Gundlach Bundschu Winery

Sonoma, United States

3.5

Closed now

21 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 707-938-5277
Website:
www.gunbun.com
Address:
2000 Denmark St, Sonoma, CA, 95476
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
No
By Appointment Only
No

Today

Today 11:00 am – 4:30 pm
Closed now
Local time (Sonoma) 09:07 Tuesday, 24 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 11:00 am – 4:30 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am – 4:30 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 4:30 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 4:30 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 4:30 pm
Saturday 11:00 am – 4:30 pm
Sunday 11:00 am – 4:30 pm

Description

Specialties

The oldest family-​owned winery in CA, we specialize in making distinctive estate grown wines and sharing them and our property in a warm, fun, unpretentious manner.

Our intimate tasting room gets pretty full on weekends! We recommend making an appointment in advance for a vineyard tour, private cave tasting, or seated courtyard tasting, details and reservations at gun​bun​.com/​visit. Groups of 8 or more always need an appointment.

We are best known for our Cabernet, Merlot, and Pinot Noir, but also are sought out for our limited production wines: Dry Gewürztraminer, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc and Tempranillo.

Summer Hours June — Oct: 11am — 5:30pm

Winter hours 11am — 4:30pm

History

Established in 1858.

Gundlach Bundschu is the oldest family-​owned winery in California, currently run by the sixth generation of the founding family. Jacob Gundlach sailed from Bavaria to San Francisco in 1850, lured by the gold rush. He passed on the mines and started a brewery downtown, which proved its own goldmine, enabling him to purchase the land in Sonoma that remains today the family’s estate vineyard and home. His daughter in law married a prominent poet, Charles Bundschu, and the combination of farming, winemaking and an artistic world view have driven the winery and family ever since.

Meet the Business Owner

Jeff B.

Business Owner

Jeff was raised on the winery estate and worked in the vineyard and winery by the time he was twelve, He left to attend college in Los Angeles, where he obtained a degree in International Relations from the University of Southern California. An intrepid explorer, Bundschu traveled extensively in Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean following graduation. But the draw of the family vineyard was strong, and he returned in 1993, learning the sales side of the business by working the national market. Bundschu realized that the wine industry needed to expand its outreach in order to bring relevancy to a larger portion of the population, and was one of the founders of the progressive Wine Brats organization.

Jeff was appointed General Manager and CEO in 2000, and today oversees the production of Gundlach Bundschu’s estate-​grown wines and 320 acres of estate vineyards. He blogs about life and the winery at www​.blogschu​.com.

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21 reviews of Gundlach Bundschu Winery

