About Nelson Family Vineyards
Nelson Family Vineyards sits on a 2,000-acre ranch just off Highway 101 near Ukiah, in Mendocino County. The family has owned and worked the land since 1951, and four generations have kept it going. About 200 acres are in vineyards, and another 26 acres hold Bartlett pears, olive trees and a Christmas tree farm. Every wine is grown on the ranch and certified sustainable, and the lineup covers reds, whites, sparkling wines and dessert wines.
The tasting room is about half a mile off the highway and is open every day from 10 to 5, closing only on major holidays: New Year's Eve and Day, Easter Sunday, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Parties of six or fewer can walk in; groups of seven or more should call ahead. The ranch is also home to farm animals and wildlife, part of what makes it feel like a working farm rather than just a tasting bar.
If you want to stay the night, the family rents a vineyard suite behind the tasting room, with a full kitchen and a backyard in a redwood grove, and its deck looks out over the vineyards and the Ukiah Valley. The ranch also hosts weddings and keeps a wine club and an events list on their website.
Purple Hills Lavender Farm in Geyserville, where visitors stroll the lavender rows, picnic and meet the goats, is about 40 minutes south on Highway 101, an easy stop on the way to or from Ukiah.
What to do
- Taste ranch-grown, certified sustainable wines, daily 10–5
- See a working ranch with farm animals, pears and olive trees
- Stay overnight in the vineyard suite behind the tasting room
- Take in views of the Ukiah Valley from the suite's deck
- Look for the ranch's Christmas tree farm at the holidays
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Tasting room open daily year-round except major holidays
- Hours
- 2026: daily 10–5; closed major holidays
Good to know
- Age
- 21 or older to taste or drink alcohol
- Reservations
- Walk-in for six or fewer; call ahead for seven or more
Tips for your visit
- Groups of seven or more should call ext. 1 to arrange a visit
- The ranch is about half a mile off Highway 101, so it is an easy stop on a north-south drive
- Check holiday closures before visiting around Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Plan a designated driver, or book the vineyard suite and stay over
Pair it with a lavender farm
Purple Hills Lavender Farm · about 40 minutes away
Purple Hills Lavender Farm is about 40 minutes south on Highway 101 in Geyserville, so you can walk the lavender in the morning and taste in Ukiah in the afternoon.
Getting there
Questions
Do I need a reservation at Nelson Family Vineyards?
No for groups of six or fewer. Groups of seven or more should call ahead.
Can I stay overnight?
Yes. A vineyard suite behind the tasting room is available for overnight stays.
When is the tasting room open?
Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except major holidays.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Santa Rosa & Northern Sonoma County, California
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
