Family friendly wineries in California are a thing. To prove it we’ve found 26 that welcome wine loving parents and their kids, all year round. Take the tasting tour here.
California wineries welcome children
ACORN Winery/Alegria Vineyards, Healdsburg, Sonoma County
ACORN Winery breaks out legos, crayons and cornhole to keep kids entertained while parents taste. Children may also explore the vineyards adjacent to the tasting room or even join parents on a guided vineyard walk to taste grapes during harvest season.
Alexander Valley Vineyards, Healdsburg, Sonoma County
At Alexander Valley Vineyards, kids can join in winery and cave tours with their parents, visit the vineyards and enjoy the winery’s picnic area.
Alpha Omega Winery, Napa Valley
Alpha Omega, St. Helena, Napa Valley
Alpha Omega offers the coloring book, “Exploring the Napa Valley with Traveler Teddies,” a kid-friendly guide to the Napa Valley, presented with a box of crayons.
Austin Hope & Treana Tasting Cellar, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County
While parents enjoy a glass or a bottle outside overlooking the vineyards, children are invited to play cornhole or giant Jenga at Austin Hope & Treana in Paso Robles.
Benziger Family Winery, Glen Ellen, Sonoma County
Benziger Family Winery in Glen Ellen includes a 45-minute educational tram tour showcasing the winery’s Biodynamic vineyards, caves and insect-friendly gardens.
Buena Vista Winery, Sonoma, Sonoma County
Tours of its wine caves by costumed actors, along with an Historic Wine Museum, which features an entertaining multi-media show, makes Buena Vista Winery top entertainment for kids. There’s also a picnic area and hedge maze.
Buttonwood Winery, Solvang, Santa Barbara County
Buttonwood Winery in Solvang makes it on to our list of family friendly wineries because young visitors can explore the large fruit tree orchard and picnic areas or visit the estate farm animals.
Captain Vineyards, Moraga, Contra Costa County
Captain Vineyards is one of the first green, sustainable, dry farmed vineyard and winery in the Lamorinda AVA. Plus it features tours as well as a 4-H program for middle and high schools through the University of California at Davis.
Castello di Ameroso, another of California’s family friendly wineries
Castello di Amorosa, Calistoga, Napa Valley
As far as family friendly wineries go, Castello di Amoroso is hard to beat on drama. Tour the massive replica of an Italian castle, complete with a dungeon, then meet the estate peacocks and farm animals. Plus, kids can sample grape juice and enjoy their own play area.
Cline Cellars, Sonoma, Sonoma County
The park-like grounds at Cline Cellars are a big hit with kids, not least because they feature expansive lawns, as well as ponds stocked with fish and turtles, caged exotic birds. This is also the only of our family friendly wineries with vintage train cars and the California Missions Museum.
DeLoach Vineyards, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County
De Loach Vineyards is another of California’s family friendly wineries offering educational tours. Not only do they explore DeLoach’s history, they give kids an insight into winemaking techniques and farming practices. As an added bonus, families can end their tour with a picnic in the winery grove.
Domaine Artefact, Escondido, San Diego County
Possibly the ultimate in family friendly wineries, Domaine Artefact invites you to pack a picnic and play cornhole and giant Jenga, then visit the ranch’s resident horses, chickens, dogs and pigs.
Eberle Winery, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County
Persuading kids to visit Eberle Winery isn’t too difficult, just mention its bocce courts. Parents can look forward to deeply informative cave tours to keep them entertained.
Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Sonoma County
Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Geyserville, Sonoma County
Very much a family affair, Francis Ford Coppola Winery invites kids to splash around in its large swimming pool, play on the bocce ball court, or try some quiet time with board games in the children’s library.
Heritage Oak Winery, Acampo, Lodi/San Joaquin County
Family friendly wineries in California don’t come much more outdoorsy than Heritage Oak. Apart from the fun of picnicking and hiking down to the river here, you can get into kayaking and even go camping.
Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate, Fulton, Sonoma County
Kendall-Jackson is the winery where kids can taste grape juice and tour the extensive vegetable garden, which includes a chicken coop, bat boxes and a demonstration bee hive.
Landmark Vineyards, Kenwood, Sonoma County
Head to Landmark Vineyards in Kenwood for the free Horse Drawn Carriage Tour which delves into farming practices and Sonoma wine history. Families can also look forward to a picnic area and large lawns for kids to run around.
Meyer Family Cellars, Yorkville, Mendocino County
Family friendly wineries that want to win with kids feature plenty of outdoor play space, Meyer Family Cellars got the note and includes an outdoor children’s play area for little ones to burn off extra energy.
Pennyroyal Farm, Boonville, Mendocino County
Pennyroyal Farm, Boonville, Anderson Valley, Mendocino County
Pennyroyal Farm is a Mendocino County legend for food and wine lovers, but as far as kids are concerned the resident farm animals are by far the biggest attraction.
Raymond Vineyards, St. Helena, Napa Valley
Kids will be amazed by the outdoor Theater of Nature at Raymond Vineyards. Created to show how all of nature’s “actors”—including chickens and goats—play a crucial part in crafting quality wine, it’s a fascinating journey from the soil to the vineyards.
Retzlaff Vineyards, Livermore, Livermore Valley
If your kids love the idea of racing around on big vehicles, they’ll love the giant toy tractors at Retzlaff Vineyards in Livermore. It’s another of our family friendly wineries with a picnic area too.
Getting to grips with grapes, California
Rodney Strong Vineyards, Healdsburg, Sonoma County
Rodney Strong Vineyards is one of the most laid-back wineries on our list. It features a lovely outdoor terrace area with a lawn right next to it which is perfect for kids, and come Sundays they also do a wine and pizza pairing with local musicians providing the soundtrack.
Six Sigma Ranch and Winery, Lower Lake, Lake County
Bring your kids to Six Sigma Ranch and Winery to meet “Topper”, the winery’s pot belly pig who loves to have his ears rubbed. Arrive on Saturdays and you can all jump on the flat bed and help feed the livestock too.
Truett-Hurst Winery, Healdsburg, Sonoma County
Much more than just a winery, Truett-Hurst is also a working farm, and generously invites families to freely roam and make the acquaintance of the resident goats, chickens and sheep.
Zaca Mesa Winery, Los Olivos, Santa Barbara County
If you feel like a challenge or some friendly family competition, Zaca Mesa Winery has just the right giant chess board for that. It’s another great winery for picnics too.