Spend the Day Cheese Tasting at These Six Alexander Valley Wineries

A delicious cheese and wine pairing can be a match made in heaven, and what better way to spend an afternoon in wine country than exploring this culinary classic? A number of wineries in Sonoma’s Alexander Valley now provide a professionally paired cheese tasting to showcase cheeses that complement their red, white and rosé wines. Read on to find our guide to these food exploration experiences in Alexander Valley. Listed prices are per person or plate, and tasting times vary per winery. Reservations are required or recommended unless noted otherwise, so please plan ahead. If your favorite Alexander Valley winery cheese tasting program isn’t listed, please let us know in the comments.

Be sure to read about our Top 30 Sonoma County Wineries for Wine & Cheese Pairing

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Alexander Valley Wineries with Cheese and Wine Tasting

Alexander Valley Vineyards

Founded in the 1960s by the Wetzel family, Alexander Valley Vineyards pairs local cheeses with its flagship Bordeaux-style red blend, Cyrus, and three other top-tier wines—don’t miss the cabernet franc—in a tasting on the deck, overlooking the vineyards. $25

Chalk Hill Estate

The tiny Chalk Hill appellation, which neighbors Alexander Valley, includes just four Healdsburg wineries, so we’ve included Chalk Hill Estate in our Alexaander Valley wine and cheese tasting list. Artisanal cheese pairings are a focal point of the Chairman’s Reserve Tasting, which includes a conversational drive through the estate vineyard and tour of the winery, concluding with a seated tasting of four reserve wines and four kinds of cheese. They serve this pairing indoors or outside on a hilltop terrace, weather permitting. $65

Hanna Winery Alexander Valley

Uncover the best cheese for red wine on the Veranda at Hanna Winery. Their Wine & Cheese Pairing is a seated experience with broad views of Alexander Valley’s southern vineyards. Hanna pairs its Flagship, Reserve and Bismark tier wines with local Sonoma cheeses. The winery is owned and operated by Christine Hanna, daughter of the winery’s founder, Dr. Elias Hanna. $35

Hawkes Wine

Located right next door from the not-to-be-missed Jimtown Store, Jake Hawkes’ winery is all about cabernet sauvignon. His Reserve Tastings are private, seated affairs featuring different atmospheres for sipping the king of reds. The Barrel Room Tasting of six wines includes library, current release and barrel samples — all served with local cheeses, Hawkes olive oil and charcuterie fixings. The Vineyard Tasting, hosted on a picturesque knoll overlooking Jake’s vineyard, proffers stunning views and includes three cabernets, a chardonnay and a merlot, accompanied by a cheese tasting, olive oil and accoutrements. $45

Jordan Vineyard & Winery

Since its founding in the 1970s, wine and food pairings have been central to the Jordan experience. Each year, Executive Chef Todd Knoll creates a cheese tasting that best showcases the French-inspired winery’s flagship wine red, featuring pairings to match with both younger and older cabernet sauvignons. The ending pièce de résistance of all three tours and tastings at Jordan–after a food pairing with Jordan Chardonnay–are four cheeses served with Jordan olive oil, homemade membrillo and multiple cabernets. These extraordinary experiences are hosted either in a hidden Cellar Room at the winery’s French chateau or in a glass-walled pavilion offering hilltop views of three wine valleys. $35-$125

Medlock Ames

The tasting room at the former Alexander Valley Store & Bar offers an Artisan Cheese and Wine pairing of five wines and four kinds of cheese from local creameries, alongside estate marmalade and jam. You can choose to enjoy the tasting inside or outside on the porch overlooking the bar’s garden and bocce court. Walk-ins are welcome, space permitting. $20