Downtown Napa · Napa Valley
Visit Tobias with a Private Chauffeur
Howell Mountain Cabernet from Toby and Dawn Forman's hand-farmed estate, poured at a private tasting in downtown Napa, and a suggested six-hour day around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Toby and Dawn Forman live on their Howell Mountain estate and hand-farm 16 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon there. Toby learned to prune, farm and make wine from his father, Ric Forman, washing barrels and racking wine in the cave at Forman Vineyards; Dawn's father, Bill Pauli, farms in Mendocino and Sonoma counties.
The estate's Pauli Vineyard sits above the fog in the Howell Mountain AVA, in four blocks planted to nine clones of Cabernet Sauvignon on volcanic, iron-rich soils. From it they make about 400 cases a year of TOBIAS Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and the FORMATION Cabernet blend come from family vineyards in Sonoma and Mendocino.
Guests do not taste on the mountain. The private Estate Experience, featuring the Howell Mountain Cabernet, is hosted in downtown Napa and covers the vineyard, the mountain and how the wine is made. It is booked by request through a form on the winery's website or by email, and the fee is set per couple, fully waived with a six-bottle purchase of the Howell Mountain Cabernet.
Tasting Fees
$200 per couple for the private Estate Experience, fully waived with the purchase of six bottles of the Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.
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
Howell Mountain
Visiting
A private Estate Experience hosted in downtown Napa, by request through the winery.
Known For
TOBIAS Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from the hand-farmed Pauli Vineyard on Howell Mountain
Founded
Good to Know
The tasting is in downtown Napa, not at the Howell Mountain estate. The fee is set per couple and is fully waived with a six-bottle purchase of the Howell Mountain Cabernet.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Archer Hotel Napa or Carneros Resort and Spa.
10:00 · Pickup at Archer Hotel Napa or Carneros Resort and Spa
Archer Hotel Napa is in downtown Napa, a few minutes from the tasting, and Carneros Resort and Spa is about 12 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Tobias Vineyards
The private Estate Experience in downtown Napa ($200 per couple). We plan about an hour.
11:30 · Saintsbury
About 15 minutes away. A Carneros pioneer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, founded in 1981. The Garden Tasting is $65, about 75 minutes, with single-vineyard wines and a walk through the winery when weather allows. Reservations required; tastings from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
1:00 · Lunch at Angèle
About 15 minutes away. Lunch at Angèle, a French brasserie on the Napa River in downtown Napa, serving lunch daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:30 · Modus Operandi Cellars
About 18 minutes away. A small winery up Soda Canyon founded by Jason Moore, who started out as a waiter in Dallas. The Classic Tasting of current releases is $100 per person. By appointment only.
3:30 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 3:50 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
About $265 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries ($100 per person at Tobias, based on $200 per couple), paid directly to each winery.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. The fourth stop is there if the day allows.
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 Tobias?
Yes. The private Estate Experience is booked 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 Tobias?
$200 per couple for the Estate Experience, fully waived with the purchase of six bottles of the Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, as of September 2026.
Where do you taste Tobias wines?
At a private tasting in downtown Napa. The estate itself is on Howell Mountain.
Who owns Tobias Vineyards?
Toby and Dawn Forman, who live on and hand-farm the Howell Mountain estate.
Is Tobias related to Forman Vineyard?
Yes. Toby Forman is the son of Ric Forman and learned winemaking from him at Forman Vineyards.
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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