Green Valley of Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Char Vale Winery with a Private Chauffeur
Estate Pinot Noir and Riesling poured in a family farmhouse with a deck over the vines, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Char Vale is a small, family-owned vineyard and winery in the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley, on a property the family describes as having deep roots in Sonoma County. It sits on Occidental Road, about a mile west of Highway 116, and every wine is made in small lots in the winery on site.
The family farms ten contiguous acres planted to several clones of Pinot Noir and Riesling. From them come three estate Pinot Noirs (the Estate, the Vineyard Select and the Vintner's Choice, which spends an extra year in oak), an estate Rosé of Pinot Noir and an estate Riesling, alongside a single-vineyard Chardonnay and a Pinot Gris. The 2018 Vintner's Choice Pinot Noir won a Double Gold and Best in Class at the Sunset International Wine Competition, and in 2026 the same competition gave the 2024 Pinot Gris a Double Gold and the 2022 Chardonnay a Gold. At harvest, falcon kites fly over the vineyard to keep the birds off the ripening grapes.
The tasting room is the original family farmhouse, renovated and open to the public, with a deck and patio that look straight across the vineyard. It is an easy, unhurried stop: guests settle in on the deck with the Pinots, and picnic tables can be reserved for a private tasting with lunch you bring. For something more, the winery arranges vineyard and winery tours with its staff and private occasions by request.
Tasting Fees
Tasting fees to be verified upon reservation.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
9280 Occidental Road, Sebastopol
AVA
Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Visiting
Open Thursday to Monday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and closed Tuesday and Wednesday, when appointments may be arranged in advance. Reservations are preferred and walk-ins are welcome as space allows; parties of more than 6 are strongly encouraged to reserve.
Known For
Estate Pinot Noir, Rosé of Pinot Noir and Riesling from the Green Valley, plus Chardonnay and Pinot Gris
Founded
Family-owned estate; founding year not published
Good to Know
Picnic tables can be reserved; bring lunch to enjoy with a wine purchase. Vineyard and winery tours with the staff are arranged by request. Wine club members taste free with guests.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:45 a.m. from The Sebastopol Inn, or 10:40 from Farmhouse Inn in Forestville.
10:40 · Pickup at The Sebastopol Inn or Farmhouse Inn
The Sebastopol Inn, in downtown Sebastopol, is about 15 minutes from Char Vale, and Farmhouse Inn, a 25-room country inn among the vineyards and redwoods of Forestville, about 20. Char Vale opens at 11, so we time the pickup for the opening. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
11:00 · Char Vale Winery
A relaxed tasting of the estate Pinot Noirs, Riesling and Rosé on the deck over the vineyard, about an hour; the fee is confirmed when we book.
12:25 · Lunch at Underwood Bar and Bistro
About 10 minutes away. A bistro in the village of Graton with an open-air patio. Lunch is served Wednesday to Sunday 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.
1:50 · Kobler Estate
About 10 minutes away. The Kobler family has farmed here since 1987 around a restored Victorian home from 1870, and winemaker Mike Kobler hosts tastings himself on the patio over the Syrah vines his father and uncle planted in 1996. The Current Releases tasting is $25, with a cheese pairing for $25 more. By appointment, booked at least 48 hours ahead.
3:45 · Hobo Wine Company
About 25 minutes away. Kenny Likitprakong's working winery in west Santa Rosa, home of Hobo, Folk Machine and Ghostwriter, made mostly from organically farmed vineyards. There is no separate tasting room: the visit starts with a walk through the production floor and barrel room, then a tasting in the winery's "living room," about 1 to 1.5 hours ($20, waived with a three-bottle purchase per taster). By appointment.
5:00 · Back to your hotel
Back in Sebastopol by 5:15 p.m., or Forestville by 5:30 p.m.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. Char Vale opens at 11 and closes Tuesday and Wednesday, and Underwood serves lunch Wednesday to Sunday, so this day works Thursday to Sunday and ends around 5:15. Kobler and Hobo are by appointment, and we book both when you reserve.
About $45 per person for Kobler ($25) and Hobo ($20, waived with a purchase); Char Vale's fee is to be verified upon reservation. Each is paid directly to the 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 Char Vale?
Reservations are preferred, and walk-ins are welcome as space allows. Parties of more than 6 should reserve, and Tuesday or Wednesday visits need advance arrangement. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Char Vale?
The winery does not publish its tasting fee, so tasting fees are to be verified upon reservation. Wine club members taste free with guests.
What is Char Vale known for?
Estate Pinot Noir from the Green Valley, in three bottlings, plus Riesling, Rosé of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. Its 2024 Pinot Gris won a Double Gold at the 2026 Sunset International Wine Competition.
Can we bring a picnic to Char Vale?
Yes. Picnic tables can be reserved for a private tasting, and guests bring lunch or provisions to enjoy with a wine purchase.
Where is Char Vale?
At 9280 Occidental Road in Sebastopol, about a mile west of Highway 116, in the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley.
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.
Reserve Your Tour{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Winery","name":"Char Vale Winery","url":"https://charvalewinery.com/","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"9280 Occidental Road","addressLocality":"Sebastopol","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95472","addressCountry":"US"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a reservation at Char Vale?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Reservations are preferred, and walk-ins are welcome as space allows. Parties of more than 6 should reserve, and Tuesday or Wednesday visits need advance arrangement. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at Char Vale?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The winery does not publish its tasting fee, so tasting fees are to be verified upon reservation. Wine club members taste free with guests."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is Char Vale known for?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Estate Pinot Noir from the Green Valley, in three bottlings, plus Riesling, Rosé of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. Its 2024 Pinot Gris won a Double Gold at the 2026 Sunset International Wine Competition."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can we bring a picnic to Char Vale?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Picnic tables can be reserved for a private tasting, and guests bring lunch or provisions to enjoy with a wine purchase."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Where is Char Vale?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"At 9280 Occidental Road in Sebastopol, about a mile west of Highway 116, in the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How does booking a tour with Bien Chauffeured work?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"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."}}]}]}