St. Helena · Napa Valley
Visit Corison with a Private Chauffeur
Cathy Corison's graceful, age-worthy Cabernet, tasted in the winery barn on her Kronos Vineyard, and a suggested six-hour day around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Cathy Corison made her first vintage in 1987, choosing, as she puts it, to buy grapes and barrels instead of cars and houses. In 1995 she and her husband, William Martin, bought the Kronos Vineyard on the benchland between Rutherford and St. Helena, and the first estate wine followed in 1996.
William designed the Victorian-style winery barn, built in 1999, where guests taste today. Cathy was named the San Francisco Chronicle's Winemaker of the Year in 2011, and the couple added a second estate vineyard, Sunbasket, in 2015. Both vineyards were certified organic in 2023.
Corison makes Cabernet Sauvignon of power and elegance that ages beautifully, and the family, now including daughters Grace and Rose, runs the winery together. It is a personal, unhurried visit for serious Cabernet lovers.
Tasting Fees
$75 for the Discovery Tasting, about an hour, with a walk in the Kronos Vineyard, waived with the purchase of three bottles of Cabernet. $125 for the Library Tasting, about 90 minutes, waived with four bottles.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
987 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena
AVA
St. Helena
Visiting
Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment only. The winery confirms each booking.
Known For
Age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon, including Kronos Vineyard
Founded
1987
Good to Know
Booked on the winery's own website with a card to hold the time. Cancel 24 hours ahead. For same-day visits, call the winery.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a St. Helena hotel such as Harvest Inn or Alila Napa Valley.
10:00 · Pickup at Harvest Inn or Alila Napa Valley
Stay close and the tasting starts right away. Harvest Inn, set among gardens at the south end of St. Helena, is about 3 minutes from Corison, and Alila Napa Valley, a Hyatt luxury resort on Main Street, is about 7 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Corison Winery
The Discovery Tasting, about an hour ($75), or the Library Tasting ($125), about 90 minutes.
11:25 · Heitz Cellar
About 3 minutes away. Home of Martha's Vineyard, Napa Valley's first vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon. The Napa Valley Legacy tasting at The Salon is 45 to 60 minutes ($75); walk-ins are welcome when there is space.
12:35 · Lunch at Farmstead
About 4 minutes away. Lunch at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch on Main Street in St. Helena, a farm-to-table restaurant open daily. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:00 · V. Sattui Winery
About 5 minutes away. Founded in San Francisco in 1885 and reopened in St. Helena in 1976, with a large Italian deli and picnic grounds. The Mercato tasting is about an hour ($45). Reservations recommended.
3:10 · Back to your hotel
Back by 4:00 p.m., six hours after pickup.
Optional: Merryvale Vineyards
Adds about 90 minutes. A historic working winery on Main Street in St. Helena. The Winery Exclusives tasting ($50) takes walk-ins as space allows; the tasting room is open until 5:30 p.m.
About $195 to $245 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
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 an appointment at Corison?
Yes. Visits are by appointment only, and bookings are confirmed by the winery. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the appointment for you.
How much is a tasting at Corison?
$75 per person for the Discovery Tasting and $125 for the Library Tasting, as of September 2026. Fees are waived with a purchase of three or four bottles of Cabernet.
What is Corison known for?
Graceful, age-worthy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, including the Kronos Vineyard bottling.
Who makes the wine at Corison?
Cathy Corison, who founded the winery in 1987, with her daughter Grace as assistant winemaker.
Is Corison organic?
Yes. Its Kronos and Sunbasket vineyards were certified organic in 2023.
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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