Los Carneros · Sonoma County
Visit Skylark Wine Company with a Private Chauffeur
Rhône-style Syrah and Grenache and an Alsace-inspired Pinot Blanc from two San Francisco sommeliers, one of whom paints every label. Skylark does not receive visitors; here is what to know, and a day at sought-after estates nearby that do host.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Skylark is the project of two longtime San Francisco restaurant wine professionals. Co-proprietor John Lancaster, a Washington State University graduate, was wine director at the Cypress Club, where Wine Spectator recognized his list, and then at the James Beard award-winning Boulevard. Co-proprietor Robert Perkins, a painter trained at the San Francisco Art Institute, worked as a sommelier at Greens and Boulevard and in production at small wineries including Nalle, Scherrer and Sean Thackrey; his designs are on every Skylark label.
The wines reflect their palates: crisp, aromatic whites and full, spicy reds. The Pinot Blanc, from the Orsi Vineyard in Mendocino, is a California take on the whites of Alsace and Austria. The single-vineyard Syrahs, such as Rodgers Creek on the Sonoma Coast, which Jeb Dunnuck rated 91 points, and Bennett Beach, are inspired by Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage, and the Grenache by the southern Rhône. Red Belly, Pink Belly Rosé and the blend Las Aves round out the range, and a second label, Alondra, offers Chardonnay, Syrah and Cabernet.
Skylark's winery is licensed on 8th Street East, south of the town of Sonoma, and it sells them online and through its wine club. There is no public tasting room; club members can arrange barrel tastings by appointment. For a day in the same corner of Sonoma, we take guests to small estates nearby that do open their doors.
Tasting Fees
Skylark does not offer public tastings.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
21684 8th Street East, Sonoma
AVA
Los Carneros
Visiting
Skylark has no public tasting room. Wine club members are offered barrel tasting tours by appointment.
Known For
Single-vineyard Syrah, Grenache and Pinot Blanc, with hand-painted labels
Founded
Not published
Good to Know
Buy the wines online or through the wine club, which ships in spring and fall and includes priority access to allocated and library wines. To reach the owners, contact John Lancaster or Robert Perkins through the winery's website.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a Sonoma hotel such as MacArthur Place or Ledson Hotel.
10:00 · Pickup at MacArthur Place or Ledson Hotel
MacArthur Place, a few blocks south of the plaza, and Ledson Hotel, on the east side of the Sonoma Plaza, are each about 10 minutes from Sonocaia. Since Skylark does not host visitors, this day takes you to three sought-after estates nearby that do. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:10 · Sonocaia Estate
About 10 minutes away. Ken and Cynthia Wornick's 11-acre organic farm on Hyde Road, with an estate vineyard of Sagrantino, the dark red grape of Montefalco in Umbria, plus olives, bees, chickens and a fruit orchard. A tasting at the winery, poolside or in the cabin is $50, about 90 minutes, and the two-hour farm tour with a tasting is $75; both fees are refundable with purchase. By appointment only.
11:50 · Darling Wines
About 10 minutes away. Darling Wines began in 2017 with two barrels of organic Petaluma Gap Syrah that went on the list at Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bistro, and now works with small family growers from western Sonoma to Mendocino Ridge. The downtown tasting room books its Current Release tasting with a $45 deposit; the final fee is confirmed when we book. Thursday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment.
1:05 · Lunch at Angelo's Wine Country Deli
About 15 minutes away. A deli on the Carneros Highway, the Sonoma outpost of Angelo's smokehouse in Petaluma, with made-to-order sandwiches, jerky and picnic-ready snacks. Open from 9:30 a.m.; closed Tuesday. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:20 · Sojourn Cellars
About 15 minutes away. Erich Bradley's Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet house, started in 2001 with his tennis partner Craig Haserot. The Tasting Salon off the Sonoma Plaza pours the same grape from different regions side by side, the clearest way to see what a vineyard does to a wine. The seated Comparative Tasting is $45, about 60 minutes. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., by prepaid reservation.
3:20 · Back to your hotel
Back in Sonoma by 3:25 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. Darling opens Thursday to Sunday and Angelo's closes on Tuesday, so this day works Thursday to Sunday.
About $95 per person in tasting fees for Sonocaia and Sojourn, paid directly to each winery; Darling takes a $45 deposit, and its final fee is 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
Can you visit Skylark Wine Company?
Not as a public visitor. Skylark has no tasting room, as of September 2026; wine club members can arrange barrel tastings by appointment.
How can I buy Skylark wine?
Online from the winery or through its wine club, which ships in spring and fall.
Who owns Skylark Wine Company?
Co-proprietors John Lancaster and Robert Perkins, both longtime San Francisco restaurant wine professionals. Robert paints the labels.
What is Skylark known for?
Rhône-style single-vineyard Syrah and Grenache, and a Pinot Blanc from the Orsi Vineyard in Mendocino.
Where is Skylark made?
Skylark's winery is licensed on 8th Street East, south of the town of Sonoma in Los Carneros. It is not open to visitors.
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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