Sonoma Valley · Sonoma County
Visit La Chertosa Wines with a Private Chauffeur
Sam Sebastiani's small label of Italian varieties grown in Sonoma Valley's red soils, named for the Tuscan monastery where his grandfather learned to make wine. La Chertosa 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
Sam Sebastiani launched La Chertosa Wines in 2007 as a small, personal label honoring his family's winemaking. His grandfather Samuele came to California in 1895 and founded Sebastiani Winery in Sonoma in 1904. Sam joined Sebastiani Vineyards in 1967, took over its management after his father August died in 1980, and founded Viansa Winery in 1985. He now makes La Chertosa with Derek Irwin, his former enologist at Viansa, while his wife Robin works on label design, marketing, blending and hospitality. Production is under 1,200 cases a year.
The name comes from the 14th-century monastery in Farneta, in Tuscany, where Samuele learned to make wine. The wines are mostly Italian varieties grown in the red soil of Sonoma Valley: current releases include a 2023 Reserve Chardonnay, the 2023 Don Silvio Reserve Sangiovese, the 2023 Eye of the Swan Aleatico Rosé and the 2022 Winemaker Remembrance Reserve Superior Barbera. The Barbera comes from heritage vines at about 1,000 feet in Red Hill series soil at Wildwood Vineyards, farmed by the Kunde family, a partnership between Sam and Keith Kunde.
There is no tasting room. La Chertosa lists an office on Quarry Hill Road in Sonoma but offers no tours or tastings. The wines are sold online, through the wine club and at a short list of shops and restaurants, including Sonoma Market, Broadway Market and the Swiss Hotel in Sonoma. The day below stays in Sonoma Valley, starting at the winery Samuele founded and ending at the Kunde estate in Kenwood.
Tasting Fees
La Chertosa does not offer tastings.
On the day below, Sebastiani's Family Table tasting is $25, the Bedrock Heritage Tasting is $45, and Kunde's bar tasting is $25 ($45 for the seated Kinneybrook Tasting).
Tasting fees as of October 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
Sonoma
AVA
Sonoma Valley
Visiting
La Chertosa has no tasting room and does not offer tours or tastings; the wines are sold online, through its wine club and at selected retailers.
Known For
Small-lot Italian varieties from Sonoma Valley red soil, such as Sangiovese, Barbera and an Aleatico rosé, made by Sam Sebastiani
Founded
2007
Good to Know
Buy at lachertosawines.com or through the wine club, or look for the wines at the Sonoma shops and restaurants listed on the site, such as Sonoma Market and the Swiss Hotel. Contact (707) 935-2942 or info@lachertosawines.com.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a hotel in Sonoma such as MacArthur Place or El Dorado Hotel.
10:00 · Pickup at MacArthur Place or El Dorado Hotel
Since La Chertosa does not host visitors, this day takes you to three sought-after estates nearby that do. Both hotels are in the town of Sonoma, a few minutes from the first stop. The day runs about five and a half hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:10 · Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery
About 5 minutes away. The winery Samuele Sebastiani founded in 1904, a few blocks from the Sonoma Plaza, where the La Chertosa story begins. The Family Table tasting of five wines at the bar is $25, and walk-ins are welcome. We plan about 45 minutes.
11:05 · Bedrock Wine Co.
About 5 minutes away. Old-vine wines poured 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; we plan about an hour.
12:15 · Lunch at the girl & the fig
A short walk across the plaza. Lunch at the girl & the fig on West Spain Street, a long-running Sonoma restaurant for French country cooking made with local ingredients. 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.
1:35 · Kunde Family Winery
About 20 minutes away. A family estate in Kenwood since 1904, with caves in volcanic rock; the Kunde family also farms the Wildwood Vineyards site behind La Chertosa's Barbera. The bar tasting in the 202 Lounge is $25 with no reservation needed, and the seated Kinneybrook Tasting with cheese and charcuterie is $45, about 90 minutes.
3:05 · Back to your hotel
Back in Sonoma by about 3:30 p.m., about five and a half hours after pickup.
All three wineries are open daily, and Bedrock is by appointment, which we book. For a longer day, we can add Viansa in Carneros, the winery Sam Sebastiani founded in 1985, where the Classic Bar Tasting is $25.
About $95 per person in tasting fees ($115 with the seated Kinneybrook Tasting at Kunde), 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 La Chertosa Wines?
No. La Chertosa has no tasting room and offers no tours or tastings, as of October 2026. We can plan a day at nearby wineries that do.
How can I buy La Chertosa wine?
Online at lachertosawines.com, through the wine club, or at the retailers and restaurants listed on its site, including Sonoma Market and the Swiss Hotel in Sonoma.
Who makes La Chertosa?
Sam Sebastiani, grandson of Sebastiani Winery founder Samuele Sebastiani and founder of Viansa, working with his former Viansa enologist Derek Irwin. Production is under 1,200 cases a year.
What does the name La Chertosa mean?
It is named for the 14th-century monastery in Farneta, Tuscany, where Samuele Sebastiani learned to make wine before coming to California in 1895.
Where do La Chertosa's grapes come from?
Sonoma Valley's red soils. The Winemaker Remembrance Barbera comes from heritage vines at about 1,000 feet at Wildwood Vineyards, farmed by the Kunde family.
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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