Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Korbel with a Private Chauffeur
A free cellar tour and California champagne tastings at a historic winery on the Russian River, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Francis Korbel and his two brothers, immigrants from Bohemia, founded Korbel in 1882 on the Russian River near Guerneville. The winery has made sparkling wine by méthode champenoise ever since. Brothers Paul and Adolf Heck bought Korbel in 1954, and Adolf's son Gary Heck took over in 1982. F. Korbel & Bros. is still privately owned by the Heck family.
In méthode champenoise, the traditional method of Champagne, the wine's second fermentation takes place in the same bottle it is sold in. Under Gary Heck, Korbel grew from 150,000 to about 1.6 million cases a year, and it is one of the best-known American sparkling wines, poured at presidential inaugurations. Korbel still labels its wine California champagne, a name U.S. law lets long-established American producers keep. It also makes brandy.
The historic winery sits among the vineyards on River Road. A free walking tour of the museum and cellar runs twice a day and ends with a taste of champagne, and flights of four are poured at the tasting bar with no reservation. A deli and market serves lunch on outdoor tables over the vineyards.
Tasting Fees
Free for the one-hour tour of the museum and cellar, with a taste of champagne. $15 for a flight of four tastes at the bar, bubbly or wine, walk-in only. $25 per person for a private seated tasting of five for groups of 7 or more, by 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
13250 River Road, Guerneville
AVA
Russian River Valley
Visiting
Open daily, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with tastings from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and tours at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. No reservations needed for tours or bar tastings. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter.
Known For
California champagne made by méthode champenoise, and Korbel brandy
Founded
1882
Good to Know
Tours and bar tastings are first come, first served. Groups of 7 or more should reserve a private seated tasting. Leashed dogs are welcome on the outdoor decks. No outside food, drink or picnics, and no food in the tastings.
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 15 minutes from Korbel, and Vinarosa Resort & Spa, set among 92 acres of vineyards in Santa Rosa, is about 30 minutes away, in time for the 10:30 a.m. tour. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Korbel Champagne Cellars
The free 10:30 a.m. tour of the museum and cellar, about an hour with a taste of champagne, then a flight of four at the bar ($15).
12:10 · Emeritus Vineyards
About 25 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 Willow Wood Market Cafe
About 5 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. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:35 · Balletto Vineyards
About 15 minutes away. A family winery west of Santa Rosa, where John and Terri Balletto turned what was once the largest vegetable farm in Northern California into estate vineyards, with a first vintage in 2001. The seated Estate Wine Tasting of five vineyard-designate wines is $30 for 60 minutes, or $15 for a 30-minute flight of three at the bar. Walk-ins welcome; open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3:35 · Back to your hotel
Back in Forestville or Santa Rosa by 4:00 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. The fourth stop is there if the day allows.
About $70 to $85 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 Korbel?
No. Tours and bar tastings are first come, first served. Groups of 7 or more should reserve a private seated tasting. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Korbel?
The cellar tour is free, and a flight of four at the bar is $15 per person, as of September 2026. Seated tastings for groups of 7 or more are $25 per person.
When are the Korbel tours?
Daily at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The tour of the museum and cellar lasts about an hour and ends with a taste of champagne.
Why does Korbel call its wine champagne?
U.S. rules let producers that used the name before 2006 keep calling their sparkling wine champagne alongside an American place of origin, so Korbel labels its wines California champagne.
Who owns Korbel?
The Heck family, since brothers Paul and Adolf Heck bought it in 1954. Francis Korbel and his brothers founded the winery in 1882.
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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