Calistoga · Napa Valley
Visit Chateau Montelena with a Private Chauffeur
The Calistoga estate whose Chardonnay beat the French in 1976, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Chateau Montelena sits at the foot of Mount St. Helena, at the far northern end of Napa Valley. Alfred L. Tubbs, who made his fortune selling rope during the Gold Rush, bought the land in 1882 and built the stone winery that still anchors the estate. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1976, the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay took first place among the white wines at the Judgment of Paris, a blind tasting in which French judges ranked it above four of Burgundy's best. The result put California wine on the world map, and a bottle of that vintage now sits in the Smithsonian. The story was retold in the 2008 film Bottle Shock.
The Barrett family bought and restored the estate in 1972 and still runs it today. Montelena is known above all for two wines: its Chardonnay and its estate Cabernet Sauvignon, grown on the slopes around the château. A visit means tasting both where the story happened.
We are based in Calistoga, a few minutes from the estate, and Montelena is a natural place to begin a day in the north valley.
Tasting Fees
$65 for the walk-in tasting, about 45 minutes. $75 to $125 for reserved tastings and tours of 60 to 90 minutes. Most fees are refunded with a qualifying wine purchase or club membership.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
1429 Tubbs Lane, Calistoga
AVA
Calistoga
Visiting
Open daily 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins welcome for the standard tasting from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; tours by reservation.
Known For
Chardonnay and estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Founded
1882
Good to Know
Up to 8 guests per group. All visitors must be 21 or older.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a Calistoga hotel such as Solage or the Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley.
10:00 · Pickup at Solage or the Four Seasons
Stay close and the tasting starts right away. Solage, an Auberge resort on the Silverado Trail, and the Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley, with its own vineyard, are both about 10 minutes from Chateau Montelena. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Chateau Montelena
Start with the walk-in tasting (about 45 minutes, $65) or a reserved tour. Walk-ins are only taken until 2:30 p.m., which makes Montelena the right first stop.
11:20 · Storybook Mountain Vineyards
About 5 minutes away. A family estate farming Zinfandel organically on the hillside above Highway 128, with a vineyard walk and caves more than 130 years old. By appointment, about 90 minutes, Monday to Saturday. Tasting fee about $50, waived with the purchase of two bottles. On Sundays we suggest another winery nearby.
1:00 · Lunch at Solbar
About 10 minutes away. Lunch at Solbar, the restaurant at Solage on the Silverado Trail. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:25 · Larkmead Vineyards
About 8 minutes away. One of Napa Valley's oldest family estates, founded in 1895 and farmed organically. The seated salon tasting of three red wines runs 45 to 60 minutes (about $90); the estate tasting with a tour and cheese is about $150. By appointment.
3:30 · Back to your hotel
Back by 4:00 p.m., six hours after pickup.
Optional: Sterling Vineyards
Adds about an hour. Ride the aerial gondola to Sterling's hilltop tasting room. Walk-ins are welcome until the last tasting at 4:30 p.m.; tastings from about $55.
About $205 to $325 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery. Many are refunded when you buy wine.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. The fourth stop is there if the day allows.
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 Chateau Montelena?
Walk-ins are welcome for the standard tasting, A Taste of Montelena, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Tours and other experiences need a reservation. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the appointments for you.
How much is a tasting at Chateau Montelena?
$65 per person for the walk-in tasting and $75 to $125 for reserved tastings and tours, as of September 2026. Most fees are refunded with a qualifying wine purchase. Tasting fees are paid directly to the winery.
How long should I plan for a visit?
About 45 minutes for the walk-in tasting, and 60 to 90 minutes for a tour.
Can children visit Chateau Montelena?
No. All visitors must be 21 or older.
Which Chateau Montelena wine won the Judgment of Paris?
The 1973 Chardonnay, which placed first among the white wines at the 1976 Paris tasting.
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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