Sonoma Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Arrowood with a Private Chauffeur
Richard Arrowood's Sonoma Valley Cabernet house, founded in 1986 in Glen Ellen. Arrowood does not receive visitors; here is what to know, and a day at sought-after estates nearby that do host.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Richard Arrowood worked at Korbel and was Chateau St. Jean's first winemaker before he and his wife, Alis, founded their own winery on the Sonoma Highway in Glen Ellen in 1986. Arrowood first made its name with single-vineyard Chardonnay and went on to become one of Sonoma County's best-known Cabernet Sauvignon houses. The Mondavi family's company bought it in 2000; Constellation Brands, which acquired Mondavi, sold it in 2005 to Legacy Estates Group, the owner of Freemark Abbey, with Richard staying on to direct the winemaking. It was later bought by Jess Jackson.
Arrowood sources Cabernet Sauvignon from the three Sonoma County appellations it considers best for the grape: Knights Valley, home of Kellogg Vineyard in the foothills of Mount Saint Helena; Alexander Valley; and Sonoma Valley. It also works with Monte Rosso, planted in 1880 more than 1,000 feet up in the Moon Mountain District, and Smothers-Remick Ridge in the northern Sonoma Mountains. The eight-acre estate vineyard at the winery grows Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier and Petit Verdot. Kristina Shideler, who came from Vérité and Stonestreet, has been winemaker since 2015.
In April 2025 Arrowood closed its tasting room and veranda, so the winery no longer receives visitors in Glen Ellen. You can still taste Arrowood wines at Copain Winery, 7800 Eastside Road in Healdsburg, and buy them through the winery's online store or its wine club, which ships twice a year, in April and October. For a day in Sonoma Valley, we take you instead to three estates nearby that pour their own wines by appointment.
Tasting Fees
Arrowood does not offer tastings.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
14347 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen
AVA
Sonoma Valley
Visiting
In Arrowood's words: "As of April 2025, the Arrowood Tasting Room & Veranda is closed." The winery invites guests to taste Arrowood wines at Copain Winery, 7800 Eastside Road, Healdsburg.
Known For
Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon from Knights Valley, Alexander Valley and Sonoma Valley, and early single-vineyard Chardonnay
Founded
1986
Good to Know
For wine sales, email arrowood.sales@arrowoodwinery.com; for club and customer service, wineclub@arrowoodwinery.com. Club shipments go out in April and October.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 9:50 a.m. from a Glen Ellen hotel such as Gaige House or Olea Hotel.
9:50 · Pickup at Gaige House or Olea Hotel
Gaige House, a Japanese-inspired inn along Calabazas Creek in Glen Ellen, and Olea Hotel, a small hotel on Warm Springs Road in Glen Ellen, are each about 10 minutes from Hamel Family Wines, the first stop. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:00 · Hamel Family Wines
Since Arrowood does not host visitors, this day takes you to three sought-after estates nearby that do. About 10 minutes away. George and Pam Hamel's family estate on the Sonoma Highway, farmed Biodynamically on volcanic soils and best known for Nuns Canyon Cabernet blends that Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck have each rated 97 points. Every visit starts with a private tour of the winery and its underground caves, then a seated tasting in the Estate House, looking past old olive trees to Sonoma Mountain: the Estate Experience is $95, about 1½ hours. By reservation, daily at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., for up to 6 guests.
11:45 · Platt Vineyard
About 15 minutes away. The Sonoma salon of Platt Vineyard, planted in 2003 by former Hewlett-Packard chief executive Lewis Platt among the redwoods of the West Sonoma Coast and owned since 2022 by AXA Millésimes, the French owner of Château Pichon Baron. The private, seated Monopole Reserve Tasting of four estate Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays is $75, about 90 minutes. By appointment, Tuesday to Saturday.
1:20 · Lunch at Cafe La Haye
About 5 minutes away. A small restaurant on East Napa Street, a few steps from the Sonoma Plaza, serving lunch Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations open a month ahead, for parties of up to 6, and we book the table with the rest of the day. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:40 · Schug Carneros Estate Winery
About 20 minutes away. Walter Schug made the first Insignia at Joseph Phelps before founding his own Pinot Noir house in Carneros in 1980, and he helped establish the Carneros AVA. The private Estate Cave Experience starts with a glass of sparkling wine and a guided stroll through the cave before a seated tasting, 90 minutes ($65). Monday to Saturday; reservations highly recommended.
4:10 · Back to your hotel
Back in Glen Ellen by 4:40 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Platt's salon and Cafe La Haye are open Tuesday to Saturday, so this day works Tuesday to Saturday. Hamel's tours start at set times, so we book the 10 a.m. tour and time the pickup for it.
About $235 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
Can you visit Arrowood?
No. Arrowood closed its Glen Ellen tasting room and veranda in April 2025 and is not open to visitors, as of September 2026. The winery invites guests to taste its wines at Copain Winery in Healdsburg instead. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How can I buy Arrowood wine?
Through the winery's online store, by emailing arrowood.sales@arrowoodwinery.com, or by joining the wine club, which ships twice a year, in April and October.
Who founded Arrowood?
Richard and Alis Arrowood, in 1986. Richard had been Chateau St. Jean's first winemaker. The winery later passed through Mondavi, Constellation Brands and Legacy Estates Group before Jess Jackson bought it.
Where is Arrowood?
At 14347 Sonoma Highway in Glen Ellen, in Sonoma Valley, where its eight-acre estate vineyard grows Syrah, Merlot, Malbec and other varieties.
What is Arrowood known for?
Cabernet Sauvignon from Knights Valley, Alexander Valley and Sonoma Valley, including Monte Rosso, and in its early years single-vineyard Chardonnay.
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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