Top 10 Fun & Unique Winery Experiences in Sonoma: Beyond Just Wine Tasting
Belden Barns is a family owned and operated small batch winery on Sonoma Mountain who has been painstakingly undergoing the process of re-developing the historic vineyards, barn and farmstead back to its historic standards. Visitors can enjoy a chic, rustic and elegant private tasting here.
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This one of a kind experience allows guests to hike the mountainside and taste wines in a historic 100+ year old barn right among the vines on the family farmstead.
Enjoying a small batch estate wine tasting flight in the shade of the barn, with dappled light from the crystal chandelier lighting overhead, all while taking in the beauty of the surrounding live oaks, flowers, and vineyards. It is very shabby chic elegant here in a stunning natural setting. Sooo instagrammable too!
The outdoors paired with the historic barn and paired with a majestic oak “wishing tree’, paired with all this lovely wine, provides a gorgeous backdrop for visitor photos. Belden Barns offers a truly unique setting for the Sonoma County wine country area. Perched atop a mountain with sweeping views of the surrounding valley, the tasting room offers you a memorable backdrop for your wine tasting experience.
The Sonoma Mountain site has a long history of farming and hospitality dating back to the late 1800’s. Once you enter the estate’s drive and see the 100-year-old Monterey Cypress trees and 1880’s era white farm buildings, you immediately sense the soul and magic of old Sonoma.
As you hike, you will notice a beautiful tree in the heart of the property, the inspiration for the wine label which came on the couples wedding day. They were married right there in the barn itself.
During their special day, the newly hitched Beldens had a wishing tree for their guests to leave their hopes upon. They were inspired after reading all of the heartfelt wishes their friends had made for them. This tree helped to solidify their need to follow their dreams and own a family business with that same tree in the center of everything. The Wishing Tree.
Make sure to place your wish upon the tree during your visit and wait for the magic to take place!! I know I placed my wish and am eagerly awaiting the fulfillment phase. A Belden Barns tasting is a private experience, please make your reservation in advance, by appointment only.
The Belden Barns experience begins when you are greeted by Nate or Lauren Belden, at the historic barn building, who will pour you a taste of their estate wines and lead you on a tour of the property to begin. Cool climate, maritime influenced mountain breezes and ancient volcanic soils meet passionate vintners here producing a magical experience. I have been here several times, sometimes the two cute Belden kids also join us.
Yes, it is a family winery. PLus, if you check out the photos, you will see that as long as you arrange in advance, you can even bring your own young ones along for the day. They have created the cutest backpack scavenger hunt of goodies to entertain the kids while the adults are adulting.
The vineyard site’s 1,000 foot elevation provides some important grape growing advantages as well as visitor advantages – wow these views are fabulous! Sonoma Mountain was created by volcanic activity, and the Belden Barns soils are a mixture of basalt rock and clay derived from volcanic ash.
The vineyard blocks can be quite varied in soil composition as you see as you hike the property during your visit.
Belden Barns is about more than just wine. The family business celebrates the totality of farmstead agriculture with vines and farmstead foods growing on site. After all, wine is best enjoyed with food. During your visit, you can purchase beans, peas, popcorn and polenta all onsite. Need yourself a Belden Barns trucker hat? They got you covered.
When Nate Belden first visited the property atop Sonoma Mountain, it was love at first sight. After spending a weekend in wine country with friends and stealing away to view the estate for sale, he was in with his whole heart. As he started to fantasize about being a wine grower and the couple were married, together they completed the fantasy with much thought, careful planning and lots of passion!
Belden Barns is a true Sonoma County gem. The family believes in life’s magical possibilities, and proudly invite you to join them for wish-worthy experiences in a storybook setting. Yes, please.
Belden Barns
ADDRESS: 5561 Sonoma Mountain Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
PHONE: (415) 577-8552
WEB: http://www.beldenbarns.com/
FROM THE WEBSITE:
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Tastings:
We currently do not have a public tasting room, but are happy to arrange tastings for interested parties.
Find Us:
Our wines are available at a select group of restaurants, wine bars, retailers and distributors – Primarily in the Bay Area. You can search for our partners near you below, but please keep in mind that we have limited production and each of these establishments may have worked through their inventory of Belden Barns. Please contact before making a trip to seek our wines.
Thank you so much for this beautiful summary, Amy! Looking forward to welcoming many more visitors to our magical spot soon!