St. Helena · Napa Valley
Visit CourAvant with a Private Chauffeur
Sharon and Gary Lessing's Bordeaux-style estate on Zinfandel Lane, with gardens, olive trees and a research-grade observatory. CourAvant does not receive visitors; here is what to know, and a day at sought-after estates nearby that do host.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
CourAvant belongs to Sharon and Gary Lessing, whose love of wine grew over more than 30 years of visits to Napa Valley. They made their first experimental wines from a home vineyard before acquiring the CourAvant estate in St. Helena. Gary is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and CEO, Sharon holds an electrical engineering degree and focuses on philanthropy, and their two adult children help build the estate.
The estate sits on Zinfandel Lane, on benchland at the base of the Mayacamas range, with gravelly loam vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot planted in the early 1990s. Sally Johnson Blum is the winemaker. Two wines: CourAvant Blanc, a Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon blend in the spirit of Graves, and a Left Bank style Proprietary Red. Gardens, mature olive trees and a research-grade observatory with a PlaneWave telescope share the property.
CourAvant sells through its mailing list, with no tasting room or published visit program, so it does not receive visitors. The day below starts on Spring Mountain, above St. Helena, and comes back down to the valley floor for Rutherford, a French-owned tasting house and Oakville's To Kalon Vineyard.
Tasting Fees
CourAvant does not offer tastings.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
St. Helena
AVA
St. Helena
Visiting
CourAvant does not receive visitors; its wines are offered through its mailing list.
Known For
Bordeaux-style estate wines: CourAvant Blanc and a Left Bank style Proprietary Red
Founded
Founding year not published (vineyard planted in the early 1990s)
Good to Know
Sign up for the mailing list on couravant.com for releases. The estate's mailing address is PO Box 1126, St. Helena.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Harvest Inn or Southbridge Napa Valley.
10:00 · Pickup at Harvest Inn or Southbridge Napa Valley
Since CourAvant does not host visitors, this day takes you to three sought-after estates nearby that do. Both hotels are in St. Helena, about 20 minutes from the first stop on Spring Mountain. The day fits about six and a half hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:20 · Vineyard 7 & 8
About 20 minutes away. A small family estate at about 2,000 feet on Spring Mountain, where the Estate Tasting includes a tour, the history of the property and a seated tasting of current and library wines. $175 per person; we allow about 90 minutes. By appointment, Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m.
12:15 · Lunch at Rutherford Grill
About 25 minutes away. Lunch at Rutherford Grill at the Rutherford crossroads, a sit-down grill open daily. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
1:35 · VGS Chateau Potelle
About 8 minutes away. A small, French-owned winery pouring single-vineyard wines with bites from La Toque in a St. Helena tasting house and garden. A private Wine Tasting of six wines is $75; we allow about an hour. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., by reservation.
2:50 · To Kalon Vineyard Company
About 12 minutes away. Private, guided tastings of Cabernet from the famous To Kalon Vineyard, poured at the Oakville estate where the vineyard grows. $180 per person plus an 18% hospitality fee, for 1 to 8 guests; we plan about 90 minutes. By reservation, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
4:20 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:35 p.m., about six and a half hours after pickup.
About $430 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries (plus To Kalon's 18% hospitality fee), paid directly to each winery.
Vineyard 7 & 8 hosts Monday to Saturday, so plan this day for one of those days. The day runs past six hours; extra time is billed by the hour. Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting.
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
Can you visit CourAvant?
No. CourAvant has no tasting room and does not host visitors, as of September 2026. We can plan a day at nearby wineries that do host.
How can I buy CourAvant wine?
Sign up for the mailing list on couravant.com.
Who owns CourAvant?
Sharon and Gary Lessing, with their two adult children involved in the estate.
Where is CourAvant?
On Zinfandel Lane in St. Helena, on benchland at the base of the Mayacamas range.
What is CourAvant known for?
Bordeaux-style wines, CourAvant Blanc and a Proprietary Red, and an estate with its own research-grade observatory.
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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