Chateau St. Jean’s story began in 1973, when its three founders set out to create a winery that would capture the unique qualities of Sonoma’s vineyards.

The estate vineyard in Kenwood.
The name, inspired by Jean Sheffield, reflects her role as the heart of their circle—wife, sister, and sister-in-law to the three founders—and the only person who could keep them united with her “saintly” patience. Over the years, Chateau St. Jean has remained rooted in the spirit of community, warmth, and hospitality. Here, wine is more than a product; it’s a celebration of the good things in life, a testament to Sonoma’s character, and an invitation to gather and enjoy.
With the recent announcement of a new winemaker, this iconic winery is set to embark on a dynamic new era, building on its tradition of producing wines that capture the true spirit of Sonoma’s varied terroir.

The French-inspired grounds at Chateau St. Jean.
Chateau St. Jean was founded by the Goff family, who sought to create a winery that blended Old World elegance with the emerging California wine scene. From the start, the estate distinguished itself by embracing the concept of single-vineyard wines, a relatively novel approach in California at the time. The idea was to produce wines that reflected the unique character of specific vineyard sites, highlighting the diversity and potential of Sonoma’s terroirs.
The estate itself is reminiscent of a French country manor, complete with manicured gardens and a grand château. It quickly became a destination not just for its wines, but for its immersive atmosphere, evoking a sense of timelessness and European refinement.
Chateau St. Jean’s wine portfolio reflects Sonoma’s ability to produce a broad range of high-quality varietals.

2017 Chateau St. Jean Merlot.
While the estate is perhaps best known for its Cinq Cépages, which showcases the winery’s expertise with Bordeaux varieties, it also makes high quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Viognier. Each of these wines demonstrates the winemaking team’s commitment to capturing the unique characteristics of the vineyard sites from which they are sourced.
Cinq Cépages, meaning “five varieties” in French, is Chateau St. Jean’s flagship wine, a Bordeaux-inspired blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, sourced from premier vineyard sites across Sonoma County. Renowned for its complexity, balance, and aging potential, it has earned numerous accolades, including being named “Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator in 1999 for the 1996 vintage, a distinction that cemented the winery’s reputation as one of California’s finest.

Inside the tasting room at Chateau St. Jean.
Chateau St. Jean’s Chardonnays are consistently regarded as some of the best in Sonoma. The winery produces several expressions of the varietal, from bright, stainless steel-fermented versions that showcase fresh fruit and minerality, to richer, oak-aged Chardonnays that offer layers of tropical fruit, vanilla, and creaminess. These wines are often sourced from vineyards in the Russian River Valley, where the cool climate allows Chardonnay grapes to ripen slowly, developing complex flavors while retaining natural acidity.
In addition to their Bordeaux and Burgundy-inspired wines, Chateau St. Jean also produces Rhone-style wines, including Syrah and Viognier. These wines offer a slightly different expression of Sonoma’s terroir, with Syrah showcasing bold, peppery flavors and Viognier offering fragrant, floral notes. Both wines reflect the winery’s versatility and willingness to explore a wide range of varietals.

Winemaker Lisa Evich.
Chateau St. Jean recently welcomed Lisa Evich as its new head winemaker, a role that comes with high expectations given her extensive experience at renowned wineries like La Crema, Beaulieu Vineyards, and Sperling Vineyards.
Her expertise in working with many of Sonoma’s top vineyards and cool climate is anticipated to elevate the estate’s already celebrated wines. Of particular interest is her potential to enhance the single-vineyard program and explore new limited-release wines, further showcasing the complexity and diversity of the valley’s distinct terroirs.
As Chateau St. Jean embarks on its next chapter under the guidance of its new winemaker, the future looks very promising. The winery remains dedicated to crafting world-class wines that highlight Sonoma’s diverse terroir, all while providing one of the premier visitor experiences in the valley.

