Sonoma Valley · Sonoma County
Visit St. Francis Winery with a Private Chauffeur
Sonoma Valley Merlot pioneers since 1971, with a mission-style bell tower and a celebrated food pairing, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Joe Martin established St. Francis Vineyard in 1971, planting 22 acres of Chardonnay and the first 60 acres of Merlot in Sonoma Valley. After years of success as a grower, he opened the winery in 1979 with his business partner Lloyd Canton, and in 1988 St. Francis partnered with the Kopf family, whose wine and spirits business goes back to 1933, when Rudy Kopf founded the wine and spirits department at Macy's in New York. St. Francis remains family-owned.
Tom Mackey, winemaker from 1983, made St. Francis known for Merlot as a serious wine in its own right. Today Katie Madigan and Chris Louton make the wines, including the Zinfandels St. Francis is best known for, from more than 400 acres of Certified Sustainable estate vineyards in Sonoma Valley and the Russian River Valley and from long-time growers of old-vine Zinfandel. The winery, built in 1999, runs on a 457-kilowatt solar system.
Guests arrive through a mission-style bell tower whose 1,000-pound bronze bell, cast by the Marinelli Foundry in Italy, chimes every hour. Tastings are on the terrace with views of the vineyards and the mountains, and Executive Chef Peter Janiak's five-course Wine & Food Pairing was voted "#1 in America" by OpenTable diners in 2013 and 2015.
Tasting Fees
$45 for the Artisan Flight of five winery-exclusive wines on the terrace, about 75 minutes. $70 for Secrets of Sonoma, a 90-minute mezze and wine pairing. $150 for the five-course Wine & Food Pairing, about 2 hours, Thursday to Monday. $60 for the Tour de St. Francis pedal trolley vineyard tour, 90 minutes, Friday to Sunday from May to October.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
100 Pythian Road, Santa Rosa
AVA
Sonoma Valley
Visiting
Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All experiences are by reservation, and a credit card is charged 48 hours before the visit.
Known For
Zinfandel, Merlot and the Wine & Food Pairing
Founded
1971 (winery opened in 1979)
Good to Know
Children are welcome with an adult, but guests under 21 cannot join the Wine & Food Pairing, the Secrets of Sonoma pairing or the trolley tour. Friendly leashed pets are welcome, except at the Wine & Food Pairing. No outside food or drink. Artisan Flights take up to 8 guests; groups of 9 or more call ahead.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a Santa Rosa hotel such as Flamingo Resort or Hotel La Rose.
10:00 · Pickup at Flamingo Resort or Hotel La Rose
Flamingo Resort, a resort with a pool and spa on Santa Rosa's east side, is about 15 minutes from St. Francis, and Hotel La Rose, a 1907 hotel in Santa Rosa's historic Railroad Square, about 20. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:20 · St. Francis Winery
The Artisan Flight of five winery-exclusive wines on the terrace, about 75 minutes ($45).
12:00 · Paradise Ridge
About 25 minutes away. A hilltop winery above Santa Rosa with Marijke's Grove, a sculpture garden that includes the LOVE sculpture, and an exhibit on Kanaye Nagasawa of the historic Fountaingrove Winery. The Estate Tasting of four wines is $35, or $45 for the Explorer reds. Reservations recommended; tastings from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
1:10 · Lunch at Bird & The Bottle
About 10 minutes away. Chef Mark Stark's modern tavern in an old house on Fourth Street in Santa Rosa, with plates to share from a wood-fired grill and two patios. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:35 · Matanzas Creek
About 20 minutes away. Founded in 1977 with Merry Edwards as its first winemaker, and known for Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and three acres of lavender. The Estate Tasting of five wines is $35. Reservations required; open daily until 4:30 p.m.
3:35 · Back to your hotel
Back in Santa Rosa by 4:00 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. The fourth stop is there if the day allows.
About $115 to $125 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 a reservation at St. Francis Winery?
Yes. All wine experiences are by reservation, and a credit card is charged 48 hours before the visit. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at St. Francis Winery?
$45 per person for the Artisan Flight, $70 for Secrets of Sonoma and $150 for the Wine & Food Pairing, as of September 2026.
Can children visit St. Francis Winery?
Yes, with an adult supervising them at all times. Guests under 21 cannot join the Wine & Food Pairing, the Secrets of Sonoma pairing or the trolley tour.
What is the St. Francis Wine & Food Pairing?
A five-course menu from Executive Chef Peter Janiak, each course paired with a St. Francis wine, served in the estate dining room. It takes about 2 hours, runs Thursday to Monday and is for guests 21 and over.
Where is St. Francis Winery?
On Highway 12 at Pythian Road, at the north end of Sonoma Valley between Kenwood and Santa Rosa.
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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