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Loxton Cellars
Category: Arts & Entertainment Wineries Food Wineries Wineries [Edit]
11466 Dunbar RdGlen Ellen, CA 95442
(707) 935-7221
Announcement
Staring in Feb Chris will be offering exclusive behind the scenes walkabout tours on Sat & Sun @ 10:30am. Info at http://www.loxtonwines...
Announced 2 weeks ago- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 5 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
48 reviews for Loxton Cellars
48 reviews in English
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Review from Steven B.
Cotati, CA
1/10/2012
This place is great!!
After reading a few reviews on yelp I had to go and try this place out. Turns out, it really is as good as it gets. The Aussie wine maker was there to entertain and had some great stories! The tasting is complimentary, but thats not the reason you should go. The wines stand out from most of the wineries in the area, and the experience / education you receive from this place is outstanding. Don't go here if you're trying to "impress" your lady friend, but if you want a real Sonoma Wine tasting experience then by all means go out of your way to stop by here. The cab/ shiraz blend is awesome!! Same with the Syrah! Well worth your time. - Steve -
Review from Sara C.
8/25/2011
No snobby owners or employees at this place!
Brought here by friends who live in Sonoma and was told this is one of the best places to come for wine tasting. After 4 tastings all day on Saturday, this place is the best place of all the places I went to in Sonoma/Napa area.
Prices are reasonable, we tasted probably 8 different types of wines. We were able to talk to Chris Loxton, the proud owner originally from Australia, about his wines and how he does his business. Didn't realize Shiraz and Syrah are the same grapes and how he likes to mix same type of grapes from different growers to mellow out the tannins rather than adding additives that shouldn't belong in wines.
I really enjoyed my experience with Loxton Cellars and would recommend anyone to come here for wine tasting. Not to mention sometimes the tasting fee is waived if you ended up making a few purchases. This did not happen at any other wineries that we visited that day even though either my friend or I or both would buy some wine at all 4 of the places, this was the only one kind enough to give us tastings for free after we made a few purchases. I wouldn't expect it but I noticed they did that for all customers who bought wines that day. And for those that didn't make a purchase, this place is among the least expensive for wine tasting, at only around $10 - $15. Most other places charge $15 - $20 and only give you 3 - 5 tastings.
Chris does a great job with his wines, try it if you're in the area. -
Review from Alex G.
1/22/2012
5 stars hands down! A small, intimate setting with a very knowledgeable and friendly staff. The winery has a great vibe and a lot of character to it. My impression was they take great pride in their small sized winery and genuinely enjoy people coming to sample their product. The winemaker Chris Loxton was there hanging around. They offer a variety of wines for tasting, including Chardonnay, Syrah, Cab sav, and Port. Our favorite two wines were Sonoma Red and the Late Harvest Red Zinfandel...amazing! They waive the tasting fee if you purchase a bottle. Most bottles are around $30 except the Sonoma Red which was on sale for $16. If you are in Sonoma looking for an authentic wine tasting experience with a courteous staff that enjoys imparting their wine wisdom to guests, Loxton is a must!
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Review from Jennifer J.
Walnut Creek, CA
11/10/2011
This is a great winery. Not fancy but everyone is really friendly and the wines are wonderful. The owner Chris is very knowledgeable and always willing to share what he knows.
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Review from Paigey B.
San Francisco, CA
8/9/2011
I've been coming here for the past four years. They know what they are doing and they have the gold medals to prove it. Super friendly, low key, great shiraz/syrah (same thing as it turns out :)
Check them out! Their website says to call for appt: 707.935.7221 (which may be a new thing due to few staff members)
Don't let a simple phone call discourage you, it is easy to make the tasting happen. You won't be sorry :) -
Review from G N.
Boston, MA
6/29/2011
Excellent wine tasting experience at this family owned wine maker. The tasting room is also the warehouse and bottling area. The owner, Chris Loxton was our wine pourer. He had a story for each taste, hilarious wine making anecdotes, and he was very entertaining. We stayed here a long time tasting and learning. Reasonable tasting fee, that was refunded with our wine purchase. Nice wines, especially the syrah and shiraz bottles which despite being identical grapes, is named this way to distinguish a fruitier flavor (syrah) from the more savory one (shiraz). Overall interesting and balanced flavors.
