Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Gamba Vineyards and Winery with a Private Chauffeur
Old-vine Zinfandel from a vineyard planted in 1900 and farmed by one family since 1947, with privately hosted tastings, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
The Gamba family's wine story began six generations ago in northern Italy, not far from Barolo and Barbaresco. Agostino Luigi Gamba came to Sonoma County speaking no English and with little money, and in 1947 vineyard owner Cesare Barbieri, ready to retire, sold him a Russian River Valley vineyard he had planted in 1900, on a handshake, to be paid with each harvest. When Gus Sr. died in 1983, his son Agostino Gamba Jr., then 17, took over the vineyards, and in 2000 the family launched Gamba Vineyards and Winery.
The Gamba Estate Vineyard is one of the few remaining plantings from the pioneering immigrants of the turn of the last century. It is farmed organically and watered only by rain, as it has been for more than a century, and its old vines are the heart of the Gamba Zinfandels. Robert Parker wrote that Gamba's name "is going to have to be included with some of the stars of Sonoma." The family also makes Etrusca, a second label of Chardonnay, rosé, Pinot Noir, a red blend and Cabernet Sauvignon from partner ranches in the Russian River Valley.
Visits are privately hosted by appointment at the family's place on Woolsey Road, between Windsor and Santa Rosa, with a selection of Gamba and Etrusca wines. It is a small, personal tasting with the people who farm the vines, and a good fit for anyone who loves old-vine Zinfandel.
Tasting Fees
Gamba does not publish its tasting fee. 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
2912 Woolsey Road, Windsor
AVA
Russian River Valley
Visiting
By appointment only; every appointment is privately hosted. The winery does not publish its days and hours, so we confirm the time when we book.
Known For
Old-vine Zinfandel from the 1900 Gamba Estate Vineyard, and the Etrusca wines
Founded
2000 (vineyard planted in 1900; in the family since 1947)
Good to Know
Tastings include a selection of Gamba and Etrusca wines. Members of the pre-release program and their guests taste free. The wines sell mostly through the pre-release program and directly from the winery.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 9:40 a.m. from Hotel E in Santa Rosa, or 9:50 from Vinarosa.
9:40 · Pickup at Hotel E or Vinarosa
Vinarosa, set among 92 acres of vineyards in Santa Rosa, is about 10 minutes from Gamba, and Hotel E, a restored 1906 Beaux-Arts landmark on the square in downtown Santa Rosa, about 20. We pick up at 9:40 at Hotel E and 9:50 at Vinarosa. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:00 · Gamba Vineyards and Winery
A privately hosted tasting of Gamba and Etrusca wines, about an hour (fee confirmed when we book).
11:15 · Woodenhead Vintners
About 15 minutes away. Nikolai Stez spent 17 harvests as assistant winemaker to Burt Williams at Williams Selyem before making his own small-lot Pinot Noir and Zinfandel here with his partner, Zina Bower; guests taste inside or out on a deck over the valley, at the top of a winding driveway off River Road. There is a nominal tasting fee, confirmed when we book. Drop-ins welcome Thursday to Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
12:35 · Lunch at Willow Wood Market Cafe
About 20 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.
2:05 · Reichwage Winery
About 20 minutes away. Max Reichwage farms Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Gamay Noir and Carignane on an old Sebastopol apple ranch and sells about half his grapes to wineries such as Littorai, Ridge and Carlisle. The seated tasting of five wines, in a new farmhouse tasting room looking over West Sonoma County, is $40, waived with a four-bottle purchase. Open Friday to Sunday; appointments from noon, the last at 4 p.m.
3:05 · Back to your hotel
Back in Santa Rosa by 3:40 p.m., less than six hours after pickup.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. Reichwage hosts Friday to Sunday and Woodenhead is open Thursday to Monday, so this day works Friday to Sunday; Gamba is by appointment, and we confirm it first.
About $40 per person in tasting fees for Reichwage, paid directly to the winery; the Gamba and Woodenhead tasting fees are 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 an appointment at Gamba?
Yes. Every visit is by appointment and privately hosted. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Gamba?
Gamba does not publish its tasting fee, so tasting fees are to be verified upon reservation. Pre-release members and their guests taste free.
How old is the Gamba vineyard?
The Gamba Estate Vineyard was planted in 1900, and the Gamba family has farmed it since 1947. It is organically farmed and watered only by rain.
Who owns Gamba Vineyards and Winery?
The Gamba family. Agostino Gamba Jr. has managed the vineyards since 1983, and the family launched its own label in 2000.
What is Etrusca?
Gamba's second label, with Chardonnay, rosé, Pinot Noir, a red blend and Cabernet Sauvignon from partner vineyards in 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":"Gamba Vineyards and Winery","url":"https://www.gambawinery.com/","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2912 Woolsey Road","addressLocality":"Windsor","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95492","addressCountry":"US"},"foundingDate":"2000"},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need an appointment at Gamba?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Every visit is by appointment and privately hosted. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at Gamba?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Gamba does not publish its tasting fee, so tasting fees are to be verified upon reservation. Pre-release members and their guests taste free."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How old is the Gamba vineyard?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Gamba Estate Vineyard was planted in 1900, and the Gamba family has farmed it since 1947. It is organically farmed and watered only by rain."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who owns Gamba Vineyards and Winery?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Gamba family. Agostino Gamba Jr. has managed the vineyards since 1983, and the family launched its own label in 2000."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is Etrusca?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Gamba's second label, with Chardonnay, rosé, Pinot Noir, a red blend and Cabernet Sauvignon from partner vineyards in 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."}}]}]}