Calistoga · Napa Valley
Visit Coquerel with a Private Chauffeur
A Calistoga family estate shaded by old oaks and the Mayacamas, known for Sauvignon Blanc and rare grapes like Verdelho and Tempranillo, open by appointment, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Clay and Brenda Cockerell, wine lovers for more than three decades, bought a Calistoga vineyard planted to old-vine, dry-farmed Sauvignon Blanc in 2005, and added the neighboring site in 2008. Coquerel is an old French form of the family name. The family has replanted and upgraded the property since, and daughter Lily Cockerell now works in the business.
The estate, home to their Walnut Wash Winery, sits just beyond Calistoga in the afternoon shade of the Mayacamas Mountains, among big oak trees, in the Calistoga AVA. Bordeaux-born winemaker Christine Barbe, who trained under Denis Dubourdieu, farms and makes the wines. Sauvignon Blanc is the flagship, with Verdelho, Tempranillo, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Coquerel is not open for drop-in visits; tastings are by appointment, arranged directly with the winery. The draw is the setting and the unusual lineup: the neighboring site added in 2008 was planted to traditional varieties rarely found in modern-day Napa. Once the winery confirms a time, we plan the rest of the day around it.
Tasting Fees
Tasting fees to be verified upon reservation. Coquerel does not publish a tasting fee.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
3180 Highway 128, Calistoga
AVA
Calistoga
Visiting
Not open to the public; tastings are by appointment only. Contact the winery (707-942-4534, info@coquerelwines.com) to arrange a visit; we do this on your behalf. Days and times are not published.
Known For
Estate Sauvignon Blanc, plus Verdelho, Tempranillo and Petite Sirah from its Calistoga vineyard
Founded
2005 (vineyard purchased; neighboring site added in 2008)
Good to Know
Hours, ages, group size and fees are not published; the winery confirms them when it sets the appointment. Club members get 15 to 25 percent off wine purchases.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Dr. Wilkinson's or Indian Springs. Coquerel sets appointment times, so the start may move once the winery confirms.
10:00 · Pickup at Dr. Wilkinson's or Indian Springs
Both are in downtown Calistoga, about 6 minutes from the estate on Highway 128: Dr. Wilkinson's, the mud bath resort on Lincoln Avenue, and Indian Springs, the historic hot springs resort. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Coquerel Family Wine Estates
A tasting by appointment at the estate. The length is not published; we allow about an hour.
11:25 · Lamborn Family Vineyards
About 10 minutes away. A Howell Mountain family winery that hosts tastings at its custom crush winery in Calistoga, led by Mike or Brian Lamborn. $75 for current releases, applied toward a six-bottle purchase. By reservation; we confirm the address and time when we book.
12:35 · Lunch at Solbar
About 8 minutes away. Lunch at Solbar, the restaurant at Solage in Calistoga, serving lunch Monday through Saturday from 11:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:00 · Varozza Vineyards
About 15 minutes away. A St. Helena family vineyard on Pratt Avenue, with a stone and wood winery building from 1885, where owners Jack and Dianna Varozza host every tasting themselves. The extended seven-wine tasting is $75 (five wines for $50), about 90 minutes. By appointment, Tuesday to Sunday.
3:30 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 3:50 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Optional: Chateau Montelena
Adds about an hour. The stone chateau north of Calistoga whose 1973 Chardonnay won the 1976 Paris Tasting. A Taste of Montelena is offered daily to walk-ins ($65, about 45 minutes, 21 and over); the tasting room closes at 4 p.m.
About $150 per person in tasting fees for Lamborn and Varozza, plus Coquerel's fee, which is confirmed when we book. Fees are paid directly to each winery.
Varozza hosts Tuesday to Sunday and Solbar serves lunch Monday to Saturday, so plan this day Tuesday to Saturday.
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 Coquerel?
Yes. Coquerel is not open to the public, and tastings are by appointment only. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Coquerel?
Coquerel does not publish a tasting fee; it is to be verified upon reservation, as of September 2026.
Who owns Coquerel?
Clay and Brenda Cockerell, who bought the Calistoga estate in 2005. Coquerel is an old French form of their family name.
Who makes Coquerel's wine?
Christine Barbe, a Bordeaux-trained winemaker who also oversees the farming of the estate vineyard.
What is Coquerel known for?
Sauvignon Blanc, its flagship, and rarely seen estate wines such as Verdelho and Tempranillo.
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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