8 Best Anderson Valley Wineries Worth the Curvy Drive

Anderson Valley is almost like the lost wine region of Northern California. Ask even Bay Area natives if they’ve been and most will tell you no. And I sort of like it that way.

Anderson Valley wineries don’t have the steep price tag of Napa Valley or the crowds, but the tasting rooms have the same rustic feel you find in Sonoma. And the pinot noir coming out of this valley just happens to be some of the best in the world.

Robin and I have driven through Anderson Valley on our way to Mendocino about once a year since our first trip in 2016, and we always break up the drive with wine tasting and lunch in Boonville. This summer we finally spent the night in the valley instead of rushing to the coast. I have my WSET Level 2 certification in wine, and I’ve written guides to Silverado Trail wineries and Santa Cruz Mountain wineries. Anderson Valley is still the California wine region I recommend most to friends who want great pinot without the Napa markup.

This guide covers my favorite Anderson Valley tasting rooms (including the one place where tasting is still free), current fees and reservation rules, a one-day itinerary from San Francisco, where to eat and where to stay.

The Best Anderson Valley Wineries at a Glance

Short on time? Here’s my cheat sheet:

• Toulouse Vineyards: my number one, for the view and the rosé
• Pennyroyal Farm: wine and goat cheese pairings, plus the best lunch stop in Boonville
• Lula Cellars: lounge chairs by a pond, and your dog can come
• Navarro Vineyards: a huge lineup to taste and daily vineyard tours
• Roederer Estate: the sparkling wine stop
• Husch Vineyards: free tasting for groups of six or fewer

Where Is Anderson Valley, California?

Are you reading this and a little confused about where Anderson Valley is? This wine country valley sits north of Healdsburg and south of Mendocino along Highway 128, inside Mendocino County. It’s a bit hidden in the sense that most wine tasters don’t make it past Healdsburg, but the valley isn’t hard to get to.

The valley runs about 15 miles along Highway 128. The biggest town is Boonville, with Philo a few miles up the road (and tiny Yorkville at the southern end). Both towns are small, but every time we come back there are new bars, restaurants or tasting rooms. It’s easy to drive right on through. You shouldn’t.

How Long Is the Drive to Anderson Valley?

• San Francisco to Boonville: about 115 miles, around 2.5 hours
• Sacramento to Boonville: about 147 miles, around 3 hours
• Ukiah to Boonville: about 22 miles, around 35 minutes
• Boonville to Mendocino: about 39 miles, around 1 hour

As you can see, it’s not terribly far from San Francisco, but fair warning: Highway 128 is CURVY AF. I always get car sick when we drive it. Once you reach Boonville the road turns flat and mostly straight until you reach the redwoods, and the tasting rooms all sit along that same stretch of 128, so hopping between them is easy.

Pro-tip: Highway 128 near the Navarro River can close for flooding in winter (it closed as recently as February 2026), so check Caltrans road conditions before you leave on a rainy day.

Why Anderson Valley Wine Is So Good

I’m partial to California wines because I live here, but Anderson Valley makes excellent wine, and there’s a real reason for it.

The Pacific Ocean is right over the hill in Mendocino, and every night the marine fog rolls inland and cools the whole valley down. Days can get hot (remember my 90-degree Pennyroyal visit), but nights drop way down. The Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association puts that daily temperature swing at up to 50 degrees. Wine people call it a diurnal shift.

That big swing lets the grapes ripen slowly while holding on to their acidity, which is exactly what cool-climate varieties need. So when you taste here, look for the cool-climate pinot noir and chardonnay. They’re bright and fresh, and noticeably different from the riper, jammier styles you’ll find in warmer parts of California.

Pro-tip: If you’ve only had Napa chardonnay and think you don’t like it, try one from Anderson Valley. Pennyroyal’s barrel-fermented 2024 Chardonnay from Hammer Olsen Vineyard is a good place to start.

Best Time to Visit Anderson Valley

The tasting rooms are open year-round, but each season has tradeoffs.

Summer is gorgeous and green, and Pennyroyal’s garden was lush when we visited. It also gets hot. It was about 90 degrees on our last visit, so we gave up on the patio and sat inside. If you go in July or August, plan your outdoor tastings for the morning.

Fall is harvest season, and it’s my favorite time to stop at the Philo Apple Farm stand.

