Adobe Road Winery is proud to call Petaluma, California home. The city’s vibrant culture, cool vibe and old world charm are within easy reach of San Francisco and Sacramento… Come visit Petaluma, “The Starting Line to Wine Country.”
Want to relax? Day trip the stylish way on the SMART Train. The train stops just a short walk to downtown and you’ll also find the Petaluma Visitors Center next door to the station. You can catch the SMART Train from points north and south of Petaluma, including near San Francisco and the handy trip planner makes planning a breeze.
To reach downtown Petaluma, take the E. Washington Street exit off of Highway 101 and head west. Make a left on Petaluma Blvd. Most parking is free, but you’ll have to be quick - spots are at a premium. Check out the parking structure located at C Street and 2nd Avenue, right in the heart of the downtown corridor.
Did you know Petaluma has a municipal airport? It’s open 24 hours each day, has a 24 hour fueling island for aircraft and can handle general aviation needs, including rental hangars. Check out the Two-Niner Diner which sources local ingredients. You’ll probably find a pilot or two at the counter.
You can also cycle, paddle, walk and run into town via a variety of trails, streets and waterways.
Once you’ve arrived downtown, you can pick up a walking map that provides a great lay of the land. Visit the Petaluma Visitors Center in the Historic Depot Building (210 Lakeville St.), at visitpetaluma.com or call 877.273.8258.
Just like Petaluma, this hotel is an oasis of old world charm and modern convenience, right in the heart of the downtown action. Check out the Hotel Petaluma website to book.
Petaluma is all about local flavor. It’s also one of California’s oldest cities, recently celebrating its 150th birthday. There is so much to see and do -- historic sites, culinary delights, arts and entertainment, the great outdoors and handcrafted wine. Come along with us as we explore some distinctly local treasures and activities, all linking up in our dynamic downtown.
If you’re looking for something that screams small town Americana, then look no further than the annual Salute to American Graffiti Festival. Make no mistake, this is a full-tilt tribute to the real stars of George Lucas’s 1973 classic film -- the ones with four wheels. Car culture is on rapt display as candy-colored hot rods cruise the streets of downtown Petaluma each May with a full three-day weekend of events for everyone, young and old, alike. The celebration revs up with the Jump Start Dinner, and includes photography contests, informal car shows, guest appearances by American Graffiti cast members and the classic downtown cruise, which takes in many of the best sights of the city along the very streets immortalized in the film. Many of the events are free. There’s nothing better than cruisin’ Petaluma in your Little Deuce Coupe.
This year marks the festival’s 13th anniversary: May 17, 18 and 19.
Did you know? American Graffiti isn’t the only Hollywood production that was filmed right here in our hometown. You might have seen a few of these films:
American Graffiti - 1973
Impulse - 1984
Peggy Sue Got Married - 1986
Howard the Duck - 1987
Basic Instinct - 1991
True Crime - 1999
At once a blues club, jazz joint, concert venue and much more, even the name harkens back to the days of yore. Originally built in 1911, the Mystic’s building was first home to a Vaudeville music hall. Its art deco design even landed the theater cameo turns in Hollywood movies like American Graffiti and Peggy Sue Got Married. Now, a few name changes later and after some renovating, the music scene at The Mystic is among the most vibrant you’re likely to find -- anywhere. The venue welcomes top acts and touring bands from across the country and has a steady clientele of eclectic concert-goers eager to see top notch bands play on the Mystic’s state of the art, ear-bleeding sound system. There’s even a pool table. And, since we’re talking about Petaluma, there are more than ample watering holes (including a pretty good bar on the premises) and eateries within stumbling distance.
Did you know? Petaluma’s Cinnabar Theater celebrated its 40th season recently and it’s the only venue in Sonoma County producing opera and live musical theater.
Petaluma is acclaimed as a Northern California foodie haven. Locals and visitors alike love to eat and Petaluma is certainly not wanting for world-class restaurants. It’s all here: locally owned casual eateries, food trucks and high-end steak houses.
You’ll find a couple of favorites within an easy stumble of The Mystic (and almost everything else downtown).
Central Market offers an inspired menu that changes almost daily, with fresh ingredients -- almost everything is made from scratch, in-house daily -- sourced from the restaurant’s own farm. Owner and chef Tony Najoila focuses the cuisine on rustic California fare and the place is hopping with a great mix of locals and visitors on any given night of the week. Whether you’re looking for oysters, a nosh with a glass of wine or a full-course dinner, count on finding it at Central Market. The restaurant boasts one of the best curated wine lists in town, with wonderful finds like under-the-radar gems from places like Greece, more traditional European choices and a keen eye toward local vintners. If you’re dining solo, no worries -- belly up to the friendly bar for an enjoyable evening of delicious food and delightful conversation with staff and locals.
At Wild Goat Bistro, you’ll find innovative locavore salads, seasonable small plates to share and Neapolitan style pizzas -- there’s something for everyone. Nearly everything on the menu is gluten-free and there is an extensive wine list focused on locally produced bottles. Tucked away in the Great Petaluma Mill, this bistro is a hidden treasure. With river-adjacent seating, a reclaimed copper bar and exposed brick walls -- the space was once a storage locker for a local butcher -- count on a delightful meal in a truly unique Petaluma space.