No registration required
Place rating: 1
San Francisco, CA
Organized A group tasting for our wedding guest. We had picked GB because we wanted our guests to experience the view of the pond. Unfortunately they were not able to accomidate us on their patio. Understandable due to party size and timing. Day of the visit we arrived on time. The hostess yelled at our guests because some were still holding wine glasses as they exited the shuttle. We were hardly rowdy or intoxicated to warrant such a greeting. Additionally they do not adjust the $ 30 charge if your head count has changed. Some people do not want to continue drinking and some had medical concerns I was unaware of at the time of the booking. The cottage is small and is lacking any real view. After addressing my concerns with the office they offered me two complimentary tastings, a $ 10 value, for the 4 guests that did not participate. No thank you. I have no interest in visiting your property again. There are too many other wineries with better service and wine to visit GB.
Place rating: 1
Oakland, CA
We are getting married in the area and visited after a day of wedding planning with the intention of purchasing some area wines as gifts for our family. I did a lot of research and was excited to visit. Prior to our tasting, I confirmed they had Tempranillo and zinfandel open. Our tasting went great, until the open bottle of Zin ran out. My fiancé didn’t even get to taste this wine. They were not willing to open a wine so close to closing, despite The fact that we watched them open another bottle of Cab Franc for another couple from out of town not 10 minutes prior. We were visiting from an hour away and left without the wines we couldn’t fully taste/​compare & had planned to purchase. We were also paid full tasting fees. Very disappointing!
Place rating: 1
Redwood City, CA
I am so confused by the 4 star reviews. The wine here was so bad that it was literally undrinkable, and the tasting wasn’t cheap either. Yes, the outdoor space is nice… but bring your wine from somewhere else!
Place rating: 4
Stockton, CA
Probably one of the most unique names in the wine world, Gundlach is one of the most charming tasting experiences in all of Sonoma County. They have some very special wines here, most of all is the Estate Gewurtztraminer from vines planted in 1969, but don’t quote me on that. The list goes from Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc (very hot, and rough around the edges), and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The tasting room itself has some fascinating relics of the History of Sonoma wineries, almost museum like so I encourage you to walk around with your glass of wine if it isn’t too busy. If it is crowded, simply post up on the bar and stake your claim because people here see a crack at the bar and it’s like a roller derby to find space here.
By no means is this a hidden gem, but they’ve maintained the charm of a smaller winery while still accommodating the large crowds that is wine tasting anywhere in California these days…
If I had to make a recommendation, go for the Gewürztraminer and possibly the Tempranillo. If you want more exclusive wines you may need to join the wine club and commit to a case a year to get access.
Place rating: 5
Rutherford, CA
What a great visit at GunBun! The property is so beautiful and peaceful – all I heard was birds chirping – and I love that you can stroll around the little trails over the cave. The wines were great – didn’t taste a single thing we didn’t like – and Julie was an awesome host, despite being a Cowboys fan! Thanks Julie!
Place rating: 4
Walnut Creek, CA
The wine is good, but I really like the total experience of the patio that has a view of the pond. They have lights strung up for summer evenings. The staff was friendly. Off the beaten path and semi-​casual. I understand the members can get a tour of the surrounding hillside vineyards on a military truck. The owner has ties to good musicians that play there.
I have to knock off a star in case the summer finds the patio with nowhere to sit — the other picnic area was right next to the parking lot. Also, the tasting room did not have many if any windows, although it was well lit and comfortable. The main patio also is not next to the vineyard — which would be a nice-​to-​have.
Place rating: 5
Carmel, CA
Great view, great service. Bring some snacks and walk up the hill to the picnic tables after tasting for a great day with friends.
Place rating: 4
San Francisco, CA
Good wines! We were there on a bachelorette party and did a private wine tasting/​food pairing in the wine cave. It was a really cool experience and highly recommended if you’re willing to spend the money. Learning about the family’s history coming from Germany was also pretty cool. Who would have known they sold pears during prohibition!
Place rating: 4
West Sacramento, CA
To echo what others have already stated re: atmosphere, the property and views are photo calendar-​worthy; it is Sonoma, after all. I am sad to admit as a self-​branded intermediate vinophile that I didn’t taste any of Gun Bun’s wines or sample any food from the resident gourmet trucks, I was merely here for a gig. Had I ventured too far from the barn, though, I would have forfeited the perfect standing vantage point that I bitch-​faced my way into.
Thumbs up for the charming rustic venue that still managed to feel more off than amid the beaten path. Wish I could recommend the wine, but can’t in good conscience without having sampled it.
Place rating: 1
Philadelphia, PA
Gundlach Bundschu Winery was my least-​favorite vineyard that I visited on my Sonoma wine tour. This was the only winery that charged for tastings that day. It was $ 10 for 5 *small* tastings, and they tried to sell an up-​charge for one of their premium tastings for an additional $ 5 per person.
