St. Helena · Napa Valley
Visit Fait-Main with a Private Chauffeur
Winemaker Benoit Touquette's own small label of single-vineyard Cabernet, poured in private tastings at the Fait-Main Lounge on Main Street, and a suggested six-hour day around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Fait-Main is the personal label of Benoit Touquette, who grew up in Lyon, studied oenology in Bordeaux and came to Napa Valley to intern with Andy Erickson. He learned early under Michel Rolland, became one of the valley's most sought-after winemakers and is now a partner at Realm Cellars. The winery says his wines have earned 39 perfect 100-point ratings. Fait-Main means "handmade."
Benoit started the label, in his words, because he fell in love with a vineyard, and then another, and another. Fait-Main bottles single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Tierra Roja Vineyard and from two Beckstoffer sites, Las Piedras and Missouri Hopper, plus a Napa Valley Cabernet. Earlier bottlings came from vineyards such as Bettinelli Sleeping Lady and Todeschini Asteria. Production is small, and new buyers join a waitlist.
Tastings are private and by appointment at the Fait-Main Lounge in downtown St. Helena, in the St. Helena AVA, with appointments also possible at the Brasswood winery. It is a small, quiet sit-down for 1 to 6 guests with wines most people only see on allocation lists. Because it is right in town, we pair it with mountain and Rutherford estates so the day still covers the valley.
Tasting Fees
Tasting fees to be verified upon reservation. Fait-Main does not publish the fee for its Private Tasting; note the $150 per person charge for cancellations within 48 hours.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
1508 Main Street, St. Helena
AVA
St. Helena
Visiting
Private tastings by appointment at the Fait-Main Lounge, 1508 Main Street, St. Helena (also at the Brasswood winery by appointment), booked on Tock for 1 to 6 guests. Tock lists hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Known For
Single-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon by Benoit Touquette, from Tierra Roja and Beckstoffer Las Piedras and Missouri Hopper
Founded
Benoit Touquette's own label
Good to Know
Tastings are private, for 1 to 6 guests. Cancellations or no-shows within 48 hours are charged $150 per person. New buyers join the waitlist on the winery's website. Ages and pets are not published; we confirm them when booking.
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
Both are at the south end of St. Helena, a few minutes from the lounge. The day below runs about six and a half hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Fait-Main
A private tasting at the Fait-Main Lounge. Tock does not list a length, so we allow about an hour and a quarter.
12:00 · Barnett Vineyards
About 25 minutes away, up Spring Mountain. A small family estate near the top of Spring Mountain, with views from about 2,000 feet over Napa Valley. The Tasting Experience is $125, a guided flight of five current releases in about 90 minutes, at the noon seating. Open daily by prepaid appointment, with tastings at 10 a.m., noon and 3 p.m.
1:55 · Lunch at The Charter Oak
About 25 minutes away, back down the mountain. Lunch at The Charter Oak at the south end of St. Helena, Christopher and Martina Kostow's family-style New American restaurant, open daily for lunch. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
3:15 · Foley Johnson
About 10 minutes away. Bill Foley and Carol Johnson Foley's Rutherford estate, with tastings in a converted 1920s redwood barn among the vines and a terrace facing the Vaca Mountains. The Luxury Cabernet Tasting in the VIP room is $100, with the Peral Vineyard Cabernet and a cheese and charcuterie board; we allow about an hour. Open daily; last tasting at 4 p.m.
4:20 · Back to your hotel
Back in St. Helena by about 4:35 p.m.
About $225 per person in tasting fees for Barnett and Foley Johnson, plus Fait-Main's fee, which is confirmed with the reservation; each paid directly to the winery.
Barnett seats tastings at set times, so the day follows its noon seating and runs about six and a half hours.
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 Fait-Main?
Yes. Tastings are private and by appointment, booked ahead on Tock. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Fait-Main?
Fait-Main does not publish its tasting fee; it is to be verified upon reservation, as of September 2026. Late cancellations are charged $150 per person.
Who makes Fait-Main?
Owner and winemaker Benoit Touquette, a Lyon native trained in Bordeaux and a partner at Realm Cellars.
Where is the Fait-Main tasting room?
The Fait-Main Lounge at 1508 Main Street in downtown St. Helena. Appointments are also offered at the Brasswood winery.
What does Fait-Main mean?
"Handmade" in French, a nod to the care that goes into each small vintage.
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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