Behind the Scenes: Sonoma’s Wine Harvest Adventure
The best way to experience Sonoma is through the eyes of a winemaker during harvest — and that’s exactly what we did.
Our trip began with Matt Nelsen of Nelsen Barter Wines, who invited my husband, Dan and I and our best friends, Joe and Diane, to join him and his brother-in-law, Morgan Twain-Peterson of Bedrock Wine Co., for an unforgettable, behind-the-scenes look at wine country during its most exciting time of year. Together, they opened the cellar doors and gave us a true insider’s experience — from the picking of grapes and the messy joy of stomping them into juice, to tasting finished wines from previous vintages.
We were lucky to have Caroline Schaper, Matt’s partner, Joe and Diane’s daughter (and our goddaughter), along. She curated incredible cocktail bars and restaurants, rescued us with food when our tastings made us giddy, and kept us laughing with her quick wit and good humor.
Matt Nelsen in front of the Nelsen Barter and Bedrock Wine Co. wine display at the girl & the fig restaurant in Sonoma
Inside Bedrock Wine Co.
We began at the Bedrock Wine Co. production facility, where Morgan Twain-Peterson’s passion for preserving California’s old vineyards shines through. Founded in 2007 in a converted chicken coop just outside Sonoma, Bedrock is now housed in a warehouse. Its mission remains clear: to honor and rehabilitate heritage vineyards while showcasing the diverse terroirs of Sonoma and beyond.
We met the talented team — Director of Winemaking Operations Cody Rasmussen, Associate Winemaker Katie Rouse, and Chris Cottrell, who joined as a partner in 2011. Despite the serious, skilled work happening all around us, the atmosphere was warm and collegial, filled with laughter and good-natured teasing — a reflection of the camaraderie that defines this close-knit winemaking community.
The Birth of Nelsen Barter Wines
Matt’s own label, Nelsen Barter Wines, was born from a creative trade. In 2020, he bartered his photography and drone footage of vineyards for Merlot grapes — and from that exchange came his first vintage.
We watched Matt prepare his 2025 grapes for bottling, barefoot and grinning as he stomped them into juice. His purple-stained legs told the story of true hands-on craftsmanship. Afterward, we toured the facility to learn about the wine making process, smelled the sweet and spicy scents in the barrel room and the Dan persued the wine collection.
A Walk Among the Old Vines
Later, Matt and Caroline led us to Bedrock’s 140-year-old vineyard, where we sipped wines from Nelsen Barter and Bedrock in the golden hour. A hummingbird darted among the flowers while we wandered through the gnarled old vines — a moment of pure Sonoma magic.
Visitng the Old Vines
Early Mornings and Walkable Evenings
We stayed at the Inn at Sonoma, an ideal spot within walking distance of tasting rooms, bars, and restaurants — a prudent choice, given the amount of wine we sampled!
Joe started one morning before dawn, joining Bedrock’s Director of Viticulture, Jake Neustadt, for a 3 a.m. harvest.
The rest of us caught up the following day, at 7 a.m. watching the skilled crew work through the vines at sunrise.
Early morning harvest with Morgan Twain-Peterson
Exploring More of Sonoma: Vineyards, Vinyl, and a Dinner to Remember
Our next stop was Sangiacomo Wines, where we met owner Steve Sangiacomo. As we entered the tasting area, one wall immediately caught our attention — it was covered with bottles of wines made from grapes grown in Sangiacomo vineyards. We recognized many of the labels; in fact, more than thirty-five wineries produce wines from their grapes. Since 2016, the Sangiacomo family has also been crafting their own wines, and those were the ones we had the pleasure of tasting. There were old tractors and farm trucks around the tasting patio.
From there, we made our way (without stopping for lunch — a decision we’d later regret!) to Winery Sixteen 600’s tasting room in downtown Sonoma. Founded by Phil Coturri more than forty years ago, Sixteen 600 is dedicated to small-batch, sustainable, single-vineyard wines — all organically farmed.
Phil’s long friendship with Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead still resonates throughout the space. The tasting room is cozy and eclectic, with a turntable where guests can spin their favorite albums while sipping wine. Sam Coturri dropped by to introduce himself and share stories about their approach to winemaking.
That evening Morgan Twain Peterson and his wife Kayte invited us to their home for a mouthwatering dinner accompanied by wines from Bedrock. We sat at the table for hours sharing stories and laughter with the their family which included their son, JP, Kayte’s Dad, Duane Nelsen, and his wife Peg.
A little side note: my husband Dan has a charming travel habit: he doesn’t get involved in the planning at all. Each morning, he’ll ask where we’re going that day. So, when someone asked where Morgan and Kayte lived, and Dan immediately answered with the exact street name, we were stunned. How did he know that?
His only response, delivered with a smirk:
“I know stuff.”
A Day Among Giants (and One Last Toast)
After several days of tasting our way through Sonoma, we decided it was time for a little break from the wine — and what better way to reset than a visit to the redwoods? About an hour’s drive away lies Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, a peaceful sanctuary filled with towering trees and the soft scent of earth and pine.
We took a leisurely walk along the flat hiking trail — and by leisurely, I mean it took us 45 minutes to cover 1¼ miles. There were plenty of pauses for conversation, photos, and taking in the scent of the redwoods.
Our nature break led us next to the town of Bodega, where we stopped for lunch at Casino Bar and Grill, an old bar and tavern that’s clearly seen better days in terms of paint, but more than makes up for it with its food. The juicy hamburgers and cold beer hit the spot — and yes, it’s cash only.
From there, we drove to Bodega Bay, pausing to watch harbor seals play in the water, their sleek bodies twisting and diving with easy grace. But, as it turns out, our “day off” from wine was only temporary.
Back in Sonoma, we made one final stop: the historic Joseph Hooker House, located on the town square. There, Idoia de Eguia Luna, Bedrock’s Tasting Room Manager, treated us to VIP hospitality. We sipped, laughed, learned — and yes, bought more wine. Alongside a few cases, we couldn’t resist the “Crimping Ain’t Easy” T-shirts. (Crimping is a sustainable vineyard practice that flattens cover crops into a natural mulch, improving soil health and reducing weeds.)
Farewell to Sonoma
As our trip came to an end, we bid farewell to Sonoma — a little sun-kissed, slightly purple-stained tongues, and happy. Luckily, we’ll have plenty of boxes of joy (a.k.a. wine) arriving at home to remind us of the laughter, friendships, and flavors that made this harvest trip so unforgettable.
