St. Helena · Napa Valley
Visit The Napa Valley Reserve with a Private Chauffeur
Bill Harlan's private wine estate beside Meadowood, where members make their own wine with the Harlan team. The Napa Valley Reserve 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
Bill Harlan, founder of Harlan Estate and of the Meadowood resort, created The Napa Valley Reserve in 2000 on an 80-acre property beside Meadowood on the east side of the valley near St. Helena. Club Oenologique reports the estate began making its own wine with the 2004 vintage and 50 members, and later counted more than 600, most of them couples and families.
About 60 acres are planted, mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon, with Sauvignon Blanc for a white, and the Harlan winegrowing team makes the wines in a farmhouse-style winery designed by Howard Backen. Members can blend and bottle private cuvées starting from 'super blends' the team prepares; those wines cannot be sold. Estate production runs roughly 3,500 to 4,500 cases a year.
The estate and its wines are for members only: the wines are not sold in stores or restaurants or through a mailing list, and membership is by inquiry through the Reserve's website. The estate does not receive visitors. The day below visits three acclaimed estates nearby that do host, two of them on Howell Mountain just above it.
Tasting Fees
The Napa Valley Reserve 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
St. Helena
AVA
St. Helena
Visiting
The Napa Valley Reserve is a private, members-only estate and is not open to visitors. Membership information is available by inquiry through its website.
Known For
Members-only Cabernet Sauvignon from an estate beside Meadowood, made by the Harlan team, and members' own private blends
Founded
2000 (first estate vintage 2004)
Good to Know
Membership is by inquiry on thenapavalleyreserve.com. The Reserve's wines are made for members and are not sold to the public.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 9:45 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Meadowood or Alila Napa Valley.
9:45 · Pickup at Meadowood or Alila Napa Valley
Since The Napa Valley Reserve does not host visitors, this day takes you to three sought-after estates nearby that do. Meadowood is the Reserve's next-door neighbor, about 5 minutes from Ink Grade, and Alila Napa Valley about 12. The day runs about seven hours, and extra time is added by the hour.
10:00 · Ink Grade
About 5 minutes away. A Howell Mountain vineyard first planted in the 1870s, poured at the Heitz Cellar Home Ranch on Taplin Road. Ink Grade: The Study of Mountain Terroir is $150 plus tax, 90 minutes to 2 hours, with a Stone Cellar tour and five wines. By appointment, seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
11:45 · Lunch at Market
About 10 minutes away. Lunch at Market, an American restaurant in a historic brick and stone building on Main Street in St. Helena, open for lunch Monday to Saturday from noon. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
1:05 · Dunn Vineyards
About 20 minutes away. Randy Dunn's family winery high on Howell Mountain, famous for long-lived Cabernet Sauvignon. The $125 visit walks the vineyards and caves and ends with a seated tasting of several vintages; we allow about 90 minutes. By appointment, Monday to Friday, requested more than three business days ahead; groups up to six.
2:45 · Arkenstone Estate
About 10 minutes away. A family domaine on the western shoulder of Howell Mountain with its own underground winery. The Arkenstone Experience is $150, a winery and vineyard tour with a seated tasting, about 90 minutes, paid at booking. By private appointment, with very few visits each day.
4:15 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:40 p.m.
About $425 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries (Ink Grade plus tax), paid directly to each winery.
Three seated tastings of about 90 minutes each make this a long day, about seven hours. Dunn hosts Monday to Friday and Market serves lunch Monday to Saturday; on weekends we swap in another estate and restaurant.
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 The Napa Valley Reserve?
No. It is a private, members-only estate and is not open to visitors, as of September 2026. We can plan a day at acclaimed estates nearby that do host.
How can I buy The Napa Valley Reserve wine?
Only as a member. The wines are made for members and are not sold in stores, restaurants or through a mailing list; membership is by inquiry through the Reserve's website.
Who founded The Napa Valley Reserve?
Bill Harlan, the vintner behind Harlan Estate and Meadowood, in 2000.
Where is The Napa Valley Reserve?
On the east side of the valley next to Meadowood, a few minutes from St. Helena.
What makes The Napa Valley Reserve different?
Members can make their own private wines with the Harlan winegrowing team, starting from blends the team prepares, alongside the estate's own Cabernet Sauvignon.
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":"The Napa Valley Reserve","url":"https://www.thenapavalleyreserve.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"St. Helena","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"94574","addressCountry":"US"},"foundingDate":"2000","containedInPlace":{"@type":"Place","name":"St. Helena AVA"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Can you visit The Napa Valley Reserve?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. It is a private, members-only estate and is not open to visitors, as of September 2026. We can plan a day at acclaimed estates nearby that do host."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How can I buy The Napa Valley Reserve wine?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Only as a member. The wines are made for members and are not sold in stores, restaurants or through a mailing list; membership is by inquiry through the Reserve's website."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who founded The Napa Valley Reserve?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Bill Harlan, the vintner behind Harlan Estate and Meadowood, in 2000."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Where is The Napa Valley Reserve?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"On the east side of the valley next to Meadowood, a few minutes from St. Helena."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What makes The Napa Valley Reserve different?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Members can make their own private wines with the Harlan winegrowing team, starting from blends the team prepares, alongside the estate's own Cabernet Sauvignon."}},{"@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."}}]}]}