MacLaren Tasting Lounge

MacLaren Tasting Lounge was an amazing find on Sonoma Square. The atmosphere was relaxing with plenty of seating for a large group of friends. The owners, Steve and Heather, were both entertaining and informative as they walked us through the tasting list. They introduced me to Syrah’s, which I instantly fell in love with. I look forward to visiting again!

This was my favorite winery of the day when I visited Sonoma a couple weeks ago for a bachelorette party. The winemaker, Steve, was extremely accommodating for our group of 9– he even opened up his tasting lounge early to give our group a special private tasting. From the moment he responded to my email inquiry, to signing up one of our group members for the wine club, he demonstrated excellence in business. The wine was delicious and moderately priced. I highly recommend this winery to friends and family!

What’s not to like about a place where you can taste great Syrah’s, a Pinot Noir and a Sauvignon Blanc and all the wines are explained to you in a lilting Scottish accent. Don’t forget to make lots of South Park references, Heather the wine bar ambassador loves them!

My cousins were in town so I decided to set up 2 tastings. The days of hitting as many as we could before we stumbled out of the place are long gone. One time a fellow Unilocaler and I hit 7 places then had to taste through 20 Australian wines afterwards because we were comp’ed a room by them. But I digress.
In the Rhone Valley in France they make these beautiful Syrah’s with beautiful restrained fruit, light pepper, and cherry. They are amazing wines — you would see them as blends or just Syrah. We’re talking Cote Rotie, Crozes Hermitage, and even some Chateauneuf Du Pape. They get these flavors because the grapes are picked a little younger which means more acidity (better for food), lower alcohol i.e., 12.5% not 16+% you often see with Syrah, It makes a Huge difference.
These are really complex layered wines that evolve in your glass and are fantastic with a nice meal. Often I feel the big alcohol wines that are over ripe over shadow the food. These wines are right in step alongside a meal.
My cousins and a friend, we’ll call him ‘Bobby J’ went in around 12:30 on a Saturday afternoon. Steve Law, the winemaker and proprietor is located just off Sonoma Square down a walking alley around the corner and through the cement woods. He has some nice outdoor seating, and a beautiful friendly tasting room where you can stand at the bar like most places or have a comfortable seat with your friend’s. We sat and he brought and described the wines too us.
The first wine was a Sauvignon Blanc style which is akin to a Pouilly Fume from Loire, France. Much more complex than the average SB. I like most styles and particularly liked this one and bought a few bottles. Then we got into his vast array of Syrah’s. None of these are what you’ve had before. If you Syrah doesn’t thrill you then you definitely need to try these. If it does — then you definitely have to try these. I LOVED the Bonnie Glen and the Atoosa the best, but honestly liked all of them. They’re all different styles, picked at different ripeness, terroir, and have different alcohol levels.
A Truly Unique Experience for the wine lover.

Stumbled on this place after having some yummy Indian food the other day and the staff was very knowledgeable. The owner was very charming and it made for a great experience. The Syrah was my fav.

What a great experience! This place is a hidden gem just tucked away slightly from the Sonoma Square. We came in an hour or so before closing time and the four of us were the only customers. The man pouring was none other than the owner himself and he was very engaging and was full of fun stories. Very personable. The wine itself was AMAZING. I think we all bought wine.
The wine was really good AND reasonably priced. I got a Syrah and a Zin, and they were probably some of the best wine I had on my honeymoon.
Great experience and well worth the stop!

Steve was very informational, sincere, and definitely enjoys the wine industry. The wine was delicious and the tasting experience was great. A must do tasting experience if you love a good Scottish accent and a yummy Syrah!

If you like Syrah’s this is THE place to come! Phenomenal Syrah’s small in production and the owner serves you himself and takes you through the difference of the Syrah’s. Must visit!

Syrahs have been hit or miss in my book… but MacLaren is doing them right! We came in early on a Saturday and had both Steve and the tasting room to ourselves. Steve was fantastic company — cheery, intelligent, and served up some great wines, one of which he named after his wife (aw!). The tasting room is clean, bright, and plenty comfortable weather standing at the bar or lounging on the couch.
Our personal favorite was the Atoosa Syrah, but I highly recommend stopping in to try the entire line-​up. Steve doesn’t disappoint!

Great find. Totally found it by wandering around Sonoma. Found my favorite of the syrahs and made a purchase. Steve was a great host, condidering we stopped in late Sunday before close. My question is this, obviously by far the best syrahs in Sonoma, why no Google presence? Prior to going wine tasting we Googled «Sonoma wine tasting» and they didnt come up.

