Mount George · Napa Valley
Visit Sown Estate with a Private Chauffeur
Organic, estate-grown Cabernet from 35-year-old terraced vines at 1,100 feet on Mount George, fermented among the vines and sold by allocation. Sown Estate does not receive visitors; here is what to know, and a day at sought-after estates nearby that do host.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Sown Estate is a family-operated vineyard and winery on the north slopes of Mount George, in the hills east of the city of Napa, devoted to a single wine: organic, estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon. The name comes from Helen Hoyt, an early 20th-century poet from St. Helena, whose poem The Pouch Full of Sparks inspired the label, a sower casting seeds from her pouch.
The vineyard sits at 1,100 feet, where Cabernet has grown on terraced hillside since it was planted in 1991, in gravelly loam and volcanic debris from the Coombsville vent. Fog from San Pablo Bay keeps it cool. The family farms with organic and regenerative practices, picks selected blocks for fresh fruit and modest alcohol, ferments among the vines with native yeasts and ages the wine in a cave, mostly in neutral oak, for at least 18 months.
Production is limited to what the family can grow and make by hand, so the wine is offered only in annual allocations to members of its mailing list, which anyone can join on the website. Sown Estate has no tasting room or visiting program and does not receive visitors. The day below takes you to three estates in the south valley that do host.
Tasting Fees
Sown Estate does not offer tastings.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
Napa
AVA
Napa Valley
Visiting
Sown Estate does not host visitors; its website offers only a mailing list for annual allocations and a contact email.
Known For
Organic, estate-grown Mount George Cabernet Sauvignon
Founded
Vineyard planted in 1991; founding year of the label not published
Good to Know
Join the mailing list on sownestate.com (members.sownestate.com) for allocation offers, or email info@sownestate.com.
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
Since Sown Estate does not host visitors, this day takes you to three sought-after estates nearby that do. Both Carneros resorts are about 10 minutes from the Hudson Winery, our first stop. The day runs about six and three-quarter hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Arietta
About 10 minutes away. Fritz and Caren Hatton's Bordeaux-style blends, named for the Arietta of Beethoven's last piano sonata, poured in a private, seated tasting at the Hudson Winery out on the Carneros ranch where their first Cabernet Franc block grows. The Classic Portfolio Tasting is $100; we allow 75 minutes. By appointment, Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
11:50 · Crosby Roamann
About 15 minutes away. A small family winery that began in a Brooklyn apartment, now pouring single-vineyard wines in Napa's Crusher District, with a private barrel tasting hosted by the founders. $100, 60 to 90 minutes. By prior reservation; each month's bookings open on the 15th of the month before.
1:20 · Lunch at Zuzu
About 8 minutes away. Tapas and paella at Zuzu on Main Street in downtown Napa, open daily from noon. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:50 · Chris Corley Wines
About 15 minutes away. Second-generation Napa winemaker Chris Corley and winegrower Julianna Corley pour current and library wines with light bites in the middle of a working vineyard, the vines close enough to touch. The Private Tasting is $75; we allow about 90 minutes. By reservation only, with very limited seatings; the vineyard location is confirmed with the booking.
4:20 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:45 p.m., about six and three-quarter hours after pickup.
About $275 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Arietta hosts Tuesday to Saturday only, Crosby Roamann opens each month's bookings on the 15th of the month before, and Chris Corley's seatings are very limited, so we book early. Back by about 4:45 p.m.
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 Sown Estate?
No. Sown Estate has no tasting room and offers its wine only to its mailing list, as of September 2026. We can plan a day at nearby estates that do host.
How can I buy Sown Estate wine?
Join the mailing list on sownestate.com; the wine is offered in annual allocations to list members.
Who owns Sown Estate?
A family runs the vineyard and winery; the website does not publish their names.
Where is the Sown Estate vineyard?
At 1,100 feet on the north slopes of Mount George, in the hills east of the city of Napa.
What makes Sown Estate wine distinctive?
It is organic Cabernet Sauvignon from terraced vines planted in 1991, fermented among the vines with native yeasts and cave-aged in mostly neutral oak, all grown and made by the family.
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":"Sown Estate","url":"https://www.sownestate.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Napa","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"94558","addressCountry":"US"},"containedInPlace":{"@type":"Place","name":"Napa Valley AVA"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Can you visit Sown Estate?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. Sown Estate has no tasting room and offers its wine only to its mailing list, as of September 2026. We can plan a day at nearby estates that do host."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How can I buy Sown Estate wine?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Join the mailing list on sownestate.com; the wine is offered in annual allocations to list members."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who owns Sown Estate?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A family runs the vineyard and winery; the website does not publish their names."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Where is the Sown Estate vineyard?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"At 1,100 feet on the north slopes of Mount George, in the hills east of the city of Napa."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What makes Sown Estate wine distinctive?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It is organic Cabernet Sauvignon from terraced vines planted in 1991, fermented among the vines with native yeasts and cave-aged in mostly neutral oak, all grown and made by the family."}},{"@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."}}]}]}