My favorite bottles, from his Pinot Noir grapes, were not available. He sells out quickly. We had tasted this varietal from a friend who brought us a bottle to a dinner party at our home. Unfortunately he does not deliver to our state. -
Review from Jessica L.
Brighton, MA
10/16/2011
OMG unless you are only interested in super expensive wine, you must go to Loxton!
If you're lucky, you might get to see Christie explaining about the wines, and even taste the grapes in different fermentation tanks at different stages of fermentation! And then, Chris Loxton, the winemaker himself, is there, talking to people about the wines and signing bottles!
Of course, you're really going for GREAT WINE, and Loxton totally has this in the bag. The late harvest dessert wine and port were amazing; the chardonnay was incredible (and that's coming from a red wine lover). Amazing amazing amazing.
Definitely go here. -
Review from Keith K.
Dallas, TX
5/31/2011
We had the pleasure of stopping by Loxton on a recent trip to California wine country. The facility has been converted from a garage for Formula One cars. It's definitely not a bells-and-whistles experience, but the authenticity, quality of the wine, and through-the-roof value of the wine made it a memorable winery.
Chris Loxton conducted our tasting, and we had 5 pours over the course of an hour or so. Chris' story is very interesting, and he tells it well. He was very easy-going and pleased to answer all of our questions, dumb or otherwise. The wine is very good. Our group left with a couple of cases and a 3L bottle of the cab (only 19 were made). Loxton gets two thumbs up from me, and I will be back next time I am in Sonoma. If you enjoy an easy-going experience, good wines, and an enthusiastic winemaker, stop by Loxton and discover this gem for yourself. -
Review from Erin S.
Santa Rosa, CA
9/16/2010
There are very few places left where you get to taste with the winemaker. Chris Loxton is pretty much always there which is a real treat. Then as your tasting his lovely wines you realize he has a doctoral degree is Physics, but is now a winemaker.
Well he does an amazing job. All of the wines had great acidity and structure. I wouldn't turn one away. My favorites were the Syrah and Late Harvest Zinfandel.
Must stop! -
Review from Lahni D.
Napa, CA
9/1/2010
I love to bring guests here after they have experienced some of the winery tasting rooms in the Sonoma Valley. I hate to call it no frills but it is a really honest, connected-to-the-winemaking-process, type of experience - with chocolate!
After the marble tasting bar and the gift shops of other tasting rooms, tiptoeing past the de-stemmer and the aging tanks into the barrel room with the concrete tasting bar tucked into the corner under a window, this is an entirely different experience.
The view is of the vines where some of the wines originate and the person pouring for you is often the Aussie Winemaker himself, but if not, you will have people who are knowledgeable and love the wines imparting their wisdom and fervor for the whole process!
Some shaded picnic tables in the front make for a perfect, impromptu picnic spot. Get a nice bottle of wine to go with that baguette and cheese and it is a little bit of Sonoma Valley Wine Country heaven! -
Review from Carly B.
Portsmouth, VA
10/26/2010
Loxton stands as the only winery we love enough to become wine club members of! After our first visit to the winery, my husband and I went to lunch and spent almost the whole lunch talking about how much we enjoyed all the wines we tasted. Ordinarily there are at least one or two that aren't to our personal taste, but since Chris specializes in just a few varietals, it was right up our alley. After lunch, we went back to sign up for the club :) We've enjoyed absolutely everything we've had, but especially the dessert selections. The port is just outstanding, and the late harvest zin and viognier are nothing to sneeze at either!
Visiting is great, you can chat with Chris & his pooch and it is all very welcoming. I imagine this is what a lot of places were like before the 'boom' in California wine, and it's just awesome. Don't miss it! -
Review from Jessica J.
Redwood City, CA
7/30/2010 3 photos
FIVE FIVE FIVE and FIVE again!
