Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Porter-Bass with a Private Chauffeur
A century-old vineyard in a saddle between two redwood ridges at the top of Mays Canyon, with seated tastings for no more than 10, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Dirck and Sue Bass found this century-old vineyard at the top of Mays Canyon, between Guerneville and Forestville, in 1980, and over the years they brought it back to life. They have sold grapes to wineries such as DeLoach, and the estate wines are made by Luke Bass, who learned his craft under Greg La Follette at Flowers, then worked harvests in South Africa and Chile before returning to Sonoma County to work at Tandem and Hirsch.
The vineyard sits nine miles from the ocean, in a saddle between two ridgetops, where the Russian River bends in an oxbow around the ridges and lets the fog drift up to the foot of the vines. A forest of redwood and fir shelters the vines from strong winds and from neighboring vineyards. Being on the western edge of the Russian River Valley makes it cool enough for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel that are naturally high in acid, with sugars low enough for balanced wines that age gracefully, and the vineyard is farmed biodynamically. "Poco a poco," little by little, has been the saying around the vineyard for as long as anyone can remember.
Visits are by appointment only, and the tasting is small and personal: seating is limited to 10 guests, indoors and out. The drive up Mays Canyon Road, through the redwoods above the river, is part of the experience, and it is a good fit for guests who want to taste estate wines with the family that grows them, far from the busier tasting rooms.
Tasting Fees
Porter-Bass does not publish its tasting fee. Tasting fees to be verified upon 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
11750 Mays Canyon Road, Guerneville
AVA
Russian River Valley
Visiting
Tastings by appointment; reservations required. The winery does not publish its days and times, so we confirm them when we book.
Known For
Estate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel from a cool vineyard at the top of Mays Canyon
Founded
1980 (vineyard bought by Dirck and Sue Bass)
Good to Know
Seating is limited to 10 guests, indoors and outdoors. The winery is at the top of Mays Canyon Road, in the hills between Guerneville and Forestville.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 9:40 a.m. from Farmhouse Inn in Forestville, or 9:45 from boon hotel + spa in Guerneville.
9:40 · Pickup at Farmhouse Inn or boon hotel + spa
Farmhouse Inn, a 25-room country inn among the vineyards and redwoods of Forestville, is about 20 minutes from Porter-Bass, and boon hotel + spa, in Guerneville, about 15. We pick up at 9:40 in Forestville and 9:45 in Guerneville for a 10 a.m. appointment. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:00 · Porter-Bass
A seated tasting of the estate wines, about an hour (fee confirmed when we book).
11:25 · DRNK Wines
About 25 minutes away. Ryan Kunde, of the fifth generation of the Kunde winegrowing family, ages his wines in a hidden 300-foot cave atop Laguna Ridge, one of only four in the Russian River Valley. The Cave Tour & Patio Tasting is $35, and the Private Cave Tasting $75. Open Friday to Sunday, by appointment only; families and leashed dogs welcome.
12:30 · 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., with brunch on Sundays. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:00 · Woodenhead Vintners
About 20 minutes away. Nikolai Stez spent 17 harvests as assistant winemaker to Burt Williams at Williams Selyem before making his own small-lot Pinot Noir and Zinfandel here with his partner, Zina Bower; guests taste inside or out on a deck over the valley, at the top of a winding driveway off River Road. There is a nominal tasting fee, confirmed when we book. Drop-ins welcome Thursday to Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
3:00 · Back to your hotel
Back in Forestville by 3:10 p.m., or Guerneville by 3:30, less than six hours after pickup.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. This day works Friday to Sunday, when DRNK hosts tastings and Woodenhead is open; Porter-Bass sets its appointment times when we book.
About $35 per person in tasting fees for the DRNK cave tour ($75 for the private cave tasting), paid directly to the winery; the Porter-Bass and Woodenhead fees are to be verified upon reservation.
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 Porter-Bass?
Yes. Tastings are by appointment only, and seating is limited to 10 guests. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Porter-Bass?
Porter-Bass does not publish its tasting fee, so tasting fees are to be verified upon reservation.
Who owns Porter-Bass?
Dirck and Sue Bass, who found the century-old vineyard in 1980. Luke Bass is the winemaker.
What wines does Porter-Bass make?
Estate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel from the vineyard at the top of Mays Canyon, and a few wines from other growers, such as a Mendocino County Sauvignon Blanc from Mi Hija Vineyard in Redwood Valley.
Where is Porter-Bass?
At 11750 Mays Canyon Road, at the top of the canyon in the hills between Guerneville and Forestville, about 15 minutes from downtown Guerneville.
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.
Reserve Your Tour{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Winery","name":"Porter-Bass Vineyard & Winery","url":"https://porter-bass.com/","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"11750 Mays Canyon Road","addressLocality":"Guerneville","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95446","addressCountry":"US"},"foundingDate":"1980"},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a reservation at Porter-Bass?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Tastings are by appointment only, and seating is limited to 10 guests. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at Porter-Bass?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Porter-Bass does not publish its tasting fee, so tasting fees are to be verified upon reservation."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who owns Porter-Bass?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Dirck and Sue Bass, who found the century-old vineyard in 1980. Luke Bass is the winemaker."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What wines does Porter-Bass make?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Estate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel from the vineyard at the top of Mays Canyon, and a few wines from other growers, such as a Mendocino County Sauvignon Blanc from Mi Hija Vineyard in Redwood Valley."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Where is Porter-Bass?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"At 11750 Mays Canyon Road, at the top of the canyon in the hills between Guerneville and Forestville, about 15 minutes from downtown Guerneville."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How does booking a tour with Bien Chauffeured work?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"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."}}]}]}