Sonoma Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Birdhorse Wines with a Private Chauffeur
Overlooked California varieties such as Verdelho, Vermentino and Valdiguié from winemakers Corinne Rich and Katie Rouse. Birdhorse 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
Birdhorse Wines was started by Corinne Rich and Katie Rouse, who met while earning master's degrees in viticulture and enology at UC Davis and came home from a harvest in South Africa ready to start their own label. Corinne, raised in Sonoma County, is assistant winemaker at Scribe Winery; Katie, from a Virginia winemaking family, is assistant winemaker at Bedrock Wine Co. in Sonoma. Their partner Tyler Ernst handles the numbers from New York.
The idea is to celebrate the uncelebrated: regions, varieties and people that have yet to have their turn. Fruit comes from organically farmed sites across Northern California, including Vermentino from the Farfalla Vineyard and Cinsault from Preston Vineyard, both in Dry Creek Valley, along with Verdelho from Contra Costa County, Arneis and old-vine Carignan from Mendocino, Valdiguié from Suisun Valley and Barbera from Shake Ridge Ranch in Amador County.
Birdhorse has no tasting room. The wines are sold by mailing list and online, and The Roost, its wine collective with 4, 6 and 12-bottle memberships, gets new releases, small lots and twice-yearly release events. The day below starts at Bedrock, where Katie works, and stays in the town of Sonoma.
Tasting Fees
Birdhorse does not offer tastings. On the day below, the tasting fees are $45 at Bedrock, $40 at Buena Vista and $45 at Sojourn, about $130 per person in all, paid directly to each winery.
Tasting fees as of October 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
Sonoma
AVA
Sonoma Valley
Visiting
Birdhorse has no tasting room and does not offer tours or tastings; members of The Roost are invited to its release events.
Known For
Small lots of overlooked California varieties such as Verdelho, Vermentino and Valdiguié
Founded
Founding year not published
Good to Know
Join the mailing list or The Roost at birdhorsewines.com. Contact birdhorsewines@gmail.com or (707) 532-4631.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a Sonoma hotel such as El Dorado Hotel or The Swiss Hotel.
10:00 · Pickup at El Dorado Hotel or The Swiss Hotel
Since Birdhorse does not host visitors, this day takes you to three sought-after estates nearby that do. El Dorado Hotel and The Swiss Hotel are both on the Sonoma Plaza, a few minutes from the first stop. The day runs about five hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:05 · Bedrock Wine Co.
A few minutes away. Old-vine wines poured in General Joseph Hooker's 1850s house off the Sonoma Plaza. The Bedrock Heritage Tasting is $45, waived with a three-bottle purchase per taster; we allow about an hour. Open daily by appointment from 10 a.m. Katie Rouse of Birdhorse is the assistant winemaker here.
11:20 · Buena Vista Winery
About 10 minutes away. Agoston Haraszthy's 1857 winery and its hand-dug caves just outside Sonoma. The seated Current Release Tasting is $40; we allow about an hour. Open from 10:30 a.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. on weekends, booked online.
12:35 · Lunch at El Dorado Kitchen
About 10 minutes away. Lunch at El Dorado Kitchen, the restaurant of the El Dorado Hotel at the corner of First Street West and Spain Street on the plaza. We confirm hours when we book. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:00 · Sojourn Cellars
A few minutes away. Side-by-side tastings of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet from different regions, just off the Sonoma Plaza. The seated Comparative Tasting is $45, about an hour, by appointment daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3:00 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 3:10 p.m., a little over five hours after pickup.
All three wineries are open daily, so this day works any day of the week. With every stop close to the plaza, there is time to add a fourth tasting or an hour of shopping.
About $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
Can you visit Birdhorse Wines?
No. Birdhorse has no tasting room and offers no tours or tastings, as of October 2026. Members of The Roost are invited to its release events.
How can I buy Birdhorse wine?
Online and by mailing list at birdhorsewines.com, or through The Roost, its wine collective with 4, 6 and 12-bottle memberships.
Who makes Birdhorse wine?
Corinne Rich, assistant winemaker at Scribe, and Katie Rouse, assistant winemaker at Bedrock Wine Co., who met at UC Davis.
What grapes does Birdhorse use?
Lesser-known varieties from organically farmed vineyards, including Dry Creek Valley Vermentino and Cinsault, Contra Costa Verdelho, Mendocino Arneis and Carignan, and Suisun Valley Valdiguié.
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 833-915-2436.
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