St. Helena · Napa Valley
Visit Merryvale with a Private Chauffeur
A 1933 St. Helena winery where the Mondavi brothers got their start, now run by the Swiss-born Schlatter family, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
The Merryvale winery was built in 1933 as Sunnyhill Winery, the first winery built in Napa after the repeal of Prohibition. Robert and Peter Mondavi got their start here, making wine with their father, Cesare. It later served as the Sunny St. Helena growers' co-op and as storage for The Christian Brothers. Merryvale's partners bottled their first wine in 1983 and bought the building in 1986.
Swiss-born Jack Schlatter became a partner in 1991, and his family became sole owners in 1996. His son René, CEO since 2008, and René's wife Laurence now run the winery. They farm four cool, hillside estate vineyards, 55 acres in all: Profile east of St. Helena, Altezia and Peridot on Mt. Veeder, and Berry Lane in Coombsville.
Guests taste inside the historic working winery on Main Street, in the St. Helena AVA. The Winery Exclusives Experience is seated in the winery or on the terrace, or standing at the bar, and takes walk-ins as space allows. Deeper tastings move to a private Barrel Suite in the Cask Room, or up to the hillside Profile Estate for a vertical tasting and vineyard lunch.
Tasting Fees
$50 for the Winery Exclusives Experience and $80 for the Terroir Experience with cheese, each 90 minutes. $140 for the Blind Tasting Experience (2 hours, by inquiry). $150 for the Grand Cru Experience in the historic Cask Room and $300 for the Profile Estate Vertical Tasting and Vineyard Lunch, each 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
1000 Main Street, St. Helena
AVA
St. Helena
Visiting
Tasting room open 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended; the Winery Exclusives Experience accepts walk-ins as space allows.
Known For
Profile, a Bordeaux-style blend from the hillside Profile Estate, and estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Veeder and St. Helena
Founded
1983 (winery built in 1933)
Good to Know
Merryvale's booking page describes the winery as dog and family friendly. Online bookings are for up to 8 guests; larger parties call the winery. Cancellations need 24 hours' notice, and the Profile Estate tasting must be booked 72 hours ahead.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:15 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Harvest Inn or Alila Napa Valley.
10:15 · Pickup at Harvest Inn or Alila Napa Valley
Merryvale's tasting room opens at 10:30 a.m., so pickup is at 10:15. Harvest Inn, a vineyard-side resort at the south end of St. Helena, is about 3 minutes from Merryvale, and Alila Napa Valley, a Hyatt resort on the north side of town, is about 5 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:30 · Merryvale Vineyards
The Winery Exclusives Experience, 90 minutes ($50), seated in the winery or on the terrace. The Terroir Experience ($80, with cheese) also runs 90 minutes, so the rest of the day stays the same.
12:10 · Honig Vineyard & Winery
About 10 minutes away. A family-owned Rutherford winery whose sustainability work includes solar power and trained sniffer dogs that search the vines for mealybug. The Terrace Tasting of five wines is $40 and takes 75 minutes. By appointment; up to 8 guests per table, including non-tasters.
1:35 · Lunch at Mustards Grill
About 10 minutes away. Lunch at Mustards Grill on Highway 29 just north of Yountville, a Napa Valley original for more than 40 years, 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.
2:50 · St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery
About 8 minutes away. A Rutherford winery that pours only estate-grown wines from its certified Napa Green vineyards in Rutherford and at Dollarhide Ranch. The Winemaker's Selection flight of four estate wines is $46 per person, service fee included. By reservation; open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
4:00 · Back to your hotel
Back by 4:15 p.m., six hours after pickup.
Optional: Romeo Vineyards & Cellars
Adds about an hour. A downtown Calistoga winery, home of Sempre Vive wines, that pours in a garden courtyard. Walk-ins are welcome when space allows for parties under 6; tastings are $30. Open daily from noon, with the last tasting at 5 p.m.
About $135 to $165 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 Merryvale?
Reservations are recommended. The Winery Exclusives Experience accepts walk-ins as space allows, the Terroir Experience is best booked ahead, and the Grand Cru and Profile Estate tastings require a reservation. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Merryvale?
$50 per person for the Winery Exclusives Experience, $80 for Terroir, $140 for the Blind Tasting, $150 for Grand Cru and $300 for the Profile Estate Vertical Tasting and Vineyard Lunch, as of September 2026.
What is the history of the Merryvale winery building?
It was built in 1933 as Sunnyhill Winery, the first winery built in Napa after the repeal of Prohibition, and it is where Robert and Peter Mondavi got their start making wine with their father, Cesare.
Who owns Merryvale?
The Schlatter family. Jack Schlatter became a partner in 1991, the family became sole owners in 1996, and his son René and René's wife Laurence run the winery today.
What is Merryvale known for?
Profile, a Bordeaux-style blend from the family's hillside Profile Estate east of St. Helena, along with estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Veeder and St. Helena.
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":"Merryvale Vineyards","url":"https://www.merryvale.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"1000 Main Street","addressLocality":"St. Helena","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"94574","addressCountry":"US"},"foundingDate":"1983","containedInPlace":{"@type":"Place","name":"St. Helena AVA"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a reservation at Merryvale?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Reservations are recommended. The Winery Exclusives Experience accepts walk-ins as space allows, the Terroir Experience is best booked ahead, and the Grand Cru and Profile Estate tastings require a reservation. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at Merryvale?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"$50 per person for the Winery Exclusives Experience, $80 for Terroir, $140 for the Blind Tasting, $150 for Grand Cru and $300 for the Profile Estate Vertical Tasting and Vineyard Lunch, as of September 2026."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the history of the Merryvale winery building?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It was built in 1933 as Sunnyhill Winery, the first winery built in Napa after the repeal of Prohibition, and it is where Robert and Peter Mondavi got their start making wine with their father, Cesare."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who owns Merryvale?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Schlatter family. Jack Schlatter became a partner in 1991, the family became sole owners in 1996, and his son René and René's wife Laurence run the winery today."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is Merryvale known for?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Profile, a Bordeaux-style blend from the family's hillside Profile Estate east of St. Helena, along with estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Veeder and St. Helena."}},{"@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."}}]}]}