With gracious style, exquisite architecture, and inviting gardens, Chateau St. Jean has become an icon in the Sonoma Valley.
Founded in 1973, the winery has the distinction of producing the first Sonoma County wine (Cinq Cépages) to be chosen by Wine Spectator as its Wine of the Year. The estate has delivered a relaxed French flair to the foot of Sonoma Valley’s Sugarloaf Ridge, with a graciously staffed Visitor Center and elegant gardens designed to provide the utmost in tasting experiences. Guests are invited to shop at the delectably stocked charcuterie and stroll through the grounds, which include two fountains, a rose garden, a large patio, a courtyard garden, and a demonstration vineyard, and simply linger.
But it would be a mistake to think that people visit Chateau St. Jean purely for its ambience. Chateau St. Jean has a long-standing reputation for the exceptional quality of its wines. The winery was one of the first to craft single-vineyard-designated wine and a legacy of great winemaking talent. Winemaker Margo Van Staaveren, who has been with Chateau St. Jean for more than 35 years, was named Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Guests wishing to fully appreciate her talents are invited to make an appointment to participate in one of the Distinctive Experiences at Chateau St. Jean. For the foodie, Charcuterie at the Chateau pairs four single vineyard and Reserve wines with local bites; for the explorer, Burgundy Beginnings at the Chateau is a hands-on education about Sonoma County Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; and for the collector, Cinq Rêves is a library-tasting of this legendary Sonoma County Bordeaux blend.
As anyone who has visited its grounds or tasted its wines will profess, the style of Chateau St. Jean is relaxed, elegant, and pure Sonoma.