Landmark Vineyards was started by a group that included the great-great-granddaughter of John Deere (yes, that John Deere) in 1974. She moved the vineyard to the Sonoma Valley in 1989. In January of 2016 Landmark purchased Hop Kiln Estate. The 2016 Hop Kiln Estate Pinot Noir inaugural vintage was released in 2018.
Located in a California Historical Landmark with original masonry dating back to 1905 is the Russian River Valley Landmark tasting room. Here you can try Landmark’s Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. I’m excited to see how the Hop Kiln Pinot Noir grows and progresses. I like a lot of their other Pinot Noirs, but for the most part, I don’t like them enough to buy them. This tasting room however, is a piece of history and having a picnic outside of it on a warm summer’s day is a wonderful experience.
The Ratings
Ambiance – 🍷🍷🍷
Friendliness of Staff – 🍷🍷🍷🍷
Knowledge of Staff – 🍷🍷🍷
Quality of Wines – 🍷🍷🍷
Cost of Tasting – 🍷🍷🍷
Overall Experience – 🍷🍷🍷
The Details
Types of Wines: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Average Cost of Wine: $65 – $110
Cost of Tasting: $30
Reservations Required: No.
Food Pairing or Food Available: Yes. They do wine and cheese picnics for $40 a person. Perfect if you need a picnic lunch and didn’t pack anything.
Lord Indy Friendly: Yes
View: Yes
Kid/Family Friendly: Yes
