Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Elaine Wines with a Private Chauffeur
A micro-winery making single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Calypte Vineyard, with private tastings by appointment, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Elaine Wines is a micro-winery in the Russian River Valley. Elaine first became interested in winemaking visiting Napa and Sonoma wineries in college, then worked in microbiology. After raising their children, she and her husband Mark moved from North Carolina to California, she earned a winemaking certificate from UC Davis, and they chose the Russian River Valley for its climate and its community of growers and winemakers.
The wines come from Calypte Vineyard, planted in 1998 on a steep, rugged ridge in a forest of Douglas fir, oak and madrone, about 14 miles from the Pacific. Night fog burns off by midday. The vineyard is named for the Anna's hummingbirds (Calypte anna) that live in its oaks and madrones, and it is farmed sustainably, with hawks, owls and bluebirds helping with pests. The family's son Matt drew the label.
The winery makes small lots of single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and it offers private tastings by appointment. It is a chance to taste with a very small producer, paired with better-known Russian River Valley wineries nearby. We confirm current details when we book.
Tasting Fees
Tasting fees to be verified upon reservation. The winery does not publish a tasting fee, so we confirm it when we book.
Tasting fees as of October 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
Address given with the appointment, Russian River Valley
AVA
Russian River Valley
Visiting
Private tastings by appointment only, arranged by phone or email. Days, hours and the tasting address are not published, so we confirm them when we book.
Known For
Limited, single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the estate Calypte Vineyard
Founded
Good to Know
The winery's phone number has a North Carolina area code, so email is often the easier way to reach it; we handle the request. Elaine Wines also pours at regional events, such as the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Farmhouse Inn in Forestville or the Hyatt Regency in Santa Rosa. The tasting address is confirmed with the appointment, and we plan the drive around it.
10:00 · Pickup at Farmhouse Inn or Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country
Farmhouse Inn is on River Road in Forestville, and the Hyatt Regency is in Railroad Square in Santa Rosa. The day stays in the western Russian River Valley, and we set the order once Elaine Wines confirms the appointment and address. Extra time can be added by the hour.
10:30 · Elaine Wines
A private tasting of single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, by appointment. The fee is confirmed when we book; we plan on about an hour.
11:50 · Hartford Family Winery
Drive time depends on the tasting address; we plan on about 20 minutes. A family estate in the redwoods near Forestville for single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and old-vine Zinfandel. The Vineyard Exploration, a seated tasting of five single-vineyard wines on the patio, is $60; plan on about an hour.
1:10 · Lunch at Underwood Bar & Bistro
About 15 minutes away. Lunch in the small town of Graton at Underwood, a bar and bistro in the Paris style, serving lunch Wednesday to Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 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.
2:25 · Bowman Cellars
A short walk down Graton Road. A young family winery in the village of Graton. The Tasting Experience, a guided tasting of five current releases, is $35 and takes about 45 minutes.
3:20 · Back to your hotel
Back by 4:00 p.m., six hours after pickup.
Elaine Wines does not publish tasting days or hours, so we confirm the appointment first and adjust the day around it. Underwood serves lunch Wednesday to Sunday and Bowman Cellars is open Thursday to Sunday; on Monday to Wednesday we swap in Handline in Sebastopol for lunch and Dutton-Goldfield, open daily, for Bowman.
About $95 per person in tasting fees for Hartford Family and Bowman Cellars, plus the Elaine Wines tasting fee, which is confirmed when we book. Fees are 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 Elaine Wines?
Yes. Private tastings are by appointment, arranged by phone or email with the winery. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Elaine Wines?
The winery does not publish a tasting fee. We confirm it when we reserve, as of October 2026.
Where do guests taste at Elaine Wines?
The winery does not publish a tasting address. Its estate is Calypte Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, and the location is confirmed with the appointment.
Who makes the wine at Elaine Wines?
Elaine, the founder, who left a career in microbiology and earned a winemaking certificate from UC Davis before moving from North Carolina to California with her husband Mark.
What is Elaine Wines known for?
Hand-crafted, single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in limited quantities from Calypte Vineyard, planted in 1998 on a steep ridge about 14 miles from the Pacific.
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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