Rutherford · Napa Valley
Visit DANA with a Private Chauffeur
A Rutherford estate built around a historic stone winery reworked by Howard Backen, with organically farmed single vineyards on the bench and in the hills, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
DANA's roots on the Rutherford Bench reach back to 1883. Hi Sang Lee, chief executive of Nara Food in Seoul, bought the former Livingston winery and vineyard in 2005, and architect Howard Backen worked the old stone winery into a modern one. In Sanskrit, dana means the spirit of generosity, and the dozen lotuses on the label stand for the months of the vine's year.
DANA makes single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, all farmed organically: Helms, eight acres beside the winery on the west side of the Rutherford AVA; Lotus, five steep, rocky acres in Crystal Springs below Howell Mountain; Hershey, 35 acres at 1,800 feet on Howell Mountain; and Montagna on Pritchard Hill. Director of Winemaking Maura Johnson works with consultant Philippe Melka, who has made the wines since the first vintage.
DANA releases its wines once a year by allocation to members, and the sister label ONDA sells wine from the same vineyards. The estate publishes no visit program or fee, so a visit is by private request: we ask the DANA team on your behalf, and the estate decides whether and when it can host. If it cannot on your date, the rest of the day still works around Rutherford.
Tasting Fees
Tasting fees to be verified upon reservation.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
Rutherford
AVA
Rutherford
Visiting
By private request only; DANA Estates publishes no visiting hours or tasting program. We make the request on your behalf, and the estate decides.
Known For
Single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Helms, Lotus, Hershey and Montagna, released by allocation
Founded
2005 (estate history dating to 1883)
Good to Know
There is no walk-in tasting room and nothing is guaranteed: the estate decides whether it can host, when and in what format. Ages, group size and any fee are confirmed by the estate if a visit is arranged. Wines are sold by annual allocation to members.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Rancho Caymus Inn or Harvest Inn.
10:00 · Pickup at Rancho Caymus Inn or Harvest Inn
Rancho Caymus Inn, a Spanish-style inn at the Rutherford crossroads, and Harvest Inn, a garden hotel just south of St. Helena, are each about 5 to 10 minutes from DANA on the Rutherford Bench. The day below runs a little over six hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · DANA Estates
A private visit, only if the estate agrees to host on your date. We plan about an hour and a quarter; the time, format and any fee are set by the estate.
11:45 · Ink Grade
About 15 minutes away. A Howell Mountain vineyard first planted in the 1870s, poured at the Heitz Cellar Home Ranch on Taplin Road, with a tour of the Stone Cellar before a seated tasting of five wines. The Study of Mountain Terroir is $150; we plan 90 minutes. By appointment, daily; 21 and over.
1:30 · Lunch at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch
About 12 minutes away. Lunch at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch at the south end of St. Helena, a farm-to-table restaurant open daily for lunch 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.
2:50 · Cardinale
About 12 minutes away. A renovated stone winery on Highway 29 in Oakville with one of the valley's great panoramic views. An Introduction to Cardinale pours four current releases with seasonal bites ($125); we plan about an hour and a quarter, with time on the terrace. By appointment, prepaid; 21 and over.
4:05 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:15 p.m., a little over six hours after pickup.
About $275 per person in tasting fees for Ink Grade and Cardinale, paid directly to each winery, plus any fee DANA Estates sets if it hosts you.
DANA decides whether it can host and when; if it offers a different time, we rebuild the rest of the day around it.
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 DANA?
Yes. There is no public tasting room, and any visit is by private request at the estate's discretion. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at DANA?
DANA Estates does not publish a tasting fee. Tasting fees to be verified upon reservation, as of September 2026.
Who owns DANA Estates?
Proprietor Hi Sang Lee, who bought the Rutherford property in 2005.
How can I buy DANA wine?
DANA releases its wines once a year by allocation to members; you can request an allocation on its website. Wines from the same vineyards are sold under the sister label ONDA.
What does DANA mean?
In Sanskrit, dana means the spirit of generosity.
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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