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B.R. Cohn Winery
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Wineries Food Wineries Event Planning & Services Venues & Event Spaces Wineries, Venues & Event Spaces [Edit]
15000 Sonoma HwyGlen Ellen, CA 95442
(707) 938-4064
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 5 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
86 reviews for B.R. Cohn Winery
86 reviews in English
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Review from Solomon W.
Austin, TX
3/14/2012
Being from Texas and a Yelper, it is hard to see my rating average go up... I love to have a discerning record, but California as a whole is just awesome, in terms of food and drink. You have wine, you have food, you have the weather for producing the 2 former... how can you have a bad (overall) experience?
Well, things come into fruition (no pun intended) in California--Sonoma, specifically. Only in this area of the US can you find olive oil ranches interspersed with a vast array of wine, all with an association with the Doobie Brothers--no pun intended.
The estate is very straightforward, but the people and fermented grape-centric offerings are both quite awesome. Perhaps they really invest in their patrons and the like rather than architecture! Plus, they are producing olives too, no? They are hitting all of the marks at this here winery.
They provide you a good 6 tastings, so get ready to get your palate overwhelmed. Overall, the wines were quite good, but I really liked their Chardonnay, as it provided just a touch of oak while being very buttery and not in the least bit flooding my palate. The Pinot was light-bodied and pretty. The old scool zin was ridiculous, literally. It was just crazy, with no specific nuances or composure. A truly interesting wine.
The Port was ridiculously good, being one of the only ones in my Port-drinkin' life that has not sat heavy or tasted like syrup--both of these characteristics together make me not a happy drinker. It was balanced and light bodied on the front, the body comes through in the middle, and the ending just boasts the most subtle sweet hint.
Give this winery a shot. I very much liked it. -
Review from Daphne B.
2/27/2012
The best time to come to BR Cohn is when they are having one of their free events.
Usually on the 4th of July or Labor Day Weekend I am here. Not only do they have some cool classic muscle cars to look at but a live band and a bbq going where you can buy food. It is best to try to hit this place up around lunch time. Grab some food and definitely buy a bottle of either their woody white or rose (both are delicious) and sit under the sun and get a little baked.
A little history about this place BR Cohn managed the Doobie Brothers before opening up his winery. There is a ton of Doobie Brother memorabilia in the tasting room which is always fun to show people when taking them on a wine country tour normally.
The tastings aren't free unless you buy a bottle, which I usually do. You can usually find 2 for 1 tasting passes in one of those free wine country magazines that you can grab at the visitors center or even by the door of most Sonoma wineries.
Be sure to try their port, it comes with delicious truffles. Just wish more of their wines were a little less expensive although the two I get are around $12 a bottle.
Oh and be sure to check out their olive oil tasting room (free). Not as good as the Olive press but there is this one - balsamic and herb dipping oil - which is outstanding. -
Review from Cassandra E.
San Mateo, CA
2/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came here based on some Zinfandel I tried at the ZAP festival this year (2012). They only distribute it at their winery, I was in the neighborhood, so I decided to pick some up. The tasting room was full... holiday weekend on a nice, sunny day, should be full right?
The staff was helpful, yet seemed busy and somewhat distracted. Of course, I couldn't remember which Zin it was that I tasted, so I had to revisit what they had available (they have two Zin releases at the moment.) I got confused, from the employees confusion.. First they only had one available, then they had two, then ?? Anyway,, after we got to the bottom of it, I liked them both, so picked up two bottles.
The property is beautiful, and has tons of parking near the tasting rooms. They also have metal work art all over the area, which makes for a unique setting. Next to the main wine tasting room is a little Olive Oil tasting boutique with tons of flavors of olive oil that you can apparently customize for each and every dish you make. They also sell all kinds of cute knick knacks, and other sauces for cooking and so on. Thought this place was cute, wouldn't say it was the most memorable experience, but it's cute and they have good Zin--specifically their 2009 Zinfandel release (at least my palette thinks so..) -
Review from Sarah B.
Hayward, CA
1/12/2012 1 photo
We came to wine country for a late June wedding. This venue was gorgeous.