It was bad enough that we were charged for our tastings but we also had to stand in their dungeon-​like tasting room that smelled like a frat house basement. There was a lingering stale/​vomit like odor throughout the room.
Service at Gundlach Bundschu was completely different than our other winery experiences. The bartenders conducted themselves like they worked in a dive bar. Taking orders, filling them and moving on. They were not helpful or informative about the wines, and ours seemed annoyed when she approached us and we were still debating which wine we should try next… sorry for wasting your time, girl.
We drank quickly and left.
Place rating: 4
Berkeley, États-Unis
Lieu de dégustation sympa à l’intérieur. 3 verres gratuits et de bonne taille avec visa signature. De bonnes explications de la part de la sommelière.
Zinfandel très bon mais un peu cher (plus de 40 $). Terrasse sympa (mais un peu bruyante, normal car en pleine activité de production du vin).
Proche de le ville de sonoma.
Place rating: 5
Honolulu, HI
So, this review is a little late… but better late than never! On February 28, my girls and I toured Sonoma for my bachelorette weekend. One of our stops was Gundlach Bundschu, and what a stop it was. We reserved a private tour with a tasting of several wines and lunch. There were 11 of us, and we may or may not have been a handful, but our guide handled us all with grace and humor! I wish I could remember his name, but alas, I waited too long to review!
Anyway, we toured the property, while sipping on wine. Our guide told us all about the wonderful history that went with this family’s vineyard. Such a cool story. Then we spent an hour or so hanging out in their rustic entertaining room, playing music on their record player, and just enjoying each other and of course… the wine!
Our favorites were the Pinot and the Gewürztraminer. We had such a good time, I can’t wait to go back!
Place rating: 2
Vancouver, Canada
The is the oldest winery family owned winery in California. Gundlach Bundschu is on the recommended list for many people.
The tasting is at $ 10 for 5 wines and they are mostly reds. The pours were inconsistent because for some reason our group’s glasses weren’t filled as high as everyone else’s glasses. I’m not sure why our tasting was so stingy, but they were. The staff ranged from friendly to bored. Maybe it just depended on who was helping you.
Gundlach Bundschu had a rustic charm to it. Outside, there are some chairs and tables so you can bring some snacks for a picnic. Overall, not a bad start to your Napa wine tour, but maybe it was just bad luck for us.
Place rating: 5
San Jose, CA
We didn’t do the tasting this time around. We just got a bottle of Rose and went to the picnic tables to enjoy the wine without the crowds. There are several picnic tables on the hill under the trees. The view is beautiful and more peaceful than the patio. Great vineyard and good wines.
Place rating: 5
Allentown, PA
Loved our tasting experience with Rosie today.
She was knowledgeable, friendly and courteous.
We thoroughly enjoyed the wines we tasted and the history of the winery.
We had heard of this winery last year but were unable to include it on our itinerary so we made a point of getting there on this years trip.
There are so many great wineries in Sonoma and this was one experience we will not forget!
Place rating: 2
San Francisco, CA
I like the outdoor vibe to this vineyard. The inside left more to be desired. It was the standard wine bar and selections of souvenirs on the side. The flights were to choose 5 tastings for $ 10. Since we were a group of 4, we got to try all the selections from the menu.
The dry white didn’t do much for me nor did the Chardonnay.
Rose was mediocre.
Onto the reds, the Pinot Noir was of the typical Pinot. Their Merlot had a nice blend. The Zinfandel was too rich in spice for me. Their Cab Sauvignon was dry at the end. I like the Cab Franc the most! It was fruity, smooth and rich. The uniqueness of wine, left more to be desired as well. Maybe it was the ambiance that lacked bright décor or something to lighten up the mood. Maybe it was the lack of eloquence of description on how the wine is made and what it was compromised of. Maybe it was just how it is. The winery lacked depth and it didn’t make my wine enthusiast side of me feel any spark from here.
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
The ladyfriend and I had a little bit of downtime in Sonoma, and so we decided to take the vineyard tour at Gundlach Bundschu, and I’m really glad we did. The grounds are really quite gorgeous, and the tasting room provides a nice respite from the unforgiving sun.
We had reservations for the tour, and were greeted in the lot by one of the family members, who was kind and gracious. It was quite amazing how instantaneously he committed everyone’s name and hometown to memory.
Right about on time, we boarded the Pinzgauer, which I can only assume is some Cold-​War-​era troop transport, with all of the comforts one would expect. We buckled in and started off on our tour. The roads were rough and uneven, and there was a fair amount of dust, as this hulking machine carted us around the grounds. I absolutely loved every rugged, nail-​biting minute of it, because it didn’t feel like the tour had been sanitized for us.
Along the way, we stopped and had some small pours of their various wines, and they were all pretty darn tasty. We also got the opportunity to hear some history of the winery (one of the oldest in the region), and we were also able to walk among the vines and learn about the science of viticulture, right down to grafting and irrigation theory. Maybe more than some want to know, but the geek in me really dug it.
