Welcome to Schermeister Winery in Glen Ellen, Sonoma Valley's smallest native fermentation winery. Winemaker Robert Schermeister and his wife Laura craft wines that are unfiltered, unfined, sustainably farmed, and vegan-friendly. Our love story begins with this website. As a small winery in Glen Ellen, we highlight the best of Wine Country's gold and platinum vineyards.
Using native fermentation, our limited production wines are enjoyed at our creekside tasting room. Best of all, our guests feel a sense of connection to us and the wines with a little education and a lot of fun. Follow our winery and receive the quarterly newsletter! Stay up to date on current and upcoming releases, learn about the wild fermentation wines we're making, and get recipes for food and wine pairings.
Using native fermentation, our limited production wines are enjoyed at our creekside tasting room. Best of all, our guests feel a sense of connection to us and the wines with a little education and a lot of fun. Follow our winery and receive the quarterly newsletter! Stay up to date on current and upcoming releases, learn about the wild fermentation wines we're making, and get recipes for food and wine pairings.
Services
Schermeister Winery makes limited-production wild fermentation wines from Napa Valley and Sonoma County, California. We produce our wines in limited quantities in order to focus on quality. By committing to native fermentation, our wines remain free of lab-created yeasts and instead rely on the wild yeasts found in every vineyard we harvest from each year.
Our wines are now sold out to the general public and are allocated to members of the Magnus Vinum Society. We are accepting requests for membership beginning Spring 2022. At this time, we are able to ship to all U.S. states except for Illinois, Alabama, Michigan, Utah, and Virginia. Additional rates to Hawaii and Canada apply.
As a limited production winery, our wines are available in small quantities. For those interested in securing our wines every year, the Magnus Vinum Society offers three levels of membership that guarantee access before they sell out. We invite you to join the Society not only to enjoy great wine but to encourage a heightened understanding of how the incredible grape transforms from the vineyard to the bottle using natural winemaking techniques.
Tastings led by our winemaker are available by appointment only at our creekside tasting room. Children must be seated during tastings or accompanied by an adult while walking around the property while maintaining a respectful noise level. Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the date and time of the reservation.
We take great pride in the quality wines we make and work hard to bring them to wine lovers alike. There is a lot of value in following this passion, which is why we must charge actual money for our wines. We do not exchange our wines for social media exposure or blog features. Complimentary tastings are limited to Society members and those working full time in the wine industry.
Reviews (25)
Allie Stone
Jul 29, 2021
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This place is fantastic! Highly exceeded our expectations. The location is perfect, wine is exceptional, intimate experience, and the best bonus was Eli the dog keeping us company. 100% recommend visiting places like this as opposed to the large production wineries. It was a wonderful experience that truly made our trip so special.
Alicia G.
Jul 19, 2021
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S. G.
Jun 24, 2021
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Kathryn Abboud
May 25, 2021
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Pinaj Basutkar
May 11, 2021
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Lovely little winery with beautiful views and a homely environment! The owners were very kind. We enjoyed tasting their wines and getting to know about how they are made. They patiently answered all our questions and also shared stories of their life experiences. Their dog is so adorable! All in all, it was a memorable experience for us and we would love to go back.
Schelly Y.
Apr 09, 2021
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Laura, Rob, and their dog Eli were great! Eli was super chill and hung out with us for a bit at our table. Rob served us and spent a lot of time telling us about his background, the wines, and his experiences. It was a fun experience trying all the pairings and oddly, we really liked the vegan cheese spread.
John Skelton
Jan 04, 2021
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Had an excellent tasting here today. They are hospitable hosts and have an excellent tasting room. The light food pairing plate was a nice addition to the experience.
The dog, Eli, is very playful and nice. I enjoyed that the wine was varied and there were some really great standouts here versus what you can get elsewhere. Highly recommend Schermeister.
The dog, Eli, is very playful and nice. I enjoyed that the wine was varied and there were some really great standouts here versus what you can get elsewhere. Highly recommend Schermeister.
Jiahui L.
Dec 05, 2020
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Lovely 5 pour tasting outside. Their style is a bit lighter and natural. We tasted their rose, viognier, 2 Pinot noirs, and Syrah. Favorites were the viognier (not sweet, guava on the nose!) and Syrah (lighter, just enough tannins balanced with a touch of acid). The pinots were really fun to try, as they were very different from each other.
The tables are spaced out nicely all around the shop, and our somm was very friendly and informative. Would love to come back to revisit!
The tables are spaced out nicely all around the shop, and our somm was very friendly and informative. Would love to come back to revisit!
Alice W.
Oct 13, 2020
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We really enjoyed the wine tasting + small bites at Schermeister. The winemaker was personable and gave us great descriptions of his wine, which paired nicely with the small bites he personally curated. The design and style of the winery was lovely as well -- we appreciated the customized tasting cards for each party!
Dannye D.
Sep 13, 2020
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Rob and Laura, and doggy Eli were so lovely. Rob spent so much time explaining each wine in depth and teaching us about the process and various environmental effects. It was fascinating and lovely to be with friend here. This is the type of experience we seek. Some of the best wines we've tasted. Fantastic.
Kelly T.
