Fall at Matanzas Creek Winery

While out in Sonoma County this last weekend, my husband and I went to check out some of our favorite wineries.

As we pulled in, we were greeted with beautiful olive trees-

and a gorgeous garden featuring lavender. Since we visited in fall, the lavender had already been harvested- but its hard to not imagine how beautiful this is when they are in full bloom!

The view of the valley is unreal from the hillside Matanzas sits on. I’m not kidding when I say I asked them where I could set up a tent and move in!

How cool are these lavender bushes, even though the blooms have long been harvested?

We sat for quite a while enjoying the gentile breeze in the quaint wine barrel tables overlooking the gardens.

Everywhere we turned there were beautiful surprises!

They also offer picnic provisions that you can head out through their extensive grounds with. We were exhausted and just wanted to head to our bed and breakfast- but they sold us some delicious wine and cheese we took along. There were lots of people enjoying picnic tastings in the gorgeous outdoor pavilion tasting room, sitting under large lanterns draped with ribbons that they update every season:

In addition to lovely wines, Matanzas Creek puts those lavender gardens to use- they have a lovely lavender market selling lots of fresh, fragrant items. We grabbed some lavender room spray for my mother in law that I did not want to part with it smelled so good. In the tasting room, they also offered lots of Kendall Jackson branded cookies that use grape flour instead of gluten. Its not only a great way to use up the leftover grape skins- but incredibly resourceful and green!

After we tasted some wines, we wandered through the trees a bit more. Matanzas Creek is one of the most gorgeous wineries I’ve ever visited- and one I can’t wait to go back to!