Wino Notion is Barbara and Scott's answer to a simple question: why isn't there one honest, independent place to find out what a winery is actually like?
Wino Notion was born out of frustration. After visiting dozens of wineries across California and around the world, our founders kept running into the same problem: there was no trustworthy place to find out what a winery was actually like. Yelp gave them generic reviews. TripAdvisor buried the wine under hotel recommendations. The winery's own website was a brochure, not a review.
"We wanted to know: Is the wine actually good? Is it worth the tasting fee? Can I bring my dog? Is it worth driving an hour for? Nobody was answering these questions honestly."
So we built it. Wino Notion is the platform we always wanted to exist, one that combines editorial expertise with community voice, covers the whole experience not just the bottle, and never takes money from wineries in exchange for favorable reviews.
What We Stand For
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100% Independent
We never accept payment from wineries to influence our reviews. Our editorial scores are ours alone. Wineries can pay to manage their listing, they cannot pay to improve their score.
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Useful, Not Pretentious
We write for people who love wine, not people who want to sound impressive about wine. No jargon, no gatekeeping, just honest information that helps you have a better time.
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Community First
Our editorial team sets the standard, but the community makes the platform. Real visits, real experiences, real opinions from people who were actually there.
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Wine Country for Everyone
Wine tourism should be accessible and fun, for couples, families, dog owners, first-timers, and seasoned collectors. We cover all of it without snobbery.
Meet the People Behind Wino Notion
Barbara
Co-Founder
Wino Notion began with a simple question: "What should I wear to a winery?"
As a flight attendant, Barbara loves discovering new destinations and planning memorable experiences. But when it came to visiting wineries, she often found herself searching for the details that traditional reviews rarely mention. Would high heels be a mistake? Is the tasting area on grass, gravel, or a patio? Is it dog-friendly? Is there food, live music, or breathtaking views? Is it the perfect place for a girls' day, a romantic afternoon, or a relaxing weekend outing?
When she couldn't find those answers in one place, she created Wino Notion.
Rather than reviewing what's in the glass, Wino Notion reviews everything around it, the experience. From dress code and accessibility to ambiance, amenities, pet-friendliness, and the little touches that make each winery unique, Barbara helps visitors know exactly what to expect before they arrive.
Her goal is simple: to make winery adventures easier to plan, more enjoyable to experience, and filled with unforgettable moments. Because choosing the right winery isn't just about the wine, it's about finding the experience that's perfect for you.
Through Wino Notion, Barbara invites you to embrace the adventure of wine with confidence, curiosity, and joy. Because every bottle has a story, and every glass is an opportunity to create one of your own.
Scott
Co-Founder
Scott is a digital marketing and sales veteran who has partnered with some of the largest brands in the world, building innovative strategies to reach new audiences and open new markets. When it came time to build Wino Notion, he saw an opportunity to create something that works for everyone: a platform that helps consumers find the right winery experience for their unique personality, whether they are planning a girls' day, a romantic afternoon, or a relaxed weekend with family and friends, while also bringing modern technology to an industry eager to connect with new visitors and grow.
For Scott, every trip to wine country is a vacation. It is a chance to discover something new, slow down, and enjoy the moment with the people who matter most. That philosophy drives everything Wino Notion builds: tools that make it easier to plan, explore, and savor every visit.
When he is not building Wino Notion, Scott is a proud dad and calls the Bay Area home.
Leeor
Chief Wine Dog & Head of Dog-Friendly Research
Leeor is a German Shorthaired Pointer with impeccable taste in patios, strong opinions about water bowl placement, and zero tolerance for wineries that do not welcome four-legged guests. As Wino Notion's Head of Dog-Friendly Research, she personally inspects every outdoor tasting area for adequate shade, treat availability, and bench comfort (she takes bench quality very seriously).
When she is not field-testing winery patios across Northern California, you can find her lounging on the San Francisco waterfront, judging passersby, or reminding Scott that the best winery experiences always include a dog. The 🐾 badge on Wino Notion exists because Leeor demanded it.
Get in Touch
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