Richard Arrowood had already established a reputation as a master winemaker at Château St. Jean when he and his wife, Alis Demers Arrowood, set out on their own in 1986. Their picturesque winery stands on a gently rising hillside lined with perfectly manicured vineyards. Tastings take place in the Hospitality House, the newer of Arrowood's two stately gray-and-white buildings. They're fashioned after New England farmhouses, complete with wraparound porches. Richard's focus is on making world-class wine with minimal intervention, and his results are impressive: More than one of his recent releases scored over 90 points in Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, or Wine Enthusiast. Mind you, excellence isn't free: A taste here is $5 for five Sonoma County wines or $10 for five limited-production wines, while a winery, vineyard, and cellar tour is $25, but if you're curious about what near-perfection tastes like, it's well worth it. Note: No picnic facilities are available here.