Fogline Vineyards

Love, love, love Fogline Vineyards. Their Pinot Noir is exceptional and has held up very well over the years. Their Chardonnay is one of our absolute favorites and holds its own against more established (and more expensive) wines.

I cannot imagine any savvy, educated wine-​lover or any new entrant to wine-​tasting-​land not loving this gem of a local winery. The wines produced are exceptional, and are only outdone by the warm guest service received during a visit. Unsung here? Perhaps… but not for long! Add to your collection or pick up a bottle to enjoy with a picnic on your way to Armstrong Woods or Goat Rock State Beach. Cheers!

Fogline was our first stop on our Sonoma wine tour through Terrific Tours. It was almost a shame it was first, as it set the absolute highest bar for the rest of our tastings. The winemaker was incredibly knowledgeable and gave us wine tasting noobs the skinny on the different methods they use to make their wines, a description of the process by which they created my new favorite buttery chardonnay, and how the different regions where the grapes are grown affect the final product. Almost all of their grapes are grown at high elevation (i.e. above the «fog line»), and it creates an absolutely wonderful final product. I bought three bottles during the tour, which the winemaker instructed us how to cellar, but I don’t think they’ll make it that long!

Evan is a saint. There’s no better winery or better Pinot noir to taste if you are looking for a wonderful Pinot. His winery is homey, absolutely beautiful and just like a beach chalet. You will find a great friend and someone to truly find what you love about wine. He goes above and beyond that to educate you and make you feel right at home. Seriously a gem in the area and definitely a place to visit for Pinot that can be paired with or without food. Definitely visit Evan and then thank me later!

Wine was terrible and expensive.

what a fantastic winery. one of the partner, Evan, was there and shared his passion with us. Their wines are amazing and we could not leave the place without becoming a member. I’d recommend a stop there anytime. guys, you might be a smaller winery but certainly one of the best we tasted those last year. judo and we will try to send as many friends as we can.

If you want to experience unpretentious wine tasting, incredible knowledgeable winemaker pouring his own wines than you MUST stop here. Wines are specially fermented to eliminate histamines and thereby eliminate head aches. Incredible full body wines…

A new find right in my neighborhood! Very nice people and REALLY good wine. We had a nice tasting of 5 or six different varieties and they were all soooo good I think we might become members.

Hands down some of the best wine around! We caught this place just before closing on a Sunday and we were able to enjoy some great wine.
While from a facilities standpoint, its not up there with the more well known wines. Overall I thought they made some of the best wine around. I’d definitely recommend this place to anyone planning a wine tour.

Evan the winemaker wears many hats and he’s absolutely fantastic at playing all those different roles. The moment we arrived he greeted us with a pleasant handshake and the warmest smile and educated us thoroughly and artistically about the intricate beauty of wine making. Then he started to pour all these wonderful Pinots and we were seriously in love. Not with Evan but with all the amazing and sexy Pinots that we sampled. After 6 or so tastings we left the tasting room with a box full of wine. Can’t say enough good things about this vineyard and the qualify behind the wine. Please visit if you’re in the area.

We actually stumbled upon this winery when we were on our way to Kendall Jackson. The newly opened tasting room specializes in Pinots and so of course I was sold before we even walked through the door. The owner/​winemaker was there and we had a very enjoyable 2 hour experience tasting everything he produces.
So, we loved their Pinot Noir and happily joined their wine club. They also make a beautiful Zinfandel and Chardonnay. Give it a try! You won’t be disappointed!

Newly opened October 2015. So the tasting room is still sparse. No art on the walls, no gift shop doo-​dads. You’re coming for the wine right? There’s plenty of that to taste and purchase.
And quite good quality wine it is! Bambie & I arrived during a quiet time, when there were just 4 other visitors during our 2 hour visit. 2 hours? Yep, we tasted every wine variety in the bottles AND went into the barrel room to thieve some wine in the making.
As I’ve admitted in dozens of other winery reviews, I am a moderate wine snob. Have lived in Sonoma county on & off since 1972. I know the difference between the good stuff and the less than good. Fogline wines are better than most, even those snooty /​self important wines that cost 3X more.
My recommendations here: The chardonnay, the Sonoma coast pinot noir & the zinfandel. All are fruit flavor driven, are fairly low in acid & tannins. Bottle prices for these range from $ 24 to $ 36. Join the wine club for a 20% discount.
If you’re a visitor from far away, shipment price for a case is $ 35.
So come now so you can tell all your friends in 10 years that you remember Fogline when it was just this small l’il start-​up.

Very knowledgeable owners who are there serving wine. Great wine. We bought 3 different varietals.

