Visit to Sonoma's Kunde Family Winery

We drove to Kunde Family Winery in Kenwood with friends. 90 minutes from SF—straight up 101, then east into Sonoma Valley. Five generations of the Kunde family have run this place since 1904. 1,850 acres of vineyards across rolling hills.

The tasting deck sits at 1,400 feet. You see the whole valley from up there. Vines stretch for miles. Mayacamas Mountains on one side, rolling hills on the other. We did the cave tour first.

The Caves

They carved the wine caves into the volcanic hillside. Cool inside even when it’s hot. Oak barrels stacked floor to ceiling. The guide explained aging—different barrels for different wines, French oak versus American, toast levels. Watching them pull samples straight from the barrel is worth it even if you don’t know wine.

We tasted on the deck after. They paired wines with local cheese and charcuterie. The Zinfandel had pepper and dark fruit—Kunde grows it on the estate. Their Chardonnay is unoaked. Different from most Sonoma Chards. Crisp instead of buttery. I liked it more.

The staff knows their stuff. They answer questions without the script. No pressure to buy bottles—we bought anyway.

Getting There

[!TIP] Book the cave tour ahead—they fill up on weekends. Bring a designated driver or plan to spit during tastings.

From SF, take 101 North to Highway 12 East toward Sonoma. The winery is at 9825 Sonoma Highway in Kenwood, open daily 10:30am-5pm. Book the cave tour ahead—they fill up on weekends.

Worth the drive. Bring a designated driver or plan to spit during tastings. St. Francis Winery is three miles south, and the Charles Schulz Museum is about 20 minutes north.