Likes: Amazing venue, cocktails hour drinks and apps were awesome, dinner was great (I'm assuming they didnt cater the food, but it was awesome nonetheless). I cant comment on the wine because (1) I dont drink wine and (2) I was the DD of the rental, but everyone else said it was awesome.
Dislikes: It took awhile to shuttle everyone out to the wedding site in the vineyards. At least it was a perfect day.
Take it or leave it: Take it. Gorgeous, serene, great place for a wedding, or whatever. -
Review from Sarah S.
11/13/2011 3 Check-ins Here
The highlight each year for me is when B.R. Cohn releases their rose. Mmm! It's bright, delicious and sells fast. They also sell kosher wine =)
The winery is nice and provides a good experience; the staff is friendly and while the tasting room can get insanely busy, if you're patient you'll be treated well. They sell "smoking accessories" in the tasting room shop and you can view all the awards and platinum records that Bruce Cohn, the manager of the Doobie Brothers, has received.
The gift shop outside is also nice; it's curated by Cohn's wife and has a really great selection of their olive oils and new balsamics, as well as other gifts and goodies. You can also grab something to go for snacks outside with a bottle of wine. They also have concerts here throughout the year and you never know - you might bump into a rock star, or the new winery dog!
RIP Moose. -
Review from Mike D.
San Francisco, CA
This review is not for the tasting room, but rather for the wedding and banquet expeience at the winery.
My good friend Sarah and her husband were married here in Glen Ellen. The grounds of the winery are very nice, with several small outbuildings, tasting room, a small store with olive oils and vinegars, patios shaded by giant olive trees, and a large grassy outdoor banquet area. A fine location for a wedding.
The wine? Meh. -
Review from Ian M.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
11/12/2011
This really is as good as it gets...my wife and I searched everywhere for a venue in wine country that had the holy trifecta of price, beauty, and feasibility. When we were about to give up, we went to our last stop of the day just hoping things were going to be better...and I'm happy to say we were recently married at BR Cohn on September 18th, 2011.
Anyone that doesn't believe that BR Cohn has some of THE most amazing and awe inspiring views/locations for your ceremony is simply not paying any attention. The Fox Hill ceremony location was simple, yet mind blowing in it's natural beauty.
After that, it's a once in a lifetime ride through the vineyard back to the Olive Grove, where my wife and I had what is easily the best day of our lives. Yeah, yeah, I know....we got married. Outside of that event, taking a critical eye at things and really trying hard to find some deficiencies in the venue portion of our wedding....I still can't find anything of substance to mention.
We rented a San Francisco Cable Car vehicle to transport guests to and from the Fox Hill location, but it was a hot day and that damn cable car overheated on the 101 on it's way there! While Paula Horosco (our wonderful and amazing contact on site) could not allow our guests or anyone else to drive to Fox Hill, she personally grabbed one of our caterers and they used their two suburbans to get everyone there....we barely even noticed the issue!
Overall, for the price, I think BR Cohn is an absolute steal. It's the one big day of your life, take the plunge and commit...you never know how amazing your big day is going to look until you actually see it played back to you! http://vimeo.com/29818648
-Ian -
Review from Theresa M.
Fair Oaks, CA
11/29/2011
This place has a lot of heart and a lot of history. We came with a groupon for a wine and cheese pairing and left with tantalized taste buds, serene spirits, and happy hearts.
BR Cohn introduced us to our forever favorite cheese: Humbodlt Fog!!!! Pair this with the '09 Reserve Chardonnay (Carneros) 100% Chardonnay...ooooohhhhhh amazzzzzzzzing!!! You'll be having this for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and as snacks!! Food, smood. Who needs food when you have a great cheese and wine pairing!!
The wines are great, and the winery has sooo much more to offer! They have a great story to tell...ask about the Doobie Brothers. ;) -
Review from Alex G.
1/22/2012
Nice medium sized winery and olive oil tasting room in Sonoma. I sampled the Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Sonoma valley, cab sav olive hill estate, and Panel wagon Pinot. They tasted ok. Wasn't particularly moved by any of them. The staff was courteous although I felt this winery was missing character and an excitement that we noticed at the other 2 wineries we went to in Sonoma. Maybe because this winery was larger in size and had more visitors. For whatever reason I felt a detachment between the staff and guests. My favorite part of this winery was the olive oil tasting room. The basil-garlic oil was awesome.
