If you’ve never heard the tale of “Faust,” it goes something like this: A discontented scholar makes a pact with the devil, trading his soul for limitless knowledge and worldly pleasures. (Spoiler alert: It does not go well for our tragic hero.) Named for the centuries-old legend, Faust Wines in St. Helena delivers on earthly delights — without the fiery consequences.
The story
Agustin and Valeria Huneeus, of Quintessa and Flowers fame, founded Faust Wines in 1998 and released the first wine in 2002. To support the brand, they planted more than 100 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon in what is now the Coombsville appellation — a cooler region at the southeast end of Napa. The Huneeus family found a dedicated home for Faust when St. Clement winery abruptly closed in 2016. After years of renovations on the 1870s mansion that formerly served as St. Clement’s tasting room, they opened Faust Haus in the fall of 2020.


The vibe
It’s easy to spot Faust Haus from Highway 29. It’s the black Victorian mansion on the hill, just a half mile north of the Culinary Institute of America.
Everything about the building’s design whispers the story of Faust, from its black exterior to the darkness-to-light theme that runs throughout the house. The cellar, rumored to have operated as a speakeasy during Prohibition, is a dimly lit, intimate space with stone walls and lounge seating. The mood begins to lighten up on the main floor, which features a series of rooms with deeply colored blue and red walls, and plush chairs in electric blue.
Head up the staircase, pausing to admire the hand-drawn mural by Parisian artist Roberto Ruspoli, and you’ll reach the “heavens.” Adorned with white paint and contemporary blonde wood furniture, this top-floor tasting space is bathed in light. The outdoor terrace is almost as impressive, with its custom-designed, midcentury furniture and hilltop views across Highway 29 and the valley below.

On the palate
The winery’s lineup includes two labels: the nationally distributed Faust and The Pact, a smaller-production brand focused on Coombsville estate fruit. The 2022 Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($65) is bold and concentrated, with black cherry fruit and impressive balance. The Pact 2021 Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon ($125) is a deep and complex wine that shows off sweet and savory aromas, plus rich blueberry and black cherry flavors. The Lure 2021 Coombsville Merlot ($90) might just be my favorite, with its plush texture, aromas of tobacco spice and plummy fruit flavor.
Tastings range from $75 for a sampling of limited-production estate wines to $150 for an immersive experience that includes a tour of the property, barrel tasting, library wines, and pairings with local cheeses and charcuterie. The Winter in the Winery tasting ($100), offered on Fridays and Saturdays, features an array of artisan charcuteries, cheeses and housemade snacks.

Beyond the bottle
To continue exploring stately mansions, have lunch at Violetto, set inside a 1907 Georgian-style home at the nearby Alia Napa Valley resort. The restaurant showcases modern food from Northern Italy, and it even offers a lunchtime tasting menu. Go for the griddled mortadella sandwich with charred broccoli rabe from the à la carte offerings. Or, if you’re in the mood to linger, choose the three-course prix fixe ($45 per person).
Faust Wines, 2867 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena. 707-200-2560, faustwines.com
Tina Caputo is a wine, food and travel writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including SevenFifty Daily, Visit California, HuffPost and Sonoma magazine. Follow Tina on Twitter @winebroad, view her website at tinacaputo.com, and email her story ideas at tina@caputocontent.com.