Bordes Wines, a Family-Owned Gem in Sonoma
Some wineries impress you. Others make you feel like you've been let in on a secret. Bordes Wines is the second kind, and it's one of the stops our guests talk about long after the tour ends.
If you're looking for a Sonoma wine tasting that feels personal, unhurried, and a world away from the crowds, this is it.
The Arrival: An ATV Ride Through the Vines
The experience starts before you ever taste a drop. When our vintage VW bus pulls up to the gate, Carolyn (and Fredrik the winery dog!) is there to meet you in an ATV.
From there, she guides you up a winding drive through the vineyard rows, climbing the hillside toward the tasting lounge. The vines stretch out on every side, and the views open up as you go. It's the kind of welcome that gets everyone smiling, and it sets the tone for the whole visit: this isn't a tasting room counter. You're a guest.
The Tasting Lounge: Special, but Never Stuffy
At the top of the drive waits the tasting lounge, complete with a vintage Airstream trailer. The style is modern and understated. Nothing flashy, nothing trying too hard. Just a beautiful, comfortable space with the vineyard all around you.
What makes Bordes so special is the feeling. It's polished enough to feel like an occasion, and relaxed enough that within a few minutes you feel like you're hanging out with old friends. Questions are welcome, nobody rushes you, and the conversation flows as easily as the wine.
The Wines: Small-Batch Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Bordes is a true family operation. Their grapes grow on a 24-acre hillside ranch along Champlin Creek in Sonoma, and they're harvested and pressed by the family and their friends. Production stays under 500 cases a year, so these are wines you won't find on every shelf.
The vineyard is planted to pinot noir and chardonnay, the classic Burgundian pair. Cool morning fog, afternoon breezes, and warm days give the fruit a long, slow season. The family describes their wines as a little earthier, in the spirit of European Burgundy, with notes of cherry, strawberry, and raspberry and a rustic, herbal edge.
If you love pinot noir, or think you don't love chardonnay yet, this is a tasting worth making time for.
Add Bordes to Your Sonoma Wine Tour
The best part of a West Wine Tours day is that you get to enjoy places like Bordes without thinking about the drive. We handle the reservation, the route, the timing, and the transportation in one of our vintage VW buses. All you have to do is sip, laugh, and soak up the views.
Want Bordes on your itinerary? Let us know when you book and we'll build your day around it!