Sonoma Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Vaughn Duffy with a Private Chauffeur
Single-vineyard Pinot Noir from a husband-and-wife winery that started with two barrels, poured in a small Kenwood tasting room, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Matt Duffy was managing a wine shop in Sausalito and bringing home sample bottles of Pinot Noir to the San Francisco apartment he shared with Sara Vaughn, then a graduate student. In 2007 the newly engaged couple moved to Sonoma County so Matt could intern at Siduri; he went on to learn from many winemakers at the custom-crush winery Vinify. In 2009 they bought their first ton of Pinot Noir and made two barrels of wine.
The San Francisco Chronicle, Wine Spectator and Wine & Spirits recommended Vaughn Duffy from the start, and the winery has grown slowly into a boutique producer of mostly vineyard-designate wines from North Coast growers, among them Sangiacomo, Bacigalupi and Ueberroth for Pinot Noir. Recent reviews include 96 points and Editor's Choice for the 2024 Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir. The forklift on the label is a nod to the one that held their first two barrels.
The tasting room is small and intimate. Choose the Purely Pinot tasting to compare vineyard sites side by side, or the Sonoma Sampler for a wider range of whites, rosé and reds. It is a relaxed first stop that leaves plenty of room for the rest of the day.
Tasting Fees
$25 for the Sonoma Sampler Tasting. $35 for the Purely Pinot Tasting. The fee is waived with a three-bottle purchase.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
8910 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood
AVA
Sonoma Valley
Visiting
Open Thursday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday. Walk-ins are always welcome and reservations strongly encouraged. Parties of five or more should confirm availability.
Known For
Single-vineyard Pinot Noir from Sonoma County and the North Coast
Founded
2009, by Matt Duffy and Sara Vaughn
Good to Know
Tastings are for groups of six or fewer. For visits with less than 24 hours' notice, the winery asks guests to text. Club members taste free with up to four guests.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:45 a.m. from a Kenwood or Glen Ellen hotel such as Kenwood Inn & Spa or Olea Hotel.
10:45 · Pickup at Kenwood Inn & Spa or Olea Hotel
Kenwood Inn & Spa, on the Sonoma Highway in Kenwood, is about 5 minutes from Vaughn Duffy, and Olea Hotel, a small hotel on Warm Springs Road in Glen Ellen, about 15; we time the pickup for the 11:00 opening. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
11:00 · Vaughn Duffy Wines
The Purely Pinot Tasting of single-vineyard Pinot Noirs ($35). We plan about an hour.
12:10 · 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.
1:40 · Lunch at Bird & The Bottle
About 15 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.
3:15 · MacLaren Wines
About 25 minutes away. A small Syrah specialist that Wine & Spirits named a Winery to Watch, pouring in a cottage on Adobe Canyon Road where Scottish-born winemaker Steve Law hosts the tasting himself. His flight of limited-production, cool-climate Syrah, Pinot Noir, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc is the Signature Tasting Experience ($50); a seat across from the winemaker is what makes it special. By appointment only, requested through the winery's form.
4:25 · Back to your hotel
Back in Kenwood by 4:30 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Vaughn Duffy opens at 11 a.m., Thursday to Sunday, so this day starts a little later and works Thursday to Sunday. Lunch is at 1:40, after Annadel's 75-minute tasting.
About $150 to $160 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 Vaughn Duffy Wines?
Walk-ins are always welcome, but reservations are strongly encouraged, and parties of five or more should confirm. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Vaughn Duffy Wines?
$25 for the Sonoma Sampler and $35 for the Purely Pinot Tasting, as of September 2026, waived with a three-bottle purchase.
When is Vaughn Duffy open?
Thursday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tasting room is closed Monday and Tuesday.
Who owns Vaughn Duffy Wines?
Matt Duffy, the winemaker, and Sara Vaughn, who founded it together in 2009.
What is Vaughn Duffy known for?
Single-vineyard Pinot Noir from North Coast growers such as Sangiacomo, Bacigalupi and Ueberroth, along with rosé of Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.
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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