July 31, 2019
A little off the grid, not quite in Napa Valley but in Kenwood, California, we visited Chateau St. John along Sonoma Highway to see if it’s another good prospect for a wedding venue.
This French chateau was built originally as a summer house by Ernest and Maude Goff for their four sons and one daughter. The Goffs, natives of Michigan, made their fortune from iron ore mines and lumber. In 1916, they bought 300 acres of land in the Valley of the Moon.
There is an old photo of this house under construction showing this tree still small.
The interior furnishings and finishes including the fireplaces, chandeliers, and grand staircases, are original to the house.
This is a working winery. They’ve been producing wines in the estate for over 40 years. Daily wine tastings are available. They have Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sparkling Wines, etc.
Venue rental for both the garden, courtyard, and barrel room I think would cost around $10,000 which doesn’t include food and wines. They have a list of vendors and accredited caterers to choose from. The place is so pretty but Chateau St. John doesn’t have an indoor space for the wedding ceremony. They hold it in the front lawn of the estate. Oyen’s getting married in March and it still is considered winter so the chances of rain and the grass being wet are high.
Move on to the next prospect.
