Coombsville · Napa Valley
Visit Nicholson Jones with a Private Chauffeur
A small-production label made by French winemaker Julien Fayard, with private tastings at its Coombsville winemaking facility, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Nicholson Jones is a partnership between Cal Nicholson, who left a long marketing career for surfing and wine, and winemaker Julien Fayard, who has final say over every wine. And the Jones? It is the maiden name of Cal's wife, Pam. No wine wears the Nicholson Jones label unless it passes Julien's standards, and the pair aim for wines that are delicious first.
Julien Fayard was born in Saint-Étienne, trained in Bordeaux and the Loire, and worked alongside the teams at Château Lafite Rothschild and Smith Haut Lafitte before arriving at Quintessa in 2003. Nicholson Jones buys fruit from respected growers around Napa Valley, including old Stags Leap District Cabernet, Mount Veeder and Coombsville, aiming for California fruit with a French accent.
Tastings are hosted at the label's winemaking facility in the Coombsville AVA. The 60-minute visit is private, with a curated flight from a very small, allocation-focused range, and guests can buy wines on site. Book one to two weeks ahead, since appointments fill quickly, especially at harvest. Groups larger than eight arrange a visit by email or phone.
Tasting Fees
$75 per person for the private 60-minute tasting experience.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
15 Chateau Lane, Napa
AVA
Coombsville
Visiting
Private tastings by appointment only, requested online. Book one to two weeks ahead.
Known For
Small-lot Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style wines from top growers
Founded
Good to Know
Children and pets are not allowed at the winemaking facility. Groups larger than 8 email or call for availability. Cancellations need 48 hours' notice.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Archer Hotel Napa or Westin Verasa Napa.
10:00 · Pickup at Archer Hotel Napa or Westin Verasa Napa
Archer Hotel Napa, a downtown hotel with a rooftop bar, and Westin Verasa Napa, next to Oxbow Public Market, are each about 12 minutes from the Nicholson Jones facility in Coombsville. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Nicholson Jones
The private tasting experience ($75), 60 minutes.
11:35 · Clos du Val
About 20 minutes away. A family-owned Stags Leap District estate known for Bordeaux-style reds, led by Cabernet Sauvignon. The Hirondelle House Tasting is $75 and about an hour. Open Thursday through Monday; reservations are encouraged, and guests must be 21 or older.
12:50 · Lunch at Oenotri
About 13 minutes away. A downtown Napa restaurant whose menu changes daily, inspired by its own culinary garden, with hundreds of Napa Valley and Italian wines at the bar. Lunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:00 · Saintsbury
About 11 minutes away. A Carneros pioneer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay whose first wines were released in 1982. The Garden Tasting is $65 and runs about 75 minutes. By appointment, with start times on the hour and half hour until 3:30 p.m.
3:15 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 3:30 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
Optional: Black Stallion Estate Winery
Adds about an hour. A Silverado Trail estate where the 30-minute Bar Tasting of four wines ($30) needs no reservation. Open Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
About $215 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Clos du Val is open Thursday through Monday. On a Tuesday or Wednesday we swap in another winery.
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 Nicholson Jones?
Yes. Tastings are private and by appointment only, ideally requested one to two weeks ahead. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Nicholson Jones?
$75 per person for the private 60-minute tasting, as of September 2026.
Who makes the wine at Nicholson Jones?
Julien Fayard, a French winemaker who worked with the teams at Château Lafite Rothschild and Smith Haut Lafitte before coming to Quintessa in 2003.
Can children or pets visit Nicholson Jones?
No. Children and pets are not allowed at the winemaking facility.
Where does the name Nicholson Jones come from?
Nicholson is co-founder Cal Nicholson, and Jones is the maiden name of his wife, Pam.
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":"Nicholson Jones","url":"https://www.nicholsonjones.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"15 Chateau Lane","addressLocality":"Napa","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"94558","addressCountry":"US"},"containedInPlace":{"@type":"Place","name":"Coombsville AVA"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a reservation at Nicholson Jones?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Tastings are private and by appointment only, ideally requested one to two weeks ahead. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at Nicholson Jones?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"$75 per person for the private 60-minute tasting, as of September 2026."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who makes the wine at Nicholson Jones?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Julien Fayard, a French winemaker who worked with the teams at Château Lafite Rothschild and Smith Haut Lafitte before coming to Quintessa in 2003."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can children or pets visit Nicholson Jones?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. Children and pets are not allowed at the winemaking facility."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Where does the name Nicholson Jones come from?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Nicholson is co-founder Cal Nicholson, and Jones is the maiden name of his wife, Pam."}},{"@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."}}]}]}