Sonoma County Distilleries

Sonoma County is so associated with wine that it's easy to overlook the fact that there are also Sonoma County distilleries and cideries, and a whole host of craft breweries too.

Spirits from the Alley 6 Distillery in Sonoma County

Photo by Gretchen Gause Photography and Used with Permission

Here's an alphabetical list of the main distillers in Sonoma County, what they make and whether they're open for visits. Although we give current hours, it's always best to check the website or phone them to make sure these haven't changed. If you know of any we missed or a new one opening, please let us know.

Our Pick of the California Guides

Alley 6 Craft Distillery
https://www.alley6.com
1401 Grove Street, Unit D
Healdsburg
Tel: 707-484-3593

This small-batch craft distillery was founded in 2012 by Krystle and Jason Jorgensen. The couple developed an interest in craft winemaking and brewing after moving to California, and then a trip to Scotland changed the course of their lives when they fell in love with Scotch whisky.

Their flagship spirit now is a rye whiskey but they also produce a range of single malts, a Harvest Gin that's distilled from grapes, and their own range of bitters too. They're open for tastings and tours on Saturday and Sunday from 11am-5pm, or Monday-Friday by appointment.

Griffo Distillery
http://www.griffodistillery.com/
1320 Scott Street, Suite A
Petaluma
Tel: 707-879-8755

Michael and Jenny Griffo opened this small-batch distillery in Petaluma in 2015, though they'd first had the idea eight years earlier. They wanted to do something where they could work side by side and build a business that would be part of the community. Distilling provided the answer.

Today they make primarily gin and whiskey, but they flex their creative muscles with one-off limited-edition projects such as a gin aged in chardonnay barrels or a whiskey distilled from a Golden Belgian Ale. Some of these you can only get at the distillery, which is open for tastings and tours Thursday-Friday 4pm-8pm, Saturday 12.30-8pm and Sunday 12.30-6pm.

Owners of Prohibition Spirits in Sonoma County

Prohibition Spirits Distillery
https://www.prohibition-spirits.com/
Tasting Room: 23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma
Distillery: 21877 8th Street East, Sonoma
Tel: 707-933-7507

Fred and Amy Groth took quite a journey before they ended up running a distillery in Sonoma. They visited the area a lot while they were living and working in Boulder, Colorado. From Boulder they also loved visiting Italy, where they fell in love with the Italian spirit, limoncello.

They were both in jobs that demanded long hours and lots of away-from-the-family travel, and developed this idea to introduce limoncello to Sonoma County. 'Everyone thought we were nuts,' Fred says, when they decided to move to Sonoma and open a distillery.

They now make over 30 products, including their HelloCello! limoncello, and a range of whiskies, rums, gins, and brandies. They also make a few specialist spirits such as grappa and a Sonoma moonshine. You can taste some of these at their tasting room which is open 10am-5pm every day.

Sonoma Brothers Distilling
http://sonomabrothersdistilling.com/
7759 Bell Road
Windsor
Tel: 707-888-2129

Brothers Christopher and Brandon Matthies are busy guys. As well as running this distillery, Brandon is also a Police Officer and Christopher a Firefighter Paramedic. Their wives Kelly and Tarryn also help out, and between them they produce vodka, gin, bourbon, rye whiskey and white whiskey, along with an annual limited release apple brandy, with a grape brandy in the making. If you want to sample their spirits then their tasting room is open Thursday-Sunday 11am-4pm, or by appointment only on other days of the week.

Bottles from Sonoma Coast Spirits in Sonoma County

Sonoma Coast Spirits Collection

Sonoma Coast Spirits
http://www.sonomacoastspirits.com/
1333 N. McDowell Blvd #F
Petaluma
Tel: 707-331-0718

Doug and Jill Olson founded their Petaluma distillery in 2011, and are now producing a fascinating range of spirits. Their Citrus Basil Vodka and Jalapeno Lime Vodka were both chosen as Oprah's favorites in the Oprah Magazine. Quite the honor. They also make an Espresso Vodka, a Sweet Ginger Vodka, and a plain old straight vodka.

Their range also includes a grappa made from zinfandel grapes, and some ready-made cocktails such as a Pomegranate Cosmo and a world award-winning Lemon Drop Martini. The distillery isn't open for regular tours and tastings but they're happy to show people round if you make an appointment first.

