Rutherford · Napa Valley
Visit Bella Union with a Private Chauffeur
Far Niente's Rutherford winery for blends, with food pairings in a glass-walled Jewel Box room over the valley and an artist in residence, and a suggested six-hour day around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Bella Union was created in 2012 by the partners behind Far Niente, and it is part of the same family of wineries as Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel. It began with the winemakers' curiosity about blending, and today it has its own modern estate on Highway 29 in the Rutherford AVA.
Winemaker Michael Accurso learned single-vineyard winemaking at Nickel & Nickel, and at Bella Union he blends: Rutherford-based Cabernet Sauvignon and red blends with red fruit and cocoa notes, plus white blends of Pinot Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier from Far Niente's Grand Sky vineyard. The estate also runs an Artist in Residence program; the current artist is Eduardo Sarabia.
This is a polished, easygoing stop. Taste of Bella pours four wines with chef's snacks in an hour. The one guests remember is the Jewel Box Pairing, a seated wine and food pairing in a glass-walled room looking out over the valley. There is a caviar pairing too, and larger groups get a private host for the Bella Grand Gathering.
Tasting Fees
$50 for A Taste of Caviar, one ounce with a glass of wine, 60 minutes (plus 20% service). $65 for Taste of Bella, four wines with chef's snacks, 60 minutes. $100 for the Bella Grand Gathering for groups of 7 to 12, 90 minutes. $125 for the Jewel Box Pairing, four wines with food in the glass-walled room, 90 minutes.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
1695 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena
AVA
Rutherford
Visiting
Open daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations are recommended but not required; the pairings are booked through Tock.
Known For
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon and blends, food pairings and its Artist in Residence program
Founded
2012, by the Far Niente partners
Good to Know
Guests must be 21 or over; no children or pets. Taste of Bella seats 1 to 6, the Jewel Box 2 to 8 and the Bella Grand Gathering 7 to 12. The caviar pairing carries a 20% service charge.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:45 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Rancho Caymus Inn or Harvest Inn.
10:45 · Pickup at Rancho Caymus Inn or Harvest Inn
Bella Union opens at 11, so we pick up at 10:45. Rancho Caymus Inn, an inn at the Rutherford crossroads, is about 5 minutes from Bella Union, and Harvest Inn, a vineyard-side resort at the south end of St. Helena, is about 8 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
11:00 · Bella Union
Taste of Bella, four wines with chef's snacks, 60 minutes ($65). The Jewel Box Pairing ($125) runs 90 minutes and moves the rest of the day back 30 minutes.
12:15 · PlumpJack Estate Winery
About 10 minutes away. An Oakville estate at the foot of the Vaca Mountains where the winery building dates to 1881 and sits in the middle of the vineyard. The PlumpJack Experience is $80 for 60 minutes. By reservation, tastings 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
1:30 · Lunch at Auberge du Soleil
About 12 minutes away. Lunch high on Rutherford Hill with the whole valley below. The Bar serves all day from 11:30 a.m., and The Restaurant on the terrace offers a two- or three-course prix fixe lunch. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:55 · Miner Family Winery
About 8 minutes away. A hillside winery on the Silverado Trail with more than 20,000 square feet of caves carved behind it, and guests love the cave setting. The Private Cave Tasting, with a barrel sample and production tour, is from $125 for up to 90 minutes. Open Thursday to Monday (limited Tuesday and Wednesday); private tastings by reservation.
4:25 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:40 p.m., about six hours after pickup.
About $270 to $330 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Bella Union opens at 11, so this day starts later and runs to about 4:40 p.m. Miner hosts private tastings Thursday to Monday (limited Tuesday and Wednesday), so Thursday to Monday is best.
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 Bella Union?
Reservations are recommended but not required, and the pairings book up. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Bella Union?
$65 per person for Taste of Bella, $125 for the Jewel Box Pairing and $100 for the Bella Grand Gathering; the caviar pairing is $50 plus service, as of September 2026.
Who owns Bella Union?
Far Niente Wine Estates, the family of wineries that also includes Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel.
Can children visit Bella Union?
No. Guests must be 21 or over, and pets are not permitted.
What is the Jewel Box at Bella Union?
A glass-walled tasting room overlooking Napa Valley, where the 90-minute Jewel Box Pairing matches four wines with food.
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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