Russian River Valley · Sonoma County · Forestville
Hartford Family Winery
Experience the unique flavors of single-vineyard wines at Hartford Family Winery.
4.6(64)
Rate this winery
Known forPinot NoirChardonnayZinfandelCave ToursFood PairingDog-Friendly
About Hartford Family Winery
Hartford Family Winery, founded in 1994 by Don and Jennifer Hartford, is renowned for its commitment to producing high personality wines from single vineyard sites in the Russian River Valley. The winery specializes in limited bottlings of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and old vine Zinfandel, showcasing the unique characteristics of their vineyards and the philosophy of 'character through adversity.'
Why Visit Hartford Family Winery
Hartford Family Winery is a must-visit for anyone seeking to taste the essence of the Russian River Valley’s distinct terroir in each sip. The experience of sampling their limited bottlings of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and old vine Zinfandel is nothing short of transformative, with each wine telling its own story of the vineyard from which it came. Picture the first taste—a burst of flavor that reveals the meticulous care and craftsmanship behind every bottle, leaving a lasting impression that beckons for another sip.
- Specializes in single vineyard wines, showcasing the unique characteristics of the Russian River Valley.
- Offers a range of limited bottlings of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and old vine Zinfandel that reflect the winery’s philosophy of 'character through adversity.'
- Features an engaging tasting experience that includes educational tours of the barrel room and curated food pairings.
- Family-owned since 1994, ensuring a personal touch in every aspect of the winery's operations.
- Dog-friendly and kid-friendly amenities make it a welcoming destination for all visitors.
The Setting
The striking contrast of Hartford Family Winery’s rustic wooden beams and modern glass accents creates an inviting yet sophisticated backdrop for wine enthusiasts. Visitors often find themselves captivated by the views of the surrounding vineyards, where meticulously tended vines stretch across the landscape, hinting at the quality within each bottle. The winery’s architecture harmonizes with the natural beauty of its environment, making it an ideal spot for photos that showcase both the wine and the stunning scenery.
The Tasting Experience
Participating in the Vineyard Exploration tasting here is a unique experience that transports visitors through a curated selection of wines, each representing the individuality of its vineyard. Guests are seated comfortably as they embark on a sensory journey, savoring six distinct wines while learning about the history and philosophy behind each varietal. For those looking for a deeper connection, the Customized Exploration of Single Vineyard Wines offers a more intimate experience, allowing small groups to tailor their tasting while enjoying a tour of the barrel room and a delightful cheese and chocolate pairing, enhancing the overall enjoyment of these exceptional wines.
Tasting Experiences
Vineyard Exploration
$60Our seated exploratory tasting experience showcases a selection of six of our unique wines from some of the most expressive vineyard sites in and around the Russian River Valley. This tasting will include all three varietals we are known for - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel. The cost is $60/person. Fees are refunded with the purchase of 4 bottles/per person. This tasting experience is complimentary for wine club members (up to 4 guests for Explorer & Aficionado and 6 guests for Collectors).
Reservation Required
Customized Exploration of Single Vineyard Wines
$125This seated tasting experience allows one of our wine educators to work with you to customize the 6 wines to be tasted. The same wine educator will guide you through the tasting, providing detailed explanations of how our wines are made. This tasting also includes a tour of our barrel room (when possible), an individual plate of cheese, and accompanied accouterments. It ends with a piece of chocolate from local chocolatier Fleur Sauvage. This tasting is limited to groups of 6 or less. Fees are refunded with the purchase of 6 bottles/per person. This tasting experience is discounted for wine club members (up to 4 guests for Explorer & Aficionado and 6 guests for Collectors).
