Alexander Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Alexander Valley Vineyards with a Private Chauffeur
The Wetzel family's winery on the old Cyrus Alexander homestead, with walk-in tastings and a 48,000-square-foot barrel cave, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Harry and Maggie Wetzel bought the first part of the old Cyrus Alexander homestead in 1962, without ever having set foot on the land, and began planting vines the next year, when premium vineyards were almost unknown in the valley. Their son Hank studied fermentation science at UC Davis, and in 1975 he and his wife, Linda, founded Alexander Valley Vineyards. Hank also led the committee that won Alexander Valley its AVA status in 1984, and the third and fourth generations of the family run the winery today.
The family estate spans more than 700 acres on both sides of Highway 128, from the Russian River to the Mayacamas foothills, with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Merlot. CYRUS, the Cabernet-based blend named for the valley's namesake, was first made in 1995, and Sin Zin has had a following since its first vintage in 1978. Barrels age in a 48,000-square-foot underground cave, begun in 1997, which the winery calls the largest barrel-aging cave in the country.
The property keeps the valley's history close: Cyrus Alexander's 1845 adobe, the family home and the restored 1868 Alexander Valley schoolhouse, whose image is on the Alexander School Reserve label. Walk-ins are welcome in the tasting room, and a free cave tour runs daily at noon and 2:30 p.m.
Tasting Fees
The Legacy Tasting Flight of four wines is complimentary, as is the daily cave tour. $20 for the Estate tasting and $30 for the Reserve tasting at the bar. $45 for Experience Cabernet Sauvignon, the Wine and Cheese Pairing, or the 90-minute Immersive Cave Tour & Tasting on weekends. $30 for the Cookie Pairing, with wine or alcohol-free, and $85 for the Vineyard Hike with a boxed lunch.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
8644 Highway 128, Healdsburg
AVA
Alexander Valley
Visiting
Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-ins are always welcome; reservations are required for groups of 7 or more and for most experiences.
Known For
CYRUS, Sin Zin and estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Founded
1975 (family estate since 1962)
Good to Know
Groups of 7 or more reserve 48 hours ahead for a seated tasting at group rates, and those fees are non-refundable. The Cookie Pairing comes in an alcohol-free version, and the Vineyard Hike ends with a boxed lunch.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a Healdsburg hotel such as Hotel Healdsburg or Harmon Guest House.
10:00 · Pickup at Hotel Healdsburg or Harmon Guest House
Hotel Healdsburg, on the town plaza, and Harmon Guest House, a boutique hotel just off the plaza, are each about 20 minutes from Alexander Valley Vineyards. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:20 · Alexander Valley Vineyards
The complimentary Legacy Tasting Flight or the Reserve tasting at the bar ($30), with time among the vines and the working winery.
11:30 · Silver Oak Alexander Valley
About 10 minutes away. Silver Oak's Alexander Valley winery, opened in 2017 and the world's first winery to earn LEED Platinum for building design and construction. The Silver Oak Tasting of four Cabernets is about an hour ($65). Reservations recommended; walk-ins welcome as space allows.
12:45 · Lunch at Diavola
About 15 minutes away. Chef Dino Bugica's restaurant in Geyserville, with Neapolitan-style pizza from a wood-burning oven, handmade pasta and house-cured salumi. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:10 · Pedroncelli Winery
About 10 minutes away. A family winery on the hills above Geyserville since 1927, now in its fourth generation. Seated flights are $25 to $35. Reservations required; open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. and Monday from noon, closed Tuesday.
3:10 · Back to your hotel
Back in Healdsburg by 3:30 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Optional: Seghesio Family Vineyards
Adds 30 minutes to an hour. A Zinfandel house a few blocks from the Healdsburg plaza. Walk-ins are welcome for the Bar Flight ($20, about 30 minutes); open daily until 4 p.m.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. This day works Wednesday to Monday, when Pedroncelli is open in the afternoon.
About $90 to $130 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Every tour is custom. This day is a starting point: your chauffeur will shape it around what matters to you, and we plan multi-day tours for guests who want to see more of wine country.
Your Vehicle & Six-Hour Tour Rates
Up to 6 guests
Elite Luxury SUV
Lincoln Navigator or Cadillac Escalade
From $750
Six-hour wine tour, plus 20% gratuity. Additional hours $125 each.
Up to 9 guests
Jet Sprinter or Executive Luxury Van
Captain's chairs and room to spread out
From $1,350
Six-hour wine tour, plus 20% gratuity. Additional hours $225 each.
Larger groups travel in more than one vehicle, and we plan the winery appointments around your group, since many wineries limit groups to 6 to 8 guests. Tasting fees are separate and paid directly to each winery. Every tour starts with six hours; add time by the hour when you book.
Questions
Do I need a reservation at Alexander Valley Vineyards?
Not for a tasting at the bar. Walk-ins are always welcome, and reservations are required for groups of 7 or more and for most experiences, such as the cheese pairing and the vineyard hike. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Alexander Valley Vineyards?
The Legacy Tasting Flight is complimentary, the Reserve tasting is $30 per person, and seated experiences such as Experience Cabernet Sauvignon are $45, as of September 2026.
Can I tour the wine cave at Alexander Valley Vineyards?
Yes. A free cave tour runs daily at noon and 2:30 p.m., first come, first served, with reservations encouraged. On weekends the 90-minute Immersive Cave Tour & Tasting ($45) includes wine from the barrel.
What is CYRUS?
The winery's Cabernet-based blend, named for Cyrus Alexander, the valley's namesake, whose homestead is now the family estate. The first vintage was 1995.
Who owns Alexander Valley Vineyards?
The Wetzel family. Harry and Maggie Wetzel bought the land in 1962, their son Hank and his wife, Linda, founded the winery in 1975, and the third and fourth generations run it today.
How does booking a tour with Bien Chauffeured work?
Reserve a six-hour tour online, even if your plans are still taking shape. Your chauffeur will email you first to learn what matters to you, then build your itinerary and make the winery appointments. Extra hours can be added.
Reserve Your Tour Now, Plan the Details Later
Your plans don't need to be final to book. Reserve your six-hour tour online, and your chauffeur will email you first to learn what matters to you, then build your itinerary and make the winery appointments. Prefer to talk? Call our concierge at 888-291-2328.
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