Roche Carneros Estate Winery makes over a dozen wines from their estate vineyards, but if you want to sample some you are limited to either buying through the winery, purchasing online or visiting their attractive hilltop tasting room.

Set on a hill overlooking San Pablo Bay, this family-run winery has the advantage of a great Sonoma Carneros location for growing premium cool-weather grapes, as well as proximity to San Francisco and Marin County. (Look for the Roche named spelled out in giant letters in sculpted rosemary bushes on their hillside.)

The tasting room and winery is a large barn-like structure that was built with the same design elements as the historic barn found on the ranch. Pieces of original art grace the interior walls of the tasting room, along with a long tasting counter, a large fieldstone fireplace, and unique food products and one-of-a-kind gift items. On warm sunny days, enjoy the covered picnic area overlooking the Bay.

Roche Winery produces Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, and Muscat Canelli. A unique late-harvest Merlot is also worth trying. To conduct your own component tasting, try their French-oak Chardonnay alongside their American oak version to discern the nuances of the different types of oak. The winery also offers daily barrel samplings of their developing wines.

The 2,000-acre ranch shares grape growing and winemaking with cattle ranching. In the spring and summer, horseback riding and horse-drawn wagon tours can be arranged. For special occasions and for unique gifts, ask about their custom labeling program.