The best experience and wonderful wines! Evan was fantastic he was very knowledgeable and personable. We even got a tour of the winery. If you are looking for a great tasting be sure to stop at Fogline.

This is a brand new tasting room that opened last month. The winemaker and owner Evan was pouring two Chardonnays, several pinots, a Zin and a Syrah. ALL the wine I tasted was really good! The grapes were from the Petaluma gap, middle reach, and alexander valley (not sure on the last area). My favorite was the pinot from middle reach, it had an awesome cherry cola flavor to it. The tasting room has 2000 sq ft upstairs that Evan wants to turn into an art gallery in the future.
Evan was super nice/​friendly/​knowledgeable. He used to work for Pixar but decided to pursue his passion of winemaking. We also have something in common, we each have a son that is obsessed with minecraft. Evan was playing minecraft music during the tasting. Evan says he is kid and dog friendly which is great! I think I will visit again soon with my son and husband. I know my son will enjoy the music!

Opening weekend tasting!
The tasting room is well appointed, Eric gave us a lovely tour through their wines.
Starting with a proper Rose, a Chablis style chard aged in new oak, a Russian River Pinot, a Sonoma Coast Pinot, a Syrah, and ending on the Zin.
This vintner truly prizes the unique palate and character of the grapes grown in each region. It was a pleasure to experience on opening weekend! We went home with a better understanding of Pinots in this region and a GREAT bottle of the Russian River Pinot!
This is a must stop location for all our future trips to the Russian River!

My husband and I went to Guerneville for the night last week. While driving in we stopped at Fogline Vineyards. One of the owners Brent was there to pour for us. He was very informative, friendly, and down to earth. The wines were yummy and best of all the tasting was complimentary. We bought a nice bottle to enjoy at home. I believe they recently opened their tasting room and it looks very nice. If we are in the area again we will definitely taste and pick up some more wine from there.

Fogline vineyards is a small, premium producer of simply outstanding Pinot Noir wine. This is what they are known for… and with obvious reason! Of course, I enjoy their zinfandel too as well as the very limited availability Chardonnay. But it is the Pinot that brings me back.
My biggest problem is that I don’t buy enough to have any stick around long enough to let them really achieve their grace through aging. I tend to drink them too fast. But that is OK.
Brent and Evan are passionate about their craft and free with their stories of how they make their wines and the special effort they put into crafting the very best hand-​made, limited production wines. If you ever have the chance, get Evan to start talking Pinot clones whiles climbing around on the barrel racks! I learned so much in the 60 minutes he spent with us.
I hear they are opening a tasting room. Wish I were in town to go check it out. I would certainly put them on the list to visit — you can’t go wrong.

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Fogline Vineyards is both a winery and a concept. Launched in 2009, they make small lots of Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Syrah and Chardonnay. Their home vineyard is located in the Sonoma Coast appellation, at the top of Sonoma Mountain.
This area of the Sonoma Coast is known as the Petaluma Gap, noteworthy for the wind and fog that blows in through a gap in the costal hills. These conditions create the distinct environment needed to grow world-​class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In addition, we source fruit from the top of Bradford Mountain in the Dry Creek Valley appellation. At 1200 feet of elevation, this organically grown vineyard produces Zinfandel and Syrah with distinct mountain-​grown characteristics.
Winemaker Evan Pontoriero was so awesome. It was such a joy to talk to him and hear his works on the wines, how much love and passion he puts in.
— Fogline vineyards 2010 Pinot Noir Russian Valley was amazing. Delicious now, this will be a very smooth, delicate, beautiful wine for those patient enough to put it away in their cellars. 165 cases produced.
— Fogline vineyards 2011 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast was equally beautiful — this wine possesses a darker fruit bouquet than either our Sun Chase or Floodgate Pinot Noirs. The elevation of the vineyards helps maintain the bright fruit and structural qualities we have come to expect while creating a broader mid-​palate. Only 23 cases produced. SOLD OUT
— 2011 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay — Zephyr’s Block — Crisp and refreshing with bright citrus, pear and melon notes, this wine is balanced with subtle spice, clean minerality and hints of toasted oak. We look forward to sharing this with our closest friends and supporters as a taste of what is to come. Unfined and unfiltered. A blend of Old Wente and Dijon 76 clones. 13.4% ABV. 24 cases produced. SOLD OUT
You can find Fogline vineyards wines at some of these fine restaurants in the Bay Area: Baker & Banker, Fluer de Lys, Parallel 37, Saison, AQ, La Follie and Le Papillon.
Their wines are usually SOLD OUT on the same month it releases, so to get a hand on these wines, get on their mailing list and wait for your chance.
P. S. Tasting room is not open to the public