7 Wineries in Hopland Not to be Missed

By Brooke Herron, Contributing Writer

Just an hour north of Sonoma County and 15 minutes south of Ukiah you’ll find Hopland and its 15+ wineries and tasting rooms. This Northern California wine region often gets overlooked as travelers pass through on their way to the Anderson Valley or the Mendocino Coast, but it’s definitely worth a stop. The wines being produced in Hopland are outstanding, as are the wine tasting experiences.

In the past, Hopland had a reputation as a somewhat funky place with just a few wineries, making mostly rustic, affordable red wines. A good place to stop for a tasting and some pizza on your way to more important places. However, the region is home to many phenomenal vineyard sites including some of the oldest vines in Mendocino County, and a ‘downtown’ district that has slowly and quietly evolved to include more tasting rooms and some fantastic dining options.

What hasn’t changed is the regions’ affordability. Guests who come to Hopland after visiting wine regions such as Sonoma or Napa Valley will be pleasantly surprised by the much lower tasting fees as well as the more reasonable bottle prices. Remember the days when tasting fees in Sonoma County were $5, $10, $15, or free and when you’d still run into winemakers or winery owners pouring their own wines or leading tours? That’s the way things still are in Hopland, a place mid-way between northern Sonoma County and the Anderson Valley where tasting rooms and restaurants offer the relaxed, countryish vibe of rural Mendocino combined with a passion for food, wine, and locally, organically, grown and made products. 

Expect friendly, warm service, good food and wine, and a more money left over after tasting fees (refundable with purchase in many cases) to buy wine to take home with you.

Pick and choose between the following wineries in Hopland to build your own perfect Hopland Wine Tasting Itinerary.

Campovida

While Campovida’s winery estate is now used for private events and wine club reservations, the winery has opened a tasting room in the space connected to their restaurant and pizzeria, Stock Farm, in central Hopland. The winery works with unique grape varietals (particularly for the area) such as Negroamaro, Nero d’Avola, Sangiovese, and Grenache and focuses on sourcing fruit from organic and biodynamic vineyards through long term relationships with local Mendocino County farms. 

As Campovida’s tasting room is connected to their restaurant, which serves fantastic food and is one of the only places in town that offers a restaurant lunch service, it’s highly recommended to make Campovida your lunch stop. The building also features a fantastic bar and bakery and connects to the Thatcher Hotel, a boutique luxury hotel

Address: 13601 Old River Road, Hopland, CA

McFadden’s Blue Quail Tasting Room

Just down the street from McNab Ridge’s tasting room, McFadden’s Blue Quail tasting room sits between the Graziano Winery tasting room and Steep Coffee and Tea. A CCOF certified organic winery and farm, McFadden grows grapes as well as vegetables, herbs, and rice on their 160 acre Potter Valley farm. The grapes they grow and work with include Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and old vine Zinfandel. Visitors to McFadden’s Blue Quail tasting room can also purchase products from the McFadden farm such as dried herbs, rice, garlic, and grass feed beef.

The Blue Quail tasting room is known for friendly, welcoming staff, a casual vibe, and fresh, balanced wines including their highly regarded Alsatian varietal whites (Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris) which are pleasingly aromatic and fruit forward without being cloying or sweet. 

Address: 13275 S Hwy 101 Ste 5 Hopland, CA 95449

Saracina

Situated on a 400-acre ranch that is home to sustainable vineyards, Tuscan and Spanish olive trees, vegetable gardens, and beehives, Saracina is a haven for wildlife as well as grapevines. The winery features a modern tasting room, outdoor patio, and wine caves, and offers a number of different ways to visit their property and enjoy the wines. Tasting experiences include their signature tasting option (only $15) which includes a seated exploratory tasting of the winery’s current release wines guided by one of the winery’s knowledgeable hosts, a two hour picnic and wine tasting experience called ‘Scampagnata, or their ‘Heart and Soul’ tour which starts in the wine caves and continues on into the barrel room and vineyards (with wine of course!).

Wines that Saracina produce include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rosé, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Zinfandel, and a couple of different red blends that incorporate grapes like Carignane and Petite Sirah. The winery is very highly regarded, and often referred to (by those in the wine industry) as ‘the best winery’ in Hopland.

Address: 11684 South Highway 101 Hopland, CA

Alta Orsa Winery

Perched on a hill, Alta Orsa’s vineyards offer a unique vantage point over the surrounding wine region. 

