Coombsville · Napa Valley
Visit Palmaz Vineyards with a Private Chauffeur
A cave winery built 18 stories into Mount George in Coombsville, and a suggested day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Henry Hagen founded Cedar Knoll Vineyard here in 1881, and his brandy won a silver medal at the 1889 Paris World's Fair before Prohibition ended winemaking. In the late 1990s Julio and Amalia Palmaz revived the estate; Julio is the inventor of the balloon-expandable coronary stent.
The family built one of the most remarkable wineries in Napa Valley, a cave that reaches 18 stories into the flank of Mount George. Wine moves by gravity rather than pumps, and fermentation happens beneath a 72-foot underground dome.
The estate covers 600 acres in Coombsville, with 64 acres of vines, and is known above all for Cabernet Sauvignon. Visits are private and unhurried, with a cave tour and a seated tasting paired with small bites.
Tasting Fees
$150 for the Portfolio Tasting and $195 for the Cabernet Collectors Tasting, each about two hours with a cave tour and paired bites.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
4029 Hagen Road, Napa
AVA
Coombsville
Visiting
By appointment only, requested through the winery's website; visit times from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Allow about two hours.
Known For
Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon
Founded
Late 1990s (estate from 1881)
Good to Know
Groups of 1 to 12, and everyone in a group takes the same tasting.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Archer Hotel Napa or Silverado Resort.
10:00 · Pickup at Archer Hotel Napa or Silverado Resort
Stay close and the tasting starts right away. Archer Hotel Napa, a boutique hotel with a rooftop bar in downtown Napa, and Silverado Resort, a golf and spa resort at the foot of Atlas Peak, are each about 12 minutes from Palmaz. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Palmaz Vineyards
The Portfolio Tasting with a cave tour, about two hours ($150).
12:30 · Lunch at Angèle
About 12 minutes away. Lunch at Angèle, a French bistro on the riverfront in downtown Napa, 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.
1:45 · Darioush
About 10 minutes away. A winery inspired by ancient Persepolis, known for Cabernet Sauvignon. The Signature Tasting is about an hour ($80). By reservation.
2:55 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 3:10 p.m., leaving time in the six-hour tour for the optional stop.
Optional: Silverado Vineyards
Adds about an hour. A hilltop winery in the Stags Leap District, founded by the Walt Disney family and now part of Foley Family Wines. Walk-ins are welcome when there is space, with the last reservation at 3:30 p.m. Tastings from $50.
About $230 to $275 per person in tasting fees for the two wineries, paid directly to each winery.
The Palmaz visit is long and unhurried, so this day has two wineries with an optional third.
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 an appointment at Palmaz?
Yes. Visits are by appointment only, requested through the winery. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Palmaz?
$150 per person for the Portfolio Tasting and $195 for the Cabernet Collectors Tasting, as of September 2026.
How long is a visit to Palmaz?
About two hours, including the cave tour and seated tasting.
What is special about the Palmaz cave?
It reaches 18 stories into Mount George, with gravity-flow winemaking and a 72-foot underground fermentation dome.
Who owns Palmaz Vineyards?
The Palmaz family, who revived the historic Cedar Knoll estate in the late 1990s.
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":"Palmaz Vineyards","url":"https://palmazvineyards.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"4029 Hagen Road","addressLocality":"Napa","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"94558","addressCountry":"US"},"containedInPlace":{"@type":"Place","name":"Coombsville AVA"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need an appointment at Palmaz?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Visits are by appointment only, requested through the winery. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at Palmaz?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"$150 per person for the Portfolio Tasting and $195 for the Cabernet Collectors Tasting, as of September 2026."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How long is a visit to Palmaz?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"About two hours, including the cave tour and seated tasting."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is special about the Palmaz cave?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It reaches 18 stories into Mount George, with gravity-flow winemaking and a 72-foot underground fermentation dome."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who owns Palmaz Vineyards?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Palmaz family, who revived the historic Cedar Knoll estate in the late 1990s."}},{"@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."}}]}]}