St. Helena · Napa Valley
Visit Taplin with a Private Chauffeur
A fifth-generation family estate on the west bench of St. Helena, with private tastings arranged on request and stone sculptures among the vines, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
The Taplin family came to California in the 1850s and arrived in Napa Valley in the 1860s and 1870s. Its land on the west bench of St. Helena grew grain and grapes in the 1800s, walnuts and prunes in the early 1900s, and grapes again from the 1970s. Brothers Stephen and Bill Taplin, the fifth generation of Taplins in the valley, founded Taplin Cellars in 2011.
The estate sits in the foothills of the Mayacamas in the St. Helena AVA, on Bale gravelly loam that drains quickly, good ground for Cabernet Sauvignon. Julien Fayard, once Philippe Melka's director of winemaking, makes the wine with Camille Gaïo, and Doug Wight and Erik Dodd farm the vineyard. Melinda's Rosé honors the brothers' late sister.
There is no public tasting room. Taplin invites visitors to email or use its contact form to set up a private tasting, so we make the request and build the day around the time the family offers. Stephen Taplin's stone sculptures stand on the property, and Roger, the winery dog, sometimes joins vineyard walks, mostly to keep an eye on the squirrels.
Tasting Fees
Tasting fees to be verified upon reservation. Taplin does not publish a tasting fee.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
St. Helena
AVA
St. Helena
Visiting
Private tastings by request through the winery's email or contact form; we arrange it on your behalf. Days, times and length of visit are not published and are confirmed by the family.
Known For
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from the west bench of St. Helena, plus Sauvignon Blanc and Melinda's Rosé
Founded
2011 (family in the valley since the 1860s)
Good to Know
Visits depend on the family's availability, so ask ahead. Ages, group size and pet policy are not published; we confirm them when the request is accepted. Taplin offers three membership options.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Harvest Inn or Southbridge Napa Valley. Taplin sets visit times on request, so the start may move once the family confirms.
10:00 · Pickup at Harvest Inn or Southbridge Napa Valley
Both St. Helena hotels are about 5 to 10 minutes from the west bench. If Taplin offers a different time, we build the day around it. The day below runs about six and a half hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Taplin Cellars
A private tasting arranged by request. The family does not publish a length of visit or a fee, so we allow about an hour.
11:35 · Vineyard 7 & 8
About 20 minutes away. A family estate high on Spring Mountain, where the Estate Tasting starts with a tour and the story of the property before a seated tasting of current and library wines. It is $175 (allow about 90 minutes), refunded with each three-bottle Cabernet purchase. By appointment, Monday to Saturday, prepaid.
1:30 · Lunch at The Charter Oak
About 20 minutes away. 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.
2:40 · Sequoia Grove
About 8 minutes away. Rutherford Cabernet poured in the estate gardens or the historic barn where the winery opened in 1979, beneath a grove of sequoia trees. The Single Vineyard Experience is $75 ($100 with paired bites), and tastings last about 90 minutes. Reservations required; closed Tuesdays.
4:10 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:25 p.m.
About $250 per person in tasting fees for Vineyard 7 & 8 and Sequoia Grove, plus Taplin's fee, which is confirmed when the visit is arranged. Fees are paid directly to each winery.
Taplin's time is set by the family. Vineyard 7 & 8 hosts Monday to Saturday and Sequoia Grove is closed Tuesdays; on those days we swap in another estate.
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 Taplin?
Yes. There is no public tasting room; private tastings are set up by request through the winery. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Taplin?
Taplin does not publish a tasting fee; it is to be verified upon reservation, as of September 2026.
Who owns Taplin Cellars?
The Taplin family. Brothers Stephen and Bill Taplin founded it in 2011, and the next generation, represented by Adam Taplin, is part of the business.
Who makes the wine?
Winemaker Julien Fayard with Camille Gaïo, who has worked with the family since 2012.
Where is Taplin?
On the west bench of St. Helena, in the foothills of the Mayacamas, in the St. Helena AVA.
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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