Sonoma Valley · Sonoma County
Visit MacLaren Wines with a Private Chauffeur
Cool-climate Syrah poured by the winemaker himself in a small cottage in Kenwood, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
MacLaren is Steve Law's Scottish clan name. A native Scot, Steve began a tech career in Paris in his 20s and toured France's wine regions, and Syrah from Saint-Joseph and Côte-Rôtie in the northern Rhône became his obsession; the Rhône vigneron Yves Cuilleron befriended him and advised him in his early days. Michael Talty gave Steve his first winery job in Dry Creek Valley in 2006, and the first MacLaren, a 2007 Dry Creek Valley Syrah, was made in Talty's cellar. Steve runs the winery with his wife, Heather.
That first vintage came out bolder than Steve wanted, and it pushed him toward the elegant side of Syrah: balanced, lower in alcohol and made for the table. He buys from fog-cooled sites, mostly in the Russian River and Bennett valleys, such as Vivio, Steiner Ranch and Greywacke, and farms Boars Rock, the estate vineyard in Kenwood at the foot of Hood Mountain. Viognier, Roussanne, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc round out the list, and Wine & Spirits named MacLaren a Winery to Watch in 2014.
Few tastings in wine country are hosted by the person who made the wine. Here Steve pours himself, in a cottage on Adobe Canyon Road, guiding you through limited-production Syrah, Pinot Noir, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc and the vineyards behind them. Forbes Travel Guide described the room, with its A-frame, white walls and big communal table, as "pure California." It is small and unhurried, and a good place to change your mind about Syrah.
Tasting Fees
$50 for the Signature Tasting Experience, hosted by winemaker Steve Law.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
211 Adobe Canyon Road, Kenwood
AVA
Sonoma Valley
Visiting
By appointment only; we request the tasting through the form on the winery's website. Days and times are confirmed when we book.
Known For
Single-vineyard, cool-climate Syrah, and tastings hosted by winemaker Steve Law
Founded
2007 (first vintage)
Good to Know
The winemaker hosts each tasting, so appointments are limited. The Signature Tasting Experience is complimentary for wine club members and a limited number of guests. Virtual tastings by Zoom are also offered.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a Kenwood or Glen Ellen hotel such as Kenwood Inn & Spa or Gaige House.
10:00 · Pickup at Kenwood Inn & Spa or Gaige House
Kenwood Inn & Spa, on the Sonoma Highway in Kenwood, is about 10 minutes from MacLaren, and Gaige House, a Japanese-inspired inn along Calabazas Creek in Glen Ellen, about 15. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · MacLaren Wines
The Signature Tasting Experience with winemaker Steve Law ($50). We plan about an hour.
11:25 · Annadel Estate Winery
About 10 minutes away. A 33-acre estate at the north end of Sonoma Valley, first established as a winery in 1880 by Henry and Anna Bolle, where the tasting takes in the historic ruins and the vineyard. Owners Katie Honey and Dan Whalen work with winemaker Drew Damskey on estate Merlot, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. The private tasting is $75, about 75 minutes, for one party of up to 6. By reservation only, daily.
12:50 · Lunch at Salt+Stone
About 10 minutes away. A steakhouse, seafood grill and oyster bar among the vineyards on the Sonoma Highway in Kenwood, with craft cocktails and tables overlooking a koi pond. Lunch is served Thursday to Tuesday. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:30 · Auteur Wines
About 30 minutes away. Kenneth and Laura Juhasz's Pinot Noir and Chardonnay house, with Anderson Valley wines that The Jeb Dunnuck Report has rated 97 points, pouring in its original 1915 bungalow a block off the Sonoma Plaza, inside or on the shady back patio. Two seated tastings, single-vineyard or appellation flights, are prepaid when booked; the fee is confirmed when we reserve. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3:30 · Back to your hotel
Back in Kenwood and Glen Ellen by 4:00 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. MacLaren is by appointment only, so we confirm Steve Law's time first and build the day around it. Salt+Stone serves lunch every day but Wednesday.
About $125 per person in tasting fees for MacLaren and Annadel, plus Auteur's tasting fee, which is to be verified upon reservation. Fees are 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 MacLaren Wines?
Yes. Tastings are by appointment only, requested through the winery's online form. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at MacLaren Wines?
$50 per person for the Signature Tasting Experience, as of September 2026. It is complimentary for wine club members.
Who makes MacLaren wines?
Steve Law, a native Scot who fell for northern Rhône Syrah while working in France. He makes the wines, hosts the tastings and runs MacLaren with his wife, Heather.
What is MacLaren known for?
Cool-climate Syrah from single vineyards in the Russian River and Bennett valleys and its Kenwood estate, made in a balanced, lower-alcohol, food-friendly style, along with Viognier and Pinot Noir.
Where is MacLaren?
At the MacLaren cottage, 211 Adobe Canyon Road in Kenwood, at the north end of Sonoma Valley.
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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