Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Equality Vines with a Private Chauffeur
The cause wine label co-founded by Jim Obergefell of the landmark marriage case, with a pet-friendly tasting room on Guerneville's Main Street, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Equality Vines calls itself the world's first cause wine portfolio dedicated to equality for all people. It was founded by Matt Grove and Jim Obergefell. Matt left the technology world to co-found Dakota Beef, the first certified organic beef company in the United States, in 2001, and started Eighth Wonder Wines in 2014; Equality Vines followed a dream inspired by his late aunt, Dr. Marilyn Schultz, who in 1971 led the class action against NBC that helped open the way to equal pay for women. Jim Obergefell was the lead plaintiff in Obergefell v. Hodges, the U.S. Supreme Court marriage equality case, and co-wrote the book Love Wins.
The wines are made in partnership with Sonoma County and California winemakers who share the cause. Manveer Sandhu makes the Love Wins and GEMS sparkling wines, and earlier Love Wins cuvées came from Iron Horse; Crystalyn Hoffman and Doug Hackett make the Stonewall Zinfandel from Pine Mountain and Dry Creek Valley; Gio Balistreri of Russian River Vineyards made the Decision Pinot Noir; and Melissa Kuhn makes the Russian River Valley Chardonnay with the label "Get Your Own Damn Coffee." For every release, Equality Vines makes per-bottle donations to a partner organization working for equality.
The tasting room is on Main Street in downtown Guerneville, the Russian River resort town, with seating indoors and out, and dogs are welcome. A tasting pours five wines from the current portfolio, and you can add a meat and cheese board from Fields Wine Country Picnic Company, ordered ahead. It is a relaxed, friendly stop that fits naturally into a day along the river.
Tasting Fees
$35 per person for a tasting of five wines from the current portfolio.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
16215 Main Street, Suite 4, Guerneville
AVA
Russian River Valley
Visiting
Open Friday and Saturday, 1 to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday by appointment; closed Monday and Tuesday. Reservations recommended; walk-ins always welcome.
Known For
Cause wines including Love Wins sparkling wine, Stonewall Zinfandel and Decision Pinot Noir
Founded
Founded by Matt Grove and Jim Obergefell
Good to Know
The tasting room is pet friendly, with indoor and outdoor seating. Meat and cheese boards ($50 and $75) are ordered ahead by email or phone.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:40 a.m. from Farmhouse Inn in Forestville, or 10:55 from boon hotel + spa in Guerneville.
10:40 · Pickup at Farmhouse Inn or boon hotel + spa
Farmhouse Inn, a 25-room country inn among the vineyards and redwoods of Forestville, is about 20 minutes from Equality Vines, and boon hotel + spa, in Guerneville, about 5. We pick up at 10:55 in Guerneville and 10:40 in Forestville for an 11 a.m. appointment. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
11:00 · Equality Vines
A tasting of five wines from the current portfolio ($35), about an hour.
12:25 · 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. 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.
1:50 · Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery
About 15 minutes away. Courtney Benham revived Martin Ray, a Santa Cruz Mountains name from 1943, and in 2003 moved it to one of California's oldest continually working wineries, on Laguna Ridge. The Appellation Tasting is $45 for 1 to 6 guests, and a terrace wine bar pours by the taste, glass or bottle. Prepaid reservations; open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
3:15 · Porter-Bass
About 25 minutes away. Dirck and Sue Bass found this century-old vineyard at the top of Mays Canyon in 1980, nine miles from the ocean in a saddle between two redwood-lined ridges, and winemaker Luke Bass makes estate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel from it. Seated tastings for no more than 10 guests, indoors and out; the fee is confirmed when we book. Reservations required.
4:15 · Back to your hotel
Back in Guerneville by 4:30 p.m., or Forestville by 4:35, about six hours after pickup.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. This day uses a Wednesday or Thursday appointment at Equality Vines; on Friday to Sunday the tasting room opens at 1 p.m., so we make it the last stop of the day instead.
About $80 per person in tasting fees for Equality Vines and Martin Ray, paid directly to each winery; the Porter-Bass fee is 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
Do I need a reservation at Equality Vines?
Reservations are recommended, and walk-ins are always welcome Friday to Sunday. On Wednesday and Thursday, visits are by appointment. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Equality Vines?
$35 per person for five wines from the current portfolio, as of September 2026.
Who founded Equality Vines?
Matt Grove and Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court marriage equality case.
Can I bring my dog to Equality Vines?
Yes. The tasting room is pet friendly, with indoor and outdoor seating.
Where is Equality Vines?
At 16215 Main Street, Suite 4, in downtown Guerneville, on the Russian River.
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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