St. Helena · Napa Valley
Visit Vineyard 29 with a Private Chauffeur
A St. Helena estate that began with Grace Family Cabernet cuttings, with a gravity-flow winery and caves, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Vineyard 29 was founded in 1989 with a three-acre vineyard planted under vineyard manager David Abreu, using cuttings from neighbors Grace Family Vineyards. The first release came in 1992 and was well received. Chuck and Anne McMinn bought the property in 2000, along with the historic Aida vineyard two miles north, and grew it from a single vineyard into a full winery. Longtime winemaker Keith Emerson became president and CEO in 2022.
The estate sits on an east-facing slope at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains, just north of St. Helena in the St. Helena AVA. Architect John Lail designed the 17,000-square-foot stone winery around gravity flow, so wine moves by gravity and a purpose-built freight elevator rather than pumps. Each vineyard block has its own fermentation tank. The family now farms 47 planted acres across five St. Helena estates.
Every visit is a private, prepaid appointment. The Signature Experience opens with a CRU wine, walks through the winery and caves, and finishes with a flight of Vineyard 29 and CRU wines and a seasonal spread. The Estate Pairing Experience adds three seasonal courses and library wines when available, and it books out months ahead. The Short Pour is a quick 30-minute flight of CRU wines.
Tasting Fees
$29 for The Short Pour, a 30-minute flight of current-release CRU wines. $110 for The Signature Experience and $195 for The Estate Pairing Experience, each 90 minutes with a winery and cave tour.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
2929 St. Helena Highway North, St. Helena
AVA
St. Helena
Visiting
By appointment only. Tastings are prepaid and booked through Tock or by email.
Known For
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Grace clone vines, plus Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel and the CRU second label
Founded
1989 (first release in 1992)
Good to Know
Every visit is by prepaid appointment. Tock lists party sizes of 1 to 6 (1 to 4 for The Short Pour). The Estate Pairing Experience books out months in advance, so reserve early.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Harvest Inn or Meadowood Napa Valley.
10:00 · Pickup at Harvest Inn or Meadowood Napa Valley
Stay close and the tasting starts right away. Harvest Inn, a vineyard-side resort at the south end of St. Helena, and Meadowood Napa Valley, a 250-acre estate with a country hotel off the Silverado Trail, are each about 10 minutes from Vineyard 29. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Vineyard 29
The Signature Experience, 90 minutes with a winery and cave tour ($110). The Short Pour ($29, 30 minutes) frees up an hour, and The Estate Pairing Experience ($195, 90 minutes) adds three food courses.
11:55 · LOLA Wines
About 10 minutes away. A family-run Calistoga winery pouring fresh, single-varietal wines in the LOLA House, built in 1892. The family also makes bottarga, offered as an add-on to any tasting. The LOLA Experience is $45 for five wines, and the Reserve Tasting is $60. Open daily; reservations recommended.
1:10 · Lunch at Brasswood Bar + Kitchen
About 12 minutes away. Lunch at Brasswood Bar + Kitchen on Highway 29 north of St. Helena, comfort food drawn from Napa Valley produce, open 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.
2:30 · Honig Vineyard & Winery
About 15 minutes away. A family winery on Rutherford Road where the Terrace Tasting looks out over vineyards and mountains, and leashed dogs are welcome. The Terrace Tasting is $40; allow about an hour. By appointment, daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 21 and over.
3:30 · Back to your hotel
Back by 4:00 p.m., six hours after pickup.
Optional: St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery
Adds about an hour. An all-estate-grown Rutherford winery on Highway 29, about 5 minutes from Honig. Tastings without an appointment are offered Monday to Thursday, and reservations are highly recommended Friday to Sunday; the Winemaker's Selection is $46. Open daily until 5 p.m.
About $195 to $210 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, 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 Vineyard 29?
Yes. Every visit is a private, prepaid appointment, and The Estate Pairing Experience books out months ahead. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Vineyard 29?
$29 per person for The Short Pour, $110 for The Signature Experience and $195 for The Estate Pairing Experience, as of September 2026.
Who owns Vineyard 29?
Chuck and Anne McMinn, who bought the estate in 2000. Winemaker Keith Emerson became president and CEO in fall 2022.
What is Vineyard 29 known for?
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon grown from Grace Family Vineyards cuttings first planted in 1989, along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc and old-vine Zinfandel from the Aida vineyard.
What is CRU?
CRU is Vineyard 29's second label, launched in 2004 with a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. It now includes Cabernet Sauvignon from several AVAs, Sauvignon Blanc, rosé and Pinot Noir, and it is poured at every estate tasting.
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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