Oakville · Napa Valley
Visit Cardinale with a Private Chauffeur
A renovated stone winery on Highway 29 in Oakville with one of the valley's great panoramic views and tastings paired with seasonal bites, and a suggested six-hour day around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Cardinale was born in 1982 with one goal: a single Cabernet Sauvignon drawn from the best vineyards in Napa Valley, whatever the sub-appellation. Over the years mountain fruit became its backbone, from estate vineyards on Diamond Mountain, Spring Mountain, Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder, with a little benchland fruit and Merlot. Christopher Carpenter is the winemaker.
The estate sits just off Highway 29 in the Oakville District, in a historic stone winery reopened after a yearlong renovation that reused materials and freshened the design. The real showpiece is outside: a panoramic view across the valley that, on a clear morning, stops guests on the terrace.
Every tasting is seated and comes with food by Chef Natalie Niksa of La Saison Napa Valley. The Introduction pours four current releases, the Reserve Estate Tasting adds a 10-year library wine, and the Winemaker's Library Experience opens three aged vintages. For the outdoorsy, the Mt. Veeder Experience tours the mountain vineyard 2,000 feet up.
Tasting Fees
$125 for An Introduction to Cardinale, four current releases with seasonal bites. $200 for the Reserve Estate Tasting, with a 10-year library selection and a seasonal culinary pairing. $400 for The Winemaker's Library Experience, three aged vintages. The Mt. Veeder Experience, a vineyard tour and seated tasting on the mountain, is booked with a $250 per person deposit.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
7600 St. Helena Highway, Oakville
AVA
Oakville
Visiting
By appointment only, prepaid on Tock or arranged with the estate team (707-948-2643). Tock lists times from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Known For
A single Cabernet Sauvignon blended from mountain vineyards across Napa Valley
Founded
1982
Good to Know
All visitors must be 21 or older. Estate tastings take parties of 1 to 6, and the Mt. Veeder Experience parties of 2 to 6, held with a $250 per person deposit. Tastings are prepaid.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as North Block Hotel or Hotel Villagio.
10:00 · Pickup at North Block Hotel or Hotel Villagio
North Block Hotel, a small hotel in the center of Yountville, and Hotel Villagio, a Tuscan-style hotel in Yountville, are each about 7 minutes from Cardinale. This day runs a little over six hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Cardinale
An Introduction to Cardinale, four current releases with seasonal bites ($125); we plan about an hour and a quarter, with time on the terrace for the view. The Reserve Estate Tasting ($200) adds a library wine and a fuller pairing.
11:50 · Odette Estate Winery
About 15 minutes away. An organic Stags Leap District estate under the Palisades, with a LEED Gold winery designed to recall a flowing evening gown. The Odette Experience is $100, with a cheese plate for every two guests; the Collectors Tasting with a winery tour is $175. Open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by reservation.
1:20 · Lunch at R+D Kitchen
About 12 minutes away. Lunch at R+D Kitchen on Washington Street in Yountville, which serves lunch daily from 11:30 a.m. (11 a.m. 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 · Morlet Family Vineyards
About 20 minutes away. A family winery in a restored 1880 stone building north of St. Helena, with a brief tour of the old winery before a private, seated tasting. $200, about 90 minutes, waived with six bottles per person. By appointment, Monday to Saturday; it books up weeks ahead, so we reserve early.
4:15 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:35 p.m., a little over six and a half hours after pickup.
About $425 to $575 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Morlet is closed on Sundays; on a Sunday we suggest another St. Helena estate in its place. The day runs about six and a half hours; we can shorten it by dropping the last stop.
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 Cardinale?
Yes. Tastings are by appointment only and prepaid on Tock, or arranged with the estate team. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Cardinale?
$125 per person for An Introduction to Cardinale, $200 for the Reserve Estate Tasting and $400 for The Winemaker's Library Experience, as of September 2026.
Is food served with the Cardinale tastings?
Yes. Each tasting comes with seasonal bites by Chef Natalie Niksa of La Saison Napa Valley.
Can children visit Cardinale?
No. All visitors must be at least 21 years old.
Where do Cardinale's grapes come from?
Mostly from estate mountain vineyards on Diamond Mountain, Spring Mountain, Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder, with select benchland fruit.
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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