Oakville · Napa Valley
Visit Emerson Brown with a Private Chauffeur
Oakville Cabernet from the Araujos' Rancho Pequeño vineyard, from Vineyard 29's Keith Emerson and Brian Brown. Emerson Brown 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
Emerson Brown is a collaboration between winemakers Keith Emerson and Brian Brown that began at Vineyard 29 during the 2005 harvest, a vintage so large that many wineries turned fruit away at the crush pad. After a little horse-trading with growers the partnership was born, and they have made Napa Valley wines together ever since, agreeing from the start that the Napa Valley AVA would be their exclusive playground.
Keith, a Boston native with more than 20 vintages, has been director of winemaking at Vineyard 29 since 2005. Brian, a UC Davis graduate who was once enologist at Trefethen, runs Willow Creek Wine Co. near Paso Robles with his wife, Natalie. The Oakville Cabernet comes from Rancho Pequeño, formerly III Michaels Estate, which Bart and Daphne Araujo bought in 2013 and still sell fruit from to Emerson Brown.
The Napa Valley Cabernet draws on whichever sub-AVAs had the best season. Both wines have scored in the 90s from Jeb Dunnuck and Vinous, and Robert Parker gave the 2013 Oakville 96 points. There are no clubs or allocation commitments: wine is sold on the website when available and in small lots to select merchants and restaurants. Emerson Brown has no tasting room, so it does not receive visitors.
Tasting Fees
Emerson Brown 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
Oakville
AVA
Oakville
Visiting
Emerson Brown has no tasting room and does not receive visitors; wine is sold directly on its website when available.
Known For
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon from Rancho Pequeño Vineyard and a Napa Valley Cabernet
Founded
2005
Good to Know
No clubs or allocation commitments. Shipping is free on six bottles or more; sign up for updates through the website's contact form.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Rancho Caymus Inn or Bardessono.
10:00 · Pickup at Rancho Caymus Inn or Bardessono
Since Emerson Brown does not host visitors, this day takes you to three sought-after estates nearby that do. Rancho Caymus Inn in Rutherford is about 10 minutes from the first stop, and Bardessono in Yountville about 20 minutes away. The day runs about six hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · McCoy Family Estates
About 10 minutes away. A Nebraska farming family's new hilltop Cabernet estate in the eastern Napa foothills, made by Thomas Rivers Brown and tasted with light bites at Royal We Wines on Main Street in St. Helena. The McCoy tasting is $75, 60 to 90 minutes. Daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; prior appointments strongly recommended.
12:00 · Strala Vineyards
About 8 minutes away. A husband-and-wife label from a leading vineyard manager and a barrel expert, poured with food and art at the Brasswood Estate north of St. Helena. The Classic Tasting is $75; we allow about an hour. By advance reservation at least 48 hours ahead, with tastings at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.
1:15 · Lunch at Rutherford Grill
About 12 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.
2:35 · Snowden Vineyards
About 10 minutes away. A family ranch farmed by the Snowdens since 1955, poured in a one-room tasting room on Railroad Avenue in St. Helena, for one group at a time. The hosted tasting of four wines is $40, with $40 credited for every $100 spent; we allow about an hour. By appointment only.
3:35 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 3:50 p.m. in Rutherford, or about 4 p.m. in Yountville.
About $190 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Strala needs 48 hours' notice and seats its midday tasting at noon. 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 Emerson Brown?
No. Emerson Brown has no tasting room and does not host visitors, as of September 2026. We can plan a day at nearby wineries that do.
How can I buy Emerson Brown wine?
On emersonbrownwines.com when wine is available, with no club or allocation commitment, or from select merchants and restaurants.
Who owns Emerson Brown?
Winemakers Keith Emerson, director of winemaking at Vineyard 29, and Brian Brown of Willow Creek Wine Co. in Paso Robles.
Where does the Oakville Cabernet come from?
From Rancho Pequeño, formerly III Michaels Estate, in Oakville, owned since 2013 by Bart and Daphne Araujo.
What is Emerson Brown known for?
Its Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, which Robert Parker scored 96 points in 2013, and a Napa Valley Cabernet that Jeb Dunnuck called 'crazy good at the price' in 2019.
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.
Reserve Your Tour{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Winery","name":"Emerson Brown Wines","url":"https://emersonbrownwines.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Oakville","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"94562","addressCountry":"US"},"foundingDate":"2005","containedInPlace":{"@type":"Place","name":"Oakville AVA"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Can you visit Emerson Brown?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. Emerson Brown has no tasting room and does not host visitors, as of September 2026. We can plan a day at nearby wineries that do."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How can I buy Emerson Brown wine?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"On emersonbrownwines.com when wine is available, with no club or allocation commitment, or from select merchants and restaurants."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who owns Emerson Brown?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Winemakers Keith Emerson, director of winemaking at Vineyard 29, and Brian Brown of Willow Creek Wine Co. in Paso Robles."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Where does the Oakville Cabernet come from?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"From Rancho Pequeño, formerly III Michaels Estate, in Oakville, owned since 2013 by Bart and Daphne Araujo."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is Emerson Brown known for?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Its Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, which Robert Parker scored 96 points in 2013, and a Napa Valley Cabernet that Jeb Dunnuck called 'crazy good at the price' in 2019."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How does booking a tour with Bien Chauffeured work?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"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."}}]}]}