Winter is the quietest time, but rain can close Highway 128 near the Navarro River, so keep your plans flexible.

If you want to plan around an event, the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival returns June 12 to 14, 2027. Book your stay early for that weekend.

My Favorite Anderson Valley Wineries

What are the best wineries in Anderson Valley? Well, buckle in! There are about 30 wineries and tasting rooms in the valley, mostly clustered around Philo and Boonville. These are the ones I keep coming back to.

1. Toulouse Vineyards

• Where: Philo
• Hours: Daily, 11am to 4pm
• Tasting fee: $25, waived per bottle purchased
• Reservations: Recommended, walk-ins welcome

Toulouse is still my favorite winery in Anderson Valley. If you choose to visit just one place, head here. Why do I love Toulouse so much?

The Toulouse tasting room is rustic chic. The first time we rolled up, we were greeted by a golden retriever puppy (best way to start any wine tasting, right?!) and ushered out to the patio, which has probably the best view of the valley.

And of course, their wine is fantastic. Everyone makes good Anderson Valley pinot noir, but I loved the unusual ones here (on our first visit, one pinot blend had brambleberry and sassafras notes). These days I go straight for their rosé. That first visit, I surprised myself and bought a bottle of Gewurztraminer. We don’t normally buy white wines, but I’d never tasted anything like it before, and I noticed other visitors walking out with a bottle too.

But what really makes Toulouse stand out is their people. Robin accidentally locked our keys in the car, and staff members and even the winemaker himself came to our rescue to help us jimmy our way in! That would have NEVER happened at a Napa Valley winery, I promise you. We ended up having to pay $80 for roadside assistance, but I was still blown away by how quickly the team jumped into action. (I grew up in Wisconsin, and this totally reminded me of that classic farm-boy Midwestern kindness!)

One thing to know: Toulouse closes at 4pm, an hour earlier than most of its neighbors, so put it early in your day.

2. Pennyroyal Farm

• Where: Boonville, on the edge of town
• Hours: Daily, 10am to 5pm
• Tasting fees: $15 wine tasting, $10 cheese tasting, $12 juice tasting for non-drinkers (wine and cheese fees waived with a Vine to Table membership or a three-bottle purchase)
• Reservations: Walk-ins welcome for small groups, but book ahead on weekends
• Farm tour: Daily at 10:30am, book in advance on Tock

Pennyroyal Farm has quickly become my other favorite. It’s a goat farm, a creamery and a winery all in one, and we were just there a couple of weeks ago.

For years I’d only popped in here to grab cheese. The very first time, we literally ran in for some cheese and crackers to take on a picnic up in Mendocino. On this trip, we finally sat down for a proper tasting.

I really wanted to sit outside, but it was about 90 degrees that day, so we sat inside. We split one cheese and wine pairing since we still had to drive a bit, and it was a robust tasting: seven or eight wines, each paired with one of their cheeses. Their goat cheese is phenomenal. I wanted to take every single one home, but I’m lactose intolerant, so I couldn’t.

The two pairings that stood out to me:

• The 2025 Sauvignon Blanc ($30 a bottle) with their Laychee cheese, which is so creamy and delicious
• The 2022 Pinot Noir from Jeansheep Vineyard ($63 a bottle) paired with Fratty Corners

They even comped a couple of tastings for us, which surprised me.

I find that when a farm is known for something else, like apples or cheese, the wine can feel like an afterthought. Not at Pennyroyal. Most of their vineyards are on the valley floor in Boonville, and they make several different pinots plus some white wines. If you love pinot noir, you’re going to love their wines.

Pennyroyal also makes a fantastic lunch stop. You can order wine by the glass, pick from their cheeses and grab a few things from the kitchen like soups. Their garden was lush in summer, and we loved walking through it after our tasting. They host events too, like movie nights out in the vineyard.

Pro-tip: Pennyroyal offers 1 cent shipping on case orders, which beats hauling a case around in a hot car all afternoon.

3. Lula Cellars

• Where: Philo
• Hours: Daily, 11am to 5pm
• Tasting fee: $20 for the Anderson Valley flight, $30 for the single-vineyard flight (waived for wine club members only)
• Reservations: Recommended, walk-ins if there’s space
• Dogs: Welcome

Lula was the very first winery we ever visited, back around 2016 during our first trip to Mendocino. We fell in love with the property, and you’re welcome to bring your own pup.

