Of all the wineries we visited in Sonoma, Gundlach Bundschu was by far my favorite. The winery was founded in 1858 by German immigrant Jacob Gundlach and has remained in the family for six generations, which makes Gundlach Bundschu one of the oldest family-owned wineries in California.
We bought a picnic basket at the bar along with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and a glass of Pinot Noir, and brought everything up to a small picnic area on a hill with views of the vineyards and a little lake. The basket came with cheese crackers, a honey stick, burrata, some really good olives, a few slices of salami, and a Purple Haze cheese from Cypress Grove. Purple Haze is a goat cheese with lavender that I had never tried before, but it turned out to be fresh, delicious, and just perfect for our little picnic. Sitting there in the sun with wine and good food was exactly the kind of experience I had hoped for in Sonoma.
You can also book more traditional tastings if you want to dive deeper into the wines. Gundlach Bundschu is known for producing elegant, well-balanced wines. Their portfolio covers both reds and whites, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Gewürztraminer. The ones we tried (2022 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast and 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma Coast) were both really good and I regret a little that we didn’t get a bottle of each from the shop to take home.
In Sonoma, you usually get around by car, and while wine tasting and driving would be unthinkable for most people in Denmark, it’s perfectly normal in the US to get behind the wheel after a glass or two. Personally, I draw the line at one glass, which was also one of the reasons I didn’t join the tastings. Yes, I know you’re supposed to spit after sampling, but that also feels like such a waste of good wine. I’d rather save the tastings for another time, when I’ve booked an Uber or staying within walking distance to a winery.
If you love wine but don’t always want to finish the bottle, the Coravin Timeless Three Plus is a real game changer. This sleek system lets you pour wine without ever pulling the cork. A thin, medical-grade needle pierces the cork while Argon gas pressurizes the bottle, allowing the wine to flow out smoothly without letting oxygen in. The cork naturally reseals, so you can enjoy one glass tonight and save the rest for weeks, months, or even years.
