About Shafer Vineyards
Shafer Vineyards sits on a hillside in the Stags Leap District along the Silverado Trail. Grapes have been grown and wine made on the property since 1880, and during Prohibition Italian immigrants Batista and Maria Scansi kept the vines going. John Shafer, a Chicago publishing executive, bought the land in 1972, planted the slopes to Cabernet Sauvignon in the mid-1970s and made his first Cabernet in 1978. His son Doug became winemaker in 1983, and Elias Fernandez, who arrived as assistant in 1984 and took over as winemaker in 1994, has now worked 40 harvests here.
The estate's best-known wine is Hillside Select, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from terraced blocks with names like Sunspot, John's Folly and Hitching Post. The 2023 vintage, aged 28 months in new French oak, was released September 1, 2026, limited to two bottles per customer.
Visits are by appointment, Tuesday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The Collectors Experience ($140, 90 minutes, parties up to eight) pours five current releases including Hillside Select. The Hillside Select Experience ($295, two hours, parties of two to eight) adds a guided ride through the hillside vineyards in an off-road vehicle, a vertical tasting of several Hillside Select vintages, and seasonal bites. Private events with seasonal food can be arranged through their website.
HvH Specialty Growers in Suisun Valley, a flower farm that holds a seasonal lavender celebration, is about 30 minutes south and east. Time a Shafer appointment around one of their open event days.
What to do
- Taste five current releases, including Hillside Select, on the Collectors Experience
- Ride through the terraced hillside vineyard on the Hillside Select Experience
- Compare several vintages of Hillside Select in a vertical tasting
- Look out over the Stags Leap District from the hillside estate
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Tastings Tuesday through Saturday by appointment; new Hillside Select vintage released each September
- Hours
- By appointment (2026): Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Admission
- Collectors Experience $140; Hillside Select Experience $295 per guest (as posted on their website, October 2026)
Good to know
- Age
- 21 or older to taste or drink alcohol
- Reservations
- Required
Tips for your visit
- Book well ahead through their website; there are no walk-in tastings
- The Hillside Select Experience needs at least two guests
- Closed Sunday and Monday
- Plan a designated driver before you head out on the Silverado Trail
Pair it with a lavender farm
HvH Specialty Growers · about 30 minutes away
HvH Specialty Growers in Suisun Valley is about 30 minutes away and opens for seasonal events, including a lavender celebration, so check their dates before booking Shafer.
Getting there
Questions
Do I need an appointment at Shafer Vineyards?
Yes. Tastings are by appointment Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
How much is a tasting?
The Collectors Experience is $140 and the Hillside Select Experience is $295 per guest, as posted on their website in 2026.
What is Hillside Select?
Shafer's flagship 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate's terraced hillside blocks.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Suisun Valley & Fairfield, California
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
