Calistoga · Napa Valley
Visit Amici with a Private Chauffeur
A family-owned winery in the foothills of the Palisades outside Calistoga, pouring reserve and single-vineyard wines side by side with views of the cliffs, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Amici, pronounced ah-ME-chee, means friends in Italian, and the winery began as a small project between friends who crushed a few tons of grapes in 1991. Today it is family-owned by John Harris and Bob Shepard, with Melissa Devore as president and partner. The owners describe themselves as out in the vineyards, in the cellar and on the road pouring their wines.
The winery sits in the foothills of the Palisades just outside Calistoga, in the Calistoga AVA, on Old Lawley Toll Road. Winemakers Tony Biagi, Matt Courtney and Dante West make true-to-varietal wines from respected growers across Napa and Sonoma: Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Visits are by appointment. The estate tasting compares reserve and single-vineyard wines side by side with views of the Palisades. Through mid-October, a small harvest experience adds a walk up the driveway for a winery tour, then cheese and charcuterie back at the estate house, perhaps with fresh-pressed juice or a barrel sample. A Collector's Tasting pours library wines by Coravin.
Tasting Fees
Tasting fees to be verified upon reservation. Amici offers an estate tasting, a seasonal Harvest Experience and a Collector's Tasting of library wines, and does not publish their fees.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
3130 Old Lawley Toll Road, Calistoga
AVA
Calistoga
Visiting
Open by appointment only; advance reservations are required for all tastings. Book by phone, text or email (707-967-9560, tastingroom@amicicellars.com).
Known For
Reserve and single-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, plus Sonoma Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Founded
1991 (first crush among friends)
Good to Know
The Harvest Experience is for up to 8 guests, offered Monday to Friday at 10:30 a.m. from September 14 to October 16. Ages, pets and fees are not published; the winery confirms them when booking.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Calistoga Motor Lodge or Indian Springs.
10:00 · Pickup at Calistoga Motor Lodge or Indian Springs
Both are in downtown Calistoga, about 10 minutes from the winery on Old Lawley Toll Road. During harvest season we time the pickup for the 10:30 a.m. Harvest Experience instead. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Amici Cellars
The estate tasting, seated with views of the Palisades. Amici does not publish its length, so we allow about an hour and a quarter.
11:45 · AXR Napa Valley
About 15 minutes away. A historic estate north of St. Helena set in a redwood grove, with wines by winemaker and partner Jean Hoefliger. The Estate Tasting starts with a glass of the newest white, tours the estate, then pours current-release reds at a private table. By appointment, daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; AXR does not publish its fees, so the cost is confirmed when we book. We plan about an hour.
1:00 · Lunch at Gott's Roadside
About 8 minutes away. Lunch at Gott's Roadside, classic American fare at picnic tables on Main Street in St. Helena, open daily from 11 a.m. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:15 · Pride Mountain Vineyards
About 20 minutes away. A family estate at the top of Spring Mountain that straddles the Napa and Sonoma county line, with a walk through the caves as part of every visit. The Reserve Experience adds a seated tasting of limited wines to the cave walk; $75 and about 90 minutes. By appointment, Wednesday to Monday (closed Tuesday); up to 6 guests.
3:45 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:15 p.m., about six hours after pickup.
About $75 per person for Pride Mountain, plus the fees for Amici and AXR, which are confirmed when we book. Fees are paid directly to each winery.
Pride Mountain is closed on Tuesdays; on a Tuesday we swap in another Spring Mountain estate.
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 Amici?
Yes. Amici is open by appointment only, and advance reservations are required for all tastings. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Amici?
Amici does not publish its tasting fees; they are to be verified upon reservation, as of September 2026.
What does Amici mean?
Friends, in Italian. The winery started as a small project between friends in 1991, and its motto is wine made by friends, for friends.
Who owns Amici Cellars?
John Harris and Bob Shepard, with Melissa Devore as president and partner. It is family-owned.
What is the Harvest Experience at Amici?
An intimate tasting for up to 8 guests, Monday to Friday at 10:30 a.m. from September 14 to October 16, with a winery tour and current releases paired with cheese and charcuterie.
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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