Alexander Valley · Sonoma County
Visit William Gregory Winery with a Private Chauffeur
A private tasting with a retired airline pilot who farms, picks and makes every wine himself on a hillside near Asti, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Bill Pesonen, whose full name, William Gregory Pesonen, gives the winery its name, learned about wine from his parents, who were wine connoisseurs, long before he was old enough to drink it. Through a long career as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and at American Airlines he studied wine as he prepared to become a grape farmer, and in 1996 he bought his property in the Asti and Cloverdale area, moving into an old farmhouse there and remodeling it. The winery was first called William Gordon Winery, and some current bottles and map listings still carry that name; the company registered William Gregory Winery as its trademark, and the winery's website and newer labels now use it.
He planted five acres of Cabernet Sauvignon in his namesake Pesonen Vineyard in 1998, three acres of Petite Sirah in the neighboring Perry Vineyard in 2006 and two more acres in 2007, on southwest-facing slopes at the northern end of Alexander Valley. Today ten of his eighteen acres are vines and two are olives, about 200 trees around an irrigation pond, and he does the work himself, from planting to pruning to picking. He has sold grapes to Jordan, where longtime winemaker Rob Davis was a mentor, as well as to Silver Oak and St. Francis, and his wines have won gold and double gold medals at California competitions.
A visit is a private tasting with Bill himself, who likes to talk through the finer points of winemaking and asks guests to reserve a couple of hours. The lineup centers on estate Cabernet Sauvignon, with Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Syrah, a hillside blend and his own olive oil. It is about as personal as a tasting gets, and guests who enjoy meeting the person who grew the grapes love it.
Tasting Fees
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
27800 River Road, Cloverdale
AVA
Alexander Valley
Visiting
Private tastings by reservation, hosted by vintner Bill Pesonen. Hours are not published; we arrange the visit on your behalf and confirm times when booking.
Known For
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah from hillside vineyards near Asti
Founded
1996 (property bought); first vines planted 1998
Good to Know
Plan on a couple of hours. The winery is certified as a sustainable California winegrower. Its wines are also poured at Locals Tasting Room in Geyserville. Older labels read William Gordon Winery; it is the same winery.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 9:20 a.m. from a hotel such as Hotel Trio in Healdsburg or Geyserville Inn.
9:20 · Pickup at Hotel Trio or Geyserville Inn
Hotel Trio, on Dry Creek Road on the north side of Healdsburg, is about 40 minutes from William Gregory, up Highway 101 and River Road, and Geyserville Inn, at the north end of Geyserville, about 30. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:00 · William Gregory Winery
The first stop. A private tasting with Bill Pesonen of his estate wines; we plan about 90 minutes and confirm the fee when we book.
12:00 · J. Rickards Winery
About 30 minutes away. Jim and Eliza Rickards' family farm at the end of Chianti Road, where Zinfandel vines planted in 1908 still grow and the estate's Cabernet Sauvignon goes to Silver Oak for its Alexander Valley wine. Seated tastings look out over the vineyard, and a reservation can include a walk in the vines. The Wine Flight is $20, waived with a two-bottle purchase. Monday to Saturday, final seating at 3 p.m.
1:10 · 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.
2:40 · Stuhlmuller Vineyards
About 25 minutes away. A family estate at the southwestern edge of Alexander Valley, on land once part of Cyrus Alexander's ranch, reached down a long lane through the vines; the tasting room is in the ranch's old redwood barn, with a patio over the vineyard. The seated Estate Tasting is $30 and the Reserve Tasting $45. Reservations appreciated, walk-ins welcome; open Wednesday to Monday until 4:30 p.m.
3:40 · Back to your hotel
Back in Healdsburg by 4:05 p.m.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. J. Rickards pours Monday to Saturday and Stuhlmuller closes on Tuesday, so this day works Monday and Wednesday to Saturday. It starts at 9:20 for the drive north and ends around 4:05; extra time can be added by the hour.
About $50 to $65 per person for J. Rickards ($20, waived with a two-bottle purchase) and Stuhlmuller ($30 or $45); William Gregory's fee is to be verified upon reservation. Each is paid directly to the 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 William Gregory Winery?
Yes. Tastings are private and by reservation, hosted by the vintner himself. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at William Gregory Winery?
Tasting fees are to be verified upon reservation; the winery does not publish a fee. We confirm it when we book.
Is William Gregory Winery the same as William Gordon Winery?
Yes. It is the same winery on River Road, owned by Bill Pesonen. It was first called William Gordon Winery, and some bottles and map listings still use that name; the winery's website and newer labels say William Gregory Winery.
Who makes the wine at William Gregory?
Bill (William Gregory) Pesonen, a former Air Force and American Airlines pilot who bought the property in 1996 and farms and makes the wines himself.
Where is William Gregory Winery?
On River Road near Cloverdale, in the Asti area at the northern end of Alexander Valley, about 40 minutes north of Healdsburg.
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":"William Gregory Winery","url":"https://www.wgwinery.com/","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"27800 River Road","addressLocality":"Cloverdale","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95425","addressCountry":"US"},"foundingDate":"1996"},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a reservation at William Gregory Winery?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Tastings are private and by reservation, hosted by the vintner himself. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at William Gregory Winery?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Tasting fees are to be verified upon reservation; the winery does not publish a fee. We confirm it when we book."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is William Gregory Winery the same as William Gordon Winery?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. It is the same winery on River Road, owned by Bill Pesonen. It was first called William Gordon Winery, and some bottles and map listings still use that name; the winery's website and newer labels say William Gregory Winery."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who makes the wine at William Gregory?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Bill (William Gregory) Pesonen, a former Air Force and American Airlines pilot who bought the property in 1996 and farms and makes the wines himself."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Where is William Gregory Winery?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"On River Road near Cloverdale, in the Asti area at the northern end of Alexander Valley, about 40 minutes north of Healdsburg."}},{"@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."}}]}]}