Green Valley of Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Emeritus Vineyards with a Private Chauffeur
Dry-farmed estate Pinot Noir from Hallberg Ranch in the Green Valley, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Brice Cutrer Jones founded Emeritus in 1999, the same year he sold Sonoma-Cutrer, the Chardonnay house he had spent a quarter century building. That year he bought Hallberg Ranch in the Green Valley for its Goldridge soil and its closeness to the coast, and he brought in people he had worked alongside for decades at Sonoma-Cutrer. His daughter, Mari Jones, now runs the winery as president.
Emeritus makes Pinot Noir from its two estate vineyards. Hallberg Ranch, about 108 planted acres, has been dry farmed since the 2011 growing season, and the winery calls it the largest dry-farmed vineyard in Sonoma County. Pinot Hill, planted in 2008 in the Sebastopol Hills, is steeper and cooler. Winemaker Keith Hammond bottles the wines without fining or filtration, and vineyard manager Riggs Lokka succeeded his father, Kirk, who helped found Emeritus.
The tasting room looks out over Hallberg Ranch, with seating inside and on the patio. The Estate Tasting pours five single-vineyard wines, the Estate Tour & Tasting walks the vines first, and Art of Pinot Noir pairs the most exclusive single-block wines with local cheeses.
Tasting Fees
$40 for the Estate Tasting of five single-vineyard wines, 60 to 90 minutes. $60 for the Estate Tour & Tasting, 90 to 120 minutes, daily at 10:30 a.m. Both are waived with a 4-bottle purchase. $95 for Art of Pinot Noir, single-block Pinot Noirs with artisan cheeses, 60 to 90 minutes.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
2500 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol
AVA
Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Visiting
Open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reservations suggested for the Estate Tasting, with walk-ins as space allows, and required for tours and Art of Pinot Noir.
Known For
Dry-farmed estate Pinot Noir from Hallberg Ranch and Pinot Hill
Founded
1999
Good to Know
Children are welcome if an adult is with them at all times. Leashed dogs are welcome on the terrace, though only service animals can go inside or on tours. Large groups by advance appointment only. Tastings in Spanish are available Tuesday to Saturday with a reservation.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a Russian River Valley hotel such as Farmhouse Inn in Forestville or Vinarosa Resort & Spa in Santa Rosa.
10:00 · Pickup at Farmhouse Inn or Vinarosa Resort & Spa
Farmhouse Inn, a 25-room inn on River Road in Forestville, is about 15 minutes from Emeritus, and Vinarosa Resort & Spa, set among 92 acres of vineyards in Santa Rosa, is about 30 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:30 · Emeritus Vineyards
The Estate Tasting of five single-vineyard wines in the tasting room or on the patio, 60 to 90 minutes ($40).
12:00 · Hartford Family Winery
About 15 minutes away. A family winery founded in 1994 by Don and Jennifer Hartford, Jess Jackson's daughter, known for single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and old-vine Zinfandel. The seated Vineyard Exploration of five wines on the patio is $60. Open daily by appointment, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the last appointment at 3:30; walk-ins when not fully booked.
1:15 · Lunch at Willow Wood Market Cafe
About 15 minutes away. A café, soda fountain and general store at the center of Graton since 1995, serving down-home comfort food. 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.
2:35 · Martinelli Winery
About 20 minutes away. A family farming in the Russian River Valley since the 1880s, with Pinot Noir vineyards on the coast in the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. The Hop Barn Tasting at the bar is $25, and the 95+ point Pinot Noir Flight from Fort Ross-Seaview and Russian River Valley vineyards is $75. Reservations recommended; open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3:35 · Back to your hotel
Back in Forestville or Santa Rosa by 3:50 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. The fourth stop is there if the day allows.
About $125 to $175 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 Emeritus Vineyards?
Reservations are suggested for the Estate Tasting, and walk-ins are welcome when space allows. The Estate Tour & Tasting and Art of Pinot Noir require a reservation. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Emeritus Vineyards?
$40 per person for the Estate Tasting, $60 for the Estate Tour & Tasting and $95 for Art of Pinot Noir, as of September 2026.
Can I bring children or a dog to Emeritus?
Yes. Children are welcome if an adult is with them at all times, and leashed dogs are welcome on the terrace, though only service animals can go inside or on tours.
What does dry farming mean at Emeritus?
The vines are not irrigated and draw on water held in the Goldridge soil. Emeritus finished weaning Hallberg Ranch off irrigation in the 2011 growing season and has dry farmed Pinot Hill since 2013.
Who founded Emeritus Vineyards?
Brice Cutrer Jones, in 1999, after a quarter century building Sonoma-Cutrer. His daughter, Mari Jones, runs the winery today as president.
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":"Emeritus Vineyards","url":"https://www.emeritusvineyards.com/","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2500 Gravenstein Highway North","addressLocality":"Sebastopol","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95472","addressCountry":"US"},"foundingDate":"1999"},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a reservation at Emeritus Vineyards?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Reservations are suggested for the Estate Tasting, and walk-ins are welcome when space allows. The Estate Tour & Tasting and Art of Pinot Noir require a reservation. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at Emeritus Vineyards?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"$40 per person for the Estate Tasting, $60 for the Estate Tour & Tasting and $95 for Art of Pinot Noir, as of September 2026."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I bring children or a dog to Emeritus?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Children are welcome if an adult is with them at all times, and leashed dogs are welcome on the terrace, though only service animals can go inside or on tours."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What does dry farming mean at Emeritus?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The vines are not irrigated and draw on water held in the Goldridge soil. Emeritus finished weaning Hallberg Ranch off irrigation in the 2011 growing season and has dry farmed Pinot Hill since 2013."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who founded Emeritus Vineyards?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Brice Cutrer Jones, in 1999, after a quarter century building Sonoma-Cutrer. His daughter, Mari Jones, runs the winery today as president."}},{"@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."}}]}]}