Sonoma Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Little Vineyards Family Winery with a Private Chauffeur
Joan and Rich Little's family estate on Highway 12 in Glen Ellen, pouring estate Cabernet, Syrah, Zinfandel and the Band Blend on a vineyard patio, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Little Vineyards Family Winery is a small, family-owned estate in Glen Ellen, in the middle of the Sonoma Valley. Joan and Rich Little bought the property from the Hanford family in 1996, restored its century-old farmhouse, raised four children there and planted 17.5 acres of vineyard. Joan's brother, Ted Coleman, joined them as winemaker, and in 2002 they bonded the winery, keeping production to no more than 2,500 cases a year.
The wines are estate-grown reds: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel and the Band Blend, named for Rich's other passion, writing and playing music with his bands. A block the family calls the Spice Rack grows Cabernet Franc, Montepulciano, Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot. The vineyard runs down gravelly, well-drained soil toward Sonoma Creek, between the Mayacamas and Sonoma Mountain.
Tastings are on the patio with views over the estate vines, in a relaxed, music-filled setting. Walk-ins are welcome Friday to Sunday, and reservations are available online for groups of up to 12. Leashed dogs are welcome outdoors, and picnic tables can be reserved. We confirm current details when we book.
Tasting Fees
$25 per person for the Estate Wine Tasting, four current releases led by a winery host. $40 per person for the Reserve Wine Tasting of four gold-medal wines. $20 per person to reserve a picnic table, with a minimum purchase of one bottle per two people. Guests who are not tasting pay a $10 surcharge, and wine club members taste free. We confirm the current price when we book.
Tasting fees as of October 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
15188 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen
AVA
Sonoma Valley
Visiting
Open Friday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome; reservations are recommended and can be made online for groups of up to 12. Larger groups contact the winery directly.
Known For
Estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel, and the Band Blend, a red blend named for the family's music
Founded
2002 (the Little family bought the property in 1996)
Good to Know
The driveway is on Highway 12, marked by a Little Vineyards Family Winery sign, and GPS can point to the wrong spot; we know the way. Leashed dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas. Food is not allowed during tastings, but a picnic table can be reserved for your own picnic. Guests who are not tasting pay a $10 surcharge. Wine club members taste free.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:45 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Gaige House or Beltane Ranch. Little Vineyards is about 5 to 10 minutes away and opens at 11.
10:45 · Pickup at Gaige House or Beltane Ranch
Little Vineyards is about 5 minutes from Gaige House, an inn on Arnold Drive in Glen Ellen, and about 10 minutes from Beltane Ranch, a working ranch on Highway 12 between Glen Ellen and Kenwood. Every stop today is within about 10 minutes of the next. Extra time can be added by the hour.
11:00 · Little Vineyards Family Winery
The Reserve Wine Tasting of four gold-medal estate wines ($40 per person), or the Estate Wine Tasting of four current releases ($25), on the patio over the vineyard. Walk-ins are welcome, but we reserve ahead; plan on about an hour.
12:15 · Lunch at Yeti
About 10 minutes away. Lunch at Yeti, 14301 Arnold Drive in Glen Ellen, an Indian and Nepali restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, open Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. We confirm hours when we book. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one, including a reserved table at Little Vineyards; the cost is quoted when you book.
1:30 · Eric Ross Winery
About 2 minutes away. A small Glen Ellen winery started by two San Francisco newspaper photographers, pouring single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Albariño and Grenache across the road from lunch. The tasting is $30 per person, refunded with a three-bottle purchase; we book the 1:30 appointment.
2:50 · B.R. Cohn Winery
About 10 minutes away. The Glen Ellen estate of old-vine Cabernet and olive trees founded by the Doobie Brothers' manager, just down Highway 12 from Little Vineyards. The guided Wine Flight of four wines is $40, about 90 minutes; the last tasting starts at 4 p.m.
4:30 · Back to your hotel
Back by 4:45 p.m., six hours after pickup.
Little Vineyards is open only Friday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Eric Ross keeps the same Friday to Sunday schedule, so this day is planned for a weekend. B.R. Cohn is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last tasting at 4.
About $110 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 Little Vineyards Family Winery?
No. Walk-ins are welcome Friday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but the winery recommends a reservation to guarantee a spot, and groups larger than 12 must contact the winery. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Little Vineyards?
$25 per person for the Estate Wine Tasting of four current releases, or $40 for the Reserve Wine Tasting of four gold-medal wines. Guests who are not tasting pay a $10 surcharge, and wine club members taste free. We confirm the current price when we reserve, as of October 2026.
When is Little Vineyards open?
Friday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is closed Monday to Thursday.
Who owns Little Vineyards Family Winery?
Joan and Rich Little, who bought the Glen Ellen property in 1996 and bonded the winery in 2002. Joan's brother, Ted Coleman, makes the wine.
Can I bring my dog or a picnic to Little Vineyards?
Leashed dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas. Food is not allowed during tastings, but you can reserve a picnic table for $20 per person, with a minimum purchase of one bottle per two people.
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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