St. Helena · Napa Valley
Visit Zakin with a Private Chauffeur
Howell Mountain Cabernet by Philippe Melka from a 150-acre estate Helen Turley called 'Cabernet Heaven', tasted with charcuterie at Brasswood, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Jon Zakin bought 150 acres of never-planted land on Howell Mountain in 1998, planning to build a house and flip it. Then Jan, visiting a friend who owned the property above, drove down to meet the new neighbor; they married on the property nine months later, and that was the end of the flip. They planted the vineyards in 2004, and Helen Turley once called the place 'Cabernet Heaven'.
The southwest-facing estate has rocky volcanic soil. The Hillside Cabernet comes from the lower blocks, and the Howell Mountain Estate wine mostly from the upper vineyard, 1,450 feet above the valley floor. Philippe Melka, who worked at Haut-Brion, Petrus and Dominus, has made the wine since the first vintage in 2012, and Silverado Farming Company manages the vines.
Tastings start at Brasswood, the winery north of downtown St. Helena in the St. Helena AVA where Zakin is made, with 17,000 square feet of caves. Jan Zakin books them herself by phone, text or email, and you taste limited release wines with charcuterie in an unhurried, intimate setting. Vineyard visits, with views from Napa to Calistoga, are private and by invitation only.
Tasting Fees
$150 per person, with a three-bottle-per-person minimum purchase. The length of the tasting is not published; we allow about an hour.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
3111 St. Helena Highway North, St. Helena
AVA
St. Helena
Visiting
By appointment with Jan Zakin by phone, text or email; tastings take place at Brasswood in St. Helena. Vineyard visits are private and by invitation only.
Known For
Hillside and Howell Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon made by Philippe Melka
Founded
1998 (land bought); vines planted 2004; first vintage 2012
Good to Know
A three-bottle-per-person purchase is requested with each tasting. Ages, group size and pet policy are not published; we confirm them when booking.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Meadowood or Alila Napa Valley.
10:00 · Pickup at Meadowood or Alila Napa Valley
Alila Napa Valley is about 5 minutes from Brasswood and Meadowood about 10. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Zakin Estate
A seated tasting at Brasswood of Zakin's limited release Cabernets with charcuterie ($150). We allow about an hour.
11:30 · Lamborn Family Vineyards
About 12 minutes away. A Howell Mountain family winery that hosts tastings at its custom crush winery in Calistoga, led by Mike or Brian Lamborn. $75 for current releases, applied toward a six-bottle purchase. By reservation; we confirm the address and time when we book.
12:55 · Lunch at Solbar
About 8 minutes away. Lunch at Solbar, the restaurant at Solage in Calistoga, serving lunch Monday through Saturday from 11:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:00 · Gallica
About 20 minutes away. Winemaker Rosemary Cakebread's organically farmed estate against the Mayacamas near Sulphur Creek, known for single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. The Estate Tasting of five current releases is $90, about 75 minutes. By appointment, Monday to Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (1 p.m. on Saturday), booked at least 72 hours ahead.
3:15 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 3:35 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
About $315 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Gallica's afternoon tasting is at 2 p.m. Monday to Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday, and Solbar serves lunch Monday to Saturday. On Saturdays we move lunch earlier; on Sundays 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
Do I need a reservation at Zakin?
Yes. Tastings are by appointment with Jan Zakin, by phone, text or email. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Zakin?
$150 per person, with a three-bottle-per-person minimum purchase, as of September 2026.
Where do you taste Zakin wines?
At Brasswood, the winery just north of downtown St. Helena where Zakin is made. The estate itself is on Howell Mountain, and vineyard visits are by invitation only.
Who makes Zakin wine?
Philippe Melka, who has made Zakin since the first vintage in 2012, with Silverado Farming Company in the vineyard.
Who owns Zakin Estate?
Jan and Jon Zakin, who planted the vineyards in 2004.
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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