Chris Loxton knows his vines! You can see, smell, taste, & experience his passion for winemaking while you are here at Loxton Cellars! Oh my to the Late Harvest Zin! He even signed our bottle! Actually we made off with 2 signed bottles with personal notes to Zak & I! All the tasting that day and I snuck back to get the Late harvest Zin and forgot to say Late Harvest. D'oh! So I walked out all proud to surprise Zak with an autographed note on the bottle and he informed me that I did not, in fact, have the Late Harvest... I only had Zin! haha
WHOOPSY Daisies!
We drank that Zin right away and are still waiting to plan a dinner party to share the Late Harvest with a couple good friends.
If you are in Sonoma - do NOT think twice about stopping here to meet Chris and taste his brilliant wine creations!Listed in: Stomp Me, Crush Me, Make me…
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Review from Laura L.
San Carlos, CA
5/29/2010
All I can say is WOW, what a difference a year makes! Glen Ellen has always been a favorite destination for wine tasting for me. I visited Loxton about a year ago and thought their wines were decent and had potential. This time, I was absolutely amazed at the quality of their wines, especially in comparison to larger wineries in the area who not only charge an unreasonable amount for tastings, but their wine is not as noteworthy.
The two wines I highly recommend are the Reserve Chardonnay and Cabernet Shiraz. The Reserve Chardonnay has a very buttery, mouth watering, creamy bouquet. Very crisp on the finish and near perfection. The Cabernet Shiraz is extremely well balanced, with the hard edge I like in a Cabernet with a fruitful bouquet from the mix of Syrah. Great for aging.
Staff is extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The winemaker and owner, Chris Loxton, is usually present and brings a great energy to the tasting room. He signed our bottles and was readily available for questions.
My recommendation if you stop in Glen Ellen is to taste at Loxton and some of the other smaller wineries like Wellington, which is next door. They offer high quality wine, personable service and the small town charm and charisma that the larger wineries are lacking.
Happy Tasting! -
Review from matthew r.
San Francisco, CA
1/21/2009
Chris Loxton was a physicist for a while until one day he decided to be a winemaker like most of his family in Australia, as I've been told.
He knows tons about wine and winemaking and he's happy to share his knowledge with anyone who comes in the door. Listening to him talk, one can tell that he approaches his craft with a scientists mind.
He loves vegemite. He told us so.
The menu is small and focused, mostly (good) syrah with one or two zins. Tastings are held right in the barrel room, relaxed and unpretentious, just like Mr. Loxton himself. No fee for tastings, no pressure to buy anything.
Stop in here. And bring a jar of vegemite. -
Review from Shoshana D.
San Francisco, CA
3/17/2009
I LOVE this winery, and I'm picky. I've been up to wine country more times than I can count. I'd been tasting all weekend. I was so saturated with wine that my fingers were stained red in spots... try as I might I couldn't scrub it off. But Loxton was recommended to us by multiple other wineries and locals, so we made it our final destination. Damn and I glad we did.
First of all, as is most important with a winery, the wine is good. Every single varietal we tasted was consistently enjoyable, not just one or two. Add to that this is the type of place the winemaker, Chris Loxton, was there. There was no tasting fee. It was just real talk about the wine and you could see the entirety of his barrels... it's a tiny operation. Max produced of any of the wines is just under 400 cases per year.
Since I was in Australia a few years back I also have a soft spot for Oz, so that made this place over the top for me. I joined the wine club and can't wait to go back.Listed in: Getaways galore
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Review from Jeff P.
Oakland, CA
12/31/2007 1 photo
I am so happy that the man at Wellington suggested that we stop here! Damn, he's got some good wine here. The tasting area was hopping but they kept it together. Their syrahs and zinfandel were excellent. We bought a bottle of the zin. And, I was struck by how much I enjoyed their port. I usually don't go for stuff like that. Theirs is made from syrah and was deliciously smokey and not overly sweet. I bought a bottle of that as well.
This is definitely a place to keep your eye on. Yum!Listed in: Some Sonoma Valley Wineries
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Review from Autumn K.
