Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Aperture Cellars with a Private Chauffeur
Bordeaux-style wines poured in gallery rooms built around Andy Katz's photography, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Winemaker Jesse Katz founded Aperture Cellars in 2009. He grew up traveling the world with his father, the photographer Andy Katz, worked harvests at estates such as Pétrus and Screaming Eagle, and was the first winemaker ever named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Aperture opened its estate winery on Old Redwood Highway, just minutes from downtown Healdsburg, in July 2020, and Hillary Sjolund has been director of winemaking since 2024.
Aperture makes Bordeaux-style wines from cool pockets of Sonoma County, with vineyards guided by viticulturist Phil Freese, who redesigned the vineyards of Opus One and Robert Mondavi's To-Kalon holdings. The 32-acre estate vineyard runs west from the winery toward the Russian River, past a vineyard first planted in 1912 whose grapes went into Ridge's first single-vineyard wine. Katz also makes Devil Proof, his dry-farmed Malbec.
The winery, designed by Signum Architecture, is built around light: rooms and ceilings play with sun and shadow through the day, Andy Katz's photographs hang throughout, and private gallery lounges have floor-to-ceiling views of the estate vineyard. Every tasting is seated and runs about 90 minutes, which makes it a calm first stop just minutes from the Healdsburg hotels. From January to July the winery also hosts a hands-on blending seminar with lunch in the cellar.
Tasting Fees
$50 for the Soil Series Experience of Bordeaux-style blends and $75 for the Site Series Experience of single-vineyard wines. $125 for the Private Lounge Experience, limited-release wines with charcuterie in a private gallery room, and $250 for the Collage Experience. $195 for the Devil Proof Malbec experience, November 2026 to February 2027. Each is seated, about 90 minutes.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
12291 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg
AVA
Russian River Valley
Visiting
By reservation only, with tastings from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Experiences are prepaid through Tock and can be changed or cancelled up to 48 hours ahead.
Known For
Bordeaux-style blends, single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and Devil Proof Malbec
Founded
2009 (estate winery opened 2020)
Good to Know
All guests must be 21 or older, including infants, and pets are not allowed; licensed service animals are welcome. Experiences take 1 to 6 guests; larger parties contact the winery, and extra service fees may apply. Fees are waived only for guests who join the Wine Collective during their visit.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a Healdsburg hotel such as Two Thirty-Five or h2hotel.
10:00 · Pickup at Two Thirty-Five or h2hotel
Two Thirty-Five, a small suite hotel on Healdsburg Avenue, and h2hotel, just off the Healdsburg plaza, are each about 10 minutes from Aperture Cellars. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:10 · Aperture Cellars
The Site Series Experience of single-vineyard wines ($75) or the Soil Series of blends ($50), seated, about 90 minutes.
11:50 · Hirsch Vineyards
About 5 minutes away. The tasting room of David Hirsch's far Sonoma Coast vineyard, planted in 1980 and made famous by Littorai, Williams Selyem and Kistler, in the historic Old Roma Station building; the vineyard itself is closed to the public. Beyond the Fault Line, a private tasting of five limited wines including the San Andreas Fault Estate Pinot Noir, is $75 and takes 60 minutes. By appointment only, daily; 21 and over.
1:00 · Lunch at Bravas Bar de Tapas
About 5 minutes away. James Beard finalists Mark and Terri Stark's tapas bar on Center Street, steps from the Healdsburg plaza, with paella, Spanish wines and tables indoors or outside. 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.
2:30 · Lancaster Estate
About 25 minutes away. Ted Simpkins's Cabernet estate in the eastern hills of Alexander Valley, first released in 1995, with barrel caves in the hillside; its 2014 Cabernet made the Wine Spectator Top 100. The seated Estate Tasting of four current wines over the hillside vineyards is $60, 60 minutes, and the Reserve Cave Tasting among the barrels is $100, 90 minutes. By reservation only, Thursday to Monday.
3:30 · Back to your hotel
Back in Healdsburg by 3:55 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. Lancaster Estate opens Thursday to Monday, so this day works on those days.
About $185 to $210 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 Aperture Cellars?
Yes. Every experience is reserved and prepaid, and can be changed or cancelled up to 48 hours ahead. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Aperture Cellars?
$50 per person for the Soil Series Experience and $75 for the Site Series Experience, as of September 2026. The Private Lounge Experience is $125.
Can children or dogs visit Aperture Cellars?
No. All guests must be 21 or older, including infants, and pets are not allowed. Licensed service animals are welcome.
Who makes the wine at Aperture Cellars?
Jesse Katz, who founded Aperture in 2009, working with Hillary Sjolund, director of winemaking since 2024.
What is special about the Aperture winery?
Signum Architecture designed it around light, Andy Katz's photography hangs throughout, and private gallery lounges look through floor-to-ceiling windows over the estate vineyard, part of which was first planted in 1912.
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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