Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Croix Estate with a Private Chauffeur
Kirk Venge's single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, hosted for each group individually on a quiet farm in Fulton, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Croix is the Sonoma project of Kirk Venge, proprietor and winemaker, who was born in 1976 and raised in Rutherford in a Napa Valley winemaking family. After graduating from UC Davis in 1998 he bought his family's Venge brand and winery, then crossed the Mayacamas to Sonoma County, where his mother was born. He named the winery Croix after its history in Burgundy; the founding vintage was 2012, and the winery opened in 2018.
The goal from the start was to stand out among the best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producers and to make Pinot Noir that ages beyond ten years. Croix works with nearly two dozen vineyard sites, from its estate in the heart of the Russian River Valley to the Pacific coast, with organic and sustainable farming, low yields and minimal intervention in the cellar. Recent single-vineyard wines from the West Sonoma Coast, the Sebastopol Hills and the Petaluma Gap carry 96-point scores, and the lineup also includes an estate Zinfandel.
Visits are individually hosted in a relaxed, farm setting, each group on its own, which makes this a good first stop for guests who want to talk about the wines. The tasting runs through eight or nine current releases over about 90 minutes. The wines are allocated through a list, so a visit is also one of the easier ways to find them.
Tasting Fees
$45 per person for the hosted Croix Estate Tasting of eight or nine current releases, about 90 minutes, waived for active Allocation List members or with a purchase, plus a $5 reservation deposit.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
1406 Wood Road, Fulton
AVA
Russian River Valley
Visiting
By advance reservation only; tasting times run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each visit is individually hosted, for 1 to 8 guests.
Known For
Single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from across western Sonoma County
Founded
2012 (founding vintage); winery opened 2018
Good to Know
A non-refundable $5 deposit secures the reservation, and the tasting fee is charged at the end of the visit; no-shows are charged the full fee. Wines are allocated through the Allocation List, and the invitation-only Croix Collective club is limited to 75 members.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 9:20 a.m. from a hotel such as Farmhouse Inn in Forestville or Vinarosa in Santa Rosa.
9:20 · Pickup at Farmhouse Inn or Vinarosa
Farmhouse Inn, a 25-room inn on River Road in Forestville, is about 25 minutes from Croix, and Vinarosa, set among 92 acres of vineyards in Santa Rosa, about 15. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
9:45 · Croix Estate
The first stop. The hosted Croix Estate Tasting ($45) of eight or nine single-vineyard wines, about 90 minutes.
11:45 · Moshin Vineyards
About 30 minutes away. Former math teacher Rick Moshin planted his first Pinot Noir here in 1989 and, with family and friends, built one of California's first gravity-flow wineries, four levels that move the wine without pumps. The Classic Wine Tasting is $40, waived with a two-bottle purchase per person. Open daily 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; leashed dogs welcome.
1:10 · Lunch at Willow Wood Market Cafe
About 25 minutes away. A café, soda fountain and general store at the center of Graton since 1995, serving down-home comfort food on a remodeled patio or inside. Lunch from 11:30 a.m., with brunch on Sundays. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:45 · Gary Farrell
About 25 minutes away. Gary Farrell's hilltop winery above the Russian River; he made his first wines in 1982 from Rochioli and Allen vineyard Pinot Noir. The Discovery Tasting Flight of single-vineyard wines is served outdoors with sweeping views of the valley, about 90 minutes ($55). Open daily 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; reservations encouraged; 21 and over.
4:15 · Back to your hotel
Back in Forestville or Santa Rosa by 4:50 p.m.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. Croix hosts from 9 a.m., so this day starts at 9:20 to beat the afternoon, and it ends around 4:50. It works any day of the week.
About $140 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 Croix Estate?
Yes. Visits are by advance reservation only, and each is hosted individually. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Croix Estate?
$45 per person, charged at the end of the visit and waived for Allocation List members or with a purchase, plus a $5 reservation deposit, as of September 2026.
Who owns Croix Estate?
Proprietor and winemaker Kirk Venge, who also owns his family's Venge brand in Napa Valley.
How long is a visit to Croix?
About 90 minutes, for eight or nine current releases.
How can I buy Croix wine?
Through the Allocation List, which offers wines through the year, or at the winery after a tasting.
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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