Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Calstar Cellars with a Private Chauffeur
Food-friendly Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and old-vine Zinfandel from a Santa Rosa winemaker who trained at Flowers. Calstar Cellars 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
Rick Davis, Calstar's proprietor and winemaker, came to wine through a lifelong interest in fine food and artisan craft. After a graduate degree in soil science he started as a cellar hand at Rivendell Winery in New Paltz, New York, and rose to winemaker there before moving to Sonoma County to work with Pinot Noir. He refined his craft at Flowers under Greg La Follette and has been consulting winemaker for Londer Vineyards, Halleck Vineyards, La Czar Vineyards and Alcina Cellars. He established Calstar Cellars in 1999. The name comes from Callie and Star, the studio cats of his wife, a ceramic artist, who kept watch where the first wines were stored in the backyard.
Rick specializes in cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and aims for hand-crafted, food-friendly wines. The current list runs from Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Meunier and rosé of Pinot Meunier from Hopkins River Ranch to Pinot Noirs from the Sonoma Coast, the Russian River Valley, Rivers Edge, Oppenlander Vineyard, Anderson Valley's Nelson Hill and Sangiacomo, plus Alta Zinfandel from the organically grown Cardanini Vineyard and the ZaZa old-vine Zinfandel. Most bottles are $26 to $50.
Calstar has no tasting room and publishes no visiting program. The wines are sold through the winery's online shop and its Star Club, and Rick takes questions by phone and email. For a day of tasting, we take guests to small family estates around Santa Rosa that host by appointment.
Tasting Fees
Calstar Cellars 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
No tasting room, Santa Rosa
AVA
Russian River Valley
Visiting
Calstar Cellars has no tasting room and publishes no visiting hours or appointments; it sells through its online shop and wine club.
Known For
Cool-climate Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, and Cardanini Vineyard Zinfandel
Founded
1999
Good to Know
Buy through the online shop on the winery's website or join the Star Club. Questions go to the winery by phone (707.544.5201) or email.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a Santa Rosa hotel such as Hotel E or Hotel La Rose.
10:00 · Pickup at Hotel E or Hotel La Rose
Hotel E, a restored 1906 Beaux-Arts landmark on the square in downtown Santa Rosa, and Hotel La Rose, a 1907 hotel in Santa Rosa's historic Railroad Square, are each about 40 minutes from Belden Barns, the first stop, high on Sonoma Mountain. Since Calstar Cellars does not host visitors, this day takes you to three family estates nearby that do. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:40 · Belden Barns
About 40 minutes away. Nate and Lauren Belden's farm on Sonoma Mountain Road, bought in 2005, with 1870s-era farm buildings, a vegetable farm and orchard, and the old Steiner Vineyard, first planted in the early 1970s and now farmed at about 1,000 feet. While its public tasting room is under construction, tastings are by appointment only and we arrange them on your behalf; the fee is confirmed when we book.
12:00 · Frostwatch
About 20 minutes away. Brett Raven and Diane Kleinecke's family label, made since 2002 entirely from their own Bennett Valley vineyard below Bennett Peak, named for the frost alarm that wakes Brett on spring nights. A visit is a tasting with the owners, usually at the winery in Santa Rosa and occasionally at the vineyard, by appointment with advance notice; the fee is confirmed when we book.
1:20 · Lunch at Bird & The Bottle
About 20 minutes away. Chef Mark Stark's modern tavern in an old house on Fourth Street in Santa Rosa, with plates to share from a wood-fired grill and two patios. 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.
2:35 · D'Argenzio Winery
About 5 minutes away. The D'Argenzio family turned a cabinetmakers' hobby into a Santa Rosa winery in 1994, and winemaker Sandro Tamburin, raised among the vineyards of Trieste, makes small lots of Italian varieties and Sonoma County classics; wood-fired pizza is served in the tasting room. Flights are $25 to $35, and the Pizza & Wine Pairing is $55. Walk-ins Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; Monday to Thursday by appointment.
3:40 · Back to your hotel
Back in Santa Rosa by 3:45 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of tasting. Belden Barns and Frostwatch are by appointment, and D'Argenzio takes walk-ins on weekends and appointments Monday to Thursday, so this day works Saturday to Thursday.
About $25 to $35 per person at D'Argenzio, paid directly to the winery; the Belden Barns and Frostwatch tasting fees are to be verified upon reservation.
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 Calstar Cellars?
No. Calstar has no tasting room and publishes no visiting program, as of September 2026. We can plan a day at small family estates nearby that do host.
How can I buy Calstar wine?
Through the online shop on the winery's website or by joining the Star Club.
Who makes Calstar wine?
Rick Davis, the proprietor and winemaker, who worked at Flowers under Greg La Follette and has made wine for several Sonoma Coast producers.
Where does the name Calstar come from?
From Callie and Star, two studio cats who belonged to Rick Davis's wife and kept watch where the first wines were stored.
What wines does Calstar make?
Mostly Pinot Noir from Sonoma County and Anderson Valley vineyards, plus Pinot Meunier, Sauvignon Blanc and old-vine Zinfandel.
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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