The tasting room is a small building with an intimate tasting bar, but there’s tons of outdoor seating too. It sits right beside a small pond, with lounge chairs lining the water where you can do your tasting. I adore a winery with great outdoor space. I hate being crammed at a tiny bar in a dark room. Give me a glass of sav blanc to enjoy in the sunshine!

Heads up: unlike most tasting rooms in the valley, Lula doesn’t waive the tasting fee when you buy a bottle.

4. Navarro Vineyards

• Where: Philo
• Hours: Daily, 9am to 5pm
• Tasting fee: $10, refunded with a six-bottle purchase
• Vineyard tour: Daily at 10:30am and 2pm, $10 per person with a tasting included
• Reservations: Not needed for tastings
• Dogs: Welcome in the tasting room, not on the tour

Of all the Anderson Valley vineyards, you’ve probably heard of Navarro before (it’s usually the go-to Anderson Valley winery for Bay Area restaurants).

If you read the old version of this post, Navarro used to be where I sent everyone for free wine tasting. That’s changed. It’s $10 now, which still puts it on the cheaper end of the valley.

I love how pretty Navarro is. There’s a large back patio and seating area right up against the vineyard, with tons of flowers and gardens. Their sheep weren’t in the lower pasture when we visited, but sometimes they graze near the tasting room.

Navarro has a LOT of wines to taste, so it’s a good place to visit with a large group because everyone will find something they love. I usually gravitate to their pinots. Ask to taste a few vintages side by side.

5. Roederer Estate

• Where: Philo
• Hours: Daily, 10am to 5pm
• Tasting fee: $30 for the Classic Sparkling Tasting, one fee waived per three bottles purchased
• Reservations: Recommended for tastings and required for tours (groups of six or more need to call)
• Dogs: Leashed dogs welcome on the outdoor patio

If you like sparkling wine, come to Roederer! Locals rave that it makes the best sparkling wine in Anderson Valley, and I agree. We had a bottle at Brewery Gulch Inn in Mendocino and I loved it. Sitting down for a full tasting here is still on my list.

Other Anderson Valley Wineries Worth Knowing

These are open tasting rooms I haven’t sat down at yet, but they fill specific needs, so they belong in this guide.

Husch Vineyards (Best for Free Tasting)

• Where: Philo
• Hours: Daily, 10am to 5pm
• Tasting fee: Free for groups of six or fewer ($15 per person for larger groups, reservation required)

If you came here looking for free wine tasting in Anderson Valley, Husch is your answer now. No reservation needed for small groups.

Handley Cellars (Best for Events)

• Where: Philo
• Hours: Daily, 11am to 5pm (last tasting at 4pm)
• Tasting fee: $20, one fee waived per two bottles purchased
• Dogs: Leashed dogs welcome in the courtyard and tasting room

Handley has a shaded courtyard and hosts events like watercolor and wine afternoons.

Goldeneye Winery (Best for Dog Owners)

• Where: Philo
• Hours: 10am to 4pm or 4:30pm, closed Wednesdays
• Tasting fee: From $25, waived with a wine purchase
• Reservations: Book on Tock

If you’re traveling with your dog, Goldeneye offers a “Barkuterie Board” for pups.

Heads Up If You’re Using an Older Guide

A few places from older Anderson Valley guides (including the first version of this one) aren’t around anymore. Balo Vineyards was sold in 2019, Smith Story Wine Cellars moved its tasting room to Healdsburg, and The Bewildered Pig restaurant in Philo closed in 2023.

Not a Winery, But Worth the Stop

Anderson Valley Brewing Company

• Where: Boonville, right across the road from Pennyroyal Farm
• Hours: Taproom open daily, 11am to 7pm
• Extras: Free disc golf course and live music on Fridays

People who like wine tend to like beer, or there’s someone in the group who does. Robin and I LOVE Anderson Valley Brewing beers. Despite writing a lot about wine here on Whimsy Soul, beer is our go-to drink at home (hey, we did grow up in Wisconsin after all!). They pour taproom exclusives you can’t buy anywhere else, so it’s worth stopping to pick up some beer to take home.

Gowan’s Heirloom Cider

• Where: Philo, right on Highway 128
• Cider tasting: $20 per adult, reservations encouraged
• Hours: Vary by season, check before you go

We stopped at Gowan’s on our last trip to Mendocino. We hit the Philo Apple Farm stand on the way up, then stopped here on our way down to switch it up. Their cider is fantastic, and they do cider tastings if you’re into that.

