Napa · Napa Valley
Visit Vermeil with a Private Chauffeur
Super Bowl coach Dick Vermeil's family winery, built on Calistoga vineyards his ancestors knew, now hosting private tastings of current and library wines, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Dick Vermeil, a Calistoga native known simply as Coach, led the St. Louis Rams to victory in Super Bowl XXXIV. His family's Napa story is older: his great-grandfathers came to San Francisco in the late 1800s, and the Iaccheri family helped found the Calistoga Wine Company. In 1999 Coach and winemaker Paul Smith made the first Jean Louis Vermeil Cabernet Sauvignon, named for his great-grandfather.
Most of the fruit comes from Frediani Vineyard at the base of the Palisades outside Calistoga, farmed by the same family for three generations, with Zinfandel from the neighboring Luvisi Vineyard, planted in 1908. Consulting winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown guides the portfolio with winemaker Tim Beranek. Today there are eleven wines, among them the XXXIV red, Charbono and the Jean Louis Vermeil Cabernet.
Vermeil no longer runs a walk-in tasting room. Instead it offers private, in-person tastings by appointment for a small number of guests, built around current releases and library selections, with time to talk through the wines. The winery describes them as best for collectors and serious wine lovers. The tasting location is confirmed with the appointment, and we plan the rest of the day around it.
Tasting Fees
Private tastings typically begin at $75 per guest and are customized by availability. The length is not published; we allow about 75 minutes.
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
Private tastings by appointment only, for a limited number of guests. Requests go through the winery's form, by phone (707-254-9881) or email; the location and time are confirmed with the appointment. We arrange it on your behalf.
Known For
Jean Louis Vermeil Cabernet Sauvignon, the XXXIV red and wines from Calistoga's Frediani Vineyard
Founded
1999 (first Jean Louis Vermeil Cabernet)
Good to Know
Tastings are private and customized by availability, so share any wines or vintages you would like to try when booking. Club members get priority. Ages and group size are not published; we confirm them when we book.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Archer Hotel Napa or Milliken Creek Inn.
10:00 · Pickup at Archer Hotel Napa or Milliken Creek Inn
Archer Hotel Napa is in downtown Napa and Milliken Creek Inn is on the Silverado Trail just north of town. Vermeil confirms its tasting location with the appointment, so the first drive time is set then. The day below fits about six hours.
10:15 · Vermeil Wines
A private tasting of Vermeil's current releases and library selections, from $75 per guest. We allow about 75 minutes.
11:45 · Keplinger Wines
About 10 to 20 minutes away, depending on where Vermeil hosts you. Winemaker Helen Keplinger's Grenache, Syrah and Oakville Cabernet, poured in a private vineyard setting at Arrow&Branch in the Oak Knoll District. The Rhone Tasting is $85; we plan about 75 minutes. By appointment, waived with a minimum purchase.
1:15 · Lunch at Oenotri
About 10 minutes away. Lunch at Oenotri on First Street in downtown Napa, an Italian restaurant serving lunch daily from 11:30 a.m. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:40 · Whetstone Wine Cellars
About 10 minutes away. Single-vineyard wines poured by the fire in a restored 19th-century French-style chateau at the base of Atlas Peak Road. The Classic Tasting is $65, 60 to 90 minutes. Reservations recommended; last seating at 3 p.m.
3:55 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:05 p.m., about six hours after pickup.
About $225 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries (Vermeil's private tastings start at $75), paid directly to each winery.
Vermeil sets the place and time of each private tasting when it confirms the request, so we book it first and adjust the day. Whetstone is open Thursday to Monday, so this day works on those days.
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 Vermeil?
Yes. Vermeil offers private tastings by appointment only, requested through the winery. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Vermeil?
Private tastings typically begin at $75 per guest and are customized by availability, as of September 2026.
Does Vermeil Wines have a tasting room?
Not a walk-in one. Vermeil now hosts private tastings by appointment, and the location is confirmed with the booking.
Who founded Vermeil Wines?
Dick Vermeil, the Calistoga-born coach who won Super Bowl XXXIV with the St. Louis Rams. He made his first Cabernet with winemaker Paul Smith in 1999.
Who makes the wine at Vermeil?
Consulting winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown guides the portfolio with winemaker Tim Beranek, using fruit mainly from Frediani Vineyard outside Calistoga.
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":"Vermeil Wines","url":"https://www.vermeilwines.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Napa","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"","addressCountry":"US"},"foundingDate":"1999","containedInPlace":{"@type":"Place","name":"Napa Valley AVA"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a reservation at Vermeil?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Vermeil offers private tastings by appointment only, requested through the winery. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at Vermeil?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Private tastings typically begin at $75 per guest and are customized by availability, as of September 2026."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Does Vermeil Wines have a tasting room?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Not a walk-in one. Vermeil now hosts private tastings by appointment, and the location is confirmed with the booking."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who founded Vermeil Wines?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Dick Vermeil, the Calistoga-born coach who won Super Bowl XXXIV with the St. Louis Rams. He made his first Cabernet with winemaker Paul Smith in 1999."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who makes the wine at Vermeil?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Consulting winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown guides the portfolio with winemaker Tim Beranek, using fruit mainly from Frediani Vineyard outside Calistoga."}},{"@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."}}]}]}