Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Bacigalupi Vineyards with a Private Chauffeur
The family ranch that grew Chardonnay for the 1973 Chateau Montelena that won the Judgment of Paris, tasted in an oak grove on Westside Road, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Charles Bacigalupi was the dentist in Healdsburg and his wife Helen the pharmacist when, in 1956, they bought 121 acres on Westside Road with 16 acres of old field-blend vines. In 1964, encouraged by his friend Paul Heck, Charles planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with budwood from Karl Wente, among the first plantings of either grape in the Russian River Valley.
In 1973 the family sold 14 tons of that Chardonnay to Mike Grgich at Chateau Montelena, and the wine he made won the 1976 Paris Tasting over the best of Burgundy. The two-and-a-half-acre block is still farmed by the family today. For decades the Bacigalupis sold grapes to well-known Sonoma and Napa wineries; in 2011 they made their first wines under their own name with winemaker Ashley Herzberg, and in 2018 they began bottling the Paris Tasting block themselves, as the Renouveau Chardonnay, in honor of Helen.
The tasting room on Westside Road is run by the family, with three generations involved, and tastings are poured on the patio or out in the oak grove. Guests who love wine history get a lot out of it, since the vines behind the Montelena Chardonnay grow right there on the ranch.
Tasting Fees
$40 for the Estate Wine Tasting of six estate wines, about an hour. $60 for the Wine & Cheese Pairing Flight of five wines with local cheeses, 60 to 75 minutes. $20 for the Bar Seating Wine Tasting of three wines, about 45 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
4353 Westside Road, Healdsburg
AVA
Russian River Valley
Visiting
Open Wednesday to Monday by reservation; closed Tuesdays and some holidays. Seated tastings are reservation only, and the tasting bar takes reservations or walk-ins.
Known For
Chardonnay from the vines behind the 1973 Chateau Montelena of the 1976 Paris Tasting, and estate Pinot Noir
Founded
1956 (family vineyards); first Bacigalupi label vintage 2011
Good to Know
Tastings are hosted on the patio or in the oak grove. Club members receive up to four complimentary tastings per visit. Hours are by reservation, and we confirm the time when booking.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:15 a.m. from a Healdsburg hotel such as Hotel Healdsburg or The Madrona.
10:15 · Pickup at Hotel Healdsburg or The Madrona
Hotel Healdsburg, on the town plaza, and The Madrona, a 24-room hotel on a historic estate on Westside Road, are each about 10 minutes from Bacigalupi. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:30 · Bacigalupi Vineyards
The first stop. The Estate Wine Tasting of six wines ($40, about an hour), or the Wine & Cheese Pairing Flight ($60).
11:55 · Copain Wines
About 25 minutes away. A hilltop winery above the Russian River Valley, founded in 1999 and named for the French word for friend, making restrained vineyard-designate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. The Single Vineyard Exploration Flight, five wines after a welcome pairing, is $65; the Vineyard & Winery Promenade, a guided walk through the vines and the cellar with a barrel sample, is $95 (Thursday to Monday). Seated tastings by appointment; open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
1:15 · Lunch at Little Saint
About 20 minutes away. A plant-based restaurant, coffee bar and wine lounge on North Street in downtown Healdsburg, from owners Laurie and Jeff Ubben, with a farm of its own. Open daily from 8 a.m. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:35 · Twomey Healdsburg
About 10 minutes away. The Russian River Valley winery of the Duncan family of Silver Oak, a modern building with a curving roof that follows the hills, glass walls and wraparound patios looking out to Mount St. Helena and Geyser Peak. The seated Twomey Single Vineyard tasting of four Pinot Noirs is $55 and lasts an hour. Reservations recommended; open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3:35 · Back to your hotel
Back in Healdsburg by 3:45 p.m.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. Bacigalupi is closed on Tuesdays and Twomey on Sundays, so this day works Monday and Wednesday to Saturday. It ends around 3:45.
About $160 to $180 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 Bacigalupi Vineyards?
Yes for the seated tastings, which are reservation only. The tasting bar also takes walk-ins. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Bacigalupi?
$40 per person for the Estate Wine Tasting, $60 for the Wine & Cheese Pairing Flight and $20 at the tasting bar, as of September 2026.
What does Bacigalupi have to do with the Judgment of Paris?
The family sold Chardonnay from its ranch to Chateau Montelena in 1973, and Montelena's 1973 Chardonnay won the 1976 Paris Tasting. The same block still grows on the ranch, and the family now bottles it as Renouveau.
Who owns Bacigalupi Vineyards?
The Bacigalupi family, who have farmed on Westside Road since Charles and Helen Bacigalupi bought the ranch in 1956.
What days is Bacigalupi open?
Wednesday to Monday by reservation. It is closed on Tuesdays and some holidays.
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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