Kivelstadt Cellars

Kiv is a total find. The front looks a little rough when you pull up…then you step through and it opens into this unexpected backyard oasis. Big shade umbrellas, fire pits, quiet corners — the kind of spot you settle into for hours. The wines are fantastic and very reasonably priced. Father’s Watch (pictured) might be one of the best blends anywhere — balanced, silky, and way better than its price point suggests. They’re also working with some rare and hard-to-find varietals, which makes each flight feel different than the usual Sonoma lineup. The chicken and ricotta bites? Absolute knockout. One of those dishes you order “just to try” and immediately wish you’d doubled. Service is relaxed but sharp, the atmosphere is great, and there’s a wonderful restaurant next door. Location is solid, but you could easily drive past the humble storefront — don’t. A+ winery. Total gem.

Amazing experience! Great food and great service. Loved the inventive menu and the wine tasting on property. They had live music which was a nice bonus. It was busy but no wait for a table. Wonderful hidden gem in Sonoma!

Casual, laid- back. Perfect for lunch & a glass of wine. Full menu was fantastic. We had an assortment-beet salad, chicken wings, chicken bites, and ricotta spread on yummy, toasted focaccia bread. Wine was great! Will visit again.

Kiv was an amazing find! Our host Tia made the experience so much better and walked us through the wines very patiently. Her recommendation of Obsidian Wine Co was also spot on and we had a great time there as well. Kiv has great wines, great food and also offer some wines made with advanced processing techniques that are very interesting (and delicious too) to try! Cannot recommend this place enough... it is a must try!

my mouth is watering just thinking about my visit this past weekend to Kivelstadt. This is a must stop when you’re in Sonoma, even worth making a trip just for this spot. Only took about an hour driving up from San Francisco midday on a Friday. We did the KC Labs and Off the Beaten Path tastings and loved the variety. Gravignon Blanc and the Native Son were some of our favorites. The food is amazing, you have to get the Glazed Pork Belly. The pork is cooked to tender perfection and pairs deliciously with the mushrooms. The aguachile is a bit more like a crudo and was perfect for the hot sonoma weather in September. We spent a few hours here in their comfortable outdoor seating and left with a few bottles. The wine club benefits are definitely worth it, with free tastings and generous discounts on bottles. The service was great, sharing just enough about the wines but also giving us space to taste slowly and enjoy the warm weather. Looking forward to my next visit to Kivelstadt - I’m telling my friends we’re coming every weekend now 😉 Update 10/8: As promised, came back for another tasting. Tori guided us through the wines again. She is the absolute best. Let us take the tasting at our own pace and answered any questions we had. Even provided suggestions for other wineries to check out in the area. We had the aguachile again and loved it. Had the elote for the first time and it was great as well. You really can’t go wrong with any of the food here. The panna cotta was the star though, love that it’s seasonal. Can’t wait for our next visit 😊