Russian River Valley · Sonoma County
Visit Woodenhead with a Private Chauffeur
Small-lot Pinot Noir and Zinfandel from Burt Williams's longtime assistant winemaker, poured on a deck over the Russian River Valley, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Woodenhead is the work of winemaker Nikolai "Nick" Stez and his business partner, Zina Bower. Nick has lived on the Russian River since he was one, and he has been fermenting things since boyhood, when his immigrant parents taught him to make kvas, the traditional Russian bread drink; he made wine for his college biology and botany classes and began making it at home in earnest in 1986. He then spent 17 harvests at Williams Selyem, the two-guys-in-a-garage winery that put Russian River Valley Pinot Noir on the map, as assistant winemaker to Burt Williams. Zina started in the tasting room at Hop Kiln Winery, moved on to Williams Selyem and Vigil Vineyards, and left her job as office manager of Diamond Creek Vineyards in Napa Valley to open the Woodenhead tasting room on River Road.
Woodenhead calls its winemaking "Burgundian done California-style": no mechanical pumping, hand punch-downs, basket pressing and French oak, in small lots. The Pinot Noirs and Zinfandels come from the Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley, Mendocino County and Mendocino Ridge, alongside Charbono, Petite Sirah, Syrah, French Colombard and sparkling wine. Rusty Gaffney's PinotFile rated the Ritchie Vineyard Cinder Cone Pinot Noir 93 to 95 points across five vintages, and in a 2019 tasting of Morning Dew Ranch Pinot Noirs he found Woodenhead's the closest in style to Burt Williams's own Williams Selyem bottlings.
The tasting room sits at the top of a winding driveway off River Road, about five minutes west of Highway 101, and guests taste inside or out on the deck, looking over the vineyards and hills of the Russian River Valley. It is a relaxed, unpretentious stop: drop-ins are welcome, there is a nominal tasting fee and you may bring a picnic. Sonoma Magazine included Woodenhead in its Wineries Worth a Visit in 2019.
Tasting Fees
Woodenhead charges a nominal tasting fee but does not publish the amount. 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
5700 River Road, Santa Rosa
AVA
Russian River Valley
Visiting
Open Thursday to Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drop-ins welcome; reservations are not required but suggested.
Known For
Small-lot Pinot Noir and Zinfandel
Founded
Founded by winemaker Nikolai Stez and Zina Bower
Good to Know
Guests may bring a picnic, and wines are served inside and on the deck. The tasting room is on the north side of River Road, one mile west of Slusser Road, up a winding driveway.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:50 a.m. from Farmhouse Inn in Forestville, or 10:30 from The Sebastopol Inn.
10:30 · Pickup at Farmhouse Inn or The Sebastopol Inn
Farmhouse Inn, a 25-room country inn among the vineyards and redwoods of Forestville, is about 10 minutes from Woodenhead, and The Sebastopol Inn, in downtown Sebastopol, about 30. Woodenhead opens at 11, so we pick up at 10:50 in Forestville and 10:30 in Sebastopol. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
11:00 · Woodenhead
A tasting inside or on the deck over the valley, about an hour (nominal fee, confirmed when we book).
12:20 · Lunch at Underwood Bar and Bistro
About 20 minutes away. A bistro in the village of Graton with red vinyl banquettes, a nickel-topped bar and an open-air patio. Lunch is served Wednesday to Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
1:45 · Kosta Browne Winery
About 15 minutes away. The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay house that Dan Kosta and Michael Browne, two waiters at a Santa Rosa restaurant, started in 1997 with pooled tips; its 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir was Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year in 2011. The Appellations Exploration is $125, and the Observations Flight, with a walking tour of the working cellar, $150, each for 1 to 8 guests. Prepaid reservations required.
3:00 · Singer Wine
About 15 minutes away. Stephen Singer, once wine director at Chez Panisse, farms Syrah, Viognier and Tuscan olive trees on his Baker Lane Estate in the Sebastopol hills. The Home & Estate Visit is a private tableside tasting with Stephen, with light fare and the estate olive oil ($85, 60 to 90 minutes); the Studio Visit adds his art studio and a library wine ($100). By appointment, arranged by email; 2-guest minimum.
4:15 · Back to your hotel
Back in Sebastopol by 4:30 p.m., or Forestville by 4:50, about six hours after pickup.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. Woodenhead opens at 11, so this day starts later, and it works Thursday to Sunday, when Woodenhead is open and Underwood serves lunch.
About $210 per person in tasting fees for Kosta Browne and Singer, paid directly to each winery; Woodenhead's nominal tasting 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
Do I need a reservation at Woodenhead?
No. Drop-ins are welcome Thursday to Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., though the winery suggests a reservation. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Woodenhead?
Woodenhead charges a nominal tasting fee but does not publish the amount, so tasting fees are to be verified upon reservation.
Who makes the wine at Woodenhead?
Nikolai Stez, who spent 17 harvests as assistant winemaker to Burt Williams at Williams Selyem. He runs Woodenhead with his business partner, Zina Bower.
Can I bring a picnic to Woodenhead?
Yes. The winery welcomes picnics, and wines are served inside the tasting room and out on the deck overlooking the valley.
Where is Woodenhead?
At 5700 River Road in the Russian River Valley, on the north side of the road one mile west of Slusser Road, about five minutes west of Highway 101.
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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