Sonoma County Distilling Company
http://sonomacountydistilling.com/
5625 State Farm Drive, Unit 17
Rohnert Park
Tel: 707-583-7753

This distillery was founded in 2010 by Adam Spiegel, who developed a love for spirits and distilling while helping a distiller friend make whiskey in Santa Rosa. He improved his skills by working with other Master Distillers and Blenders, and on the way he also developed his grain to glass philosophy. He still focusses on whiskies, producing a rye and a wheat whiskey, along with a West of Kentucky bourbon.

The distillery isn't open for regular tours and tastings but you can join their mailing list for news of when they're holding special events and tastings.

The Spirit Works Distillery in Sonoma County

Spirit Works Distillery
https://www.spiritworksdistillery.com/
6790 McKinley Street, #100
Sebastopol
Tel: 707-634-4793

Timo and Ashby Marshall are a husband-and-wife team, with Timo coming from the west country in England, and Ashby being a west coast California girl. Timo's family used to make sloe gin so now he continues that tradition with sloe gin being one of their grain-to-glass spirits.

Others include vodka, a regular gin, a barrel-aged gin and a very unusual (if not unique) barrel-aged sloe gin, as well as rye and wheat whiskies. The tasting room is open Wednesday-Sunday 11am-5pm and distillery tours (with a tasting, of course) are Friday-Sunday at 5pm.

The Tasting Room at Young and Yonder

Young and Yonder Tasting Room

Young and Yonder
https://www.youngandyonder.com/
449 Allan Court
Healdsburg
Tel: 707-473-8077

This is yet another distillery run by a husband-and-wife team, in this case Josh and Sarah Opatz. They left their careers behind in San Francisco and took the plunge to go into business together and open a distillery. Sarah's MFA in graphic design means she gets to do all the labels and packaging, as well as being bartender and a distiller alongside Josh, who's the son of a winemaker.

Their spirits include vodka, gin, bourbon, absinthe, and a vodka infused with Persian limes. Their tasting room in downtown Healdsburg is open Thursday-Sunday noon-6pm.

Other food and drink pages

Road Food Guide
West Coast Road Eats is a road food guide covering the Pacific Coast from California through Oregon to Washington, giving the best road trip food stops.
The Miramar Santa Monica Restaurant
The Miramar Santa Monica's restaurant, FIG, had a rave review from the Los Angeles Times for its romantic dining and tasty food.
Paso Robles Accommodation
If looking for Paso Robles accommodation you could stay on a vineyard at the luxury JUST Inn Bed and Breakfast, in the grounds of the JUSTIN winery.
Santa Cruz Downtown Wine Tastings
There are plenty of Santa Cruz downtown wine tastings including Beauregard Vineyards,Storrs Winery and Pelican Ranch Winery,all with tasting rooms.
Ravens' Restaurant Mendocino
Ravens' Restaurant in Mendocino at the Stanford Inn by the Sea is one of the top dining experiences in California with gourmet vegan and vegetarian cuisine.
Santa Barbara Wine Country
Santa Barbara Wine Country is one of the top wine destinations says Wine Enthusiast, alongside Napa Valley, rating California vineyards alongside Champagne.
Ventura Bars, Breweries, and Beer Festivals
There are plenty of Ventura bars, breweries, brewpubs and pubs to enjoy, not to mention one of the biggest beer festivals in California.
San Francisco Best Chinatown Restaurants
San Francisco has some of the best Chinatown restaurants in the USA, and its Chinese restaurants provide superb dining. Here are our top eating places.
Where to Eat and Stay on the Pacific Coast Highway
Expert advice and personal recommendations on where to eat and where to stay along the Pacific Coast Highway, including a guide to PCH Hotels that you can buy.
Santa Barbara Italian Restaurant
The Santa Barbara Italian restaurant Olio e Limone serves some of the best Sicilian-Italian food in California, and is well-located downtown.
Wineries and Vineyards on the Pacific Coast Highway
The wineries and vineyards along the Pacific Coast Highway make some of the best wine in the world, from Oregon and Washington to California's Sonoma and Napa.
Where to Eat on the Pacific Coast Highway
Where to eat on the Pacific Coast Highway: advice on the best fine dining options, budget restaurants, romantic locations in Oregon, Washington and California.