St. Helena · Napa Valley
Visit Predecessor with a Private Chauffeur
Howell Mountain Cabernet from the Ballentine family's Red Lake Vineyard, poured privately at their 1873 stone winery in St. Helena, and a suggested six-hour day around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Predecessor Estate is the Howell Mountain project of William (Bill) Ballentine and his son Cole, who own it and make the wine. Bill is the fourth generation of his family to make wine in Napa Valley; his father's family came from Ireland and his mother's from northern Italy. He founded William Cole Vineyards in 1997.
In 2015 the family bought Red Lake Vineyard at the northern end of Howell Mountain, returning to the mountain their ancestors farmed. It has 7.4 planted acres out of 41, in Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, on shallow, rocky, well-drained soils. Bill and Cole farm it themselves.
Guests do not taste on the mountain. Tastings are private and hosted at the sister winery, William Cole Vineyards, in its 1873 stone winery on Highway 29 north of St. Helena. The Cabernet Experience is a seated vertical of the estate Cabernet; the Portfolio Experience adds single-barrel Cabernet Franc and Merlot, and a charcuterie pairing can be added.
Tasting Fees
Predecessor does not publish its tasting fees. The Portfolio Experience and the charcuterie pairing carry additional fees; all are confirmed when the visit is booked.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
2849 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena
AVA
Howell Mountain
Visiting
Private tastings by prior reservation, requested from the winery and hosted at William Cole Vineyards in St. Helena. Allow 60 to 90 minutes. 24-hour cancellation notice.
Known For
100% estate Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Lake Vineyard
Founded
2015 (Red Lake Vineyard bought)
Good to Know
Tastings are hosted at William Cole Vineyards, not at the vineyard on Howell Mountain. The winery opens the wines for each booking and asks for 24 hours' notice to cancel.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Alila Napa Valley or Harvest Inn.
10:00 · Pickup at Alila Napa Valley or Harvest Inn
Alila Napa Valley, at the north end of St. Helena, is about 5 minutes from William Cole Vineyards, and Harvest Inn, just south of town, is about 10 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Predecessor Estate
The seated Cabernet Experience at William Cole Vineyards, about an hour (the winery suggests 60 to 90 minutes). The fee is confirmed when we book.
11:35 · Dakota Shy
About 20 minutes away. A historic estate on Sage Canyon Road at the base of Pritchard Hill, known for Cabernet Sauvignon. The Estate Tasting is $125 and the Single Vineyard Tasting $175, each about 75 minutes with a tour of the estate. By appointment only.
1:05 · Lunch at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch
About 15 minutes away. Lunch at Farmstead, Long Meadow Ranch's farm-to-table restaurant at the south end of St. Helena, open daily from 11:30 a.m. or earlier, with service through the afternoon. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:20 · Lithology
About 10 minutes away. A small winery on Meadowood Lane making single-vineyard wines. The Estate Experience is $175, a seated tasting with a small food pairing, about 90 minutes; prepaid, with tastings starting between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
3:50 · Back to your hotel
Back by 4:00 p.m., six hours after pickup.
About $300 to $350 per person in tasting fees for Dakota Shy and Lithology, paid directly to each winery, plus Predecessor's fee, which the winery confirms when you book.
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 Predecessor?
Yes. All tastings are private and by prior reservation, requested from the winery, with 24 hours' notice to cancel. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Predecessor?
Predecessor does not publish its tasting fees; the fee is confirmed when the visit is booked, and the Portfolio and charcuterie options cost more, as of September 2026.
Where do you taste Predecessor wines?
At the sister winery, William Cole Vineyards, in its 1873 stone winery north of St. Helena. The vineyard itself is on Howell Mountain.
Who owns Predecessor Estate?
William (Bill) Ballentine and his son Cole, who are also the winemakers.
What is Red Lake Vineyard?
The family's Howell Mountain vineyard, bought in 2015: 7.4 planted acres of 41, at the north end of the mountain.
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":"Predecessor Estate","url":"https://www.predecessorestate.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2849 St. Helena Highway","addressLocality":"St. Helena","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"94574","addressCountry":"US"},"foundingDate":"2015","containedInPlace":{"@type":"Place","name":"Howell Mountain AVA"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a reservation at Predecessor?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. All tastings are private and by prior reservation, requested from the winery, with 24 hours' notice to cancel. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at Predecessor?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Predecessor does not publish its tasting fees; the fee is confirmed when the visit is booked, and the Portfolio and charcuterie options cost more, as of September 2026."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Where do you taste Predecessor wines?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"At the sister winery, William Cole Vineyards, in its 1873 stone winery north of St. Helena. The vineyard itself is on Howell Mountain."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who owns Predecessor Estate?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"William (Bill) Ballentine and his son Cole, who are also the winemakers."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is Red Lake Vineyard?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The family's Howell Mountain vineyard, bought in 2015: 7.4 planted acres of 41, at the north end of the mountain."}},{"@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."}}]}]}