Napa · Napa Valley
Visit Road 31 Wine Co. with a Private Chauffeur
One wine, a cool-climate Napa Valley Pinot Noir from the far south of the valley, made by Kent Fortner and allocated to his mailing list. Road 31 has no tasting room, but mailing-list members can ask for an occasional barrel tasting by email; here is how, and a day at sought-after estates nearby.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Road 31 Wine Co. is a one-man winery run by Kent Fortner and his green 1966 Ford pickup. Fortner grew up in a teetotaling Kansas farm family, discovered wine bussing tables and reading labels at a restaurant job at 14, ran a wine bar and shop in Boise and started in winemaking as an intern at Chalone Vineyard in 1996. He makes the wine in rented caves in a small hanging valley above the south end of the Silverado Trail, on a property that has been farmed since 1977 and was the site of an 1870s winery.
He makes only one wine, Road 31 Pinot Noir Napa Valley, blended from two blocks at each of two vineyards within two miles of each other at the cool southern gateway of the valley, where fog and wind come in from San Pablo Bay. One is Green Island Vineyard, near where the Napa River meets the bay, which John Kongsgaard pointed him to in 2000; Fortner holds long contracts and farms his own rows. Production is 800 to 900 cases a year, as low as 500 in short vintages.
The wine is allocated each spring to the mailing list, whose members are called Truckers: letters go out in March, with an early April deadline. There is no tasting room, and the caves are not open to the public, though Fortner tries to arrange occasional barrel tastings for Truckers by email when his schedule allows. The day below stays in the cool south end of the valley, in Carneros.
Tasting Fees
Road 31 has no public tastings or published fees; barrel tastings for mailing-list members are arranged by email. On the day below, Saintsbury's Garden Tasting is $65, the Terroir tasting at Etude is $55, and the daily tasting at Domaine Carneros starts at $45.
Tasting fees as of October 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
Napa
AVA
Napa Valley
Visiting
Road 31 has no tasting room; Kent Fortner occasionally hosts mailing-list members for barrel tastings in his rented caves, arranged by email.
Known For
Road 31 Pinot Noir Napa Valley, a single wine from the cool southern tip of the valley
Founded
Founding year not published
Good to Know
Join the mailing list at road31.com to become a Trucker; allocations are offered each March and ship before mid-April. Outside the release window, the winery suggests emailing to ask about remaining bottles.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Carneros Resort and Spa or Stanly Ranch.
10:00 · Pickup at Carneros Resort and Spa or Stanly Ranch
Alongside a barrel tasting at Road 31, which Kent Fortner arranges for mailing-list members by email when his schedule allows, this day takes you to three sought-after estates nearby. Both resorts are in Carneros, about 10 minutes from the first stop. The day runs about five and a half hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Saintsbury
About 10 minutes away. A Carneros Pinot Noir pioneer since 1981. The Garden Tasting of four current releases and a Cellarbook Pinot Noir is $65, about 75 minutes. By appointment, with tastings on the hour and half hour.
11:45 · Etude Wines
About 10 minutes away. Carneros Pinot Noir and Napa Cabernet from Tony Soter's winery on Cuttings Wharf Road, close to the bay. The Terroir tasting is $55, about an hour. Open daily; appointments recommended, walk-ins welcome.
1:00 · Lunch at Boon Fly Café
About 10 minutes away. Comfort food in a red barn at Carneros Resort, with brunch served daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; we confirm hours when we book. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:20 · Domaine Carneros
About 5 minutes away. Sparkling wine on the terrace of a French-style château. The daily tasting of four wines starts at $45, about an hour. Open daily by reservation.
3:20 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 3:35 p.m., about five and a half hours after pickup.
About $165 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
All three wineries are open daily. Saintsbury seats on the hour and half hour, so we hold the 10:15 slot when we book; for a longer day, add Cuvaison, a few minutes from Domaine Carneros.
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 Road 31?
Yes, as a mailing-list member. Road 31 has no tasting room and its caves are not open to the public, as of October 2026; Kent Fortner tries to arrange occasional barrel tastings for mailing-list members by email.
How can I buy Road 31 wine?
Join the mailing list at road31.com. Allocations are offered to Truckers each March, with an early April deadline, and the wine ships before mid-April.
Who makes Road 31?
Kent Fortner, who runs the winery on his own and makes the wine in rented caves off the Silverado Trail in south Napa.
Where do Road 31's grapes come from?
Two vineyards within two miles of each other at the cool southern end of Napa Valley, including Green Island Vineyard near where the Napa River meets San Pablo Bay.
Why is there a truck on the label?
Kent Fortner's green 1966 Ford pickup is part of the winery's identity, and mailing-list members are called Truckers.
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 833-915-2436.
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