.
Joseph Swan (Forestville) is only open on weekends, and they say a max of 4 people for a tasting. Too bad - amazing PN and good Syrah, Zin, usually Viognier. 707-573-3747. Whoever answers the phone will know who I am, but they're being very strict about distancing and masking, so don't expect any favors.
The Covid has totally messed with the wine-tasting experience.

[Jenise]

John, I put Swan's name in the hat first thing, but didn't get any support from the rest of the group. Dry Creek I like, probably we all like, but it wouldn't be 'new' so might not get support (the way Swan didn't). Don't know of Hawkes, I'll look into that (though primarily Cab may not be a strong seller either with this group.)

Jenise,
"New" wineries are popping up like dandelions, but with the Covid hassles, I haven't been exploring them.
I know Nalle won't fit your picture (but they do make good wine). Preston (Healdsburg) might be a chance. Max 6 people, open Tues..Sun, $35 per person. Biodynamic. They're in a picturesque location at the end of half a mile of dirt driveway through the vineyards. 707-433-3372.
I like their wines, but I'm not totally smitten by them.
And I don't think your group would likely be into David Coffaro.

Unfortunately, pretty much any winery that is buzzy and expensive is going to charge more than just a token, these days. If you want token fees you'll have to go with ones no one has heard of, even in Sonoma. Tertiary wine regions are more likely to have low or no fees, but my guess is you'll be less than impressed with the quality.

@WNissen
There are plenty of buzzy, unimpressive wineries floating around, to say nothing of not-buzzy, unimpressive wineries. More than 450 wineries in Sonoma County alone. I doubt even TomHill can keep up with them.

[Jenise]

Walt, you hit the nail on the head. Wish everyone in this group was realistic enough to understood this.

Walt, you hit the nail on the head. Wish everyone in this group was realistic enough to understood this.

Hey, your group is more than welcome to come down to my neck of the woods and experience the freedom of no-reservations affordable tasting. Have a look at this nifty itinerary planner that shows up front how much they charge and whether it's refundable. I looked at a dozen places and not one has free tastings, almost all charge $10-15 and refund against purchase. And Livermore is, unfortunately, no Sonoma. Some nice landscapes, but the weather is too hot for fine unfortified wine, in my opinion.

But I sympathize with your group. 20 years ago major tourist places like Beringer in Napa charged for tastings with no refund, but most other places would refund or just wouldn't charge once it was clear you were there to learn and taste, rather than get wasted. Sterling got a lot of ribbing for putting in a tram, but reservations, high tasting fees, and "experiences" are all de rigeur throughout wine country. It is hard to believe that more places wouldn't jump at the chance to sell wine at full retail, but obviously they can do that and still charge for tasting, so why wouldn't they?

If you do want a place that's good (if somewhat inconsistent), Bump Wine Cellars in Sonoma proper has a reasonable tasting fee and a pleasant environment.

[Jenise]

Walt, you hit the nail on the head. Wish everyone in this group was realistic enough to understand this.