Aug 10, 2020
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Our very first stop on a quick overnight wine country trip was Schermeister and I truly cannot wait to go back. Lovely shaded outdoor seating by the river. Comfortable social distancing, hand sanitizer and mask etiquette in place. The wines are so well crafted we took home several bottles - a standalone Rosé of Nick's dreams, a Syrah of my dreams and a Pinot that perfectly captures the taste of its Russian River origins. Loved sweet, relaxing Eli their "Captain Goodest Boy" and Nick and I joked the rest of the weekend that Robert helped me realize I need to begin my birding "
Ann Cripps
Jul 07, 2020
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Kira M.
Jun 05, 2020
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Honestly the best winery if you like the quality, craft and experience of a small winery. You can learn a TON about wine making from Robert, who is very knowledgeable and no-BS. The wood working and art inside (done by Robert and his partner) are beautiful and so tasteful. The Viognier is INSANELY good and I miss it every week.
Ryan A.
Mar 27, 2020
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I've been into the Sonoma/Napa county wine country for about a decade. Living in the Bay Area makes it a common weekend destination. Having been to hundreds of wineries, I'd put my experience at Schermeister as a top 5. Not only is Rob (winemaker / owner with his wife Laura) one of the most knowledgeable winemakers, but their passionate and genuine approach are rare. They are always happy to spend time speaking about the process but make you feel like family. Now that I'm a member, I'm even more impressed with the wine. I loved it the first time but think I undervalued how good
Laurie I.
Mar 12, 2020
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What a nice place and such a great yelp find. Was driving looking for one last tasting of the day and found this place. The owner and his wife, who is an artist, are so nice. She made us feel right at home and the place is in a beautiful spot on the river. The wines were so amazing we became club members. Are excellent stop and hope we will be back soon
Robin P.
Mar 08, 2020
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Briana G.
Jan 19, 2020
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Samantha Speers
Jan 09, 2020
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This winery is the perfect little nook along a bubbling brook. The wine is delicious and the schermeisters are very welcoming with an array of wine knowledge. They have a way of making you feel like you've come home with the rustic, modern design on the inside. It's perfect for private to large group tastings. Definitely have the Pinot!
Mike M.
Nov 09, 2019
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Laura and Rob are so fun. A boutique winery with a very personalized experience. Laura is a great story teller and Rob gives facts about the wines and their dog Eli. A really fun experience in a relaxed atmosphere. They have interesting varietals and give insightful reasons why they chose the fruit and the growers. It is all oak cask and unfiltered. The 2013 Pinot Nior is sublime.
If you prefer an intimate experience of upscale wines where you can learn more about the region and wine making, this is your spot!
If you prefer an intimate experience of upscale wines where you can learn more about the region and wine making, this is your spot!
Katie A.
Sep 01, 2019
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Andrew K.
Sep 01, 2019
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J.
Jun 14, 2019
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Beautiful winery, but more than anything, this is a very different wine tasting experience! Set in beautiful Glen Ellen, this amazing Winery is owned and operated by a very loving husband and wife team (and their adorable dog of course) and it shows in every way. From the expert wine making of Robert to the incredible decor that Laura has crafted inside their eye catching space (including paintings she made herself!!!), they make you feel like you walk right into their home and sit down for a conversation.
After hanging out for a couple hours (which most places call "a tasting") we left feeling
After hanging out for a couple hours (which most places call "a tasting") we left feeling
David F.
May 10, 2019
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Visited this winery a few weeks back. It is tucked away in a beautiful corner of wine country. The winery sits right alongside a beautiful Creek. Listening to the water of the creek while enjoying a nice glass of wine was very soothing and relaxing. Rob and Laura gave excellent advice and information on wine trends. The deals they had were very good as well as the tasting and smell trivia. Will definitely be returning to this spot as it is magic.
Kat H.
Mar 23, 2019
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My sister brought me to this gem of a tasting room that she discovered a few weeks ago. We had such an amazing time learning and laughing with the owners, Rob and Laura. The tasting room is charming and warm, and the wines were amazing, delicious, and unique. Rob and Laura's passion for wine shone through as they poured their best offerings. We also had a chance to play with their aroma bar, which was such a creative way to highlight the olfactory side of our wine tasting experience.
As someone who isn't as confident in the high-society tasting rooms of Napa, Schermeister was a breath
As someone who isn't as confident in the high-society tasting rooms of Napa, Schermeister was a breath
Natalie W.
Jan 08, 2019
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If you are in Glen Ellen for the day, it is definitely worth your while to stop in and meet the Schermeister's (and their adorable dog Eli).
Wines - We really enjoyed the ability to try three different Rosés in one sitting. We were impressed by the quality Pinot Noir that they offer. My personal favorite was the Viognier.
Hospitality - Being hosted by the Owner & Winemaker has its perks! The Schermeister's offer a passionate and interactive tasting experience; everything from smelling the different essences and scents found in the wine to eating delicious walnuts from their home
Wines - We really enjoyed the ability to try three different Rosés in one sitting. We were impressed by the quality Pinot Noir that they offer. My personal favorite was the Viognier.
Hospitality - Being hosted by the Owner & Winemaker has its perks! The Schermeister's offer a passionate and interactive tasting experience; everything from smelling the different essences and scents found in the wine to eating delicious walnuts from their home
