Rodney Strong Vineyards — Attraction in Healdsburg

If I could give this place a zero, I would. My 2 friends and I went to Rodney Strong on 3/12/22 around 12:30 for my friends birthday. Upon walking in, there were immediate stares from 2 older men and an older women. We were greeted by a third gentleman who was very pleasant. We sat down and continued to be stared out by the other 2 men and the woman. Not the “do you need help stare”, but a stand there and uncomfortably stare type of thing. Everyone in my group felt uncomfortable. There was one man who walked by our table and stared at us the entire walk to the back area. The gentleman who helped us (the pleasant man who initially helped us) came by and greeted us and poured out first tasting. We tried to ignore the stares from the others and just enjoy our time there. The man helping us then decided to tell us a “funny story” about an experience with a group of North Africans while on his journey in Portugal. He explained that he was going through a check point that was heavily guarded by “Africans”. There was not funny part to his story. Did I mention my group was 2 black women (myself included) and a Hispanic women. A “funny” story for who, I am wondering?? Not sure if that was his way of connecting with us, but it was awkward and uncomfortable. The third tasting came around and It tasted odd to me, like it had been open for too long. I’m not a “professional” wine drinker, but it tasted odd to me. I mentioned this to the man helping us and said that maybe he should taste it because it tasted odd. I see him take the wine back and whisper to his group of gawking co-workers (yes, they are all still staring off and on) and they all roll their eyes. He then comes back with a white wine and immediately tells me that the bottle cost $19. Not one of the other pours did he mention price. Let me be clear, cost is not an issue. I dropped $80 on a bottle of rosè bubbles at J vineyard last week. At that point I was ready to leave. I felt so uncomfortable. As a black female walking into a room of 60+ year old white men and women and to be stared at for the duration of my visit and then made to feel as though my taste in wine is cheap, by noting the price point of a cheaper bottle, was ridiculous and offensive. I will never return to this place, nor will I recommend it to my friends or family. Your wine room staff are unprofessional, RACIST and inappropriate. This is 2022 and you should give your staff classes on tolerance, implicit bias and overall common sense. It is not okay to stare at people. As a person of color, I am embarrassed for your company. For your staff to be 2 and a half times my age and think it is okay to behave this way is absolutely inexcusable. It is equally inexcusable that you allow...

I will never return to this venue. The parking and shuttle were easy. The event area was very nice even though the stage isn't much of a stage. Those are the only good things I have to say. I woke up this morning still mad about our experience there. Without question this was the most hassled I have even been at a concert. The sold-out audience was almost exclusively over 50 so you might expect a respectful, quiet crowd but it was nothing like that where we were. We were on the outer aisle against the building in the seated area. Before the concert, many people were standing in the shade but once it began the entire area was filled with people from the lawn seating and others who simply didn't want to sit in their seats. People were also crowded behind me as we were in the last row. This was only mildly annoying. The real problem was the number of people who were heavily intoxicated. Loud talking, screaming, stumbling as they danced. Many people seated in our area were unhappy and annoyed. The volunteers(?) and the security did nothing. No asking people to return to their area, no asking people to behave. Nothing. In the middle of the concert a severely drunken man (and badge-wearing wine club member) leaned on me and told me he needed to sit in my seat because he couldn't find his. A few minutes later he stood behind me and put his hands around my neck. The only reason he didn't get thrown to the ground was because I didn't want to be the a-hole who punched a rich 65 year-old. I did convince him to never come near me or my daughters again. I'm sure the venue absolves themselves of the behavior of their patrons but they clearly have no control and no policies in place so that others can enjoy the show. Good luck driving the roads after...

I have been a member of the wine club for around 18 years and the selection never fails to disappoint me. I don’t consider myself a connoisseur, but I can tell the difference between “the good stuff” and all the rest. Rodney Strong is my once a quarter splurge on the former. And it is like getting a big surprise every 3 months because I forget about it until that wonderful message comes warning me that my credit card is about to be charged. Shipping fees are very reasonable.

I’ve had occasion to need to put my membership on hold and the process was smooth from start to finish. I find myself calling about every 18 months to change my card on file and again no hassles. If I call too early for Pacific time zone, I get a prompt return call so I don’t have to email or leave my numbers on a voicemail. Katy and others that work customer service are a big reason that I’m still a member.

My only regret is that I don’t get back to Sonoma to participate in any of the member events or attend the music in the...