Cartograph Wines — Restaurant in Healdsburg

Sadly, people of color should not bother trying to sign up for a membership here. We had a horrible experience, and the owner basically told us she didn't care, and we aren't wanted, despite multiple offers to speak with her personally and explain what happened.

Here is the full experience:

We were members before, and had canceled in the past. We were in town and wanted to visit again, and given it had been 5 years since we were members, we were ready to sign up again.

We confirmed 3 times we could rejoin as members before doing our tasting. Never hid that we were past members. Upon finishing our tasting, I told the gentleman that we loved everything about the experience and wanted to sign up. This is where their policies started to change to try any means to get us to not sign up.

The first lie - we are told there is a waitlist to join, but we would be accepted. Ok, where was that when we asked 3 times before?

Then the other tasting room manager inserted herself in our conversation, and the creative lies really started flowing. First she said the gentleman was wrong, and we cannot sign up because there is a supply demand issue because of fires (years ago by the way), and the tastings would not be waived, even if we are accepted. I told her the gentleman promised us that we could sign up today. She said too bad, you can't. She proceeded to go overboard and loudly start telling the entire tasting room that we had canceled our membership in the past, implying we were freeloaders who just came in for free tastings and then canceled. We were super insulted in front of our family, and the entire tasting room.

We thought, lets reach out to the owners, who will certainly see that this incident was inappropriate and rectify it. We sent the owners a detailed summary of what happened, and offered no less than 3 times, to speak to them so they can get our perspective and hear what happened from us. The owner says she talked to her team, who is right (so we are wrong), and her team told a different story of what happened (oh, what a shocker). She then finishes by saying we are not welcome as members because we had canceled our membership in the past. The policy just keeps changing.

The sad part is, if that policy was posted anywhere (in the tasting room, on their website) or communicated to us in advance, we absolutely would have understood. We simply would not have come in - we have no interest being where we are not welcome. Unfortunately, there is only one conclusion I can arrive to after this experience - we are people of color, and the policy kept getting more and more creative to find new ways for us to not join. We are not welcome at Cartograph, and we clearly were made to feel biased against because of the color of our skin, and insulted in front of our family and others in the tasting room. Even more odd - they still have me on their mailing list, pretty ironic considering you don't want us as members, but I guess that only became clear when we came in person.

Cartograph's wines are wonderful, but I would not recommend anyone visit a place that treats people of color unfairly and with such disrespect.

To this moment, not a single apology from either of the owners, or staff. Don't waste your time or money on a place that doesn't respect all...

I am a little remiss in not writing this review earlier. In February of this year, I visited the tasting room at Cartograph. The staff were very hands on, engaging, and knowledgeable about wine. They added to the enjoyment of tasting the wines and the whole experience of visiting the storefront. The wines were delicious and there were some very interesting ones. I went in thinking that I might buy one bottle to take home and left with three! Now, I wish I would have bought more! The owners Serena and Alan were on site and were 100% involved with the customers by answering questions and educating us about wine. If you come to Healdsburg, definitely make a stop to see Cartograph. A big thank you to Serena and Alan for a great...

Cartograph is a gem! Aside from being our favorite place in Healdsburg it is also our favorite wine club! Alan and Serena truly create a welcoming atmosphere that makes our entire family feel right at home. Their passion for wine making and dedication to their visitors and club members is evident in every interaction. It was a pleasure to meet and get to know Brad in our most recent trip to the tasting room! Thank you for lending your ear to two very weary travelers. Glad the map routed us down the 101! At home, 500 miles away, our family dinner will undoubtably include sharing a bottle of Cartograph. We are grateful for all the visits in past years and look so forward to many...