Reservation Required
Wine List (14)
| Wine | Type | Vintage | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 Hartford Court Docker Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 95 Points
"Minty, herbal and floral, this is a fresh, aromatic and nuanced light- to medium-bodied wine with flavors of strawberries, mangoes, hibiscus, watermelon and spiced cranberries. Mouthwatering acidity with underlying minerality and a finish that brings you back to the glass. Drink now." - Courtney Humiston, James Suckling , January 2026 | Pinot Noir | 2023 | $78 | |
2023 Hartford Court Far Coast Vineyard Pinot Noir 97 Points
"Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2023 Far Coast Vineyard Pinot Noir reveals red currant and kirsch notes plus fragrant notes of lavender, underbrush, and mint tea. The medium to full-bodied palate has wonderful tension with plush tannins and energetic red berry and floral notes, finishing long and chalky. 348 cases were made." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Palate , July 2025 | Pinot Noir | 2023 | $85 | |
2023 Hartford Court MacLean's Block Pinot Noir 97 Points
"A darker ruby color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Maclean's Block reveals a deeper aromatic profile, with notes of cherry cordial, mossy earth, pressed flowers, sage, and dark stones. The palate is light on its feet but has a more expansive and velvety, even texture, and while it’s more savory and deep, it has a lovely floating feel. It’s long on the palate and is going to be worth checking in on over the next 15 or so years."- Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com , July 2025 | Pinot Noir | 2023 | $78 | |
2023 Hartford Court Marin Pinot Noir 95 Points
"The 2023 Pinot Noir Marin County showcases the lesser known area south of Sonoma County that tends to encompass extreme coastal sites. In this wine, the acidity is dazzlingly on point, fresh and long-lasting, a worthy accent to the light-bodied savory fruit, forest, and nutmeg at its core, with a finishing touch of lavender that's so pretty you'll want more. Drink now through 2035." - Virginie Boone, jebdunnuck.com , February 2026 | Pinot Noir | 2023 | $78 | |
2023 Hartford Court Sevens Bench Vineyard Pinot Noir 95 Points
"The 2023 Pinot Noir Sevens Bench Vineyard from Carneros is a jeweled ruby color and takes on notes of dark wild black raspberries, mossy earth, and fresh violets as well as savory but fresh hints of porcini. Medium-bodied, it has more richness, with ripe tannins and a savory, snappy, iron-rich feel that closes it out and accents the finish. It has a deeper feel but remains refreshing and is going to drink well over the coming 15 years. " - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com , July 2025 | Pinot Noir | 2023 | $78 | |
2023 Hartford Court Truly Rita Pinot Noir 95 Points
"This is still a very young bottling, but it’s already opulent and wonderfully hedonistic. Aromas of black cherry are jubilant on the nose, while the palate’s vibrant acidity and sharper spice elements add a peppery zip that keeps one coming back for more." Editor’s Choice . - MK, Wine Enthusiast , Oct 2025 | Pinot Noir | 2023 | $78 | |
2018 Hartford Outer Limits Syrah 96 Points
"Taking things to the next level, the 2018 Syrah Outer Limits is highly aromatic and expansive in its aromas of pine sap, black cherry preserve, black pepper, and wild lavender. Full-bodied, it has good lift and fresh acidity, with more energy, and notes of olive brine, and charcuterie. This red offers classic appeal, with a good balance of fruity and savory elements. Drink 2023-2040" - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com , July 2023 | Syrah | 2018 | $60 | |
2023 Hartford Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard Zinfandel 95 Points
"The 2023 Zinfandel Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard comes from vines planted more than a century ago, and the wine matured for 10 months in 55% new French oak. It has slowly unfurling scents of wild berries, peach, graham cracker, mossy bark, earth and floral perfume. The full-bodied palate is bursting with concentrated, spicy flavors. It’s structured by firm, grainy tannins and vibrant acidity and has a long, complex finish." - Erin Brooks, Robert Parker Wine Advocate , Oct 2025 | Zinfandel | 2023 | $65 | |
2023 Hartford Hartford Vineyard Zinfandel 95 POINTS
"A dynamic yet refined Zin, with fragrant raspberry and blueberry flavors that are laced with rose petal, green peppercorn, and briar patch as this builds richness and tension toward zesty tannins. Drink now through 2035." - Tim Fish, Wine Spectator , October 2025 | Zinfandel | 2023 | $65 | |
2023 Hartford Jolene’s Vineyard Zinfandel 95 POINTS
"Dynamic and savory, this Zin offers a keen core of lively acidity and tannins framed by expressive flavors of raspberry, pomegranate, briar patch and smoked pepper that gather tension toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2035." - Tim Fish, Wine Spectator , August 2025 | Zinfandel | 2023 | $65 |
