Howell Mountain · Napa Valley
Visit Neal Family with a Private Chauffeur
An organic and biodynamic family estate on Howell Mountain with hand-dug caves, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
The Neal family has farmed in Napa Valley since Jack and Athene Neal bought their Rutherford vineyard on Mee Lane in 1966. Jack started a vineyard management company in 1968, and the Rutherford ranch has been certified organic since 1984. Their son Mark bought the Howell Mountain estate in 1990 and founded Neal Family Vineyards in 1998.
The estate sits at about 1,700 to 1,800 feet on Howell Mountain, with two hand-dug caves. Neal farms organically and is also Regenerative Organic Certified and Demeter Biodynamic certified. The winery makes Cabernet Sauvignon from four estate vineyards, including Howell Mountain and Rutherford Dust bottlings, plus white and sparkling wines.
Every tasting is hosted by a member of the family or the winemaker. The visit starts with a white wine from Rutherford, walks the hillside vines, passes the bottling line and enters the caves, then ends with a side-by-side flight of the estate Cabernets, often with the family dog, Zeus, along for the walk. Allow about 90 minutes.
Tasting Fees
The Tasting & Tour, about 90 minutes with five wines, a vineyard stroll and the caves, is hosted by appointment. The winery does not publish its tasting fee online; it is confirmed when the visit is booked.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
716 Liparita Road, Angwin
AVA
Howell Mountain
Visiting
By appointment only, Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sundays. Book online or by phone; same-day requests are taken when possible.
Known For
Certified organic Howell Mountain and Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon
Founded
1998 (Howell Mountain estate bought in 1990)
Good to Know
Tastings are for guests 21 and over; children are welcome to join the visit. Service animals are accommodated with notice. Up to 10 guests. Cancellations need 24 hours' notice, or a $75 per person fee applies. Non-smoking property.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 9:30 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Meadowood or Alila Napa Valley. The drive up Howell Mountain takes about 20 to 25 minutes, so the visit is set for 10:00.
9:30 · Pickup at Meadowood or Alila Napa Valley
Meadowood, at the foot of Howell Mountain, is about 20 minutes from the estate, and Alila Napa Valley at the north end of St. Helena is about 25 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:00 · Neal Family Vineyards
The Tasting & Tour, about 90 minutes: five wines, the vineyards, the bottling line and the caves. The fee is confirmed by the winery when we book.
11:50 · Mending Wall
About 20 minutes away. A Silverado Trail winery making limited-production, single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. The Estate Tasting is $85 and runs 60 to 90 minutes, by appointment with a 48-hour cancellation policy.
1:05 · Lunch at Forum at Meadowood
About 12 minutes away. Lunch at Forum, the main restaurant at Meadowood at the foot of Howell Mountain, with seasonal dishes drawn from the Meadowood farm. Lunch is served Monday to Friday, with brunch on weekends. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:15 · Titus Vineyards
About 10 minutes away. A family estate on the Silverado Trail pouring Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties from its St. Helena vineyards. The seated Vista Room Experience is $60, about an hour, for one to six guests; last tasting at 3 p.m.
3:15 · Back to your hotel
Back by 3:30 p.m., six hours after pickup.
About $145 per person in tasting fees for Mending Wall and Titus, paid directly to each winery, plus Neal Family's fee, which the winery confirms when you book.
Neal Family is closed on Sundays, and Forum serves brunch instead of lunch on weekends.
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 Neal Family?
Yes. All visits are by appointment, Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Neal Family?
Neal Family does not publish its tasting fee online; it is confirmed when the visit is booked. Late cancellations (under 24 hours) are charged $75 per person, as of September 2026.
Is Neal Family Vineyards organic?
Yes. The winery is certified organic, Regenerative Organic Certified and Demeter Biodynamic certified, and its Rutherford ranch has been organic since 1984.
Can children visit Neal Family?
Yes. Tastings are for guests 21 and over, but children are welcome to join the visit.
Who runs Neal Family Vineyards?
Mark Neal, who founded the winery in 1998, with his family. His parents, Jack and Athene Neal, bought the Rutherford vineyard in 1966.
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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