Howell Mountain · Napa Valley
Visit Almacerro with a Private Chauffeur
A rustic family estate at almost 1,800 feet on the far edge of Howell Mountain, with unadorned caves and fog rising from the valley below, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Almacerro sits on land with deep Howell Mountain roots. Frederick Hess founded La Jota Vineyard Company on Howell Mountain in 1898, and in the 1970s Bill Smith revived La Jota and helped establish the Howell Mountain AVA. In 1986 Smith bought the neighboring parcel that is now Almacerro, and he and his wife Joan made wine there until 2016, when they sold it to Frank Scherkenbach and told him to take it to the next level.
The estate sits at almost 1,800 feet, at what the winery calls the land's end of Howell Mountain, ringed by pine and oak forest. Morning fog from the valley funnels up two gullies beside the winery toward the vines. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates, with small parcels of Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Consulting winemaker Françoise Peschon and Matilda Scott make the wines.
The crushpad is rustic and the caves unadorned, and the family likes it that way, alongside 120-year-old olive trees, sweeping valley views and glimpses of the Mayacamas and San Pablo Bay. There is no public tasting program. The winery welcomes requests to share its wines in person in Napa and offers to help plan a visit, so we ask on your behalf and confirm where and when.
Tasting Fees
Tasting fees to be verified upon reservation. Almacerro does not publish a tasting program or fee.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
1181 Las Posadas Road, Angwin
AVA
Howell Mountain
Visiting
No published tasting program. Almacerro welcomes requests to share its wines in person in Napa, by email (info@almacerro.com) or phone; we arrange it on your behalf, and the winery confirms the place, time and format.
Known For
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, a Right Bank-style Proprietary Red and estate Sauvignon Blanc
Founded
2016 (Scherkenbach family; the parcel joined Bill Smith's La Jota holdings in 1986)
Good to Know
Visits are by request only, so allow lead time. Ages, group size, pet rules and fees are not published; we confirm them when we ask. Join the mailing list on almacerro.com to hear about releases.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 9:45 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Meadowood or Alila Napa Valley.
9:45 · Pickup at Meadowood or Alila Napa Valley
Almacerro is at the far eastern edge of Angwin, about 25 minutes from Meadowood at the foot of Howell Mountain and about 30 from Alila Napa Valley in St. Helena, so we start a little early. The winery sets the visit time, and pickup moves with it. The day runs about six and a quarter hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Almacerro
A private visit arranged by request. We plan about 75 minutes; the place, format and any fee are confirmed by the winery.
11:45 · Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery
About 15 minutes away. The Brakesman family's estate near the top of Howell Mountain, known for old-vine Zinfandel since the 1970s, where the visit is a private vineyard tour and tasting. The fee is confirmed when we book; we allow about 75 minutes. By appointment, Monday to Saturday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
1:25 · Lunch at Forum at Meadowood
About 25 minutes down the mountain. Lunch at Forum, the main restaurant at Meadowood at the foot of Howell Mountain, with seasonal dishes drawn from the Meadowood farm. Lunch is served on weekdays, with brunch on weekends. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:45 · Hunnicutt Wines
About 10 minutes away. A family winery in the pines above the Silverado Trail, with caves cut into volcanic tuff and a tasting room hung with vintage skis. The Portfolio Tasting is $75, waived with three bottles per person; we allow about an hour. By appointment every day, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
3:45 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:00 p.m., about six and a quarter hours after pickup.
About $75 per person in tasting fees for Hunnicutt, plus the fees for Almacerro and Summit Lake, which are confirmed when we book; each is paid directly to the winery.
Almacerro sets its visits by request, and Summit Lake hosts Monday to Saturday. Forum serves brunch instead of lunch on weekends. The day runs about six and a quarter hours.
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
Do I need a reservation at Almacerro?
Yes. Almacerro has no public tasting room, and visits are by request through the winery. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Almacerro?
Almacerro does not publish a tasting fee; it is to be verified upon reservation, as of September 2026.
Who owns Almacerro?
Frank Scherkenbach, who bought the estate from Bill and Joan Smith in 2016.
What is the history of the Almacerro property?
Bill Smith, who revived La Jota Vineyard Company in the 1970s, bought the parcel in 1986, and he and Joan made wine there until 2016. Frederick Hess founded La Jota in 1898.
Who makes the Almacerro wines?
Consulting winemaker Françoise Peschon and Matilda Scott.
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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