St. Helena · Napa Valley
Visit Prager with a Private Chauffeur
A family-run St. Helena winery devoted to port-style wines since 1979, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Jim and Imogene Prager moved to St. Helena from Orange County, where Jim had been an insurance broker, and founded Prager Winery and Port Works in 1979. Jim loved port and believed it could be made well in Napa Valley. The first crush took place in a carriage house built in 1865, once part of the John Thomann Winery and Distillery estate.
Prager is one of the few Napa Valley wineries built around fortified wines. Set in the St. Helena AVA, it makes Vintage-style and aged Tawny ports, less common white ports, a late harvest Riesling and a Petite Sirah. The first release was 120 cases, and production has grown to close to 4,000. Several wines, such as Aria, Alyssa and Sweet Claire, are named for Prager grandchildren.
The family still runs everything day to day, led by Jim and Imogene's sons Jeff, Peter and John and daughters Mary and Katie. Tastings are seated in a small, intimate room, and a family member greets every guest. Its walls are covered with signed dollar bills left by visitors over the years. The tasting covers four ports and wines, and you keep the glass.
Tasting Fees
$50 for the seated tasting of four ports and wines, about 45 minutes, glass included.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
1281 Lewelling Lane, St. Helena
AVA
St. Helena
Visiting
Open daily 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (from 11 a.m. on Thursday and Sunday). Seated tastings are by appointment, and same-day walk-in appointments may be available.
Known For
Vintage, Tawny and white ports, plus late harvest Riesling and Petite Sirah
Founded
1979 (carriage house built in 1865)
Good to Know
Tastings are seated and hosted by a member of the Prager family. Reservations are for 1 to 8 guests. The tasting lasts about 45 minutes, and you keep the glass.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:45 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Harvest Inn or Alila Napa Valley. Prager opens at 10:30 a.m. most days and at 11 a.m. on Thursday and Sunday, so an 11:00 tasting works every day of the week.
10:45 · Pickup at Harvest Inn or Alila Napa Valley
Stay close and the tasting starts right away. Harvest Inn, a garden hotel at the south end of St. Helena, is about 3 minutes from Prager, and Alila Napa Valley, a Hyatt luxury resort in downtown St. Helena, is about 5 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
11:00 · Prager Winery & Port Works
A seated tasting of four ports and wines with a member of the Prager family, about 45 minutes ($50). You keep the glass.
12:00 · Honig Vineyard & Winery
About 10 minutes away. A family-owned Rutherford winery whose sustainability work includes solar power and sniffer dogs in the vineyard. The Terrace Tasting is $40 for five wines, about 75 minutes. By reservation, up to 8 guests; well-behaved dogs on leash are welcome.
1:30 · Lunch at Gott's Roadside
About 10 minutes away. Lunch at Gott's Roadside on Main Street in St. Helena, serving classic American fare since 1999 with picnic seating on the lawn, open daily from 11 a.m. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
3:00 · Barnett Vineyards
About 20 minutes away. A family estate at nearly 2,000 feet on Spring Mountain, with views across the valley floor. The Tasting Experience is $125 for a guided flight of five current releases. By appointment at 10 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. daily; groups of 7 or more call ahead.
4:10 · Back to your hotel
Back by 4:45 p.m., six hours after pickup.
Optional: Silverado Vineyards
Adds about an hour and a half. A hilltop estate in the Stags Leap District, about 20 minutes down the Silverado Trail. The Silverado Discovery Tasting of three estate wines ($50, 45 to 60 minutes) welcomes walk-ins based on availability; open daily until 5 p.m.
About $215 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. The fourth stop is there if the day allows.
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 Prager?
Yes. Seated tastings are by appointment, though same-day walk-in appointments may be available. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Prager?
$50 per person for a seated tasting of four ports and wines, and you keep the glass, as of September 2026.
What is Prager known for?
Port-style wines: Vintage, aged Tawny and white ports, along with a late harvest Riesling and a Petite Sirah.
Who owns Prager?
The Prager family. Jim and Imogene Prager founded it in 1979, and their children now run it day to day.
What is the history of the Prager property?
The first crush was in a carriage house built in 1865, once part of the John Thomann Winery and Distillery estate.
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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