Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Littorai with a Private Chauffeur
A family farm winery run on generative agriculture by a winemaker trained in Burgundy, with walking tours of the Pivot Vineyard, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Ted Lemon earned an enology degree in Dijon in 1981 and became the first American hired as winemaker and vineyard manager of a Burgundy estate, Domaine Guy Roulot in Meursault, before working at Roumier, Dujac and other Burgundy domaines. His wife, Heidi, worked at Napa wineries including Chandon and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. In 1992 they spent months in vineyards from Seattle to Santa Barbara and settled on the coastal hills of Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Littorai, from the Latin for "the coasts", began in 1993 with 150 cases each of One Acre Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley and Mays Canyon Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast.
Littorai was the first to vineyard-designate Charles Heintz Chardonnay and the Savoy, Roman, Cerise and Wendling Pinot Noirs, and has the longest-running contract with Hirsch Vineyards. From 2000 the Lemons began buying and leasing their own land, and today production is split evenly between estate and grower vineyards. The wines are made without cultured yeasts, acidification or enzymes, and the Lemons say they do not make wines for competitions or ratings. The San Francisco Chronicle named Ted its Winemaker of the Year in 2010.
Since 2003 the Lemons have been building the Gold Ridge Estate into a self-sustaining farm, and they finished the winery here in 2008. The tour is the reason to come: a walk through the Pivot Vineyard and the farm to see how they make their compost and preparations, recycle water and graze animals among the vines, then a private tasting of single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Tastings are kept to 6 guests or fewer, in the cellar or on covered patios over 30 acres of rolling hills.
Tasting Fees
$70 for the Single Vineyard Tasting of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. $90 for the Gold Ridge Estate Tour & Tasting.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
788 Gold Ridge Road, Sebastopol
AVA
Russian River Valley
Visiting
By advance appointment only, Monday to Saturday; tastings are hosted 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the estate tour in the afternoon (mornings on request). No drop-ins.
Known For
Single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast and Anderson Valley
Founded
1993 (Gold Ridge Estate winery completed 2008)
Good to Know
Groups of 6 or fewer. The estate tour is a walk through the vineyard and farm before the tasting, so plan on comfortable shoes.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a Sebastopol hotel such as The Sebastopol Inn, or 9:45 from Farmhouse Inn in Forestville.
10:00 · Pickup at The Sebastopol Inn or Farmhouse Inn
The Sebastopol Inn, in downtown Sebastopol, is about 15 minutes from Littorai, and Farmhouse Inn, a 25-room country inn among the vineyards and redwoods of Forestville, about 30, so from Forestville we leave at 9:45. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Littorai
The Single Vineyard Tasting ($70), or ask us to book the Gold Ridge Estate Tour & Tasting ($90) for a morning walk of the farm.
11:30 · Kanzler Vineyards
About 15 minutes away. The Kanzler family's 20-acre Pinot Noir estate in the Sebastopol Hills, planted in 1996 on an old apple orchard; Kosta Browne has made a Kanzler vineyard-designate wine every year since 2002. The private, seated tasting starts with the Estate Chardonnay and a walk to the vines, then a flight of Pinot Noirs ($75, about 90 minutes, up to 8 guests). By appointment.
1:15 · 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.
2:25 · Pax Wines
About 5 minutes away. Pax and Pamela Mahle's urban winery at The Barlow in Sebastopol, with roll-up garage doors and vinyl on the turntable; Pax made his name with cool-climate Syrah, crushed by foot. The Private Tasting & Cellar Tour, at least eight wines with a cheese and salumi board and a walk through the working cellar, is $95 and about 90 minutes; 21 and over. Open daily from 11 a.m.; we reserve ahead.
3:55 · Back to your hotel
Back in Sebastopol by 4:00 p.m., or Forestville by 4:20, about six and a half hours after pickup.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. This day works Monday to Saturday, when Littorai hosts, and ends around 4:00 in Sebastopol; Kanzler and the Pax cellar tour each run about 90 minutes.
About $240 to $260 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 an appointment at Littorai?
Yes. Littorai hosts by advance appointment only, Monday to Saturday, and does not take drop-ins. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Littorai?
$70 per person for the Single Vineyard Tasting and $90 for the Gold Ridge Estate Tour & Tasting, as of September 2026.
How many people can visit Littorai together?
Tastings are limited to groups of 6 or fewer.
Who owns Littorai?
Ted and Heidi Lemon, who founded it in 1993. Ted trained in Burgundy and was the first American to run a domaine there, Guy Roulot in Meursault.
What does the Littorai estate tour show?
A walk through the Pivot Vineyard and the Gold Ridge farm, where the Lemons make their own compost and preparations, recycle water and graze animals in the vineyard, followed by a private tasting.
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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