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Review from sari s.
San Francisco, CA
11/9/2011 1 photo
Having toured 20 wineries throughout Sonoma and Mendocino counties, while tasting a lot of wine and champagne, I can say I did my research on wedding venues. This is among the most romantic and beautiful of locations for a wine country wedding. In my opinion, Fox Hill, one of the four BR Cohn locations for a wedding, is one of the most amazingly lovely places you can stand in while wearing your wedding dress during crush season.
Aside from how amazing your wedding will look in the backdrop of a circle of old trees or in the middle of an olive grove, you will be lucky enough to work with one of the real experts in the wedding business. Paula is the site coordinator for all weddings and special events and she is AMAZING at her job. She is firstly a professional, very punctual, organized, and knows exactly what to recommend if there's a lighting issue or your chairs are dropped off in the location. She's a problem solver, she makes sure your vendors are there, and that you know every step of the way what you should be doing. Paula is not your wedding planner, so don't misunderstand me. She is the site coordinator, she makes sure all your vendors show up and do their job because you won't be able to manage any of that on your own when you're in a tux or wedding dress. Speaking of vendors, Paula has a great list of vendors she'll give you, including wonderful caterer recommendations. Use them.
Now regarding cost, I wouldn't say it's astronomically expensive (I did visit 20 places after all and can tell you it's right in the middle of the ballpark). You can have a small wedding there on Friday or Monday and get a great deal. Just remember it's Sonoma, and that the price range you're flirting with is high because you want to get married in wine country. Besides, BR Cohn is beautiful in summer, the vines are bursting with grapes and green leaves. So, if you take anything from this review, take this: don't skimp on your wedding location because it will show in your pictures and that's all you'll have left in the end.
If we were to get married all over again or renew our vows, I'd book here. I actually grew to like one of their wines even though I'd never had any before planning this wedding. Check out their rose or sauvignon blanc. You might be pleasantly surprised. -
Review from Ashley J.
6/29/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This winery was pretty cool, especially considering the fact that the owner of the place is the manager of the Doobie Brothers. There's Doobie Brother paraphernalia in every corner of this winery, and the wines are even named after them or things related to them. A really nice 'old school' feeling.
My one complaint with this place was that my mother was trying to purchase wine for a friend here (the reason we initially came-- not to have a full on tasting) and the lady wanted us to try the wines first. I was fine with that, but my mom is a lightweight and really wasn't going to be able to handle it (poor mom). The lady kept ignoring the fact that she was just trying to purchase. We really wanted to be in and out as we had other places to see. The place wasn't busy at all, so I'm not sure why it had to take longer than it did to place an order. Don't get me wrong, the staff really was lovely, kind, and polite.
The wine was pretty good, and I'd be interested in coming back to this place for a real tasting. -
Review from Veronica C.
San Jose, CA
6/29/2011
A beautiful place for a wedding, and I suppose we got pretty lucky with the mild and only slightly windy weather.
The bride and groom were extremely gracious and had gotten us shuttles to take people around this rather large winery. But sometimes the shuttle could only take us so far, so the walk to the ceremony was a bit bumpy and rocky. Not the best for a girl in heels.
They also had a nice patio/deck area for cocktail hour. At first I felt like the servers didn't know what they were doing; they weren't checking for eye contact, so I noticed they walked away from people who were eyeing the appetizers, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't just me. But as the crowd built up, they got better about staying around with the plates so that everyone could get a piece.
The outside dinner area was also really gorgeous, with lights and lanterns strung up above us, and eventually heat lamps were brought out to keep us warm. Also the seating layout was also nice and intimate. And I'm no wine connoisseur, but the red wine to me was just okay. The rose was light and sweet though. -
Review from Gabriel A.
San Francisco, CA
8/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pros:
Excellent place to stop and have a picture taken with Sonoma's vineyards as your back drop.
Cons:
Uninspired descriptions of their wines; Very poor customer service (especially on a Sunday morning); Very expensive for the quality of the wines; Olive oil tasting is not worth the time. -
Review from Caitee M.