3/1/2009
Mr. Loxton is Australian. Australian=accent. That in mind, his wine could suck you-know-what and I'd still toss the stuff back all day at the tasting room just so I could stay, drink, and flirt. Btw- he is awfully flirtatious if you happen to be me, tipsy, and with a boy who's used to you flirting with anything even remotely resembling a man.
The wine is delish. The warehouse tasting room is awesome and a nice change of pace from the frou frou overdone tasting rooms that many wineries boast. Mr. Loxton is incredibly smart and very welcoming. Tasting here is like hanging out in a friend's loft and catching up.
I am an avid winer (and whiner) and this is at the top of my list for places to visit during long weekends in Sonoma (yes, I am a spoiled, spoiled girl). Buy pretty much anything on offer here and you'll be set.
Oh yeah- and thanks, Mr. Loxton, for giving me that tin of chocolates last time we were there. That pretty much sealed the deal for me :) -
Review from Arlene M.
1/23/2010
We got there almost at closing so we felt a little bad, but they let us in and stayed open an extra 45 minutes! We got to taste with Chris Loxton himself, and he was very friendly and informative about all his wines.
Again, it paid off to have a wine club member as one of our party, we got a 25% discount on all their wines. The port was ok, but I really liked the syrah and the cab-syrah blends, so we got a bottle each of those. Chris Loxton even signed the cab-syrah bottle which was really nice. They also had a really good deal on their "Sonoma Red" blend, it wound up only being around $12/bottle, so we got a bunch of those for everyday drinking.
Good, affordable wines, and very friendly people really made this an enjoyable end to our day of wine-tasting. I would highly recommend anyone wine-tasting in Sonoma County to stop by Loxton. -
Review from Christy L.
Chicago, IL
8/21/2010
We went to Loxton as part of a tour with Platypus (highly recommend the tour as they take you to smaller wineries, which I much prefer). The people at Loxton were friendly and knew their wine - I ordered their cab and my parents their port.
After reading these reviews, I wish that Chris had been on-site during our tasting but he was out surveying the fields. -
Review from Ryan B.
8/18/2009
I am a novice when it comes to things like quality, flavor and body bla bla bla of wines. But I know what I like and I like these wines. We stumbled upon this place from a recommendation for a local that described it as a "gem". There is nothing pretentious or snobby about this winery and it is so far my favorite place up in that region.
Chris is a fantastic stand up guy which makes the experience that more enjoyable. Sure the tasting room is basic (spotless clean cement floors) and the tasting bar is among real casks of wine and there is a fork lift to your left. BUT THAT is the POINT of wine tasting. I want that from a winery. I can find a ton of places in SF that have plush interior with over priced bottle openers to taste and experience wines.
I liked this place so much we joined the wine club and have been completely satisfied with all the wines. This is a must visit and a must try. -
Review from Ron L.
Santa Rosa, CA
6/3/2011
Totally disagree with the review who said the wines were slightly above average-they were balanced and delicious. These are food wines-not cocktails.
Chris told us he makes wines he likes to drink and makes sure they pair well with a meal. He's careful not to use too much oak or have too high of alcohol because that makes them hard to drink after a while.
I loved this place-he's so knowledgeable and friendly. I highly recommend a visit. -
Review from Tina L.
Boston, MA
1/23/2010 1 photo
Chris Loxton was described to us as, "The best personality in the Valley" - and ain't that right! Tasting was free, and when we weren't drinking, we were laughing our a$$ off!
Like others have pointed out, this is an unpretentious winemaker, with the digs to match. It is refreshing to have the acutal winemaker pouring the wine (I mean, if anyone is going to be able to answer your questions, it's him, right??), you don't have to have an over the top, uber expensive experience to enjoy good wine and a few good laughs... -
Review from Joanne Y.
