St. Helena · Napa Valley
Visit J.H. Wheeler with a Private Chauffeur
Single-vineyard Cabernet poured at Wheeler Farms, a historic St. Helena estate with organic culinary gardens, a chef's kitchen and an olive grove, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
J.H. Wheeler honors John Hoffman Wheeler, an early Napa Valley winegrower. His father Charles Wheeler bought this land on Zinfandel Lane in 1879 and established the estate around 1880 with a winery, vines and orchards; John took it over, renamed the winery J.H. Wheeler and later served as president of California's State Board of Viticulture. Bart and Daphne Araujo revived the 11-acre property as Wheeler Farms in 2014, and Suzanne Deal Booth of Bella Oaks bought it, with the J.H. Wheeler brand, in November 2024.
Winemaker Nigel Kinsman makes limited-production, single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons from sites such as Vine Hill Ranch, Beckstoffer Georges III and Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper, alongside an estate Sauvignon Blanc. Wheeler Farms is also a custom crush winery for small family labels, so the estate in the St. Helena AVA is a working winery as well as a farm, with vineyard, orchards and organically farmed culinary gardens.
The visit is built around food. Every experience starts with a walk through the gardens, orchards, vineyard and winery, then moves to the living room, the patio or the olive grove for wines paired with canapés from Executive Chef Tom Harder's kitchen. Longer options run to a family-style lunch in the olive grove or a four-course lunch at the Chef's Table, and same-day bookings are possible.
Tasting Fees
$125 for the Culinary Garden Walk and Tasting, about 90 minutes. $175 for Location, Location, Location, a garden and vineyard tour with the vineyard-designate Cabernets, about 90 minutes. $195 for the Olive Grove Gathering family-style lunch (minimum 6), about 2 hours. $275 for the Epicurean Table lunch, about 2.5 hours, and $375 for the Chef's Table, about 3 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
588 Zinfandel Lane, St. Helena
AVA
St. Helena
Visiting
Open daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., by reservation, including same-day bookings. Reserve through the request form, by phone or by email.
Known For
Single-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and estate Sauvignon Blanc, paired with food from the estate gardens
Founded
Estate established about 1880; Wheeler Farms revived in 2014
Good to Know
The Olive Grove Gathering needs at least 6 guests, and the Chef's Table (Tuesday to Saturday) seats up to 6 at a communal table that may be shared. Non-drinking guests can add a zero-proof experience to any tasting. Age and pet policies are not published.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Harvest Inn or Rancho Caymus Inn.
10:00 · Pickup at Harvest Inn or Rancho Caymus Inn
Stay close and the tasting starts right away. Harvest Inn, a vineyard-side resort at the south end of St. Helena, is about 5 minutes from Wheeler Farms, and Rancho Caymus Inn in Rutherford is about 8 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · J.H. Wheeler
The Culinary Garden Walk and Tasting at Wheeler Farms: a tour of the organic gardens, then four J.H. Wheeler wines with antipasti, about 90 minutes ($125).
12:00 · Elizabeth Spencer Winery
About 10 minutes away. A small winery behind brick walls on Rutherford Road, with a courtyard and English-style garden that feel far from the highway. The Winemaker's Selection of four reds is $65, waived with a two-bottle purchase; we allow about an hour. Seated tastings by reservation, Thursday to Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
1:15 · Lunch at Auberge du Soleil
About 12 minutes away. Lunch high on Rutherford Hill with the whole valley below. The Bar serves all day from 11:30 a.m., and The Restaurant on the terrace offers a prix fixe lunch. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:40 · Gargiulo Vineyards
About 15 minutes away. A family estate on the Oakville Crossroad with a guitar gallery, where each visit is a private, seated tasting of the estate Cabernets with a tour of the property, in the tasting room or on the terrace. The fee is confirmed when the appointment is made; we plan about 75 minutes. By appointment only.
3:55 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:10 p.m., a little over six hours after pickup.
About $190 per person in tasting fees for J.H. Wheeler and Elizabeth Spencer, plus Gargiulo's fee, which is confirmed when the appointment is made. Fees are paid directly to each winery.
Elizabeth Spencer seats tastings Thursday to Monday from 11 a.m., so plan this day for one of those days. Wheeler Farms' food-paired lunches (Epicurean Table or Chef's Table) can replace lunch and the afternoon stop. The day runs a little over six hours, back around 4:10 p.m.
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 J.H. Wheeler?
Yes. Visits to Wheeler Farms are by reservation, and same-day bookings are possible by phone. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at J.H. Wheeler?
$125 per person for the Culinary Garden Walk and Tasting, $175 for Location, Location, Location, and $195 to $375 for the lunch experiences, as of September 2026.
Who owns Wheeler Farms?
Suzanne Deal Booth, proprietor of Bella Oaks, who bought the estate and the J.H. Wheeler brand from Bart and Daphne Araujo in November 2024.
Who was J.H. Wheeler?
John Hoffman Wheeler, son of estate founder Charles Wheeler, an early Napa Valley vintner who served as president of California's State Board of Viticulture.
Is there anything for non-drinkers at Wheeler Farms?
Yes. A zero-proof experience with mocktails inspired by the culinary gardens can be added to any tasting.
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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