St. Helena · Napa Valley
Visit Pellet Estate with a Private Chauffeur
A St. Helena vineyard tied to Henry Pellet, a Swiss-born winemaker of the 1860s, now farmed by the Krill family. Pellet Estate does not receive visitors; here is what to know, and a day at sought-after estates nearby that do host.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Pellet Estate takes its name from Henry Pellet, who came to the United States from the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland in 1848 and became one of St. Helena's early winemakers. The estate's site quotes an 1891 history of California: "The Cellar, erected in 1866, contains samples of some of the grandest vintages ever grown in California." Greg Krill and Robin Rocha bought the property in 2005, and it is run as Krill Family Vineyards.
Today about 5 acres of the original holding remain in vine, on the valley floor in the St. Helena AVA. Production is tiny, roughly 100 cases a year, led by Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, with small lots of a Cabernet rosé the winery calls CabRose and a single-barrel wine called Petit Reserve.
Pellet Estate does not host tastings. Its website sells wine by phone and through an Amazon store in some states, and lists no visits or appointments; the Napa Wine Project also lists it as not open to the public. The day below takes you to three sought-after estates nearby that do welcome guests, two of them high on Howell Mountain.
Tasting Fees
Pellet Estate does not offer tastings.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
St. Helena
AVA
St. Helena
Visiting
Pellet Estate does not offer tours or tastings, and its website lists no visits or appointments.
Known For
Small lots of St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay from a vineyard with 1860s roots
Founded
1860s (Henry Pellet); Krill family since 2005
Good to Know
Wine is sold directly by phone (707-363-3281) and through the winery's Amazon store in select states.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Alila Napa Valley or Meadowood.
10:00 · Pickup at Alila Napa Valley or Meadowood
Since Pellet Estate does not host visitors, this day takes you to three sought-after estates nearby that do. Alila Napa Valley, a Hyatt resort in downtown St. Helena, and Meadowood, the resort east of town at the foot of Howell Mountain, are each about 20 to 25 minutes from the first stop at the top of Howell Mountain. The day runs about six and a half hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:25 · Robert Craig Winery
About 25 minutes away, up Howell Mountain. A mountain Cabernet house with its estate vineyard at 2,300 feet on the summit of Howell Mountain. The Summit Experience, a guided tour and tasting at the estate, is $135 (refunded with a case purchase); we allow about 75 minutes. By appointment, with limited reservations.
11:55 · Arkenstone Estate
About 10 minutes away. A family domaine on the western shoulder of Howell Mountain with its own underground winery. The Arkenstone Experience is $150, a winery and vineyard tour with a seated tasting, about 90 minutes, paid at booking. By private appointment, with very few visits each day.
1:45 · Lunch at Market
About 20 minutes down the mountain. Lunch at Market, an American restaurant in a historic brick and stone building on Main Street in St. Helena, open for lunch Monday to Saturday from noon. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
3:00 · Somnium
About 15 minutes away. Racing driver Danica Patrick's organic hillside Cabernet estate, poured in a tasting lounge on Calistoga's Lincoln Avenue. Taste of Somnium is $80 for four current releases in about 75 minutes (waived with a three-bottle purchase). By appointment, with tastings at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
4:15 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:30 p.m., about six and a half hours after pickup.
About $365 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Market is closed Sundays, so this day works Monday to Saturday. Somnium does not publish its open days, so we confirm the 3 p.m. tasting when we book. Back by about 4:30 p.m.
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
Can you visit Pellet Estate?
No. Pellet Estate does not offer tours or tastings, and its website lists no visits, as of September 2026. We can plan a day at nearby estates that do host.
How can I buy Pellet Estate wine?
By phone from the winery at 707-363-3281, or through its Amazon store in select states.
Who owns Pellet Estate?
Krill Family Vineyards. Greg Krill and Robin Rocha bought the property in 2005.
Where is Pellet Estate?
On the valley floor in the St. Helena AVA of Napa Valley. The winery does not list a street address for visitors.
Who was Henry Pellet?
A Swiss-born winemaker who arrived in the United States in 1848 and made wine in St. Helena in the 1860s. An 1891 history of California praised his cellar, built in 1866.
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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