Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Benovia Winery with a Private Chauffeur
Small-production Pinot Noir and Chardonnay poured in a ranch house among the vines, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Mary Dewane and Joe Anderson founded Benovia in 2005 with winemaker Mike Sullivan, and named it for their fathers, Ben Dewane and Novian Anderson. Both came from careers in health care. Joe traces the idea to 2002, when Burt Williams poured him a 1993 Williams Selyem Cohn Vineyard Pinot Noir; he later bought the Cohn Vineyard, which Benovia calls the oldest Pinot Noir vineyard in the Russian River Valley.
Mike Sullivan started at 18 in Dick Arrowood's cellar at Chateau St. Jean, studied enology at Fresno State, worked under Helen Turley at Landmark and Chappellet and was head winemaker at Hartford before co-founding Benovia, where he is now consulting winemaker. Benovia makes Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from about 70 acres on three estate vineyards, Martaella in the Russian River Valley, Tilton Hill on the Sonoma Coast and Cohn, plus grower vineyards such as Three Sisters in Fort Ross-Seaview.
The seated Estate & Single Vineyard Tasting of five or six wines is poured in the Ranch House tasting room, which the San Francisco Chronicle named one of the Top 20 tasting rooms in Sonoma County. On weekdays, tours walk the vineyard in the morning or the winery in the afternoon.
Tasting Fees
$45 for the Estate & Single Vineyard Tasting of five or six wines. $75 for the Vineyard Tour & Tasting, weekdays at 10:30 a.m., or the Winery Tour & Tasting, weekdays at 2 p.m.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
3339 Hartman Road, Santa Rosa
AVA
Russian River Valley
Visiting
Open daily by appointment, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the last tasting starting at 3 p.m. Reservations required; cancel at least 24 hours ahead to avoid a fee.
Known For
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Founded
2005
Good to Know
Enter by the visitor entrance on Hartman Road. Large groups and buyouts are arranged directly with the winery. Guests can reserve a picnic in the vineyard with their own packed lunch, buying one bottle for every two guests.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a Russian River Valley hotel such as Vinarosa Resort & Spa in Santa Rosa or Farmhouse Inn in Forestville.
10:00 · Pickup at Vinarosa Resort & Spa or Farmhouse Inn
Vinarosa Resort & Spa, set among 92 acres of vineyards in Santa Rosa, is about 20 minutes from Benovia, and Farmhouse Inn, a 25-room inn on River Road in Forestville, is about 25 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:25 · Benovia Winery
The seated Estate & Single Vineyard Tasting of five or six wines ($45).
11:50 · Balletto Vineyards
About 25 minutes away. A family winery west of Santa Rosa, where John and Terri Balletto turned what was once the largest vegetable farm in Northern California into estate vineyards, with a first vintage in 2001. The seated Estate Wine Tasting of five vineyard-designate wines is $30 for 60 minutes, or $15 for a 30-minute flight of three at the bar. Walk-ins welcome; open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1:05 · Lunch at Willow Wood Market Cafe
About 15 minutes away. A café, soda fountain and general store at the center of Graton since 1995, serving down-home comfort food. Lunch 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.
2:40 · La Crema Estate
About 25 minutes away. La Crema's estate tasting room sits on Saralee's Vineyard, planted in 1989 by Richard and the late Saralee Kunde. The seated Estate Tasting of six wines is $35, for up to 8 guests. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; appointments encouraged, walk-ins welcome.
3:40 · Back to your hotel
Back in Forestville or Santa Rosa by 3:55 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. The fourth stop is there if the day allows.
About $95 to $110 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 Benovia?
Yes. Tastings are by appointment only, with a 24-hour cancellation policy. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Benovia?
$45 per person for the Estate & Single Vineyard Tasting, and $75 for the weekday vineyard or winery tour with a tasting, as of September 2026.
Where does the name Benovia come from?
It combines the names of the founders' fathers, Ben Dewane and Novian Anderson.
Who makes the wine at Benovia?
Mike Sullivan, who co-founded the winery in 2005 and is now its consulting winemaker. He was earlier head winemaker at Hartford.
Can we picnic at Benovia?
Yes, by reservation. Bring your own packed lunch; the winery asks guests to buy one bottle for every two people in the party.
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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