Chateau St. Jean.
While we often focus on small, artisanal wineries for a more intimate wine tasting experience, Chateau St. Jean stands out as a larger estate that still offers something special. Despite its size, the winery provides a unique and memorable visit, with its beautiful grounds and serene, relaxing environment. Strolling through the estate, one could easily feel transported to Europe rather than California, making Chateau St. Jean a delightful destination for anyone seeking both excellent wines and a captivating sense of place.
Tasting Notes
2022 Ch. St. Jean Sauvignon Blanc

2019 Chateau St. Jean Pinot Noir Durell Vineyard,
This is a refreshing wine that delivers the classics of the variety: grapefruit, some citrus peel, but not the overtly grassy or gooseberry flavours that seem to be overdone in many other examples. The body is medium and the acidity medium+. Easy going and designed for immediate pleasure. Very good (USD $35)
2019 Chateau St. Jean Pinot Noir
Fruit is sourced from the famed Durell Vineyard in Carneros. This wine expresses elegance and stays true to the cooler aspects of its terroir. We get notes of cherry with hints of strawberry and dried herbs. Not overly complex but tasty with good balance. The structure shows medium body with medium+ tannins and acid. Ready to drink right now. Very good+ (USD $70)
2022 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay

2022 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay.
This Chardonnay is driven by orchard flavours and aromas: think apple, pear, a bit of nectarine. Medium body with medium acid this is a wine for early consumption. Though there is a nice streak of minerality, we doubt this develops much with age. This should please those looking for the more modern, less is more style of winemaking. Very Good+ (USD $45)
2017 Chateau St. Jean Merlot
We have thought Chateau St. Jean has been a great producer of Merlot for decades now. This continues to be the case. This delicious 7 year old wine is showing all the traits of excellent aged Merlot. Soft and round with full body, moderate tannins and a balance that results in a lovely, round mouthfeel. Flavours of black cherry, plum and blueberry meld with all sorts of spices like cinnamon, powdered dark chocolate, espresso and dried tea. The finish is long and spice infused. This is a big Merlot and would ideally be served with a juicy steak. Possibly the wine of the tasting. Excellent (USD $58)

2019 Chateau St. Jean Malbec.
2019 Chateau St. Jean Malbec
To be honest, we do not encounter much Malbec from California. Maybe that is because Argentina does such a great job with the variety. But this wine capably makes the case that California can compete in the Malbec sweepstakes as well. True to the variety, it is deep purple in colour. Black cherry fruit mixes with hints of vanilla and a bit of plum. Tannins are almost high but they are nicely integrated. The body is medium+ to full and adds to the impression of age ability. A big wine that probably deserves a bit more time, this is for Cab-lovers who want to break out from their mold. Excellent (USD $60)
2018 Chateau St. Jean Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2018 Chateau St. Jean Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Though we might prefer their Merlot, the reputation of this winery has been built on their Cabernet Sauvignon. This Alexander Valley wine demonstrates how that reputation was created. This is classically Cabernet with dark fruit profile showing black currants, blackberry and dark cherry. There si a lovely earthy component that shows hints of forest floor and cedar boughs. California meets St. Estephe? Medium+ to full body with high tannin, this is classic Cabernet. Brawny and hefty today, this will continue to improve for a decade or more in cool, dark cellars. Delicious! Excellent (USD $90)
2018 Chateau St. Jean 8555 Cuvée

2018 Chateau St. Jean 8555 Cuvée.
This is a wine that hedonists will love! A blend of the 5 main Bordeaux varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet France, Petit Verdot and Malbec) plus about 12% Syrah, this is dark purple in colour, hi in tannin, full in body and full in throttle! This is ripe and boisterous and what California can do so well. Though it has a lot of energy, it still has balance and this makes the wine remain in bounds and appeal to the intellect as well as to the senses. Perhaps not exactly on point with today’s trend towards leaner and more delicate wines, this wine certainly appealed to us and took us back to California’s original style that started our love affair with the State’s wines. Excellent (USD $95)

A beautiful estate to visit in Sonoma.
8555 Sonoma Hwy
Kenwood, CA 95452
T: (707) 257-5784
H: 10am-5pm Daily
January 26, 2025
We always loved visiting here. Such a beautiful location. Love the different tasting areas, plus all the grass space.
January 26, 2025
The same for us. It really does feel like you’re visiting a chateau in Europe!
January 22, 2025
So many wineries, so little time…it seems. We’ve not visited Chateau St. Jean, but we’re glad you have and think highly of their wines. Cheers!
January 23, 2025
Another one to the add to the ever-growing list!
January 22, 2025
This vineyard looks and sounds amazing – I look forward to to trying the wines.
January 23, 2025
It’s a beautiful spot to visit and a winery we’ve visited regularly on our trips down to Sonoma. You would love it!