The winery and vineyards ( a 160 acre property with 12 acres of hillside vineyards) which were originally established in the 90s by Topel Winery,  changed hands in 2018 and are now run by Alta Orsa winemaker Martin Bernal-Hafner and his business partners. 

Focused on Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Alta Orsa currently produces under 2,000 cases of wine and works with both estate fruit as well as grapes that they purchase from growers in different regions. All vineyards the winery works with are farmed sustainably without any use of pesticides or harmful organic sprays, and they utilize regenerative soil practices such as no tilling, planting cover crops, and dry farming.

A visit to Alta Orsa will likely include a winemaker sighting or winemaker-led tasting and tour depending on the day/time of year/winemaker’s availability, and is free of charge as of now. The winery is very small, and has limited staff, but are happy to receive and to share their wines and property with visitors. It is recommended to be flexible about the time/day of your visit when reaching out to book an appointment with Alta Orsa, and as of now (Fall 2022) weekdays are easier than weekends for the winery to facilitate. 

Address: 1850 Duncan Springs Rd, Hopland, CA

Terra Sávia

Terra Sávia is situated on a 35 acre certified organic farm that features vineyards, olive orchards, a working olive mill, and a large plant nursery. Proprietor Yvonne can be found pouring wines at the tasting bar when she’s not gardening, tending to rescue animals, or drying herbs for tea) procures herbs and flowers from for her loose leaf tea blends, and an animal sanctuary.  The tasting room is housed in the large warehouse like building where the estate mills their olive oil. The space features various seating areas as well as an eclectic display of art and furniture. Guests can taste both the estate’s olive oils and wines (primarily full bodied reds but the winery also makes a delicious rosé as well as a Chardonnay and a couple of sparkling wines) at the tasting bar or purchase wines by the glass. 

For those interested in spending the night on a vineyard property, the Terra Sávia estate also features a guest house overlooking the vineyard that’s available to book for nightly stays.

Address: 14160 Mountain House Rd, Hopland, CA

Where to Eat, Drink, and Stay in Hopland

Stock Farm

Serving up fantastic wood fired pizzas, small plates (such as polenta, grilled farm fresh veggies and burrata), sandwiches, and salads made with fresh, local ingredients, Stock Farm is a welcome addition to downtown Hopland. The restaurant here is open for lunch and dinner and is connected to the Thatcher Hotel. The building and complex house Stock Farm, Campovida’s new tasting room, the bar at the Thatcher Hotel (think elegant craft cocktails), and Café Poppy making it a great stop for tasting, drinking, eating, or coffee/pastries.

Rock Seas

Comfort food with a locavore twist. Rockseas is a small, independently run restaurant located in downtown Hopland just a couple of doors down from the McNab Ridge tasting roo. The restaurant doesn’t yet have a website or online reservation system (at the time of writing this article) so calling ahead to make a reservation is recommended as both locals and visitors love this place. Examples of dishes on Rockseas menu include Mac and Cheese (made with onions, pancetta, and crawdad), Caesar Salad with white anchovies, and pork and grits (made with sustainable and locally raised pork-sourced from pigs that Rock Seas owner and Chef Roxy raises herself!). Rock Seas has a warm, casual, homey ambiance and focuses on working with local products from the spirits behind the bar made by local distilleries to the mixed media artwork on the walls to the ingredients on your plate.

The Thatcher Hotel

A haven from the hustle and bustle of city life, the Thatcher is surrounded by the iconic, rolling Northern California hills and the poetic Russian River landscape. 

From the copper steeple, curated library, and custom handmade furniture to the iconic bar, rotating art, and expansive outdoor courtyard, this restored Victorian hotel exudes a historic meets modern feel. The building was established in 1890 by founder and pioneer William and has been reinvented as the Thatcher Hotel. The boutique 8-10 room hotel features an old timey/antiquey feeling reading room, a polished 20s era-esque themed bar, a French style bakery, on-site restaurant-pizzeria and tasting room, bocce ball courts, and a pool. 

The Thatcher Hotel Bar

With an elegant Great Gatsby mansion-esque facade of green marble, brass, and wood the Thatcher hotel beckons travelers to indulge in a craft cocktail, glass of natural wine, or locally brewed beer made with local hops (ask for the story!). 

Wine Tasting Experiences In/Near Hopland

• Mendocino Wine Country: Sipping in Hopland, Weekend Itinerary 
• The Perfect Two-Day Itinerary for Sipping in Anderson Valley Wineries
• Uncorking Mendocino Wine Country, Anderson Valley
• Mendocino Wine Country: One of California’s best-kept secrets.