Philo Apple Farm

• Where: Greenwood Road in Philo, on the way to Hendy Woods State Park
• Farm stand hours: 9am to 6pm daily (10am to 5pm in winter)
• Payment: Cash or Venmo

I stop at the Philo Apple Farm stand every single time. It’s a little hidden on the road to Hendy Woods State Park, so you can grab a bottle on your way to see the redwoods ($10 per car for day use). It used to be cash only, but now you can Venmo too. Get the apple juice. It’s the freshest apple juice you’ll have in your entire life.

One-Day Anderson Valley Itinerary From San Francisco

This is how Robin and I do the valley when we’re driving up to Mendocino. Have a designated driver, or split tastings like we do.

• 9:30am: Leave San Francisco and take 101 north to Highway 128 (bring motion sickness tabs if you’re like me)
• Noon: Arrive in Boonville for a wine and cheese pairing and lunch at Pennyroyal Farm, or grab a heated-up deli sandwich at the Boont Berry Farm Deli and eat outside
• 1:30pm: Pop to Anderson Valley Brewing to grab beer for later
• 2pm: Drive north to Philo and taste at Toulouse before it closes at 4pm
• 3:30pm: Pick Lula for lounge chairs by the pond, or Navarro for the big lineup
• 4:30pm: Stop at the Philo Apple Farm stand for apple juice
• 5pm: Continue about 40 minutes through the redwoods to the Mendocino coast, or stay in the valley and head back to Boonville for a patty melt and an old fashioned at Boonville Distillery

How Much Does Wine Tasting in Anderson Valley Cost?

Tasting fees run from free (Husch) up to $30 per person (Roederer), with most landing between $15 and $25. Many tasting rooms waive the fee when you buy wine, so if you plan on taking bottles home, your tasting may end up free.

Splitting a tasting saves money too. We shared one wine and cheese pairing at Pennyroyal, and they even comped a couple of tastings for us.

Map of Anderson Valley Wineries

The Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association keeps an interactive map of Anderson Valley wineries that shows all the tasting rooms along with places to eat and stay.

My route tip: Boonville is at the southern end of the valley, so that’s where you’ll hit first coming from San Francisco. Stop at Pennyroyal and Anderson Valley Brewing there, then keep heading north on 128 toward Philo, where Toulouse, Lula, Navarro, Roederer, Husch and Handley are all a short drive apart.

Where to Eat and Drink in Anderson Valley

We almost always stop for lunch in Boonville since we tend to arrive from San Francisco right around noon. Most of these are right downtown, a short walk from each other.

Boont Berry Farm

I’m still always a fan of this spot, and it’s where we usually have lunch. We’ll stop in and get something from the deli, they’ll heat it up for you, and then we eat it outside. It’s easy and fast, and it doesn’t eat into your tasting time.

Boonville Distillery

The Boonville Distillery is right downtown, and it’s my pick after a long day of wine tasting. Their patty melt hits the spot. The mac and cheese and desserts are great too, but I really come for their signature cocktails, especially the old fashioned.

Disco Ranch

If you want more wine, Disco Ranch is a great wine bar in Boonville, and you can buy bottles here too. When we stayed at our Airbnb, we stopped in and picked up a bottle to drink back at the treehouse.

Redwood Drive-In

If you’re craving a burger, the Redwood Drive-In on Highway 128 makes really great ones at affordable prices.

Offspring

Craving pizza? Offspring in Boonville makes a pretty good pizza.

Pennyroyal Farm

If you’re already tasting at Pennyroyal Farm, you can make lunch out of it with cheese, soups and wine by the glass.

The Boonville Hotel

For a sit-down dinner, The Boonville Hotel serves dinners Thursday through Monday, reservations only.

Where to Stay in Anderson Valley

Unlike Napa Valley hotels, which are large, luxurious and very pricey, places to stay in Anderson Valley are quainter. Most people don’t spend the night in the valley and head to the coast for Mendocino or Fort Bragg instead.

That’s what we always did too, until this summer.

Our Treehouse Airbnb Outside Boonville

For the first time ever, we stayed overnight in Boonville. We found an off-the-grid Airbnb on the outskirts of town, sort of a treehouse situation with a hot tub. We drove up from the city, did our tasting at Pennyroyal, then headed to the treehouse, and it was such a nice way to end the summer.

