Los Carneros · Napa Valley
Visit Arietta with a Private Chauffeur
Fritz and Caren Hatton's Bordeaux-style blends, named for the Arietta of Beethoven's last piano sonata and born in a Cabernet Franc block on Hudson Ranch, poured by appointment at the Hudson Winery in Carneros, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Arietta was founded in 1996 by Fritz Hatton and Caren Frutig Hatton with winemaker John Kongsgaard and his wife, Maggy, around a shared love of fine wine and classical music. The name and label come from the Arietta movement of Beethoven's final piano sonata, Opus 111. Fritz is known to collectors as a fine-wine auctioneer with more than four decades in the rare wine business.
It all began with a 2.3-acre block of Cabernet Franc on Hudson Ranch in Carneros, which became the flagship H Block Hudson Vineyards wine. Andy Erickson, whose résumé includes Harlan Estate and Staglin, joined in 2005 and has made the wines since the 2006 vintage. The list now runs to Bordeaux-style reds and a Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon white, from carefully chosen blocks in cooler parts of Napa Valley, starting with Hudson's in the Los Carneros AVA.
There is no Arietta tasting room. Instead the Hattons host private, seated tastings by appointment at the Hudson Winery, out on the ranch where the H Block grows, Tuesday to Saturday. Guests taste six current releases, red and white, or go deeper into reserve and library bottles with small bites. It is a calm, unhurried start to a Carneros day, and we arrange the appointment for you.
Tasting Fees
$100 for the Classic Portfolio Tasting of six current releases, 60 to 90 minutes, with one fee credited for every three bottles purchased. $225 for the Reserve Wine Tasting of six reserve and library wines with small bites, about 90 minutes, with one fee waived for every six bottles purchased.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
5398 Carneros Highway, Napa
AVA
Los Carneros
Visiting
By appointment only, Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Hudson Winery in Carneros. Reservations are required, through the winery's request form, by phone (707-963-5918) or email.
Known For
Bordeaux-style blends, H Block Hudson Vineyards Cabernet Franc and a Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon white
Founded
1996
Good to Know
Tastings are private and booked in advance. The Generations Tasting is offered to subscribers' adult children 21 and over. Group size, pet and picnic policies are not published; we confirm them when we book.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Carneros Resort and Spa or Stanly Ranch.
10:00 · Pickup at Carneros Resort and Spa or Stanly Ranch
Both Carneros resorts are about 5 to 10 minutes from the Hudson Winery, so the tasting starts right away. The day runs about six and a quarter hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Arietta
The Classic Portfolio Tasting of six current releases at the Hudson Winery ($100). We allow 75 minutes. The Reserve Wine Tasting ($225) with small bites runs about 90 minutes and moves the rest of the day back 15 minutes.
11:40 · Hyde Vineyards Estate
About 10 minutes away. Larry Hyde's Carneros vineyard, planted in 1979 and long a source for other wineries, now pouring its own Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on a vineyard terrace. The estate tasting is $75, about 75 minutes. By prior reservation, daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
1:05 · Lunch at Oenotri
About 15 minutes away. Lunch at Oenotri on First Street in downtown Napa, an Italian restaurant serving lunch 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.
2:25 · Sciandri Family Vineyards
About 15 minutes away. A Tuscan-rooted Coombsville family whose family-hosted Cave Tour at The Caves at Soda Canyon pours current releases with a cheese and cracker board. $65 to $75, about 90 minutes, by reservation.
3:55 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:20 p.m., about six and a quarter hours after pickup.
About $240 to $250 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Arietta hosts Tuesday to Saturday only, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., so plan this day for one of those days. Back by about 4:20 p.m.
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 Arietta?
Yes. Tastings are private and by appointment only, Tuesday to Saturday, at the Hudson Winery. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Arietta?
$100 per person for the Classic Portfolio Tasting and $225 for the Reserve Wine Tasting, with fees credited against bottle purchases, as of September 2026.
Where do you taste Arietta wines?
At the Hudson Winery on Hudson Ranch in Carneros, where Arietta's first vineyard block, the H Block Cabernet Franc, grows.
Who owns Arietta?
Fritz Hatton and Caren Frutig Hatton, who founded it in 1996 with John and Maggy Kongsgaard.
Who makes the Arietta wines?
Andy Erickson, who joined in 2005 and took over the winemaking with the 2006 vintage.
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":"Arietta","url":"https://www.ariettawine.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"5398 Carneros Highway","addressLocality":"Napa","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"94559","addressCountry":"US"},"foundingDate":"1996","containedInPlace":{"@type":"Place","name":"Los Carneros AVA"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a reservation at Arietta?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Tastings are private and by appointment only, Tuesday to Saturday, at the Hudson Winery. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at Arietta?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"$100 per person for the Classic Portfolio Tasting and $225 for the Reserve Wine Tasting, with fees credited against bottle purchases, as of September 2026."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Where do you taste Arietta wines?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"At the Hudson Winery on Hudson Ranch in Carneros, where Arietta's first vineyard block, the H Block Cabernet Franc, grows."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who owns Arietta?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Fritz Hatton and Caren Frutig Hatton, who founded it in 1996 with John and Maggy Kongsgaard."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who makes the Arietta wines?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Andy Erickson, who joined in 2005 and took over the winemaking with the 2006 vintage."}},{"@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."}}]}]}