3/25/2010
2007 Syrah Port like OMG!
Went here for the recent 2010 Savor Sonoma event, and the 2007 Syrah Port is to die for. It's the first port I've tried that I liked and thought wasn't overly syrupy. If you like dessert wines like me, this one is one to buy! (I went online to look it up later and it was a gold medal winner--well DUH, of course it would be!) Don't forget to pick up their dark chocolate (I think 54% cacao or something) tastes soooooooo incredibly delicious with this wine. Tempted to go back just to stock up before they run out! -
Review from Tom S.
Placer County, CA
8/26/2007
Boutique wines. Very small output. Very hand-made, very family. The entire winery is in the tasting room. Those 60 barrels you see are it!
Good quality wines. Nice people. Another Valley of the Moon treasure. I love living here because we have many places like Loxton that are small, family owned, sincere, creative, & honest. -
Review from Chris O.
3/17/2010
Of all the stops we made on our visit to wine country, this was my favorite. Partially because I didn't feel like I was being rushed through tasting to get me to buy cases of wine. but even more so because the owner Chris Loxton was actually there and he spent time talking to us about the wine and the biz in general, that made my day.
A very rich experience overall and the wine was very very good :) -
Review from Tony P.
San Jose, CA
7/11/2006
We visited Loxton Cellars when they were open for the 4th of July weekend on Saturday July 1st. Their website says that they're open by appointment, so call ahead just to make sure you can get in to taste there.
Loxton had a solid stable of enjoyable wined and a stand out Cabernet Sauvignon. The tasting staff were friendly and knowledgable and enthusiastic. They poured a chardonnay, Syrah Rose, Zinfandel, Syrah and the Cab. I enjoyed both the Syrah and the Syrah Rose which was dry and refreshing. The 2003 Buffalo Bluff Cabernet Sauvignon was my favorite with hints of chocolate, raspberry and cherry on the palate. At $22 a bottle I thought it was a good value.
If you're tasting in the Kenwood area, Loxton is well worth a visit. -
Review from Matt B.
San Francisco, CA
2/24/2008
Go.
A great time. Chris was great, the wine was great. It was the best stop on our recent trip. -
Review from Jean K.
8/7/2008
A nice small family (or in this case single man) run winery. Despite what the tourist books say you don't need an appointment on the weekends to get in. If you're not sure, ask at some of the other wineries in the area while you're out tasting.
The guys are super nice and knowledgeable. Plus they'll tell it to you like it is. No marketing talk here. And they even do a tasting with chocolate to give you an idea of how it is together. -
Review from Stephanie L.
Kalamazoo, MI
Tasting room with simple charm and welcoming character, and personable, knowledgable, friendly staff. The wines are *slightly* above average. Zinfandel dessert wine was a treat, as well as the Syrah. The staff recommded an excellent choice for dinner in the area - The Girl and the Fig. We ordered a Loxton wine with our dinner there.
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Review from Mai T.
San Jose, CA
8/10/2009
A typical fantastic small winery located in Sonoma. My goal in Sonoma is to always visit the smaller, locally owned, non-pretentious vineyards and Loxton fit the requirements perfectly. It was recommended by John at Grange tasting room and we were glad we took his advice. Loxton estates was simple yet beautiful. The tasting room was a warehouse feel, though decorated with Aboriginal art. The winemaker is Australian and he left his mark throughout the vineyards and down to his wines. I usually avoid sweet wines and dessert wines, but had to buy the port, especially after I was nearly hand-fed dark chocolate to sip with my port. It was phenomenal.
The staff was friendly and best of all, super dog-friendly. Basil even got a little lick of my wine glass (she liked the syrah). -
Review from Janette W.
San Jose, CA
8/18/2010
I've never had more fun in a room full of barrels! Loxton is a breathe of fresh air, probably because the place has a pretty low key vibe. But don't mistake low key for minimal wines, these wines were the truth! Plus, the people who work here were very nice and friendly. The reds here are amazing and I fell in love with the Sonoma Reds and the Late Harvest Zin. The wines were also very affordable. This is a must do in the area!
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Review from Krystha B.
San Francisco, CA
11/29/2009
Chris Loxton was the nicest aussie man ever! He poured us some Late Harvest Zin with some chocolate to taste and it was really delicious. I'm not a big Port fan so the Late Harvest Zin is definitely a good answer to that.