Seattle, WA
8/5/2011
Pros- The wine was pretty good, the grounds were gorgeous, and it looks like they have some fun things happening around the winery in the summertime
Cons- The staff was unbelievably cranky, especially the woman giving the Olive Oil samples. We had bought 2 bottles of wine before we walked into the Olive Oil room and she treated us as if she was irritated we were tasting without buying any of the Oil. We left without making another purchase and next time I think we will go elsewhere. -
Review from Erin S.
11/10/2010 3 photos
Great wines, great tour, cutesy little place. It's got all you'd expect from a family winery in Sonoma (although I guess it's technically Glen Ellen).
My sis Raina S. had a certificate for a free tour & tasting. Sign me up! Of course it didn't end up being free cuz we all went in on a case of wine, but that's the point, isn't it?
The tour was quick yet informative. We learned about the history of Bruce Cohn, the Doobie Brothers (they named themselves after some ganja...don't know why I never knew that), olives, winemaking, micro-climates (they've never had a frost on their property...how is that possible?), & bottling. We just missed the crush which was fine by me cuz it sounds like it gets pretty crazy around there during that time of year.
Cheri (our guide & pourer) lead us back to the tasting room where we tried a ton of wines. Maybe 8-10? I lost count. I fell in love with the pinot noir & the port. I never drink port at home, but whenever I go winetasting I always come back with a bottle or two. I'm sure I'll find some occasion to break it out. Their Woody White was also quite good & reasonable too.
Great place to go & even hang out for a few hours with a picnic lunch.Listed in: Sonoma finds
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Review from Barbara C.
Sebastopol, CA
9/28/2011
Paid $200 for my husband and I to go to the Cohn Music Festival. Got there and there was no where to sit. I mean, NO WHERE. Every single inch of space was taken. Finally found a spot far from the stage, by the fence. No view of the stage, behind an oak tree. We were squished into an incredibly small area on a slope. We mentioned to a staff person that we felt like $100 bucks a ticket we ought to be able to stretch our legs. He said, that's what happens if you get here late. We thought: hey, even if we got here when the gates open, someone would have to accept these seats. I dunno. for $100 bucks, I think we ought to have a place to sit. For us, this festival is a "THUMBS DOWN". We will not go back. Lots of money for cruddy seats and mediocre music.
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Review from Raina S.
Updated - 11/8/2010 2 Check-ins Here
The experience this time was even better, thanks to a great tour given by Cheri. The tours here focus more on Bruce Cohn and the winery grounds, rather than focusing on how the grape gets from the vine to the bottle (don't worry, if you want to learn about this process, there are lots of other wineries that give that sort of tour).
Following our tour, we had a tasting. B.R. Cohn now has red and white blends that are more affordable, "everyday" wines. They are quite good, as are their higher-end reds and whites. It's very hard to choose favorites when every bottle is fantastic in its own way. This proved dangerous for me, because I bought twice as much as I usually do!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/26/2009
B.R. Cohn is a place I often return to when I'm in Sonoma. It's a relaxed, fun place to taste some… Read more »
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Review from Sarah L.
8/31/2011
This vineyard was bustling for a Thursday afternoon. Not only is a place to have wine/oil tastings, but they also host a variety of music events throughout the year. There was a wedding reception happening when we visited, but we were allowed to wander in between the two buildings which sold wine and flavored olive oil and vinegars. The owner is manager of the Doobie Brothers, so if you are a fan, you'll find lots of Doobie-related paraphernalia, framed articles and photos here. Wine tasting is $10; I didn't try any of the wine, but found myself purchasing a couple of bottles of basil-garlic and mandarin orange olive oils. At $11/each, they were reasonably priced and have great flavor. I've been using the basil-garlic for bread, salad, and pasta. It'd probably be more pleasant if it was less crowded, but that can't be helped!
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Review from Rylan C.
1/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is such a beautiful place! My friend had her wedding here and I would have to say that this is the first wedding I've been to where the scenery was exactly what you'd expect from a perfect wedding setting.
It also doesn't hurt that this is in Wine Country in California in the middle of summer.
The wine was great and the history of the place is also very interesting. The thing I enjoyed most about this winery was that my friend had her ceremony in the middle of the vineyards and that was just too perfect to describe.
