Howell Mountain · Napa Valley
Visit Red Thread with a Private Chauffeur
A small family winery near the top of Howell Mountain, with vineyard tastings under an old black walnut tree, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Red Thread Wines is a boutique, family-owned winery on Howell Mountain founded by Brian and Gretchen Brakesman. Brian was born and raised in Napa Valley and grew up working his family's Summit Lake Vineyards; Gretchen came from a sales career in San Francisco, where the two met at a concert in 2001.
Brian makes the wine, with a degree in agricultural engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The core fruit comes from Summit Lake Vineyards near the top of Howell Mountain, with single-vineyard wines from Sonoma, Lake County and Dry Creek Valley alongside. The name comes from the legend of an invisible red thread that connects people who are meant to meet.
Visits are by appointment only. The Private Wine Tasting takes place in the vineyard under an old black walnut tree, with a walk through the vineyard and winery, and the winery asks guests to allow 75 minutes. It is a small family property near the top of the Howell Mountain AVA.
Tasting Fees
$65 for the Private Wine Tasting in the vineyard, about 75 minutes (waived with a purchase of $150 or more). $180 for the Private Tasting & Pottery Experience at NBC Pottery in Angwin.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
2000 Summit Lake Drive, Angwin
AVA
Howell Mountain
Visiting
By appointment only; closed Sundays. Allow 75 minutes for the tasting.
Known For
Small-lot wines from Summit Lake Vineyards on Howell Mountain and single vineyards in Sonoma and Lake County
Founded
Good to Know
Tastings are by appointment only and closed on Sundays. The tasting fee is waived with a purchase of $150 or more. The estate is near the top of Howell Mountain on rural roads.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Meadowood or Alila Napa Valley. The winery is near the top of Howell Mountain, about 25 minutes up, so the tasting is set for 10:30.
10:00 · Pickup at Meadowood or Alila Napa Valley
Meadowood, at the foot of Howell Mountain, is about 25 minutes from the winery, and Alila Napa Valley at the north end of St. Helena is about 30 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:30 · Red Thread Wines
The Private Wine Tasting under the black walnut tree, with a vineyard and winery walk, about 75 minutes ($65).
12:00 · CADE Estate Winery
About 12 minutes away. An organically farmed Howell Mountain estate, part of the PlumpJack group, known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. The seated Current Release Tasting is $100, about an hour. Open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., by appointment only.
1:20 · Lunch at Brasswood Bar + Kitchen
About 20 minutes away. Lunch at Brasswood Bar + Kitchen on Highway 29 between St. Helena and Calistoga, a sit-down restaurant open daily from 11:30 a.m. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:35 · Cathiard Vineyard
About 12 minutes away. A family estate on Zinfandel Lane with a gravity-flow winery and a horseshoe-shaped cellar cut into the hill. The Private Estate Experience is $175: a hosted tour of the winery and cellar, then a tasting of the estate's three wines. By reservation only.
3:45 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:00 p.m., six hours after pickup.
About $340 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Red Thread is closed on Sundays. On a Sunday we suggest another Howell Mountain estate of the same standing.
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 Thread?
Yes. Tastings are by appointment only, and the winery is closed on Sundays. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Red Thread?
$65 per person for the Private Wine Tasting, waived with a purchase of $150 or more, and $180 for the Private Tasting & Pottery Experience, as of September 2026.
Who owns Red Thread Wines?
Brian and Gretchen Brakesman. Brian is the winemaker and grew up on his family's Summit Lake Vineyards.
Where do the grapes come from?
Mainly Summit Lake Vineyards near the top of Howell Mountain, plus single vineyards in Sonoma, Lake County and Dry Creek Valley.
Why is it called Red Thread?
After the legend of an invisible red thread that connects people destined to meet; Brian and Gretchen met by chance at a San Francisco concert in 2001.
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":"Red Thread Wines","url":"https://redthreadwines.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2000 Summit Lake Drive","addressLocality":"Angwin","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"94508","addressCountry":"US"},"containedInPlace":{"@type":"Place","name":"Howell Mountain AVA"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a reservation at Red Thread?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Tastings are by appointment only, and the winery is closed on Sundays. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at Red Thread?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"$65 per person for the Private Wine Tasting, waived with a purchase of $150 or more, and $180 for the Private Tasting & Pottery Experience, as of September 2026."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who owns Red Thread Wines?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Brian and Gretchen Brakesman. Brian is the winemaker and grew up on his family's Summit Lake Vineyards."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Where do the grapes come from?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Mainly Summit Lake Vineyards near the top of Howell Mountain, plus single vineyards in Sonoma, Lake County and Dry Creek Valley."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Why is it called Red Thread?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"After the legend of an invisible red thread that connects people destined to meet; Brian and Gretchen met by chance at a San Francisco concert in 2001."}},{"@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."}}]}]}