Sonoma 5-Course Winery Lunch and Giant Redwoods Day Trip
8 Hours | Round-Trip Transportation
Gourmet Meal | Garden Tour
Small groups. Ancient trees. Gourmet Food.
This day trip is designed for gourmands who want a true Northern California farm-to-table experience. After a morning walking in the shadow of ancient redwoods at Armstrong Woods Natural Reserve* you’ll arrive at the acclaimed Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates & Garden for a 5-course lunch with wine tastings. With round-trip transportation from San Francisco included, this day is yours to relax over scenery, food, and wine.
About this Sonoma 5-Course Lunch and Wine Tour
This is not a wine bus tour to Sonoma County wineries. It’s about truly experiencing one of the most well-known wineries of the region, Kendall-Jackson Estate, to relax over good wine, a 5-course lunch, and conversation with your small group and the people you meet along the way.
You can also expect a lovely morning visit to Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve*. Walk in the shadows of ancient redwoods along the coast before heading to Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates & Garden. In between wine tastings, walk the lush gardens.
Sample Itinerary
5
| 7:30 – 8:15 am | Pickup from your San Francisco hotel in most downtown and waterfront areas including Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, and Lombard, among others. |
| 8:30 am | Drive across the Golden Gate Bridge, enjoying views of the San Francisco Bay Area, Sausalito, and Marin County on the 1-hour drive to Sonoma County. |
| 9:30 am | Arrive at Armstrong Redwoods State Nature Reserve for an easy stroll along the well-paved trails. Your guide will give you the backstory of this Northern California redwood grove, which rivals the beauty and history of Muir Woods. Don’t miss a chance to take a picture in front of the oldest tree in the park, named after the park’s founder, Colonel Armstrong. |
| 12:00 pm | After a morning enjoying a walk through millennia-old redwoods, it’s time to head over to Kendall-Jackson Estate. Founded in 1974, this Santa Rosa winery is a staple of the Sonoma and Napa wine making scene. The estate is not just the home to award-winning wines — it also features a lush herb and vegetable garden that is the source of ingredients for some of the Bay Area’s most prestigious chefs, including the team preparing your 5-course lunch. Enjoy a casual stroll of the garden before lunch. |
| 12:30 pm |
Foodies and wine lovers unite over this seasonal 5-course lunch served in the garden with wine. The menu is always curated by the executive chef and their team using the freshest ingredients from the culinary garden, and could include a daily catch from the coastline, locally sourced steak, fresh Sonoma and Napa Valley cheeses, and more. Constant on every menu: decadent dessert, fresh produce, and limited-release wines paired with every course. |
| 3:00 pm | After lingering over the last bites of dessert and sips of wine, it’s time to enjoy a scenic ride back to your San Francisco hotel. Sit back and relax to views of Sausalito, the Marin Headlands, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the San Francisco skyline. |
| 4:30 pm | You return to your hotel around 4:30pm. Just in time for whatever the night ahead brings you. |
* In the event that we cannot go to the Armstrong redwoods, we will go to the iconic Muir Woods National Monument. On those days, we leave earlier in the morning to ensure that our guests enjoy the 1500-year-old forest without the crowds.
Please note: Tour times are approximate
What you can expect with Best Bay Area Tours
You get to learn more: From the time of morning pickup at your San Francisco hotel to drop off in the late afternoon, your guide shares anecdotes and history about the places you get to visit on this full-day experience.
You’ll be entertained: What’s the point of doing a tour if you can’t have fun? Every aspect of your tour has been carefully thought out so you get the most out of your visit to the Bay Area.
You get a truly local experience: Best Bay Area Tours is owned and operated by San Francisco locals. We create intimate, relaxed experiences that allow you to truly get to know all the beauty and bounty of the region.
FAQs
Are wine tastings included on this tour?
Absolutely. The 5-course lunch includes wine pairings selected by the team at Kendall-Jackson. You are welcome to purchase additional tastings or bottles.
Does this tour always go to Kendall-Jackson Winery?
Yes, this Sonoma lunch and redwoods tour exclusively visits the Kendall-Jackson Winery.
Can Kendall-Jackson Estate accommodate dietary restrictions?
At the time of booking, please let us know your dietary needs, and we can coordinate with Kendall-Jackson Estate to be sure you enjoy your 5-course lunch and wine tasting experience.
How long does it take to get from San Francisco to Kendall-Jackson Winery?
Kendall-Jackson Estate is just over an hour north of San Francisco in Santa Rosa, California. The most popular route is along scenic 101, with views of the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, and Marin County.
Which Northern California redwoods does this tour visit?
Weather advisories, Covid guidelines, and changes to air quality can affect which of the redwoods grove we visit. Typically, this tour is intended to go to Armstrong Redwood State Park, which is a less crowded and just as magnificent attraction as Muir Woods. In the event that Armstrong is closed to forest restoration following certain weather events, we will go to Muir Woods. This itinerary is planned to arrive early at Muir Woods before the crowds to enjoy giant, ancient redwoods.
How strenuous is the walking on this tour of the California redwoods?
At Best Bay Area Tours, we try to make sure all of our passengers can get the full experience of the Giant Redwoods, so remember to wear comfortable walking shoes for the one-mile trail that is flat and wheelchair accessible.
What’s the difference between Armstrong Redwoods and Muir Woods?
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is an impressive and lesser-known alternative to Muir Woods, where you’ll still get millennia-old redwoods stretching from the canopy floor to the sky. The state park was established in 1908 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places one hundred years later, in 2008.
How is this Sonoma wine and redwoods tour unique?
This tour is meant to take you off-the-beaten path to experience Sonoma County and its surroundings including Armstrong Redwoods with our carefully designed itinerary.
Are there bathrooms on the bus?
We do not have bathrooms on our buses but we can make a stop during the drive, which shouldn’t be more than 1.5 hours one way.
Is this California Redwoods Tour wheelchair accessible?
For people who would like to use a collapsible wheelchair, we are more than happy to accommodate that. Just let us know at the time of booking. Every stop on our visit, including the Armstrong Redwoods, features flat walking paths that are well maintained.
Tour Pricing
| Adults | Children (under 12) | |
| Tour Price | $234 | $159 |
*Price includes all park entrance fees (unlike other tour companies).
Always Small Groups
We don’t do big bus tours. We create intimate, relaxed experiences that allow you to truly get to know
the Bay Area and its surrounding region.
Check out our other tours.
Winery Lunch and Giant Redwoods Reviews
Christie S
We very much enjoyed this tour. Our tour guide Anthony was very professional down to earth, friendly, and extremely helpful! Anothy well-versed on many things that we saw and explored while on this tour! Anthony gets a five-star plus!!!
Embracemystery
We love this tour. Phil was super accommodating and flexible with our pick up and drop off needs along the route! The timing of the tour was great with plenty of time to explore Muir Woods. The tour of Kendall jackson…
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was delightful, walking through the gardens, tasting the grapes off the vine and then having by an amazing meal!!! Everything was so good and we loved getting to know our small group of tour buddies.
Vanessa K
I loved every part of it! The tour was absolutely stunning, followed by the winery tour with the four course meal which was very delicious. Brian our tour guide was absolutely amazing throughout the whole experience.