Alexander Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Skipstone with a Private Chauffeur
A private mountain estate in a horseshoe-shaped bowl above Alexander Valley, with allocated Cabernet and its own olive grove, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Fahri and Constance Diner found this estate in 2001. Fahri, a native of Cyprus and a third-generation olive farmer, spent his career as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist; Constance, with roots in Germany, Belgium and Switzerland, led marketing and events for Cartier, Rolex and Formula 1. Philippe Melka, the Bordeaux-trained consultant who worked at Haut-Brion, Pétrus and Dominus, has advised on the wines since 2006, and winemaker Laura Jones, formerly of Aubert, Cliff Lede and Domaine Armand Rousseau, now oversees farming and production. Skipstone has recently opened a new estate winery.
Skipstone sits between two hillsides in the mountains above Alexander Valley, where the vineyard forms a natural amphitheater inside a horseshoe-shaped mountain. Of the estate's 200 acres, 27 are vineyard, farmed without chemical herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers, and the rest is olive groves, orchards, culinary gardens and wooded hillside. The flagship is Oliver's Blend, a Cabernet Sauvignon from the gravelly hillsides, alongside Faultline Vineyard, a Cabernet Franc and Merlot, and Sofia's Vineyard Cabernet. Seven acres of Manzanillo olives line the drive, and every dollar from the olive oil goes to the local volunteer firefighters.
Every visit is private and by appointment, and it feels like being a guest at someone's ranch rather than at a tasting room. The drive up Geysers Road and through the olive trees sets the tone. The Foundation Tasting is a private flight of allocated current releases, and the Stepping Stone Tasting is served in a salon overlooking Alexander Valley. Collectors can go further with the Retrospective Tasting of library vintages, and the estate's five-bedroom Residence can be rented for stays of a few days, each including a private tasting and estate tour.
Tasting Fees
$95 for the Stepping Stone Tasting of current, non-allocated releases in the tasting salon, 45 to 60 minutes. $150 for the private Foundation Tasting of allocated current releases, 60 to 90 minutes. $250 for the private Retrospective Tasting of library vintages and strictly allocated wines, 90 minutes.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
2505 Geysers Road, Geyserville
AVA
Alexander Valley
Visiting
Private visits by appointment, offered daily, for groups of up to 12 guests (up to 10 for the Stepping Stone Tasting). We arrange the appointment on your behalf.
Known For
Oliver's Blend Cabernet Sauvignon and Faultline Vineyard Cabernet Franc and Merlot
Founded
2001 (estate acquired by the Diner family)
Good to Know
One Foundation Tasting fee is waived with each $500 purchase, and one Retrospective fee with each $1,000 purchase, or on joining the membership, subject to tier. The Stepping Stone Tasting is at a communal table with other guests. The Residence sleeps up to ten and stays include a private tasting and estate tour.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 9:55 a.m. from a Healdsburg hotel such as Hotel Healdsburg or h2hotel.
9:55 · Pickup at Hotel Healdsburg or h2hotel
Hotel Healdsburg, on the town plaza, and h2hotel, just off the Healdsburg plaza, are each about 5 minutes from Ramey Wine Cellars, our first stop. Ramey seats at 10 a.m. and Skipstone hosts by appointment, so we head up to Skipstone second. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:00 · Ramey Wine Cellars
About 5 minutes away. David Ramey, who worked at Château Pétrus, Chalk Hill, Matanzas Creek, Dominus and Rudd, founded Ramey Wine Cellars in 1996, and his Chardonnays earned him the nickname Professor Chardonnay; his children Claire and Alan have run it since 2021. The seated tasting of six wines, in a private upstairs parlor overlooking the cellar a few blocks from the plaza, is $50 and about 90 minutes. By appointment, daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
11:55 · Skipstone
About 25 minutes away. The private Foundation Tasting of allocated current releases ($150), or the Stepping Stone Tasting in the salon over the valley ($95).
1:20 · Lunch at Diavola
About 10 minutes away. Chef Dino Bugica's restaurant in a historic building on Geyserville Avenue, with Neapolitan-style pizza from a wood-burning oven, handmade pasta and house-cured salumi. Lunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:30 · Bellacana Vineyards
About 10 minutes away. The first tribally owned winery in the United States, owned by the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, on a 138-acre estate along the Russian River; the name means beautiful river, and the label shows a Pomo basket. The Estate Tasting is $125, and the Bread & Butter Experience, a Brut and three estate Cabernets side by side with truffle chips, baguette, butters, coppa and Manchego, is $150. By appointment only.
3:30 · Back to your hotel
Back in Healdsburg by 3:55 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. Skipstone and Bellacana are by appointment, so we confirm both times when we book.
About $270 to $325 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 Skipstone?
Yes. Every visit is private and by appointment, offered daily for up to 12 guests. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Skipstone?
$95 per person for the Stepping Stone Tasting, $150 for the private Foundation Tasting and $250 for the Retrospective Tasting of library wines, as of September 2026.
Who makes the wine at Skipstone?
Winemaker Laura Jones oversees farming and production, and Philippe Melka has consulted on the wines since 2006. Fahri and Constance Diner own the estate.
What is Skipstone known for?
Oliver's Blend, a Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate's gravelly hillsides, and Faultline Vineyard, a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The estate also makes certified organic olive oil, with all revenue going to local volunteer firefighters.
Can you stay at Skipstone?
Yes. The five-bedroom Residence on the estate sleeps up to ten guests, and every stay includes a private Skipstone tasting and estate tour.
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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