Really cool tasting lounge just off the square in Sonoma. This was our last stop of the day so my memory is a little foggy. The lounge is very comfortable to try wines unlike some places where you feel that you are at a cafeteria serving wine. Jon was great-​he makes cool climate Syrah which can be a little more subdued and complex than ones grown warmer climates. Were they they best Syrahs ever? Nope. But they were very good and his Sauv Blanc is also very good. Definitely a place to stop by when in the Valley!

Continuing my liver exercise régime (lol), we headed a little deeper into Wine Alley and stopped in to the tasting lounge for MacLaren Wines. Again, a tasting flight of his Syrahs, we were treated by the actual vintner himself. A little out of place with a Scottish accent in California («No,» he said, «It’s you that have the accents.»), he talked us through his background and how he chose to make not just wines, but these specific wines. How he chooses the vineyards he works with, the backgrounds from each harvesting and what impact that year’s weather has on the taste of the completed wines.
Starting with the palate cleansing sauvignon blanc, we then enjoyed five Syrahs increasing in fruit and spice flavors. And just like the earlier tasting lounge, I made another purchase of a bottle of wine to take with me and enjoy later.
Very comfortable environment to sit and relax while tasting. No feeling of being rushed or that we were here to do anything more than enjoy wine.
And here’s what I really liked. On the emailed receipt for my wine, it’s not from «info» or «sales» but from Steve himself. That’s just awesome.
If you like Syrahs, I know that you’ll enjoy MacLaren.

I’ve visited MacLaren twice and tasted the wines three times. Tasting lounge is the perfect name for the venue, as you are able to relax and taste with the owner/​winemaker, which is a real treat. The ambiance is comfortable and casual, the wines stellar. MacLaren focuses on cool-​climate Syrahs and it’s always fun to taste them one after the other, accompanied by an lesson about what makes each cool-​climate Syrahs special. MacLaren also makes a Sauvignon Blanc for the white wine lovers. A Pinot Noir release is waiting in the wings. However, I’m a Syrah girl through and through and these are some of the best you’ll ever taste.

Stopped by to taste these Syrah’s based on a winemaker recommendation. I really enjoyed the cooler climate approach Steve brings to his wine making. If you are on the square in Sonoma, you should certainly take a few minutes to stop by and taste.

We love MacLaren Syrahs. Actually didn’t know what we were missing until we tried Droothy Neebors a couple years ago. Since then we keep going back for more.

MacLaren is one of my absolute favorites!
Simple, but stylishly decorated, it is a great stop for anyone wandering around the Sonoma Plaza to relax and sip some fantastic wines. Steve (the owner and winemaker) focuses on cool climate Syrah and its difficult to find a winery in the area that has more than one Syrah, let alone focuses specifically on Syrah. He also have one Sauvignon Blanc that is also excellent! He truly knows his stuff and is so much fun to talk to during the tasting. The experience becomes something so unique and wonderful when you have the winemaker pouring for you and discussing each one.
Left with bottles of the Samantha’s Vineyard and Stagecoach! The tasting room is tucked away behind a few other tasting rooms, but well worth the search!

I can’t say enough good things! Their tasting room in downtown Sonoma is very comfortable. The owner set us up with glasses and let us chat in between awesome Syrahs.
The most amazing part was we accidentally broke the bottle later that day. When we ran into the owner’s wife the next day and told her the story, she gave us a brand new bottle! These people know hospitality… I would highly recommend adding them to your list next time you visit downtown wineries.

Really great place in the town of Sonoma with wonderful Syrah’s. Have to say that our group enjoyed discovering this place tucked in the back of the plaza. Steve was a great host and gave us a fantastic overview of each wine and we really felt welcomed… not rushed. My bro-​in-​law liked the 2011 Drouthy Neebors while I really enjoyed the 2011 Stagecoach. Got a bottle… will see how that goes with our next BBQ.
Anyone who wants a great lesson in wines — Steve is very knowledgeable and clearly enjoys his craft.
Can’t wait to go back!

Stumbled upon MacLaren as we were exploring the Sonoma plaza shops. What a nice surprise! The syrahs are fabulous and the limited release Sauv Blanc was equally tasty. Steve is such a great host, loves what he does, and it shows. The tasting room is spacious and has some lounge couches on the side so you have have a glass and relax. Everyone in my group walked away with additional purchases of the wine.

The winemaker is all about Syrahs and it shows… great wines and we especially loved the 2010! You can taste the expertise and care with every sip. There is one white — a Sauvignon blanc that his mother inspired and it’s also VERY nice.
Love love love the old-​meets-​new décor and relaxed vibe. Left with a few bottles and will definitely go back!