Say g’day to Chris the Aussie winemaker at Loxton, a no-frills winery with million-dollar views of the grapes you'll actually be tasting. The tasting room contains a small warehouse where racing cars were once designed, and there you can sample wonderful Syrah and Zinfandel; non-oaky, fruit-forward Chardonnay; and good port. Bottles cost $17 to $32.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Quarryhill Botanical Garden

1.35 MILES

Just when you thought the vineyards would stretch as far as the eye could see, out of nowhere comes a world-renowned botanical garden specializing in the…

2. Kunde

1.46 MILES

This family-owned winery on a historic ranch has vineyards that are more than a century old. It offers mountaintop tastings with impressive valley views…

3. Benziger

2.13 MILES

If you’re new to wine, make Benziger your first stop for Sonoma’s best crash course in winemaking. The worthwhile tour (reservations recommended) includes…

4. Jack London State Historic Park

2.37 MILES

Napa has Robert Louis Stevenson, but Sonoma has Jack London. This 1400-acre park frames that author's last years; don't miss the excellent on-site museum…

5. Imagery Estate

2.94 MILES

Imagery produces lesser-known varietals such as Legrain and Tannat, biodynamically grown, that you often can't buy anywhere else. Each bottle sports an…

6. Arrowood

2.98 MILES

Arrowood's hilltop tasting room has postcard-perfect valley views and a bourgeois vibe, fussy for Sonoma, but the excellent Chardonnay and Cabernet…

7. Oak Hill Farm

3.11 MILES

At the southern end of Glen Ellen, Oak Hill Farm contains acres upon acres of organic flowers and produce, hemmed in by lovely steep oak and manzanita…

8. Little Vineyards

3.25 MILES

The name fits at this family-owned small-scale winery surrounded by grapes, with a lazy dog to greet you and a weathered, old-timey wooden bar, at which…