The service from the BR Cohn Winery staff was very professional and the facilities (like all other wine country establishments) was beautiful and clean.
I highly recommend this place for wine tasting and for weddings and other events. -
Review from Erin S.
Santa Rosa, CA
9/20/2010
Beautiful venue that has a lot of concerts and events. B.R. Cohn is more than just a winery, but they make have 90 acres of olive trees. The tasting room is very big with lots of bar space. Very helpful staff that was willing to pour through their wines to show their style and character.
My favorites were their Rose, Dobbie Red, and Merlot. It's time for a revisit to try their olive oil. I can't believe I didn't get to try their olive oil! -
Review from Chrissy L.
San Francisco, CA
11/22/2010
Whoooooaaaaa Listen to the Music
Whoooaaaaaaa Listen to the Music
Whooaaaaaaaa Listen to the Music
All the timmmmmmeeeeeeee...
Sorry, had to get that out. I do love me some Doobie Bros.
Did a tour/tasting/picnic here with a big group- 8 or so outside tables give you some room to stretch out and enjoy some food & wine. I honestly can't say that this is my favorite winery; it's not the prettiest, nor has the best tasting wine, and the staff just seemed nice- enough. With the shear volume of wineries in the area, I can't see myself justifying another trip back here. -
Review from Dory B.
San Francisco, CA
3/11/2009
If you dream of getting married in Sonoma, you may want to check out B.R. Cohn Winery. My fiance and I got a tour of the place last fall, and it's really lovely.
The event manager there (who was super nice) drove us out to the private and serene Fox Hill, where you can get married surrounded by trees and gorgeous vineyard views. The Amphitheater, a spot that's closer to the main buidlings, is nice for a ceremony, as well. I loved the idea of a reception at the Olive Grove, a manicured lawn surrounded by olive trees decorated with white lights. And the Poolside Patio would be great for a smaller party like ours, though there wouldn't be much room for dancing (and I don't know how we would be able to keep our flower girls and ring bearers from jumping into the pool!).
Though we'll probably decide against a wine country wedding, if you have that dream (and the means $$$$ - this was the most expensive venue we looked at by far) then do check this place out. -
Review from Aaron M.
7/29/2008
Their silver label cab is a standby in our household. It stays in the nice-but-not-too-expensive rotation for when guests come over. It's very drinkable, pairs well, and pleases everybody I've shared it with.
As everybody else mentioned, the other building has some lovely local olive oils and other fun stuff. The Basil Garlic Olive Oil in particular is also a standby in our household. Makes for delicious broccoli or asparagus. -
Review from Sarah H.
San Francisco, CA
10/24/2011
Was there for a wedding and it was a great venue. Beautiful surrounding and ambiance.
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Review from matthew r.
San Francisco, CA
4/26/2009
Lets start on a positive note: the Silver Label cab is a solid, drinkable $15 cab and they have a reasonably priced Pinot that was pretty good, but will probably be even better if it cellars for 6 months or so. The balsamic vinegar and the olive oil are good too.
In fact, if Mr. Cohn hadn't been a road manager for the Doobie Brothers in the '70s and didn't feel compelled to play endlessly looped tour videos in the tasting room (I like to hear some funky dixieland as much as the next guy but it gets to be a bit much when it's already packed to the gills with kitchy touristy arts and crafts) and didn't employ tasting room staff who are going to nitpick over a little swallow of desert wine when I've already said I'm gonna buy 3 or 4 bottles I'd rate this place much higher.
The other wines are ok. Not bad, but I don't think they stand up to Matanzas Creek or Arrowwood on quality or Cline or Wellington on overall value.
Remember that time on What's Happening when Rerun was coerced into bootlegging the Doobie Brothers concert? If I were more spiteful I might even wish that he'd gotten away with it. -
Review from Nadia C.
10/29/2007
I agree, the atmosphere is so inviting and easy going. The setting is beautiful and simple. I had a very enjoyable time at this winery. They were setting up for a wedding and it looked so pretty. It would have to be a small wedding though and it was all outdoors but it looked so perfect and picturesque.
