St. Helena · Napa Valley
Visit Ballentine with a Private Chauffeur
A four-generation family winery north of St. Helena with roots in 1905, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
The story starts in 1905, when Italian immigrant Libero Pocai bought 60 acres in Calistoga; the family opened L. Pocai & Sons winery in 1912 and grew Zinfandel. In 1922 Irish immigrant John J. Ballentine bought the former Sutter Home Winery on Howell Mountain and renamed it Ballentine's Deer Park Winery. Van Ballentine and Betty Pocai later married and joined the two family legacies.
In 1944 Van and Betty bought the vineyard just north of St. Helena now called Betty's Vineyard, where the winery stands today. After both family wineries closed by 1982, the family kept farming grapes, and Ballentine Vineyards was reborn with the 1992 vintage. Bruce Devlin joined as assistant winemaker in 1999 and became head winemaker, and fourth-generation Frank Ballentine rejoined the family business in 2012.
The tasting room pours only estate wines, from Chenin Blanc and Zinfandel to Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Tastings are seated, inside the cozy tasting room, on the patio with vineyard views or in the winery cellar. Flights run from three wines to six, and walk-in guests are welcome when there is space.
Tasting Fees
$30 for Sip & Stay, three estate wines in 30 to 45 minutes. $60 for the Napa Estate Tasting, five wines in 60 to 90 minutes. $85 for the Large Party Tasting, 90 to 120 minutes for groups of 9 to 15. $90 for the Napa Valley Cabernet Experience, six Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc wines in 60 to 90 minutes.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
2820 St. Helena Highway North, St. Helena
AVA
St. Helena
Visiting
Open Thursday to Monday from 10 a.m.; last tasting begins at 3:30 p.m. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Reservations are recommended, and walk-ins are welcome when space allows.
Known For
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel and Chenin Blanc
Founded
1905 (Pocai family); Ballentine Vineyards revived with the 1992 vintage
Good to Know
Tastings are 21 and over; children are welcome if supervised at all times. Well-behaved dogs on leash are welcome. Standard tastings are for parties of 1 to 8; larger groups book the Large Party Tasting.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Alila Napa Valley or Harvest Inn.
10:00 · Pickup at Alila Napa Valley or Harvest Inn
Stay close and the tasting starts right away. Alila Napa Valley, a Hyatt hotel and spa at the north end of St. Helena's Main Street, is about 5 minutes from Ballentine, and Harvest Inn, set in gardens on the south edge of St. Helena, is about 8 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Ballentine Vineyards
The Napa Estate Tasting, five estate wines in 60 to 90 minutes ($60). The Napa Valley Cabernet Experience ($90) runs about as long and focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
12:00 · CADE Estate Winery
About 15 minutes away. A PlumpJack estate on Howell Mountain, 1,850 feet above the valley floor, with a LEED Gold certified winery and organically farmed vines. The seated Current Release Tasting of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon is $100, about 60 minutes. By appointment daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; no one under 21, including infants and children.
1:15 · Lunch at Gott's Roadside
About 15 minutes away. Lunch at Gott's Roadside on Main Street in St. Helena, the original location of the roadside burger stand, opened in 1999, with outdoor tables and service 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.
2:20 · Cakebread Cellars
About 10 minutes away. A family winery in Rutherford founded in 1973 by Jack and Dolores Cakebread, known for Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. The private, seated Courtyard Tasting is $60 and runs 75 minutes. By reservation, daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 21 and over.
3:35 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 3:50 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Optional: Mumm Napa
Adds about an hour. A sparkling wine house on the Silverado Trail in Rutherford, pouring on its outdoor patio or indoors. Walk-ins are taken when space allows (reservations recommended); the Sip & Sparkle tasting is $48 for 60 minutes. Open daily until 6 p.m., last seating at 5 p.m.; 21 and over only.
About $220 to $250 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Ballentine is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, so this day works Thursday through Monday.
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 Ballentine?
Reservations are recommended, and walk-in guests are welcome when space is available. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Ballentine?
$30 per person for Sip & Stay, $60 for the Napa Estate Tasting and $90 for the Napa Valley Cabernet Experience, with $85 for the Large Party Tasting, as of September 2026.
Can children and dogs visit Ballentine?
Only guests 21 and over may taste, but children are welcome if they are supervised at all times. Well-behaved dogs on leash are welcome.
Who owns Ballentine Vineyards?
The Ballentine family. Fourth-generation Frank Ballentine rejoined the family business in 2012, and winemaker Bruce Devlin joined in 1999.
How old is the Ballentine family winery?
Its roots go back to 1905, when Libero Pocai bought 60 acres in Calistoga, and the family opened L. Pocai & Sons winery in 1912. The Ballentine and Pocai families later joined through marriage, and Ballentine Vineyards was reborn with the 1992 vintage.
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.
Reserve Your Tour{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Winery","name":"Ballentine Vineyards","url":"https://ballentinevineyards.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2820 St. Helena Highway North","addressLocality":"St. Helena","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"94574","addressCountry":"US"},"foundingDate":"1905","containedInPlace":{"@type":"Place","name":"St. Helena AVA"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a reservation at Ballentine?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Reservations are recommended, and walk-in guests are welcome when space is available. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at Ballentine?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"$30 per person for Sip & Stay, $60 for the Napa Estate Tasting and $90 for the Napa Valley Cabernet Experience, with $85 for the Large Party Tasting, as of September 2026."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can children and dogs visit Ballentine?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Only guests 21 and over may taste, but children are welcome if they are supervised at all times. Well-behaved dogs on leash are welcome."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who owns Ballentine Vineyards?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Ballentine family. Fourth-generation Frank Ballentine rejoined the family business in 2012, and winemaker Bruce Devlin joined in 1999."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How old is the Ballentine family winery?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Its roots go back to 1905, when Libero Pocai bought 60 acres in Calistoga, and the family opened L. Pocai & Sons winery in 1912. The Ballentine and Pocai families later joined through marriage, and Ballentine Vineyards was reborn with the 1992 vintage."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How does booking a tour with Bien Chauffeured work?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"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."}}]}]}