I first discovered Three Sticks in January of 2018 at a Pinot Tasting event. Gap’s Crown is my favorite Sonoma vineyard and when I found out that Three Sticks owned that vineyard and that Bob Cabral (who left Williams Selyem in 2015, another one of my favorite wineries) was the wine maker, I had to find out more.
The tastings are by appointment only and are hosted in the tasting room that is just off of the Sonoma Square. The minute the door opens it is as if you are walking into a relaxing paradise and you would have no idea that the hustle and bustle of the tourists, foodies and wine tasters on the square are just feet from you. The Three Sticks Tasting Room is in a historic building they refer to as the ‘Adobe’. The Adobe, dating back to 1842, was decorated by interior designer Ken Folk and he truly created a unique and inviting space that fits the history of the building and the experience of tasting perfectly. I have to say, my favorite room is the patio bathroom with wallpaper that I could stare at for hours (well, at least 3-5 minutes).
Three Sticks produces Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from their estate owned wineries, the Durrell Vineyard, Gap’s Crown (so yummy), Walala Vineyard, Alana Vineyard, and other Sonoma County vineyards. The tastings are private, focused on your group and come with a meat and cheese board. The only downside is that often their best wines are sold out and are not available at the tasting. That said, after my first, second, and third tasting experience in a matter of a few months I realized I was in love, and quickly became their highest-level of wine club member, Mariposa. Every person I have taken to the Adobe has joined the wine club. Every. One. A few of my friends have even become Mariposa members. The wines may not be the most approachable price point, but the quality of the wines is worth it!
A sign of the quality and love that goes into their wines is their “no crush” policy, where all the grapes are handled with serious attention and care. In addition to that Three Sticks keeps every vineyard block separate from the first step of picking to the final step of blending. My favorites are (obviously) the Gap’s Crown Pinot Noir and the Walala Pinot Noir.
The Ratings
Ambiance – 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷
Friendliness of Staff – 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷
Knowledge of Staff – 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷
Quality of Wines – 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷
Cost of Tasting – 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷
Overall Experience: 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷
The Details
Types of Wines: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Average Cost of Wine: $65
Reservations Required: Yes
Food Pairing or Food Available: Yes
Lord Indy (Dog) Friendly: No
View: If you sit outside on the back garden you have nice scenery, but there is no view of any vines
Kid/Family Friendly: No