The olive oil tasting was really wonderful, I almost liked it more than the wine to tell you the truth. It is located in the small little building next to the wine tasting room. A definite must! -
Review from jose p.
San Jose, CA
7/19/2008
I love you BR. I am kicking my ass for not buying your tasty mustard but thank you NOW!
I am tipsy off your Woody White. 15 bucks well spent.
peace out my nig.Listed in: Why is this Mexican here?
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Review from Amy O.
Playa Del Rey, CA
10/24/2011
Hands down the best place to go for a wine-tasting. People are awesome, the wine is delicious and they are very generous in the number of wines they will let you taste. Relaxed, non-snobby environment. Best choices: 2009 Russian River Pinot Noir, Olive Hill Estate Special Select & both dessert wines :)
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Review from Mike P.
6/26/2007
The wine, I'd give about 4 stars. It's very good. I enjoyed the SryCab this past weekend, it was very good.
What I like about BR Cohn is the laid-back, friendly attitude of everyone there. B.R. Cohn is the manager of the Doobie Brothers and he has set up his winery to be the Rock n Roll winery of Sonoma. Upon entering the bright tasting room you are greeted by classic rock music. The offerings at our tasting were all very good.
They also have a little food shop, but they didn't mind at all when we wanted to have a picnic on their patio with food we had brought from the cheese shop in Sonoma. They even provided us wine glasses and a bucket of ice to keep the Chardonnay cool.
If you're in Sonoma and want to experience all the great things a winery should be, without any type of pretension, BR Cohn is a solid pick. -
Review from Jennifer L.
San Francisco, CA
3/15/2010
Gorgeous grounds, tasty wines, acceptable prices. Win!
Extra points for taking me back to my lifeguard/hippie days (can I be a hippie if I'm referring to experiences had in the 90s?) and my first "not with my parents" concert - Steve Miller and the Doobie Brothers - hell yes. -
Review from Linda S.
Sonoma, CA
8/20/2011
My companions loved the wine and the winery. We enjoyed the tastings and sampled olive oils too. Beautiful place.
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Review from Lyn L.
Chicago, IL
9/18/2011
Crappy experience in the tasting room. We were completely ignored, and I didn't care for their wines. Jerks
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Review from Alisa M.
Seattle, WA
1/8/2009
BR Cohn Winery: a tourist trap for foodies or a winery/olive grower with unfriendly staff?
We visited BR Cohn around mid-afternoon on a Friday in January. The tasting room was busy though not packed. While we waited at the bar, at least three servers passed us, but no one acknowledged our presence. Perhaps they were just understaffed at the bar since an employee was helping a customer dig through a gigantic basket of wine cozies looking for a blue one (she "had to have a blue one").
So we gave up and went across the patio to the olive oil tasting room, which almost redeemed BR Cohn. They had baskets of bread cubes and little pumps full of flavored olive oils and vinegars set out...yum. Be sure to try the 25-year-old balsamic vinegar good enough to sip straight up.
Sadly, the rest of that room was a third-rate Sur La Table--kitchen gadgets and cookbooks galore. I can appreciate a winery offering wine-related gadgets or a local artist's wares, but seriously, items by Mario Batali and Martha Stewart???
Beautiful grounds and views, but there are definitely other wineries in Sonoma whose main focus is wine. -
Review from Diana E.
Sunnyvale, CA
7/1/2008
This has to be one of my all time favorite places to purchase olive oil. Yes they are a winery. LOL!!! This winery also carries some nice vinegars besides some very nice Cabs and Merlots. So, coming here you have an opportunity to do a triatholon of sorts on tastings, oils, vinegars and of course wine.
This winery has mutliple labelling and I have had a chance to experience quite a few of their wines. I have never been disappointed. They produce a Syrah and Cab blend that is really good. My preference for this winery are their reds and the outstanding Charity Concert they do every year with the Doobie Bros.
Another uniqueness about this winery is the artwork. Some of it is quite eclectic. This is a must do, as you drive down the long driveway to the winery you finally arrive at a unique T.R. -
Review from Kelsey S.
Berkeley, CA
9/12/2011
Okay. To give them the benefit of the doubt, we came in a party of six about 45 minutes before they closed. But the grace ends there.