Discover Petaluma by water! Paddle the Petaluma River -- and the area’s waterways, bays, marshes and estuaries -- on a kayak, raft or paddleboard from Clavey Paddlesports. They even host a bioluminescence evening kayak tour. The folks at Clavey really make navigating the waterways fun -- and social -- and you can choose from a variety of excursions and tours. Stand-up paddleboarding is the fastest growing sport on the planet, and for good reason. It’s easy to learn, lively and entertaining, a great way to get some exercise and a wonderful way to see the region’s sights. Plus, you can SUP (that’s Stand Up Paddle) almost anywhere.
Did you know? Grab your bike and check out some of the area’s best scenery by running trails including the 45 kilometer Spring Hill - Chileno Valley trail. You’ll start and finish at downtown Petaluma’s Walnut Park.
Anytime is a great time to visit Adobe Road Winery -- after a paddle, bike ride, before a show or dinner or while taking a leisurely stroll around the downtown waterfront. Open seven days a week, the Kevin and Debra Buckler owned winery’s casual tasting room in the Great Petaluma Mill is conveniently located to just about everything in town, making it the perfect getaway for a relaxing glass of wine. Grab a seat at the bar or get cozy in the comfy chairs. Either way, you’re in for a treat as the knowledgeable staff lead you through classic and reserve tastings of Adobe Road’s award-winning wines, all sourced from premier vineyards in Sonoma (including the new hometown Petaluma Gap appellation) and Napa counties.
Downtown Petaluma is red hot and next year, Adobe Road -- one of the hottest boutique wineries in the country -- will expand with a $7 million, 15,000 square food destination facility right on the city’s beautiful waterfront. The new space at 1st and C streets will be home to the fast-growing winery operation and tasting room, featuring floor to ceiling glass doors opening to the river. Championship race car driver Kevin Buckler also helms The Racers Group and expect to see some cool race cars on display at the facility’s car museum. Add in lots of event space, a commercial kitchen, pizza oven and party deck and you can see why excitement is sizzling for this riverfront redevelopment project. Who knows? You just might be able to SUP right up to Adobe Road’s new tasting room.
Did you know: Wind, fog and phenomenal wine. That's the Petaluma Gap. And now, producers like Adobe Road will be able to take full advantage of the new Petaluma Gap American Vinticultural Area (AVA) in the windswept Sonoma Coast region. Foggy mornings, sunny days, windy afternoons and cool evenings provide optimal growing conditions for key varietals like pinot noir, chardonnay and syrah.
Wine to Try
Try one of our hometown Petaluma Gap grown wines: 2016 Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Roberts Road Vineyard (92 points, Wine Spectator).
Apr 24, 2018 at 12:00 PM
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Adobe Road is in many ways a luxury brand, which is not surprising given TRG’s affiliations with Porsche, Aston Martin, and Lamborghini. Several of its wines are priced in the $100 – $175 range, and the entire portfolio is crafted to wow the glitterati trackside at Le Mans or Daytona, or at exclusive events such as Wine Spectator’s Wine Experiences.
Adobe Road Winery 2017 Rosé - A fun and funky blend of pinot noir, syrah, grenache, zinfandel and petite sirah, Adobe Road’s rosé features grapes grown in the newly designated Petaluma Gap AVA...
Before the show, some guests enjoyed wine from Adobe Road poured straight from the cask, and posed for photos in a digital photo booth...
Wine Spectator's annual series of tasting extravaganzas continued in New York with 244 outstanding wines from 15 nations
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate is one of the most iconic wine publications in the world. Adobe Road Winery is honored to be reviewed in this month's Sonoma and Napa wine issue
What do race car driving and California Cabernet have in common?
The Find: In the early evening, we were slowly spinning our wheels looking for somewhere to have a pre-dinner drink. We went from 0 to 200 mph when we found Adobe Road Winery Tasting Room (6 Petaluma Blvd. N.; [707] 939-9099), race car driver and vintner Kevin Buckler’s tasting room, which opened in the summer. We chose the “Showcase” pouring
Located 32 miles north of San Francisco, in both Sonoma and Marin Counties, the Petaluma Gap is an inland valley distinguished by a 15-mile wide aperture in the coastal hills through which salty maritime wind and afternoon fog whisk in a chill.
A long-awaited proposal for a state-of-the-art downtown Petaluma winery, tasting room and auto racing museum is gaining momentum, according to Adobe Road Winery’s CEO.
The new AVA includes about 80 winegrowers and nine wineries. One of our favorite wines released this year is an example of the quality of Pinot Noir grapes grown in the region—75 percent of the fruit planted is Pinot Noir—and the range of complexity that’s possible from multiple-elevation harvesting.
In the Great Petaluma Mill complex find Adobe Road Winery’s tasting room. Tasting excellent wines like their Big Pig Pinot and one labeled merely ”Red Wine” made me an instant fan.
