Spring Mountain District · Napa Valley
Visit Smith-Madrone with a Private Chauffeur
A dry-farmed family winery at the top of Spring Mountain, where the winemaker hosts every tasting, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
In May 1971, Stuart Smith, then 22 and studying viticulture at UC Davis, bought a ranch high on Spring Mountain that he found through a family connection. The land had been a vineyard in the 1880s. His brother Charles joined him in 1973, and the two still run the winery today, with Charles as winemaker.
The 200-acre estate sits at 1,300 to 2,000 feet, on slopes as steep as 34 percent, in the Spring Mountain District. Every wine is estate grown, and the vineyards are dry-farmed. Stuart planted each variety to suit its slope: east-facing for Riesling, the coolest north-facing slopes for Chardonnay. Production is about 3,000 to 4,000 cases a year.
The winery's first big honor came in 1979, when its Riesling was named best Riesling at an international competition. Visits are small and personal. Charles Smith hosts the tasting himself, at the winery on top of the mountain, surrounded by forest, vineyard and old olive trees looking down to the valley floor.
Tasting Fees
$65 for the Smith-Madrone Tasting, hosted by winemaker Charles Smith and prepaid at booking.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
4022 Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena
AVA
Spring Mountain District
Visiting
Visits are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Reservations are required and prepaid through Tock.
Known For
Dry-farmed estate Riesling, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from Spring Mountain
Founded
1971 (vineyard first planted in the 1880s)
Good to Know
Parties of 2 to 10. Only one visit time, 10:00 a.m., on three days a week, so book early. The winery sits at the end of a long, winding mountain road.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 9:30 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Alila Napa Valley or Harvest Inn.
9:30 · Pickup at Alila Napa Valley or Harvest Inn
Smith-Madrone has one visit time, 10:00 a.m., and the winery is up a winding road near the top of Spring Mountain, so pickup is at 9:30. Alila Napa Valley, a Hyatt luxury resort in downtown St. Helena, and Harvest Inn, a vineyard-side resort at the south end of town, are each about 20 to 25 minutes from the winery. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:00 · Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery
The Smith-Madrone Tasting ($65), hosted by winemaker Charles Smith. Visits run Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday only.
11:50 · Orin Swift Cellars
About 20 minutes away. Down the mountain to Orin Swift's tasting room on Main Street in St. Helena. Rock, a 45-minute standing tasting, is $45; the seated Paper flight ($60) runs 90 minutes. Reservations required; open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
12:50 · Lunch at Auberge du Soleil
About 15 minutes away. Lunch high on Rutherford Hill with views across the valley. The Bar serves daily from 11:30 a.m., and The Restaurant offers a prix fixe lunch. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:00 · Pestoni Family Estate Winery
About 12 minutes away. A multi-generational family winery on Highway 29 south of St. Helena, pouring wines from its own Howell Mountain and Rutherford estates. The Heritage Tasting is $45 in the outdoor pavilion and the Single Vineyard Tasting $75 indoors, for groups of up to 6. Open daily 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the indoor tasting room is 21 and over.
3:15 · Back to your hotel
Back by 3:30 p.m., six hours after pickup.
Optional: Alpha Omega
Adds about an hour and a half. A family-owned winery on the Rutherford Bench, about 6 minutes from Pestoni, with a terrace overlooking fountains and the Mayacamas Mountains. Walk-ins are welcome when space allows; tastings from $75 (about 90 minutes). Open daily, last seating at 4:30 p.m.
About $155 to $185 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Smith-Madrone receives visitors only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 10:00 a.m., so plan this day for one of those mornings.
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 Smith-Madrone?
Yes. Visits are by reservation only, prepaid through Tock, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Smith-Madrone?
$65 per person for the Smith-Madrone Tasting, hosted by winemaker Charles Smith, as of September 2026.
Who owns Smith-Madrone?
Brothers Stuart and Charles Smith. Stuart founded the winery in 1971 and is the general partner and vineyard manager; Charles, who joined in 1973, is the winemaker.
What is Smith-Madrone known for?
Dry-farmed, estate-grown Riesling, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from steep mountain vineyards in the Spring Mountain District. Its Riesling was named best Riesling at an international competition in 1979.
Where does the name Smith-Madrone come from?
It is a tribute to the Smith brothers and to the madrone trees that distinguish the property.
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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