I also really fell in love with the Chardonnay here, which I bought a bottle of, even though I'm generally not a white wine person. The Loxton answer for why I liked it is because they use aged oak barrels instead of young new American oak ones so that the buttery/oak taste doesn't permeate; I really dislike that taste and can't figure out how it ever got popular.
All the people that I spoke with through the tasting here where very knowledgeable of all the various wines they were pouring and so friendly. I will definitely be going back when they introduce their new Pinot Noir in the Spring. -
Review from Jeff P.
Columbus, OH
1/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great little tasting room. Average wines, but personable staff.
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Review from Steven B.
Seattle, WA
4/21/2009
I was there with Amanda K and Amy L, and we all had a great time.
Chris was a delight, and talked to us for over an hour about all the different types of wines and grapes (we're not the most educated crowd when it comes to wine).
We were the last ones there for the day, and probably bought about a case when it was all said and done -- he helped us carry it out to the car and even signed about half of the bottles for us.
The wine itself was great, but the experience was exceptional. -
Review from Dave W.
San Francisco, CA
7/4/2009
Small, garage setting but Chris and staff are awesome. It's refreshing to go into a place where you can see the area where they try different blending techniques. I took my mother there b/c she had just seen Bottleshock and was over the commercial winery.
Ask to try the Port. -
Review from Bretton T.
Boston, MA
10/7/2007
Fantastic tasting experience at Loxton. We were fortunate to have the owner and wine maker (Chris Loxton) pouring our wines yesterday. No tasting fee, which is always a plus. The Syrah was awesome, and I look forward to drinking that with something BBQed.
Unpretentious people and qualtiy wines. They also make a pretty good port! -
Review from Kimberly B.
Los Altos Hills, CA
11/4/2009
Second stop after Ledson, which definitely creates a one-end-of-the-spectrum-to-the-other kind of experience. While the setting is that of a small, bare-bones production site, that is what makes gives this place its charm. We went on a Sunday with a group of nine, and were the only people in for a while, so we got to talk to the winemaker and the tasting room staffer without feeling like we were interrupting their work. I really liked the Syrah, and with all of the prices in the $20s, it's a great place for people looking for a less pretentious place.
Oh, and there was also a jug of Chardonnay-to-be, which was really cool to see, even though it did make me think "maybe I'll skip the Chardonnay today!" -
Review from Amy L.
Seattle, WA
12/18/2008
This winery is hands down one of the best in the Sonoma area. Chris is amazing. We called the day before and made a reservation. He spent over an hour with us talking to us about the wine and letting us sample. He has the best reds I've ever tasted. He is more scientific about his wine making over other wine makers I've talked to. I think I'm even going to join the wine club and get 6 bottle every six months. Definitely worth a stop!
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Review from Chase S.
11/26/2008
I am so glad the guys at Wellington told us to go here (Loxton make sure you thank them). The young guy working was beyond laid-back and there was no fee for tasting. I enjoyed everything we tasted and brought back some Syrah. I'd really like to go back so we would take our time - we arrived close to 5pm - and get the full Loxton experience. This is a winery that is not to be missed on your next visit to Sonoma.
Listed in: Sonoma
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Review from Molly P.
New York, NY
4/26/2010
Loxton is my favorite winery in Sonoma Valley! The staff is comprised of only three people, one of whom is the actual owner, Chris Loxton. Every time you visit one or all are there ready to give you the history, production process and profiles of their wine. Feel free to ask any question! They are incredibly passionate about their small operation and it shows.
If you are looking for scenic views and fancy tasting rooms, this is not your place. There is nothing fancy about Loxton; the "tasting room" is merely a corner of the structure where they store all the barrels of wine. But this is what makes it so fantastic. It's unpretentious and absolutely ALL about the wine. And the wine delicious! They specialize in Syrah (Chris Loxton is from Australia where his family made syrah) and Zinfandel.
I always buy a few bottles when I visit Loxton, not because I feel any pressure but simply because it is so good. I will go back every time I visit Sonoma!