The federal government on Thursday recognized the Petaluma Gap as the newest American Viticultural Area (AVA), giving Sonoma County its 18th such wine appellation and providing another reminder of its vast diversity of grape growing throughout the region.
Wine is not all about speed, and that was exactly why it appealed to champion GT racing team leader Kevin Buckler. At the Adobe Road tasting room in downtown Petaluma, I’m told that Buckler values the slow and steady process of making wine. As for high points and awards—it doesn’t hurt that Adobe Road wines have scored those, too.
Downtown Petaluma keeps getting hotter, and the hip-factor will only increase when Adobe Road opens their new 15,000 square foot winery and tasting room along the Petaluma River. And it's going to be more than just a winery - they'll have a motorsports museum (Adobe Road owner Kevin Buckler owns one of the most successful racing teams in the world), an event center and commercial kitchen. Guests can sip wine by the bottle, served alongside wood-fired pizza, on the riverfront patio.
Kevin Buckler is a man with two passions: fast cars and fun. And how does he bridge these two very distinct passions together? Through his two companies, Adobe Road Winery and The Racers Group. Running one successful business is a feat in itself, but Buckler is not one to shy away from a challenge. He rather flawlessly runs two, rotating between crafting award-winning wines and running his ever-expanding motorsports company.
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Adobe Road Winery has once again been invited to participate in arguably one of the most prestigious events a winery can attend, Wine Spectator’s New York Wine Experience, October 20 – 22. The event is attended by wine enthusiasts from around the world and only the top rated wineries in the world are invited to pour at the Critics’ Choice Grand Tasting.
Adobe Road has released the most unique Rosés of the season, in partnership with Lagunitas Brewing Company: a sparkling Rosé. Super-limited at a mere 60 cases, this primarily Zinfandel-based wine has the rich head of a beer and the sweet flavor of watermelon and maraschino cherry. A must try for those who like to balance their wine tasting with their beer sipping.
Dozens of people gathered on Tuesday to raise their glass to Petaluma’s newest wine tasting room, a venue for home-grown Adobe Road Winery to gain more face time with the public as it moves toward building a nearby hub for wining and dining on the edge ofthe Petaluma River.
The Petaluma Planning Commission voted swiftly and unanimously on Tuesday to approve a permit for Adobe Road Winery’s tasting room at The Great Petaluma Mill, 6 Petaluma Blvd. North. It will be downtown Petaluma’s second wine tasting room, and the first serving a wide variety of wines.
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Adobe Road Winery has been invited to participate in the prestigious Wine Spectator New York Wine Experience, taking place the weekend of October 20-22, 2016. It is truly an honor to be invited to pour alongside some of the best wineries from all across the globe and adds additional excitement around the winery’s new project in Petaluma. The three-day event is every wine aficionados dream, with sit-down tastings of award winning vintages (all scored over 90 points), the Critic’s Choice Grand Tastings, and the exclusive black-tie awards banquet. This is the very best of the wine world. We hope to see you there.
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We are eager and excited to open the doors of our new satellite Tasting Room in the Great Petaluma Mill, in the very heart of Historic Downtown Petaluma. This will be our cozy home while development and construction begin on the new headquarters facility, just around the corner. Final licensing and approval are close to completion, and we can’t wait to see some new and familiar faces stopping by to taste some of the new releases. -expected to open late next month.
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Garrett Martin of Adobe Road Winery summed up their lot of 10 cases as “Petaluma Gap in a glass.” The Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley represented all generations of Dry Creek by combining equal amounts of zinfandel from seven wineries, half who are the original producers in the region and the other half are newer producers of Zinfandel.
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His decision was one example of many in recent years that have made Petaluma the leader in economic development in Sonoma County. It has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the county — 4.1 percent in March — and the second highest median household income, at $75,655 in 2015.
The business activity has rapidly reversed the fortunes of this city of almost 60,000, which was hit with a one-two punch at the turn of the millennium — fallout from the telecom bust of the early 2000s and the real estate crash some six years later. At its low point, commercial office vacancy rates were 40 percent.
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When Lori Varsames saw her dream job in her dream location pop up on LinkedIn one morning, she jumped on the opportunity and applied.
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"When you’re starting to attract businesses that are relocating from the square in Sonoma — the heart of Sonoma Wine Country — to the heart of Petaluma, that really tells you just how attractive the area is, I think it’s going to be a great amenity for our local economy. It’s going to be a great ambiance for the downtown. It’s exactly what the downtown ought to be building."
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Our exciting new State-of-the-Art facility in downtown Petaluma...right on the Riverfront, continues to progress! We are bringing together all of the “Best Practices/Best of the Best” in terms of Tasting Room, Visitors Center, Winery and state-of-the-art equipment, Corporate and Banquet Facilities, Food and Cooking classes, Private Tasting and Barrel Room, Ultra-Premium Custom Crush/Private Label and a Beautiful Automotive and Motorsports Museum - all rolled into one EPIC location, operated by a highly efficient and motivated team. No pun intended but we are going to CRUSH IT!
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