Calistoga · Napa Valley
Visit Larkmead with a Private Chauffeur
One of Napa Valley's oldest family estates, farmed organically on old riverbed gravels, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Larkmead's story starts with Lillie Hitchcock Coit, the San Francisco figure celebrated as a volunteer firefighter, whose family held the estate from 1873 and who named it for the meadowlarks. Felix Salmina leased the land in 1895 and bought it in 1903, and the family's historic stone winery, now home to Frank Family Vineyards, was later counted by André Tchelistcheff among Napa's outstanding wineries.
Larry Solari bought the estate in 1948, and his family still owns it, led by Kate Solari Baker. She and her late husband Cam Baker replanted the vineyard in the 1990s and built a new winery designed by Howard Backen. The 115-acre estate is farmed organically on old riverbed gravel, clay and loam.
Larkmead is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon, from The Lark and Solari to the estate bottling, along with Sauvignon Blanc. A research block of climate-adaptive grape varieties makes it one of the more forward-looking estates in the valley.
Tasting Fees
$90 for the seated salon tasting of three red wines, 45 to 60 minutes. $150 for the private estate tasting, with a walking tour of the vineyard and winery and cheese and charcuterie, 75 to 90 minutes.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
1100 Larkmead Lane, Calistoga
AVA
Calistoga
Visiting
Open by appointment seven days a week. For same-day visits, call the winery.
Known For
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, including The Lark and Solari
Founded
1895
Good to Know
Tastings are prepaid, for 1 to 6 guests. Guests must be 21 or older. On-site parking.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a Calistoga hotel such as the Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley or Solage.
10:00 · Pickup at the Four Seasons or Solage
Stay close and the tasting starts right away. The Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley, with its own vineyard, and Solage, an Auberge resort on the Silverado Trail, are both about 8 minutes from Larkmead. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Larkmead Vineyards
The salon tasting, 45 to 60 minutes ($90). The estate tasting with a tour (75 to 90 minutes, $150) moves the rest of the day back by half an hour.
11:30 · Frank Family Vineyards
A minute down Larkmead Lane. A relaxed estate set in the historic stone Larkmead winery, pouring its wines from sparkling to Cabernet. The estate tasting is about $60. By reservation.
12:45 · Lunch at Solbar
About 10 minutes away. Lunch at Solbar, the restaurant at Solage on the Silverado Trail. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:00 · Schramsberg Vineyards
About 10 minutes away. Traditional-method sparkling wine from a historic house on Diamond Mountain. The Classic Tasting is about an hour ($70); a cave tour with tasting is $100. By appointment, 21 and over.
3:15 · Back to your hotel
Back by 4:00 p.m., six hours after pickup.
Optional: Romeo Vineyards & Cellars
Adds about an hour. A small tasting room on Lincoln Avenue in downtown Calistoga. Walk-ins are welcome for parties under 6; open from noon, with the last tasting at 5 p.m. Tastings are $30, waived with the purchase of two bottles.
About $220 to $280 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 a reservation at Larkmead?
Yes. Larkmead is open by appointment seven days a week. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the appointment for you.
How much is a tasting at Larkmead?
$90 per person for the salon tasting and $150 for the estate tasting with a tour, as of September 2026.
How long is a visit to Larkmead?
45 to 60 minutes for the salon tasting and 75 to 90 minutes for the estate tasting.
Can children visit Larkmead?
No. Guests must be 21 or older.
Who owns Larkmead Vineyards?
The Solari family has owned Larkmead since 1948, and Kate Solari Baker leads the estate today.
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":"Larkmead Vineyards","url":"https://www.larkmead.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"1100 Larkmead Lane","addressLocality":"Calistoga","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"94515","addressCountry":"US"},"foundingDate":"1895","containedInPlace":{"@type":"Place","name":"Calistoga AVA"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a reservation at Larkmead?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Larkmead is open by appointment seven days a week. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the appointment for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at Larkmead?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"$90 per person for the salon tasting and $150 for the estate tasting with a tour, as of September 2026."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How long is a visit to Larkmead?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"45 to 60 minutes for the salon tasting and 75 to 90 minutes for the estate tasting."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can children visit Larkmead?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. Guests must be 21 or older."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who owns Larkmead Vineyards?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Solari family has owned Larkmead since 1948, and Kate Solari Baker leads the estate today."}},{"@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."}}]}]}