08 Jun Top California Winery Wedding Locations

This story originally appeared in California Winery Advisor. When thinking of the perfect location for a wedding, does anything conjure up romance more than a vineyard? Vineyards are picturesque. There is a romanticism. The views are ideal for photographs. And vineyards can fit all wedding styles, from intimate to large, informal to formal. While there are many wineries with event space, not every winery is able to host a California winery wedding. Here are four wineries from Sonoma to Paso Robles offering unique venues for wineries.

Top Sonoma County Winery Wedding Locations

Rolling hills and valleys, groves of majestic redwood trees and world class wines, Sonoma County stretches from the Pacific Coast in the west to the Mayacamas Mountains in the east. There are more than 400 wineries within the 17 appellations. One of these appellations is the Sonoma Valley AVA which centers around the southern portion of Sonoma County and includes the towns of Santa Rosa and Kenwood where two of the California winery wedding venues are located. Paradise Ridge Winery, 4545 Thomas Lake Harris Drive, Santa Rosa Paradise Ridge Winery is a 156-acre Russian River Valley Estate owned by the Byck family since 1978. Dr. Byck proposed to his Dutch wife in a sculpture garden in Holland. They later settled in Sonoma with their five children and bought the property, naming it Paradise Ridge, because they enjoyed nature and felt that they land was paradise. On the property, they have 20-acres planted to grapes, a sculpture garden and a number of places to host a wedding. There is a European-style courtyard, verandas, terraces and a dining room, all with unbeatable views. A few highlights are the leaf-shaped deck, made with ipe, a Brazilian hardwood, which is ideal for a reception, and the Poetry Terrace is a lovely place for an outdoor ceremony. There is even a pizza oven on-site, should you want pizza. Paradise Ridge Winery can accommodate weddings ranging from 120 to 200 people and the party can go past 10pm (a rare thing for a California winery wedding)! Deerfield Ranch Winery,10200 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood Deerfield Ranch Winery, owned by Robert and PJ Rex, sits on 46-acres, which includes marshland, wetlands, forest and six acres planted to syrah. Located just off the highway, the quiet and peaceful property includes a 23,000-square-foot cave. For a wedding with 80 to 120 people, Deerfield Ranch Winery offers both indoor and outdoor options. The outdoor crush pad offers a panoramic view of Kenwood Marsh, surrounding hills, and the vineyards. The grassy area by the pond is adjacent to the vineyard and a lovely location for the ceremony. The rustic cave, with an elegant Grand Room, can be perfect for a reception, with long tables set among the wine barrels, or food and wine stations can be set throughout for walk-around reception. The cave does not have air conditioning but will be a consistently cool temperature, no matter the season. A wedding in a wine cave is a unique experience that is ideal for a hot summer day or a rainy day. And for something fun, Deerfield Ranch Winery can customize wine labels or a barrel for the wedding party. This is a fun add on to a California winery wedding. Email: bill.klein@deerfieldranch.com