St. Helena · Napa Valley
Visit Ad Vivum with a Private Chauffeur
A single-vineyard Yountville Cabernet from Chris Phelps, Dominus's founding winemaker, with a 100-point score for the 2023. Ad Vivum does not receive visitors; here is what to know, and a day at sought-after estates nearby that do host.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Chris Phelps studied enology at UC Davis and in Bordeaux, where Christian Moueix and Jean-Claude Berrouet of Château Pétrus chose him to run the 1982 harvest at Château des Laurets. He trained at Pétrus and other Moueix properties, then spent 12 years as the founding winemaker at Dominus Estate, Moueix's Napa winery, and later made the wines at Caymus before starting his consulting business.
Ad Vivum is his single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the Sleeping Lady Vineyard, the southernmost site in the Yountville AVA, farmed by the Bettinelli family, fifth- and sixth-generation Napa farmers. Phelps began experimenting with its grapes in 2005 and has made Ad Vivum since 2007. Jeb Dunnuck gave the 2023 Sleeping Lady 100 points, calling it as good as anything in the vintage.
The name joins ad, movement toward a goal, with vivere and vinum, to live and wine: where wine and life meet. Ad Vivum has an office in St. Helena but no tasting room, and its website offers wine through a mailing list only, with no visits. The day below visits three estates nearby that do host, in the same southern stretch of the valley as Sleeping Lady.
Tasting Fees
Ad Vivum does not offer tastings.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
1400 Oak Avenue, Suite B, St. Helena
AVA
Yountville
Visiting
Ad Vivum has no tasting room and publishes no tours or tastings; its wine is sold through its mailing list.
Known For
Single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the Sleeping Lady Vineyard in the Yountville AVA
Founded
2007 (first vintage)
Good to Know
Join the mailing list on advivumcellars.com to buy the wine. Buyers must be 21 or older.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Bardessono or North Block Hotel.
10:00 · Pickup at Bardessono or North Block Hotel
Since Ad Vivum does not host visitors, this day takes you to three sought-after estates nearby that do. Both hotels are in Yountville, a few minutes from Hoffman Lane. The day below runs a little over six hours, and extra time is added by the hour.
10:15 · Institution Winery
About 5 minutes away. A small Napa Valley label made with Russell Bevan, poured by appointment at HQ Winery on Hoffman Lane just outside Yountville. Tastings are $75 to $200 depending on the experience; we plan about 75 minutes. By appointment, parties of one to six.
11:50 · Rudd Estate
About 12 minutes away. An organically farmed estate on the Oakville Cross Road with 20,000 square feet of caves. Every visit is scheduled in advance with the hospitality team, and the fee is confirmed then; we allow about 90 minutes. By appointment only.
1:35 · Lunch at Mustards Grill
About 12 minutes away. Lunch at Mustards Grill on Highway 29 just north of Yountville, a Napa Valley favorite for more than 40 years, open daily for lunch. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:55 · Mark Herold Wines
About 8 minutes away. A Highway 29 tasting room in Oakville for the Cabernets of Mark Herold, the scientist-winemaker who founded Merus. The Savory Sessions is $75, a flight of both his labels with savory bites; we allow about an hour. Open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; reservations recommended.
4:00 · Back to your hotel
Back in Yountville by about 4:15 p.m.
About $150 to $275 per person in tasting fees for Institution and Mark Herold, plus Rudd's fee, which is confirmed when we book. Fees are paid directly to each winery.
Institution's team keeps office hours Monday to Friday, so this day is easiest to arrange on a weekday. Rudd schedules every visit in advance and confirms the time when we book.
Every tour is custom. This day is a starting point: your chauffeur will shape it around what matters to you, and we plan multi-day tours for guests who want to see more of wine country.
Your Vehicle & Six-Hour Tour Rates
Up to 6 guests
Elite Luxury SUV
Lincoln Navigator or Cadillac Escalade
From $750
Six-hour wine tour, plus 20% gratuity. Additional hours $125 each.
Up to 9 guests
Jet Sprinter or Executive Luxury Van
Captain's chairs and room to spread out
From $1,350
Six-hour wine tour, plus 20% gratuity. Additional hours $225 each.
Larger groups travel in more than one vehicle, and we plan the winery appointments around your group, since many wineries limit groups to 6 to 8 guests. Tasting fees are separate and paid directly to each winery. Every tour starts with six hours; add time by the hour when you book.
Questions
Can you visit Ad Vivum?
No. Ad Vivum has no tasting room and offers no tours or tastings, as of September 2026. We can plan a day at estates nearby that do host.
How can I buy Ad Vivum wine?
Through the mailing list on the Ad Vivum website.
Who makes Ad Vivum?
Chris Phelps, the founding winemaker at Dominus Estate for 12 years, who trained at Château Pétrus and later made the wines at Caymus.
Where do the Ad Vivum grapes grow?
In the Sleeping Lady Vineyard, the southernmost site in the Yountville AVA, at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains, farmed by the Bettinelli family.
What is Ad Vivum known for?
One single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon; Jeb Dunnuck gave the 2023 Sleeping Lady Vineyard bottling 100 points.
How does booking a tour with Bien Chauffeured work?
Reserve a six-hour tour online, even if your plans are still taking shape. Your chauffeur will email you first to learn what matters to you, then build your itinerary and make the winery appointments. Extra hours can be added.
Reserve Your Tour Now, Plan the Details Later
Your plans don't need to be final to book. Reserve your six-hour tour online, and your chauffeur will email you first to learn what matters to you, then build your itinerary and make the winery appointments. Prefer to talk? Call our concierge at 888-291-2328.
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