Chateau St. Jean

2 for 1 wine tasting and 15% off wine purchases with this story. – $5 off the Promenade Tour and Tasting with this story.

As patrons arrive at Chateau St. Jean they are greeted by an expansive European-inspired garden. The topiary is a true spectacle which creates a defined ambiance of both grandeur and sophistication. The adjacent patio allows patrons to fully admire the garden even before they have had a chance to taste.

Chateau St. Jean has two tasting room options. The main tasting room has one of the largest wine-related gift shops in Sonoma Valley and offers a well-balanced sampling of both whites and reds. The Vineyard Room, located directly across from the main tasting room, focuses on Chateau St. Jean’s higher-end wines.

With a total annual production of slightly under 400,000 cases, consisting of 32 different wines (10 of which are distributed), Chateau St. Jean is well known in many wine circles. One of its most highly reputable wines is known as the Cinq Cépages. A winner of countless awards over the years, the Cinq Cépages is arguably the most complex wine in Chateau St. Jean’s wine repertoire. In fact, for $75 per person, one can experience all of the different components that go into the wine with the Cinq Cépages blending seminar. It lasts roughly two hours and the everyday wine drinker can feel like an expert as they create their own blend and compete with other tour members in the “Best Blend” contest.

Another option is the Promenade Tour and Tasting – a relaxing guided tour of the stunning estate that takes place daily at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. For $15 per person, an educated host will teach you the rich history as well as the growing cycle and the fruit characteristics of several grape varieties while sipping on some of their finest wines.

What Not to Miss
The gardens stand alone as truly a spectacular sight. The Vineyard Room tasting may be $10 more than the regular, but one should invest in the experience itself and taste premium wines in the comfort of an outside patio overlooking beautiful hills and vineyards.

Standout Wines
The Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cépages, Merlot Reserve, Reserve Chardonnay, Benoist Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Fume Blanc and for the sweet wine drinker, the Gewurztraminer.

One Stop Shopping    
Chateau St. Jean has an exquisite merchandise section with assorted cheeses, olive oils, balsamic vinegars, as well as anything one would need in order to create a superb picnic experience. With grounds as beautiful as this, one can plan an entire day around the bounty of Chateau St. Jean.