2023 Hartford Court Docker Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir
95 Points "Minty, herbal and floral, this is a fresh, aromatic and nuanced light- to medium-bodied wine with flavors of strawberries, mangoes, hibiscus, watermelon and spiced cranberries. Mouthwatering acidity with underlying minerality and a finish that brings you back to the glass. Drink now." - Courtney Humiston, James Suckling , January 2026
Pinot Noir2023
2023 Hartford Court Far Coast Vineyard Pinot Noir
97 Points "Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2023 Far Coast Vineyard Pinot Noir reveals red currant and kirsch notes plus fragrant notes of lavender, underbrush, and mint tea. The medium to full-bodied palate has wonderful tension with plush tannins and energetic red berry and floral notes, finishing long and chalky. 348 cases were made." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Palate , July 2025
Pinot Noir2023
2023 Hartford Court MacLean's Block Pinot Noir
97 Points "A darker ruby color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Maclean's Block reveals a deeper aromatic profile, with notes of cherry cordial, mossy earth, pressed flowers, sage, and dark stones. The palate is light on its feet but has a more expansive and velvety, even texture, and while it’s more savory and deep, it has a lovely floating feel. It’s long on the palate and is going to be worth checking in on over the next 15 or so years."- Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com , July 2025
Pinot Noir2023
2023 Hartford Court Marin Pinot Noir
95 Points "The 2023 Pinot Noir Marin County showcases the lesser known area south of Sonoma County that tends to encompass extreme coastal sites. In this wine, the acidity is dazzlingly on point, fresh and long-lasting, a worthy accent to the light-bodied savory fruit, forest, and nutmeg at its core, with a finishing touch of lavender that's so pretty you'll want more. Drink now through 2035." - Virginie Boone, jebdunnuck.com , February 2026
Pinot Noir2023
2023 Hartford Court Sevens Bench Vineyard Pinot Noir
95 Points "The 2023 Pinot Noir Sevens Bench Vineyard from Carneros is a jeweled ruby color and takes on notes of dark wild black raspberries, mossy earth, and fresh violets as well as savory but fresh hints of porcini. Medium-bodied, it has more richness, with ripe tannins and a savory, snappy, iron-rich feel that closes it out and accents the finish. It has a deeper feel but remains refreshing and is going to drink well over the coming 15 years. " - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com , July 2025
Pinot Noir2023
2023 Hartford Court Truly Rita Pinot Noir
95 Points "This is still a very young bottling, but it’s already opulent and wonderfully hedonistic. Aromas of black cherry are jubilant on the nose, while the palate’s vibrant acidity and sharper spice elements add a peppery zip that keeps one coming back for more." Editor’s Choice . - MK, Wine Enthusiast , Oct 2025
Pinot Noir2023
2018 Hartford Outer Limits Syrah
96 Points "Taking things to the next level, the 2018 Syrah Outer Limits is highly aromatic and expansive in its aromas of pine sap, black cherry preserve, black pepper, and wild lavender. Full-bodied, it has good lift and fresh acidity, with more energy, and notes of olive brine, and charcuterie. This red offers classic appeal, with a good balance of fruity and savory elements. Drink 2023-2040" - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com , July 2023
Syrah2018
2023 Hartford Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard Zinfandel
95 Points "The 2023 Zinfandel Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard comes from vines planted more than a century ago, and the wine matured for 10 months in 55% new French oak. It has slowly unfurling scents of wild berries, peach, graham cracker, mossy bark, earth and floral perfume. The full-bodied palate is bursting with concentrated, spicy flavors. It’s structured by firm, grainy tannins and vibrant acidity and has a long, complex finish." - Erin Brooks, Robert Parker Wine Advocate , Oct 2025
Zinfandel2023
2023 Hartford Hartford Vineyard Zinfandel
95 POINTS "A dynamic yet refined Zin, with fragrant raspberry and blueberry flavors that are laced with rose petal, green peppercorn, and briar patch as this builds richness and tension toward zesty tannins. Drink now through 2035." - Tim Fish, Wine Spectator , October 2025
Zinfandel2023
2023 Hartford Jolene’s Vineyard Zinfandel
95 POINTS "Dynamic and savory, this Zin offers a keen core of lively acidity and tannins framed by expressive flavors of raspberry, pomegranate, briar patch and smoked pepper that gather tension toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2035." - Tim Fish, Wine Spectator , August 2025
Zinfandel2023
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