Kunde Estate Winery
9825 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, CA 95452
Website: http://www.kunde.com/
The pond and seating area out front of Kunde Estate
Kunde is a fifth generation family run winery in the heart of Sonoma Valley. Louis Kunde was the first generation who founded Kunde in 1904. However, the first vines were planted on the property in 1879 by two men named James Shaw and Captain John Drummond. They were pioneers who imported cuttings from the famed Chateaux Margaux and Lafites Rothschild in France. Today the property consists of 1,850 acres that stretch for 2 ½ miles along Sonoma Highway. The winery was able to survive the years of Prohibition by producing sacramental wines. Kunde was one of the first wineries to be bonded by the state of California in the early 1900s and they proudly boast being Bonded Winery Number 202. Today there are tens of thousands of bonded wineries in California. Another interesting fact about this winery is that it was one of the sites where the movie Bottle Shock was filmed, a story about Chateau Montelena in Napa Valley and the 1972 Judgment of Paris.
The winery focuses on producing ultra-premium, estate-grown, and sustainably farmed wines. The expansive property allows the Kunde family to produce 100% of their wine on the estate. They produce a variety of white and red wines. For white wines, their focus is on Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. For red wines, they focus on Syrah, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The wine cave built into the hills at Kunde Estate Winery
When I visited, this winery did not seem to be as populated as some of the other wineries along Sonoma Highway, but it has a lot to offer. A stone wall built into the rolling hills of vineyards beckons visitors to the winery. On one side of the parking area are hills lined with vines and large wooden doors to the wine cave that is built within the hills. On the opposite side is a walkway with a pond, fountains, and small patio seating area in front of the winery.
Kunde Estate Winery’s tasting room
The main tasting room is a very large space with a tasting bar that spans almost the entire length of the room. My husband and I were greeted promptly and the staff was friendly. Our server took the time to explain the different wines to us. I tried eight different wines from the Estate Tasting menu and truly enjoyed all of them. Besides the Estate Tasting in the main tasting room, the winery offers a couple of private seated wine tastings. The Kinneybrook Room focuses on Reserve wines and has comfy leather couches and windows from ceiling to floor looking out on the estate. The 202 Lounge, named after bonded winery #202, offers outdoor tastings with a view of the gardens. In addition, there is a mountain top wooden deck where guests can sample wine and take in fabulous views from an elevation of 1,400 feet above the valley floor. If that isn’t enough, the winery also offers a sustainable hike and tour through the vineyards. For visitors with dogs, there is even a dog hike with fourth-generation winegrower Jeff Kunde and his dog Riley through the estate followed by a wine tasting. With so much to do and some great wines, this winery is definitely worth a visit.