St. Helena · Napa Valley
Visit William Cole with a Private Chauffeur
A family winery in a restored 1873 stone cellar, once run by Napa Valley's first woman winery owner, visited with a private tour and seated tasting, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
In 1869 John and Hannah Weinberger bought a stone wine cellar on a 240-acre estate north of St. Helena from Charles and Carolina Krug. After her husband's death, Hannah ran the winery from 1882 until Prohibition closed it in 1920, 38 years in all. She is celebrated as Napa Valley's first woman winery owner and winemaker.
The cellar then sat closed for decades. In 1938 the Harrison family had architect Bourn Hayne turn its top two levels into a summer residence. William and Jane Ballentine bought the five-acre property in 1999, restored the 1873 stone winery and reopened its cellar doors in 2004. The winery is named for their son Cole and the Cabernet for their daughter Claire.
The estate sits in the St. Helena AVA on the lower slopes of Spring Mountain. A visit is a private tour of the historic stone winery followed by a seated tasting of the flagship Cuvée Claire Cabernet Sauvignon, with 60 to 90 minutes suggested. The wines are opened for each group, and the winery dogs often come to say hello. We book it on your behalf.
Tasting Fees
William Cole does not publish a tasting fee on its website. The fee for the private tour and seated tasting is confirmed when the reservation is made.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
2849 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena
AVA
St. Helena
Visiting
By appointment or private request; visits are booked ahead with the winery, with 24 hours' notice to cancel. We arrange it on your behalf.
Known For
Cuvée Claire Cabernet Sauvignon, Cuvée Jane Marie Chardonnay and extended barrel-aged Cabernets
Founded
Stone winery built in 1873; reopened by the Ballentines in 2004
Good to Know
Allow 60 to 90 minutes. The winery lists a Historic Tasting Room and an Outdoor Tasting. Ages, group size and pet policy are confirmed when booking.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Alila Napa Valley or Meadowood.
10:00 · Pickup at Alila Napa Valley or Meadowood
Alila Napa Valley, at the north end of St. Helena, is about 5 minutes from the winery, and Meadowood, the resort at the foot of Howell Mountain, is about 10 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:10 · William Cole Vineyards
A private tour of the 1873 stone winery and a seated tasting of Cuvée Claire, 60 to 90 minutes. We plan about 75 minutes.
11:40 · Merus
About 12 minutes away. A ghost winery abandoned after Prohibition, restored in a canyon on the east side of the valley, where a cave tour leads to a seated tasting of several vintages of Merus Cabernet Sauvignon. The Collectors Tasting is $150, about 90 minutes. By appointment only; no walk-ins.
1:25 · Lunch at Auberge du Soleil
About 15 minutes away. Lunch high on Rutherford Hill with views across the valley. The Bar serves daily from 11:30 a.m., and The Restaurant offers a prix fixe lunch on the terrace. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:35 · Sullivan Rutherford Estate
About 8 minutes away. A family estate on Galleron Road whose Founder's Tasting starts with a guided walk through the vineyards and gardens around the family residence, designed with architect John Marsh Davis, then a seated tasting of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with cheese and charcuterie. $150. By appointment only.
3:45 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:00 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
About $300 per person in tasting fees for Merus and Sullivan, paid directly to each winery, plus the William Cole fee confirmed at booking.
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 William Cole?
Yes. All tastings are booked ahead, and the winery asks for 24 hours' notice to cancel because the wines are opened for each group. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at William Cole?
William Cole does not publish its tasting fee online; it is confirmed when the reservation is made, as of September 2026.
Who was Hannah Weinberger?
She and her husband John bought the stone cellar in 1869. Hannah ran the winery from 1882 until Prohibition and is celebrated as Napa Valley's first woman winery owner and winemaker.
How long is a visit to William Cole?
Allow 60 to 90 minutes for the private tour of the stone winery and the seated tasting.
Who owns William Cole Vineyards?
William and Jane Ballentine, who bought the property in 1999 and reopened the winery in 2004. It is named for their son Cole.
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":"William Cole Vineyards","url":"https://williamcolevineyards.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2849 St. Helena Highway","addressLocality":"St. Helena","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"94574","addressCountry":"US"},"foundingDate":"2004","containedInPlace":{"@type":"Place","name":"St. Helena AVA"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a reservation at William Cole?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. All tastings are booked ahead, and the winery asks for 24 hours' notice to cancel because the wines are opened for each group. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at William Cole?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"William Cole does not publish its tasting fee online; it is confirmed when the reservation is made, as of September 2026."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who was Hannah Weinberger?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"She and her husband John bought the stone cellar in 1869. Hannah ran the winery from 1882 until Prohibition and is celebrated as Napa Valley's first woman winery owner and winemaker."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How long is a visit to William Cole?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Allow 60 to 90 minutes for the private tour of the stone winery and the seated tasting."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who owns William Cole Vineyards?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"William and Jane Ballentine, who bought the property in 1999 and reopened the winery in 2004. It is named for their son Cole."}},{"@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."}}]}]}