Howell Mountain · Napa Valley
Visit Black Sears with a Private Chauffeur
A family farm and winery near the top of Howell Mountain, with tastings hosted by the farmer, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Joyce and Jerre Sears moved to Howell Mountain to live closer to the land, then bought the neglected Zinfandel vineyard next door. They nursed their 'Hard Luck Vineyard' back to health, planted seven more acres, and in the mid-1980s, with Mike Beatty and winemaker Ted Lemon, made the first wines of Howell Mountain Vineyards. In 1997 they started the Black Sears Estate label.
In the early 2000s Joyce and Jerre sold the Howell Mountain Vineyards label and handed the ranch to their daughter Ashley and her husband Chris, who moved up the mountain in 2008. The family farms high on Howell Mountain, surrounded by wild country, and makes small amounts of Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate.
This is a working winery and family home, and Chris hosts the tastings himself, opening wines rarely poured anywhere else. A visit includes the tasting, a wander through the vineyard and a look at the cellar, with views over two valleys. The winery suggests leaving white pants and heels at home.
Tasting Fees
$50 per person for non-members, including a tasting, a vineyard wander and a look at the cellar, hosted by Chris.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
2615 Summit Lake Drive, Angwin
AVA
Howell Mountain
Visiting
By appointment only, Monday through Saturday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Requests are made through the winery's online form, and the family follows up to set the details.
Known For
Small-lot estate Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon from one of Howell Mountain's highest vineyards
Founded
1997 (Black Sears Estate label)
Good to Know
This is a farm and family home, with dogs and uneven ground; wear flat shoes. Visits suit guests who plan to take wine home, by the bottle or by joining as members.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Meadowood or Alila Napa Valley. The winery sits near the top of Howell Mountain, about 25 minutes up, so the visit is set for 10:30.
10:00 · Pickup at Meadowood or Alila Napa Valley
Meadowood, at the foot of Howell Mountain, is about 25 minutes from the winery, and Alila Napa Valley at the north end of St. Helena is about 30 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:30 · Black Sears
A tasting with a vineyard wander and a cellar visit, hosted by Chris ($50). We plan about 75 minutes; the winery does not publish a set length.
12:05 · Titus Vineyards
About 20 minutes away. A family estate on the Silverado Trail pouring Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties from its St. Helena vineyards. The seated Vista Room Experience is $60, about an hour, for one to six guests; last tasting at 3 p.m.
1:15 · Lunch at Market
About 10 minutes away. Lunch at Market, an American restaurant in a historic brick and stone building on Main Street in St. Helena, open Monday to Saturday from noon. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:35 · Faust
About 8 minutes away. Faust's tasting home on Highway 29 north of St. Helena, pouring Cabernet Sauvignon from Coombsville, led by The Pact. Act I is $75, 60 to 90 minutes with curated snacks; by reservation Thursday through Monday, 21 and over.
3:40 · Back to your hotel
Back by 4:00 p.m., six hours after pickup.
About $185 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Faust is closed Tuesday and Wednesday, and Market does not serve on Sunday. On those days we swap in another St. Helena estate or restaurant of the same standing.
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 Black Sears?
Yes. Visits are by appointment only, Monday through Saturday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., requested through the winery's form. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Black Sears?
$50 per person for non-members, including the tasting, a vineyard wander and a cellar visit, as of September 2026.
Who hosts the tastings at Black Sears?
Chris, who runs the estate with his wife Ashley, the daughter of founders Joyce and Jerre Sears, hosts the visits personally.
How is Black Sears connected to Howell Mountain Vineyards?
Joyce and Jerre Sears made the first Howell Mountain Vineyards wines in the mid-1980s with Mike Beatty and winemaker Ted Lemon, then started Black Sears Estate in 1997 and later sold the Howell Mountain Vineyards label.
What should I wear to Black Sears?
Comfortable clothes and flat shoes. It is a working farm, and the winery itself says white pants and heels are not recommended.
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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