Diamond Mountain District · Napa Valley
Visit Lerner Project with a Private Chauffeur
Diamond Mountain Cabernet from vines planted in 1983, made by Russell Bevan. Lerner Project 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
Stu Lerner spent more than four decades selling wood pallets to Napa and Sonoma wineries, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi and Opus One among them. After he retired in 2014, he and his wife, Karen, started making wine on one rule: if he ever made a wine, it had to be something he would want to buy himself. Russell Bevan of Bevan Cellars, Wine Advocate's winemaker of the year in 2015, is head winemaker.
In 2017 the Lerners bought Armstrong Ranch on Diamond Mountain, where volcanic soils are scattered with obsidian and the original 1983 plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon (Clone 6) still produce. Other bottlings name their vineyards: Tench in Oakville, Houyi on Pritchard Hill, Sugarloaf Ranch southeast of Napa, Sage Ridge, and Moaveni in Sonoma's Bennett Valley for Sauvignon Blanc. There is also a kosher line, Ka·Sher.
Production is very small, so the wines are offered only to mailing list members, at select times each year; new buyers join the list and wait for an allocation. Lerner Project has no tasting room and publishes no tours or tastings, so we don't take guests to the ranch. The day below takes you to three sought-after estates nearby that do welcome guests.
Tasting Fees
Lerner Project 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
Calistoga
AVA
Diamond Mountain District
Visiting
Lerner Project has no tasting room and publishes no tours or tastings. Its wines are offered "exclusively to members of our mailing list."
Known For
Small-lot Cabernet Sauvignon from Armstrong Ranch on Diamond Mountain and other named vineyards
Founded
After 2014 by Stu and Karen Lerner (Armstrong Ranch bought in 2017)
Good to Know
Wines are released to mailing list members at select times each year; join the list on lernerproject.com to be offered an allocation. Questions go to 707-965-4040.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Four Seasons Napa Valley or Indian Springs.
10:00 · Pickup at Four Seasons Napa Valley or Indian Springs
Since Lerner Project does not host visitors, this day takes you to three sought-after estates nearby that do, starting on Diamond Mountain, where Armstrong Ranch is. Four Seasons Napa Valley, a resort with its own vineyard on the Silverado Trail, and Indian Springs, a historic mineral-pool resort in Calistoga, are each about 12 minutes from the first stop. The day runs about six and a half hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Teachworth Winery
About 12 minutes away. A small family estate making mountain Cabernet on Diamond Mountain, where each tasting is private to your group. The Essence of Teachworth tasting is $100, 60 to 90 minutes, waived with the purchase of three estate wines. By appointment only.
12:05 · Lunch at Solbar
About 12 minutes away. Lunch at Solbar, the restaurant at Solage in Calistoga, serving lunch Monday through Saturday from 11:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
1:35 · Phifer Pavitt Wine
About 10 minutes away. A family estate on the Silverado Trail born from a weekly date night, with tastings in its Winery and Tasting Barn. The current release tasting is $95, waived with three bottles of the Cabernet; we allow about 75 minutes. By appointment only, and space is very limited.
3:05 · Spire Collection
About 12 minutes away. A gated Jackson Family estate on Bennett Lane in north Calistoga, pouring wines from the family's estates around the world. The Seated Tasting is $75 for five wines chosen around your preferences, prepaid; we allow about an hour. By appointment, with reservation times from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
4:10 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:25 p.m., about six and a half hours after pickup.
About $270 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Solbar serves lunch Monday to Saturday, so this day is planned for Monday through Saturday; on a Sunday we book another sit-down restaurant in Calistoga. It runs about six and a half hours, back by about 4:25 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
Can you visit Lerner Project?
No. Lerner Project has no tasting room and publishes no tours or tastings, as of September 2026. Its wines go to mailing list members, and we can plan a day at nearby estates that do host.
How can I buy Lerner Project wine?
Join the mailing list on lernerproject.com. Because production is so small, the winery offers its wines only to list members, at select times each year.
Who owns Lerner Project?
Founders Stu and Karen Lerner. Russell Bevan of Bevan Cellars is the head winemaker.
Where is Lerner Project?
Its home vineyard is Armstrong Ranch on Diamond Mountain above Calistoga. The winery lists only a mailing address in Walnut Creek, with no visitor address.
What is Lerner Project known for?
Small-lot Cabernet Sauvignon, including the Armstrong Ranch Estate bottling from vines planted in 1983, plus vineyard-designate Cabernets from Tench Vineyard in Oakville and Houyi Vineyard on Pritchard Hill.
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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