Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Inspiration Vineyards with a Private Chauffeur
Food-friendly Sonoma County wines from a Santa Rosa urban winemaker since 2002, now releasing its final vintages. Inspiration Vineyards does not receive visitors; here is what to know, and a day at sought-after estates nearby that do host.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Inspiration Vineyards was founded in 2002 by Jon, a self-taught winemaker who first worked in the tasting room at Mirassou Winery in San Jose in the 1980s and made his first barrel, a Contra Costa Zinfandel, in 1999. He bought a Chardonnay and old-vine Zinfandel vineyard in the Russian River Valley in 2001, made wine on Olivet Road from 2003 and moved to the Coffey Lane facility in urban Santa Rosa in 2010. In 2018 he chaired the board of Family Winemakers of California.
The mission has stayed the same: high-quality, food-friendly wines at a fair price, from grapes grown throughout Sonoma County. In 2024 Jon sold the physical winery to one of his employees and kept the Inspiration brand, made a small last vintage, and began leading private tours in Burgundy under the name Burgundy & Bubbles. In 2026 he bottled his next-to-last vintage and released the 2023 wines on the website.
The website still lists the Coffey Lane winery by appointment only, but with the facility sold we could not confirm that tastings are still offered, so we treat it as not open. The wines are sold online. The day below starts on Coffey Lane, at two wineries a few doors from the old Inspiration cellar, and ends in the Russian River Valley.
Tasting Fees
Inspiration Vineyards does not offer confirmed tastings.
The day below runs about $115 per person in tasting fees at Donelan, Carol Shelton and Balletto.
Tasting fees as of October 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
Santa Rosa
AVA
Russian River Valley
Visiting
Inspiration Vineyards is no longer hosting confirmed tastings; the owner sold the winery facility in 2024, and the wines are sold online.
Known For
Affordable, food-friendly Sonoma County wines, now in their final vintages
Founded
2002
Good to Know
Buy the 2023 releases at inspirationvineyards.com while they last. Contact gotwine@inspirationvineyards.com or 707-237-4980.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a Santa Rosa hotel such as Hotel E or Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country.
10:00 · Pickup at Hotel E or Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country
Since Inspiration Vineyards does not host visitors, this day takes you to three sought-after estates nearby that do. Both hotels are in downtown Santa Rosa, about 15 minutes from the first stop on Coffey Lane. The day runs about five and a half hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Donelan Family Wines
About 15 minutes away. Critically acclaimed Syrah, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay poured among the barrels of a working winery on Coffey Lane. The Signature Wine Tasting with a winery tour is $65, five wines, 75 minutes, by reservation.
11:40 · Carol Shelton Wines
Next door. Single-vineyard Zinfandel from a five-time Winemaker of the Year, in a homey Coffey Lane tasting room. The reserve tasting is $20, waived with a one-bottle purchase; we plan about 50 minutes.
12:45 · Lunch at Russian River Brewing Company
About 15 minutes away. Lunch at Russian River Brewing Company in downtown Santa Rosa, with pizza, sandwiches and its own beers. We confirm hours when we book. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:15 · Balletto Vineyards
About 20 minutes away. A family farm turned estate winery in the Russian River Valley. The seated Estate Wine Tasting of five vineyard-designate wines is $30, 60 minutes.
3:15 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 3:35 p.m., about five and a half hours after pickup.
All three wineries are open daily. Carol Shelton opens at 11 a.m., so Donelan comes first; Donelan confirms its days and times when we book.
About $115 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
Can I visit Inspiration Vineyards?
Not that we can confirm. The site still lists Coffey Lane by appointment, but the owner sold the winery facility in 2024, so we treat it as not open, as of October 2026.
How can I buy Inspiration Vineyards wine?
Online at inspirationvineyards.com, where the 2023 releases are for sale.
Who makes Inspiration Vineyards wine?
Founder Jon, a self-taught winemaker who started in 1999 and founded Inspiration in 2002; he now also leads tours in Burgundy.
Is Inspiration Vineyards closing?
It is winding down. The owner bottled his next-to-last vintage in 2026 and made a small last vintage in 2024.
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 833-915-2436.
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