On the way, we stopped at Disco Ranch in Boonville and picked up a bottle of wine to drink at the Airbnb, which I’d recommend since you won’t want to drive back into town once you’re in the hot tub.

Just know it’s outside town and not walkable to downtown Boonville, so you’ll need to drive to dinner (plan your designated driver accordingly).

Other Places to Stay in Anderson Valley

• The Boonville Hotel: historic, with a restaurant on site
• The Madrones in Philo: guest rooms with tasting rooms right on the property (its restaurant has closed, so plan dinner elsewhere)

My Favorite Mendocino Hotels

If you’re continuing on to the coast like we usually do:

• Inn at Newport Ranch, our all-time favorite hotel, ever!
• Mendocino Grove for glamping

Mendocino Wineries vs. Anderson Valley Wineries

So here’s the thing: there aren’t really any vineyards in the town of Mendocino. There are some tasting rooms downtown, but no actual vineyards that I’ve found (and I’ve been to Mendocino a lot). If you ask your hotel’s front desk about wine tasting, they’ll send you inland to Anderson Valley.

I found this confusing the first few times we visited Mendocino and Fort Bragg. Travel guides kept talking about Mendocino wine tasting, but I couldn’t find any wineries on the map in town.

Turns out, they’re talking about Mendocino County, which is a huge wine-growing county. Anderson Valley is basically Mendocino’s backyard and technically inside Mendocino County, along with other grape-growing areas around Ukiah and Hopland. So “Mendocino County wineries” isn’t wrong. It’s just confusing!

If you’re heading up to Mendocino (and you should, it’s one of my favorite places in the entire world), go wine tasting in Boonville and Philo on the way up. From Philo, Highway 128 follows the Navarro River through the redwoods for about 40 minutes until it hits Highway 1 and the coast. So you can taste pinot noir in the morning and be walking the beaches of the Mendocino coast by sunset.

Here’s my 48 hours in Mendocino itinerary for the rest of your trip.

Anderson Valley Wineries Comparison Chart

Anderson Valley Wineries FAQ

Is wine tasting free in Anderson Valley?

Mostly not anymore. Husch Vineyards is still free for groups of six or fewer, and Navarro charges $10, which is refunded if you buy six bottles. Most other tasting rooms charge $15 to $30, and many waive the fee when you buy wine.

Do you need reservations for Anderson Valley wineries?

Many tasting rooms recommend them, and lots of wineries book through Tock. Most of the places in this guide accept walk-ins when they have space, but I’d book ahead on weekends and for any group of six or more.

How many wineries are in Anderson Valley?

There are about 30 wineries and tasting rooms in Boonville and Philo, plus a couple in Yorkville, along roughly 15 miles of Highway 128.

What wine is Anderson Valley known for?

Pinot noir and chardonnay, both cool-climate styles. Ocean fog cools the valley every night, so the grapes ripen slowly and keep their acidity. The valley is also known for sparkling wine (Roederer Estate is the big name) and aromatic whites like Gewurztraminer.

How many wineries can you visit in one day?

When we’re driving through to Mendocino, we do two or three tastings plus lunch. Toulouse closes at 4pm and most others close at 5pm, so start by noon if you want to fit in three.

Are Anderson Valley wineries dog friendly?

Many are. Lula Cellars and Handley Cellars welcome dogs, Navarro allows them in the tasting room, Roederer allows leashed dogs on its patio and Goldeneye even has a “Barkuterie Board” for pups.

Is Anderson Valley worth visiting instead of Napa?

If you want great pinot noir without Napa prices or crowds, yes. Tasting fees here mostly run $15 to $30, and you’ll often find the winemaker in the tasting room. The tradeoffs are the curvy drive in and fewer restaurant options once you’re there. If Napa is still calling your name, here’s how to visit Napa Valley on a budget.

Just Plan The Anderson Valley Wine Trip Already! 

I hope this Anderson Valley wineries guide helps you plan your trip! The valley changes every time we drive through, so if you spot a new tasting room or a closure, tell me in the comments and I’ll update this post.

Got any other Anderson Valley wine tasting tips? Leave a comment below so everyone can see! Got questions? Comment below or DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’ll be happy to help!