Napa · Napa Valley
Visit Pahlmeyer with a Private Chauffeur
The Napa Valley Bordeaux blend Jayson Pahlmeyer started with smuggled vine cuttings, now grown on mountain sites such as Waters Ranch on Atlas Peak, with private tastings by advance reservation, and a suggested six-hour day around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Jayson Pahlmeyer, a trial lawyer who wanted to make his own "California Mouton," planted Bordeaux vine cuttings with his friend John Caldwell on Caldwell's Coombsville property in 1981. In 1986 Randy Dunn made the first Proprietary Red, and Robert Parker gave it 94 points. In the late 1990s Jayson turned to the mountains, hiring David Abreu to develop a rocky Atlas Peak site that Helen Turley called "paradisiacal." E. & J. Gallo bought the winery in 2019.
Today Pahlmeyer is defined by mountain fruit from sites in the Vaca range, including Waters Ranch at the southern end of the Atlas Peak AVA, planted from 1,500 to 2,100 feet, with one side looking over Wooden Valley and the other over Napa Valley. Winemaker Katie Vogt took over in 2019 and made the 2021 "Raison d'Etre," the second 100-point wine in the winery's history. The range runs from the Pahlmeyer Chardonnay, Merlot and Proprietary Red to the more approachable Jayson wines and the allocated Les Élus lots.
Pahlmeyer has no public tasting room. Private tastings are offered on a limited basis by advance reservation, requested through the winery's concierge team, and the place and any fee are confirmed when the visit is accepted. Collector members receive complimentary private estate tastings. We send the request with your dates and group size, then plan the rest of the day around the time the winery offers.
Tasting Fees
Pahlmeyer does not publish a tasting fee. Tasting fees to be verified upon reservation (complimentary for Collector members).
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
Napa
AVA
Napa Valley
Visiting
Private tastings only, on a limited basis, by advance reservation. Requests go to the concierge team (inquiries@pahlmeyer.com, 707-255-2321) with your date, time and group size; the tasting location and any fee are confirmed when the visit is accepted. We arrange it on your behalf.
Known For
Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red, Chardonnay and Merlot from mountain vineyards
Founded
1986 (first Proprietary Red)
Good to Know
No walk-ins and no posted hours. Collector members (3 or 6 bottles, shipped in March and September) receive complimentary private estate tastings for up to 2 or 4 guests. Ages and group size are confirmed when we book.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Silverado Resort or Milliken Creek Inn.
10:00 · Pickup at Silverado Resort or Milliken Creek Inn
Pahlmeyer confirms where the tasting takes place when the visit is accepted, so the first drive may be shorter or longer than shown. Silverado Resort, a golf and spa resort at the foot of Atlas Peak, and Milliken Creek Inn, on the Napa River at the north edge of town, both sit close to the eastern hills. The day fits about six hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Pahlmeyer
A private tasting at the time and place the winery confirms. Fees to be verified upon reservation; we allow about 75 minutes.
11:50 · Vine Cliff 1871
About 20 minutes away. A 100-acre Oakville estate on the Silverado Trail with terraced blocks and caves dating to 1871, where tastings and vineyard tours are arranged by request. Any fee is confirmed when the winery accepts; we allow about an hour.
1:05 · Lunch at Bistro Don Giovanni
About 12 minutes away. Lunch at Bistro Don Giovanni, an Italian restaurant among the vineyards on Howard Lane, a valley favorite for more than 30 years, open 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.
2:25 · Hoopes Vineyard
About 8 minutes away. A family Oakville Cabernet house that hosts at Oasis by Hoopes, a regenerative farm and rescue animal sanctuary at the south end of Yountville; your host walks you past the gardens and animals. The seated tasting of five single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons is $95 for 90 minutes. By appointment, daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
3:55 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:15 p.m., just over six hours after pickup.
About $95 per person in published tasting fees (Hoopes), paid directly to each winery; Pahlmeyer and Vine Cliff 1871 confirm their fees when we book.
Pahlmeyer, Vine Cliff 1871 and Hoopes all set times by appointment, and Pahlmeyer's tastings are limited, so share dates well ahead and we build the day around the time offered. Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting.
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 Pahlmeyer?
Yes. Private tastings are limited and need an advance reservation through the concierge team; there are no walk-ins. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Pahlmeyer?
Pahlmeyer does not publish a tasting fee; it is confirmed when the visit is accepted, and Collector members taste free. Tasting fees to be verified upon reservation, as of September 2026.
Who owns Pahlmeyer?
E. & J. Gallo, which bought the winery in 2019. Katie Vogt has been the winemaker since 2019.
What is Pahlmeyer known for?
Its Proprietary Red, a Napa Valley Bordeaux blend first made by Randy Dunn in 1986 that earned 94 points from Robert Parker, along with Chardonnay and Merlot.
Where are the Pahlmeyer vineyards?
In the mountains on Napa Valley's east side, including Waters Ranch at the southern end of the Atlas Peak AVA, at 1,500 to 2,100 feet.
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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