Green Valley of Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Iron Horse with a Private Chauffeur
Estate sparkling wine served at the White House since 1985, tasted outdoors in the Green Valley, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Barry and Audrey Sterling founded Iron Horse in 1976 in the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley. They named it for a 19th-century railroad stop that once crossed the land, a site rediscovered in 1970 by winemaker Rodney Strong, who planted its first Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Three generations of the family live on the estate, and Joy Sterling leads it as CEO.
Iron Horse is one of the few American wineries devoted to estate-grown sparkling wine, made by the méthode champenoise from vineyards a few miles from the Pacific, in one of Sonoma County's coolest regions. Its sparkling wines were poured at the Reagan-Gorbachev summit meetings and have been served at the White House under seven consecutive presidential administrations. Winemaker David Munksgard marks his 30th harvest here in 2026, the winery's 50th year.
The tasting area is outdoors, with views across Sonoma County to Mount St. Helena, and pours the sparkling wines alongside estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It is a working winery at the end of a winding road, and visits are by appointment only.
Tasting Fees
$35 for the outdoor Tasting with a View, with two fees waived on a purchase of 6 or more bottles. $50 per table in the picnic area, with a two-bottle minimum and a two-hour limit.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
9786 Ross Station Road, Sebastopol
AVA
Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Visiting
Open daily by appointment only, with seatings on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Book about two weeks ahead for weekends.
Known For
Estate sparkling wine, plus Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Founded
1976
Good to Know
Children are welcome but must be supervised at all times. No pets; registered service animals with paperwork are welcome. Parties are up to 6; larger groups pay a nonrefundable $50 per person and book with the tasting room manager.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 9:30 a.m. from a Russian River Valley hotel such as Farmhouse Inn in Forestville or Vinarosa Resort & Spa in Santa Rosa.
9:30 · Pickup at Farmhouse Inn or Vinarosa Resort & Spa
Farmhouse Inn, a 25-room inn on River Road in Forestville, is about 15 minutes from Iron Horse, 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.
10:00 · Iron Horse
The 10:00 a.m. seating of the outdoor Tasting with a View ($35), with sparkling wines, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
11:10 · Merry Edwards Winery
About 10 minutes away. Founded in 1997 by Merry Edwards, a pioneer of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, and owned by Maison Louis Roederer since 2019. The Appellation Tasting is $45; allow 60 to 90 minutes. By appointment; open daily 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
12:40 · 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.
2:15 · 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.
3:15 · Back to your hotel
Back in Forestville or Santa Rosa by 3:30 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Optional: Marimar Estate
Adds about an hour. Marimar Torres's Green Valley estate, with walk-ins welcome for the seated Estate Tasting ($35); open until 4 p.m. on weekdays and 5 p.m. on weekends.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. Iron Horse seats tastings on the hour, so this day starts at 9:30 a.m. for the 10:00 seating, and it works Thursday to Monday, when DeLoach is open.
About $115 to $145 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 Iron Horse?
Yes. Every tasting is by reservation, with seatings on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and weekends are best booked about two weeks ahead. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Iron Horse?
$35 per person for the Tasting with a View, as of September 2026. Two tasting fees are waived with a purchase of 6 or more bottles.
Can children visit Iron Horse?
Yes, children are welcome if they are supervised at all times. Pets are not allowed.
Is Iron Horse the sparkling wine served at the White House?
Yes. Iron Horse sparkling wines were poured at the Reagan-Gorbachev summit meetings and have been served at the White House since 1985, under seven consecutive administrations.
Is the tasting at Iron Horse indoors?
No. The tasting area is outdoors, with views across the vineyards and Sonoma County to Mount St. Helena. The Green Valley is one of the coolest parts of Sonoma County, so bring a layer.
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":"Iron Horse Vineyards","url":"https://www.ironhorsevineyards.com/","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"9786 Ross Station Road","addressLocality":"Sebastopol","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95472","addressCountry":"US"},"foundingDate":"1976"},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a reservation at Iron Horse?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Every tasting is by reservation, with seatings on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and weekends are best booked about two weeks ahead. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at Iron Horse?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"$35 per person for the Tasting with a View, as of September 2026. Two tasting fees are waived with a purchase of 6 or more bottles."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can children visit Iron Horse?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, children are welcome if they are supervised at all times. Pets are not allowed."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is Iron Horse the sparkling wine served at the White House?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Iron Horse sparkling wines were poured at the Reagan-Gorbachev summit meetings and have been served at the White House since 1985, under seven consecutive administrations."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is the tasting at Iron Horse indoors?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. The tasting area is outdoors, with views across the vineyards and Sonoma County to Mount St. Helena. The Green Valley is one of the coolest parts of Sonoma County, so bring a layer."}},{"@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."}}]}]}