We ended up in the cave, which was not as cool as I thought it would be. I was imagining natural caverns, but it was actually just a very long concrete tunnel. There, we sampled their reserve, which was exquisite, but at $ 90 a bottle, a little too rich for my blood.
We picked up a few bottles to enjoy, and I can’t wait for the right occasion to open them. If there was only one thing I didn’t like, it’s that the wines were fairly expensive, and the prices were closer to restaurant markup than direct sales.
All in all, I’d recommend the tour there. There’s a lot of information packed into 2 hours (the tour runs a little longer than advertised), and the guide is very personable and willing to answer any question. Plus, the grounds and the views are simply breathtaking.
Place rating: 4
San Francisco, CA
After having lunch in downtown Sonoma, our group headed to Gunbun as our first stop for some wine tasting. Driving over to this winery, you navigate through a residential area surrounded by vineyards. Going down the narrow road, we thought there weren’t going to be much people there. Yet, once we reached the parking lot, it was quite full. Gunbun is like a hidden surprise! The grounds are unpretentious, family friendly and very welcoming. There is plenty of space to picnic or chill out on the patio area overlooking the small lake. Music was playing for those out on the patio to enjoy. They also have small trail that lead up the hill (we did not check out entirely) but saw some people walking down with a dog.
The tasting room is charming with its stone walls and dim lighting inside. There’s a myriad of souvenirs along the perimeter of the room and walls hung with historical pictures the winery. The main action was happening at the bar where we were greeted by a super outgoing server. The tasting included 5 still wines for $ 10 and we could chose from 9 wines offered at Gunbun. I tasted the Gerwurztraminer, chardonnay, pinot noir, zinfandel and cab sauv. I will admit that I didn’t think any of the wines were notable. The zin was my favorite though. Wouldn’t necessarily recommend going for their wines, but the service and grounds are nice to check out at least once. Our server was personable and had a wonderful sense of humor. There was no pressure to buy any bottles after our tasting. It’s a nice place to start out if you’re wine tasting through the day as I felt their wines are more for an entry level wine drinker. Can’t beat a $ 10 tasting in this area though! Enjoy the sunshine and the view outside while you’re there.
Place rating: 5
Mountain View, CA
Came here with my wife and our little 9 week old chocolate lab puppy named Kona and had a great time! What really made our experience was that the actual tasting room itself was dog friendly. This was an extra plus because we stopped by a couple other wineries and the tasting room was closed to dogs (which I totally understand).
Staff was incredibly nice to ourselves and our little pup — he was even given a nice little chew toy to play with during our visit! The gentleman who was giving us our tastings was very knowledgeable and personable.
I highly recommend stopping by this winery especially if you have a dog!
Place rating: 3
Los Angeles, CA
Gundlach Bundschu is one of the oldest wineries in the region and it is extremely popular! As I walked into their tasting room, I almost walked out within the first 5 minutes. The wine pourer seems fed up with incoming customers in the middle of a Sunday afternoon. Perhaps I caught her at a bad time? It was a real sour note to start my wine tasting experience…
I didn’t want to continue this downhill experience with her, so I decided to go to another tasting area and continued my tasting with the wonderful, smiley Elaine. As I sipped and tasted their wines on their menu, I found myself disappointed. I didn’t find any of the wines to my liking. Where’s the hidden gem?
The winery and grounds are beautiful here and I would like to note that their marketing folks are doing an outstanding job. There are so many things for sale in their tasting room; it goes from the wine spout to the professional cycling shirts!
Overall, I would not return to Gundlach Bundschu Winery. It’s unfortunately overcrowded like Disneyland and their wines were bland. Even though, it’s fun to buy some wine accessories, I rather spend my money on a good bottle of vino. Onto the next!
Place rating: 4
San Jose, CA
I’ve been wanting to try this winery for some time now & so glad I had the chance. First, the winery itself is tucked back from the highway & located on a hill that offers nice views of the vineyards & a sense of privacy. The grounds are absolutely lovely and are nicely sprawled out. They have picnic tables & cozy chairs so you can sit & enjoy their wine. I noticed a small hiking path as well which was along a small hill. The day we went they were setting up for their harvest party music festival. Their events look like a blast & something I’d love to go back for.
As for the tasting room & wine. It was pretty crowded the day we went in, but managed to squeeze in at the tasting bar. I went for the $ 10 for six tastings. I really enjoyed their 2013 Rhinefarm Rose & the 2011 Merlot. I found their wine to be young so I will lay the Merlot down for a year or two. I enjoyed most of their wine except the Cabernet Sauvignon which I found to be too tannic which made it too bitter for me. I’m sure it will be great once it’s aged.
The tasting room & the attendants were just as nice as the grounds. Service was good despite the large crowds. Our server also informed us how special the winery is because they are the oldest family owned winery in California. They sell a nice variety of Gun Bun merchandise. I can see why people love this winery so much. It’s beautiful, special, good wine, & nice people. I’ll see you again soon Gun Bun!