Calistoga · Napa Valley
The Francis House Car Service & Private Wine Tours
Private chauffeur service from Santa Rosa Airport, SFO or Oakland to The Francis House in Calistoga, and a six-hour wine tour that starts at the house.
Book Your Ride or Wine Tour
About the Property
The Francis House is a stone Second Empire mansion built in 1886 by merchant James Francis, a block off Lincoln Avenue. It served as Calistoga's hospital from 1919 to 1964, then stood empty for decades before reopening in 2018 after a long restoration. Today it has eight rooms and suites and is reserved for adults.
The Michelin Guide awards it one Michelin Key. A chef-prepared breakfast is served each morning, and there is a heated pool, a private tennis court, an infrared sauna and salt room, and evening gatherings around the fire pit.
It is also an easy place to start a wine tour. Envy Wines, Sterling Vineyards and Tamber Bey Vineyards are all within about 5 minutes, and St. Helena is about 15 minutes south. We are based in Calistoga ourselves, a few minutes away.
Getting Here From the Airport
Sonoma County Airport (STS): about 19 miles, 40 minutes. The closest airport to The Francis House and the easiest arrival: a short drive over the hills from Santa Rosa, with no Bay Area traffic. Direct flights come in from Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, Denver, Dallas and more.
San Francisco International (SFO): about 85 miles, 1 hour 45 minutes, and 2 hours or more at busy times. The most flights, with the longest drive, across the Bay Area and up through Napa Valley.
Oakland (OAK): about 78 miles, 1 hour 35 minutes. Often a quieter airport than SFO, and a slightly shorter drive.
Sacramento (SMF): about 91 miles, around 2 hours. Skips Bay Area traffic entirely, though it is the longest drive of the four.
Flying private? We also meet guests at the FBOs at STS and Napa County Airport (APC). See our Sonoma County Airport car service page for more on flying into STS.
At a Glance
Location
1403 Myrtle Street, Calistoga
Style
1886 stone mansion, 8 rooms, adults only
Closest Airport
Sonoma County (STS), about 40 minutes
Good to Know
Check-in 4 p.m., check-out 11 a.m. Free parking. Adults 18 and over; no pets.
A Six-Hour Wine Tour From Your Hotel
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. at the front of the house on Myrtle Street.
10:00 · Pickup at The Francis House
Your chauffeur meets you at the front of the house on Myrtle Street. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:20 · Spring Mountain Vineyard
About 20 minutes away. Private tastings on a historic mountain estate above St. Helena, home of the 19th-century Miravalle mansion. The Vista experience is $95. By reservation.
11:45 · Lunch at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch
About 10 minutes away. Farm-to-table cooking in St. Helena, with produce and beef from Long Meadow Ranch. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
1:10 · Duckhorn Vineyards
About 10 minutes away. Merlot, above all the Three Palms Vineyard bottling, poured at an estate house among the vines. The Duckhorn Vineyards flight is $50. By appointment.
2:40 · Chateau Montelena
About 20 minutes away. The stone chateau and Jade Lake at the foot of Mount St. Helena, home of the Chardonnay that won the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Afternoon visits are reserved tastings, $75 to $125.
4:00 · Back to The Francis House
About 10 minutes away. Back by 4:00 p.m., six hours after pickup.
Optional: Olabisi Wines
Adds about an hour. Small-lot, single-vineyard wines in a tasting room just off Lincoln Avenue. The Six Wine Sampler Flight is $40.
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.
Wineries Near the Hotel
- Tank Garage Winery, a short walk. Small-lot wines in a restored 1930s gas station.
- August Briggs Winery, a short walk. Small-lot wines, including rare Charbono.
- Somnium, a short walk. Seated Cabernet tastings on Lincoln Avenue.
- Envy Wines, about 5 minutes. Estate Calistoga Cabernet and Petite Sirah.
- Sterling Vineyards, about 5 minutes. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and the aerial gondola.
- Tamber Bey Vineyards, about 5 minutes. Cabernet on a horse ranch.
- Clos Pegase, about 5 minutes. Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, art and architecture.
- Castello di Amorosa, about 5 minutes. Italian-style wines in a hand-built castle.
See every winery in the area on our Calistoga wineries page.
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.
Airport transfers are priced by distance when you book, with gratuity included. Larger groups travel in more than one vehicle. Tasting fees are separate and paid directly to each winery.
Questions
How far is The Francis House from Santa Rosa Airport (STS)?
About 19 miles, or roughly 40 minutes by car. STS is the closest commercial airport to The Francis House, and the drive over the hills from Santa Rosa avoids Bay Area traffic entirely.
Should I fly into STS or SFO for The Francis House?
If there is a flight that works, fly into Sonoma County Airport (STS). It is about 40 minutes from The Francis House, compared with 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours or more from SFO. SFO and Oakland have more flights, and we pick up at all three.
Is The Francis House within walking distance of downtown Calistoga?
Yes. It is a block off Lincoln Avenue, steps from downtown.
How much is a car service from the airport to The Francis House?
Airport transfers are priced by distance when you book online, and gratuity is included, so you see the full fare before you pay.
What happens if my flight is late?
Your chauffeur tracks your flight and texts you before departure and again on landing to confirm the pickup spot. Up to 60 minutes of waiting is included. Meet and greet at baggage claim is available for $50.
Can you pick us up at The Francis House for a wine tour?
Yes. Six-hour private wine tours start at the house, from $750 plus 20% gratuity in an Elite Luxury SUV for up to 6 guests, or from $1,350 plus gratuity in a Jet Sprinter for up to 9. Tasting fees are paid directly to each winery.
How does booking a tour with Bien Chauffeured work?
Reserve 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.
Book Your Airport Ride or Wine Tour
Reserve online in minutes. For an airport pickup, add your flight and your chauffeur will track it and text you on landing. For a wine tour, your plans don't need to be final: your chauffeur will email you first, then build the itinerary and make the winery appointments. Prefer to talk? Call our concierge at 888-291-2328.
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