Sonoma Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Hamel Family Wines with a Private Chauffeur
Private tours and seated tastings of Biodynamic, dry-farmed wines from volcanic vineyards, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
George Hamel Jr. and his wife, Pam, settled in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1996. Ten years later they bought a house in Kenwood and began growing grapes on an acre of vineyard behind it, and in 2006 that home vineyard gave them their first wine, 290 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon. The house is still their home, and Hamel Family Wines remains family-owned and managed, with John Hamel leading the winegrowing.
Hamel farms three vineyards on volcanic soils: the estate around the winery on the Sonoma Highway, Tres Palmas in the foothills of Sugarloaf Ridge, and Nuns Canyon, a steep site 1,200 to 1,600 feet up the western slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains in the Moon Mountain District. All three are certified Biodynamic, and about 80 percent of the acreage is dry farmed. Since 2016 the family has worked with Chilean terroir consultant Pedro Parra to map the soils and to farm and ferment small blocks by soil type, aging the wines mostly in large oak casks and concrete.
Every visit is a private tour of the winery and its underground caves, followed by a seated tasting in the Estate House, a contemporary tasting room behind a grove of hundred-year-old olive trees and lavender, looking across to Sonoma Mountain. Hamel is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc blends built around Nuns Canyon, including the Nuns Canyon bottling itself, which Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck have each rated 97 points, along with Grenache and Sauvignon Blanc.
Tasting Fees
$95 for the Estate Experience, a tour and seated tasting of Estate Series wines, about 1½ hours. $125 for the Nuns Canyon Experience, a tour and seated tasting of single-vineyard Nuns Canyon wines, about 1½ hours. $225 for the Chef's Table Experience, a tour and communal seated tasting of library and current releases with small plates by Chef Thomas Mendel, about 2 hours.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
15401 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma
AVA
Sonoma Valley
Visiting
Open daily by reservation only, with tours and tastings at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Known For
Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc blends from Nuns Canyon Vineyard, and Biodynamic, dry-farmed volcanic vineyards
Founded
First vintage in 2006
Good to Know
Every experience begins with a guided tour of the winery and caves. Parties are limited to 6 guests; for private tours and events, call (707) 996-5800. Members receive complimentary tastings.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 9:40 a.m. from a Sonoma hotel such as Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa or MacArthur Place.
9:40 · Pickup at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa or MacArthur Place
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, a historic resort with its own geothermal mineral waters, is about 10 minutes from Hamel Family Wines, and MacArthur Place, a hotel and spa set in six acres of gardens in Sonoma, about 20. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:00 · Hamel Family Wines
The Estate Experience ($95), a private tour of the winery and caves and a seated tasting of Estate Series wines, about 1½ hours.
11:45 · Kunde Family Winery
About 15 minutes away. A Kenwood estate the Kunde family has farmed since 1904, with caves carved into volcanic rock. Walk-in tastings at the bar in the 202 Lounge are $25, and the seated 90-minute Kinneybrook Tasting with cheese and charcuterie is $45. Walk-ins welcome for groups of 8 or fewer; tastings daily 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
12:50 · Lunch at Salt+Stone
About 5 minutes away. Todd Lake's restaurant on the Sonoma Highway in Kenwood, with a steakhouse and seafood grill, an oyster bar and craft cocktails. Lunch Thursday to Tuesday from 11 a.m. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:25 · Bedrock Wine Co.
About 30 minutes away. Morgan Twain-Peterson's old-vine winery, founded in 2007, pouring in General Joseph Hooker's 1850s house off the Sonoma Plaza. The Bedrock Heritage Tasting is $45, waived with a three-bottle purchase per taster. By appointment only, daily, with the last appointment at 3:30 p.m.
3:25 · Back to your hotel
Back in Sonoma by 3:40 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. Hamel's first tour starts at 10 a.m., so pickup is a little earlier than usual. This day works Thursday to Tuesday, when Salt+Stone serves lunch.
About $165 to $215 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 Hamel Family Wines?
Yes. Every visit is a private tour and tasting by reservation, offered daily at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. for parties of up to 6. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Hamel Family Wines?
$95 per person for the Estate Experience, $125 for the Nuns Canyon Experience and $225 for the Chef's Table Experience, as of September 2026.
How long is a visit to Hamel?
The Estate and Nuns Canyon experiences take about 1½ hours and the Chef's Table about 2 hours. Each begins with a guided tour of the winery and caves.
What is Nuns Canyon Vineyard?
Hamel's highest vineyard, 1,200 to 1,600 feet up the western slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains in the Moon Mountain District. It has been dry farmed and certified Biodynamic since 2018, and its Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are at the core of Hamel's red blends.
Who owns Hamel Family Wines?
The Hamel family. George and Pam Hamel made their first wine, 290 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon, in 2006, and the winery is still family-owned and managed.
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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