Green Valley of Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Hartford Family Winery with a Private Chauffeur
Single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and old-vine Zinfandel from a family estate in the redwoods near Forestville, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Don and Jennifer Hartford founded Hartford Family Winery in 1994 and released their first wines from that vintage. Jennifer is a daughter of Jess Jackson, whose family started Kendall-Jackson in 1982. The winery is still family owned and run: Don is CEO, and the Hartfords own it with their children, Hailey Hartford Murray, who is president, and MacLean Hartford.
Winemaker and general manager Jeff Stewart makes more than 30 single-vineyard wines a year from as many as seven American Viticultural Areas, favoring what the winery calls high-risk, high-reward sites: steep slopes, windy bluffs and foggy valleys. Pinot Noir is the focus, alongside Chardonnay, sparkling wine and Zinfandel from vines 80 to more than 120 years old. Hartford's Russian River Valley wines have been named to Wine Spectator's Top 100 several times, most recently the 2022 Zinfandel in 2025.
The estate sits among vineyards and redwoods a few minutes outside Forestville, about 15 miles from the Pacific. The seated Vineyard Exploration pours five single-vineyard wines at a reserved table on the outdoor patio, and the Customized Exploration adds a wine educator, a cheese plate and, when possible, a visit to the barrel room. Hartford also has a tasting room in downtown Healdsburg.
Tasting Fees
$60 for the Vineyard Exploration, a seated tasting of five single-vineyard wines on the patio. $125 for the Customized Exploration of Single Vineyard Wines: six wines chosen with a wine educator, a cheese plate and a barrel room visit when possible.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
8075 Martinelli Road, Forestville
AVA
Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Visiting
Open daily by appointment, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the last appointment at 3:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome when the tasting room is not fully booked.
Known For
Single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and old-vine Russian River Valley Zinfandel
Founded
1994
Good to Know
Tastings are seated at private tables on the outdoor patio, moving indoors if it rains. Groups larger than 6 call the winery for availability, and the Customized Exploration is for groups of 6 or fewer.
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 10 minutes from Hartford, 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 · Hartford Family Winery
The Vineyard Exploration, a seated tasting of five single-vineyard wines on the patio ($60).
11:45 · Emeritus Vineyards
About 15 minutes away. A Pinot Noir estate founded in 1999 by Brice Cutrer Jones, who built Sonoma-Cutrer, on Hallberg Ranch, which it calls the largest dry-farmed vineyard in Sonoma County. The Estate Tasting of five single-vineyard wines is $40, 60 to 90 minutes. Reservations suggested, walk-ins as space allows; open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
1:15 · Lunch at Handline
About 15 minutes away. A casual Sebastopol spot, open since 2016, with seasonal food from local farmers and fishermen, served mostly outdoors. Open daily 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.
2:40 · DeLoach Vineyards
About 25 minutes away. A Russian River Valley winery in the Boisset Collection, pouring single-vineyard wines. Tastings run $35 to $65 and start between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Reservations taken online; open Thursday to Monday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
3:40 · Back to your hotel
Back in Forestville or Santa Rosa by 3:55 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. This day works Thursday to Monday, when DeLoach is open.
About $135 to $165 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 Hartford Family Winery?
Reservations are recommended. The estate is open daily by appointment, and walk-ins are welcome when it is not fully booked. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Hartford Family Winery?
$60 per person for the Vineyard Exploration and $125 for the Customized Exploration of Single Vineyard Wines, as of September 2026.
Who owns Hartford Family Winery?
The Hartford family. Don and Jennifer Hartford founded it in 1994 and own it with their children, Hailey Hartford Murray, the president, and MacLean Hartford. Jennifer is a daughter of Kendall-Jackson founder Jess Jackson.
Is there a Hartford tasting room in Healdsburg?
Yes, at 331 Healdsburg Avenue downtown. This itinerary visits the estate tasting room on Martinelli Road near Forestville, among the vineyards and redwoods.
What is Hartford known for?
Single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from cool coastal sites, and old-vine Zinfandel from Russian River Valley vineyards 80 to more than 120 years old.
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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