Everyone we talked to was super snide. We had 2-for-1 tasting coupons and the guy helping us literally rolled his eyes. It was super apparent that all of the employees just wanted us to leave so they could hang out by themselves. It felt like high school.
Beyond the service, the experience was straight average. The wines were nothing to write home about. The grounds were pretty, but not as spectacular as some of the other vineyards in the area.
To cut to the chase: I wouldn't go back. -
Review from Katherine E.
Merced, CA
4/6/2010
Beautiful mahogany tasting room. Seating area next to tulips. Cute gift shop with wide selection of olive oils and vinegars that are also available for tasting.
The man who hosted us was very knowledgeable about what he was pouring. Better red that white selection. I recommend finishing with their port dessert wine with a truffle. Sweet, but not overwhelming-very tasty. There is a fee, but it's waved if you buy a bottle.
I don't suggest this winery for first-timers or younger adults. The staff is a little snobby and seems to cater more to those who are older and more knowledgeable about their wines. -
Review from Pam B.
Columbus, OH
5/18/2010
I really wish I would have read Katherine E's review before visiting this place! I am both a first timer and young!!! The gentleman who hosted us was nice but not overly helpful... decent wine but nothing I would be buying to take home. The grounds were pretty but nothing notable.
Their olive oil is really good! We actually bought a bottle of the balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Very yummy!! This would probably be the only reason I would go back here. -
Review from Kathy G.
Oak Creek, WI
1/1/2010
The winery is on a beautifully landscaped property, the tasting room was hip and trendy but a little too touristy will all the hanging price tags off of the stuff that decorated the bar. The tasting room was pretty crowded but it was fun to look at some of the stuff that did decorate the room, like the autographed guitar that was being auctioned off.
Since Bruce Cohn is the manager of the Doobie Brothers, he has a line of wine called Doobie Reds, unfortuately they weren't available for tasting. And at $480 for the 12-bottle collection (not sold separately), I am surprised anyone buys it if you cannot try it.
We tasted the usual whites to reds, but Jeff was a little burnt out from other tastings we did earlier that day so he wasn't that interested. I thought they were good but he is the real fan of whites so we pretty much skipped through them quickly. Once to the reds, that's my thing but I was not that impressed. Then I read the description of the Port and asked to try it. When I thought of Port I always thought of church wine so I wasn't so sure it could be any good at all. The pourer offered me a piece of dark chocolate to go with it and it was incredible. I had to have it. It was pretty pricey at $40 for a 375ml bottle but Jeff bought it for me as a Christmas gift. I am saving it for a very special occasion, it's that good.
We walked over to their market store where they specialize in olive oils and vinegars. We tasted a variety of both which were all excellent. We left with a bottle of basil-garlic olive oil and a bottle of 25-year old balsamic vinegar. I never tasted anything as savory and smooth as that vinegar. It was $25 for a 6.7 oz. bottle but so delicious.
This was a fun visit even though a bit crowded and I would go back again. -
Review from Love Muffin ..
Kensington, CA
5/21/2007
B.R. Cohn's wine tasting facility is worth checking out, especially if you have visitors. It has the requisite wine tasting building, but it also has a little building with samples of olive oils, tapenades, pasta sauces, vinegars, etc. And that's not all. The grounds contain a few ponds, some animals (birds and what not), and a mini-amphitheater. Very pretty.
But I didn't love their wines. They were fine, but I definitely prefer its neighbor Mayo Family's wines more.
The oils next door were yummy, but not extraordinary. But a nice break from all the wine.
Things not so much related to BR Cohn's wines: BR Cohn is owned (BR Cohn himself?) by some guy that was in the Doobie Brothers or managed the Doobie Brothers or something. I found out that most people know Doobie Brothers songs, but I don't. We saw Trishelle from Real World Las Vegas there. It took us a while to figure out who she was. Their bread sticks taste like dog biscuits. -
Review from Amanda G.
9/18/2007
Very pretty grounds, and great wine.
Although,they charge for tastings, which i'm never a fan of. Especially when,even if you buy a bottle, it's still not free for the group,(just the person that bought it.) It's also a little on the pricey side.
This place seems a little more high-brow that some other Sonoma wineries.
