Howell Mountain · Napa Valley
Visit Red Cap with a Private Chauffeur
A family vineyard near the summit of Howell Mountain, named for its brick-red volcanic soil, with a private experience for wine club members, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Red Cap began with a chef. Tom Altemus left IBM to cook, graduating with honors from the California Culinary Academy in 1991 and working alongside Michel Richard and Bradley Ogden before landing at Brava Terrace in St. Helena, where he cooked for Napa vintners. He and Desiree bought more than 10 acres on Howell Mountain in 1998 and planted the vineyard on virgin land in 2003.
The vineyard sits at 1,900 feet on a rolling plateau near the summit, in deep red Aiken loam peppered with fractured rock; that soil gives Red Cap its name. It is organically grown and hand farmed, yielding about two tons an acre of Cabernet clones 4, 7 and 169. Proprietors Chris Klein and Michael Nguyen now carry it on, and Mike Dunn, who grew up at Dunn Vineyards, is the winemaker.
The lineup runs from Host Sauvignon Blanc, grown at Alko Ranch on the east side of the mountain, to Pioneer Howell Mountain Cabernet and the Instructor Howell Reserve. The winery says hospitality is at the center of the Red Cap experience, and its wine club, which starts at six bottles a year, includes a private experience for a party of four, so a visit starts with joining.
Tasting Fees
The private experience for a party of four is a wine club benefit. Red Cap does not publish a tasting fee for other visitors; to be verified upon reservation.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
891 Ponderosa Drive, Angwin
AVA
Howell Mountain
Visiting
No public tasting room. Wine club members, at six bottles or more a year, receive a private experience with Red Cap for a party of four. Call the winery at 707-965-1145; once you are a member, we arrange it on your behalf.
Known For
Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and the Instructor Howell Reserve
Founded
1998 (Altemus family; vineyard planted in 2003)
Good to Know
Club discounts start at six bottles a year, with releases chosen each spring and fall and an annual club party. Ages, pet rules and the format of the private experience are not published; we confirm them when we book.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 9:45 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Meadowood or Alila Napa Valley.
9:45 · Pickup at Meadowood or Alila Napa Valley
Red Cap is near the summit of Howell Mountain, about 25 minutes from Meadowood at the foot of the mountain and about 30 from Alila Napa Valley in St. Helena. Red Cap confirms the time of the members' visit, and pickup moves with it. The day runs about six and a half hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Red Cap Vineyards
The private members' experience for up to four. We plan about 75 minutes; Red Cap confirms the format.
11:45 · Neal Family Vineyards
About 12 minutes away. An organic and biodynamic family estate on Howell Mountain, where a family member or the winemaker walks you through the hillside vines and hand-dug caves before a side-by-side flight of estate Cabernets. About 90 minutes; the fee is confirmed when we book. By appointment, Monday to Saturday.
1:40 · Lunch at The Charter Oak
About 25 minutes down the mountain. Lunch at The Charter Oak at the south end of St. Helena, Christopher and Martina Kostow's family-style New American restaurant, 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.
3:00 · Zakin Estate
About 10 minutes away. Howell Mountain Cabernet made by Philippe Melka from a 150-acre estate Helen Turley once called 'Cabernet Heaven', tasted with charcuterie at Brasswood north of St. Helena; Jan Zakin books each visit herself. $150 per person with a three-bottle-per-person purchase; we allow about an hour. By appointment.
4:00 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:15 p.m., about six and a half hours after pickup.
About $150 per person in tasting fees for Zakin, which asks for a three-bottle purchase, plus Neal Family's fee, which is confirmed when we book; Red Cap's members' experience is a club benefit. Each is paid directly to the winery.
Neal Family is closed on Sundays. Red Cap's members' experience and Zakin's tasting are set by appointment, so we confirm the day with each. The day runs about six and a half hours.
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 Red Cap?
Yes. Red Cap has no public tasting room; the private experience is a benefit for wine club members and is set with the winery. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Red Cap?
The private experience for a party of four comes with wine club membership, which starts at six bottles a year; no fee is published for other visitors, as of September 2026.
Why is it called Red Cap?
For the brick-red volcanic soil near the top of Howell Mountain where the vineyard grows.
Who owns Red Cap Vineyards?
Proprietors Chris Klein and Michael Nguyen, carrying on the vineyard founded by Tom and Desiree Altemus.
Who makes Red Cap wine?
Mike Dunn, who grew up at Dunn Vineyards on Howell 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.
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