Rutherford · Napa Valley
Visit Elizabeth Spencer with a Private Chauffeur
Seated tastings in the garden behind Rutherford's 1872 brick post office, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Elizabeth Spencer found its home in Rutherford in 2006, when the historic 1872 brick post office on Rutherford Road was turned into a tasting room. Jean-Charles Boisset, whose Boisset Collection also includes Raymond Vineyards and Buena Vista, acquired the winery in 2021. Winemaker Sarah Vandendriessche has made the wines since 2010.
The charm is behind the brick walls: a courtyard and English-style garden that feel far from Highway 29, though it is only a short drive away. The wines lean toward balance and purity of fruit, from Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc to Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, with a few cool-climate Sonoma bottlings in the mix.
Every tasting is seated, in the courtyard or the gardens. Guests choose from four red wines in the Winemaker's Selection, a cheese pairing or a white wine and macaron flight, and the fee is waived when you take home two bottles. We like it as a calm first stop; the room opens at 11, so we start the day a little later.
Tasting Fees
Complimentary 30-minute introductory flight. $45 for Crème & Blanc, white wines with an optional macaron pairing ($20). $50 for the Artisanal Experience with an optional cheese pairing ($20). $65 for the Winemaker's Selection, four red wines. Fees are waived with a two-bottle purchase.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
1165 Rutherford Road, Rutherford
AVA
Rutherford
Visiting
Open Thursday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Seated tastings by reservation.
Known For
Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Founded
Rutherford tasting room opened in 2006 (building from 1872)
Good to Know
Tastings are seated in the courtyard and garden. The tasting fee is waived with the purchase of two bottles. Spritzer Sundays run on the first and third Sunday of the month in The Cottage.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:45 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Rancho Caymus Inn or Harvest Inn. Elizabeth Spencer opens at 11 a.m., so we start a little later and you are there for the first tasting.
10:45 · Pickup at Rancho Caymus Inn or Harvest Inn
Rancho Caymus Inn is a few minutes away in Rutherford, and Harvest Inn, at the south end of St. Helena, is about 10 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
11:00 · Elizabeth Spencer Winery
The Winemaker's Selection, four red wines in the garden ($65). We allow about an hour.
12:15 · Chappellet Winery
About 15 minutes away. A family winery high on Pritchard Hill whose pyramid-shaped winery the critic Hugh Johnson called "the most remarkable wine cathedral in the modern world." The Pinnacle of Pritchard Hill tour and tasting is $125 and runs 90 minutes. By reservation, daily; book early.
2:00 · Lunch at Auberge du Soleil
About 12 minutes away. Lunch on the terrace at Auberge du Soleil, with a prix fixe lunch at The Restaurant or a lighter menu at The Bar, which serves from 11:30 a.m. daily, all looking down the valley. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
3:15 · Salvestrin Winery
About 12 minutes away. A family estate on part of Dr. George Belden Crane's 1859 vineyard, where the Salvestrins have farmed since 1932. The Estate Tasting is $75: Sauvignon Blanc on arrival, a walk of the estate and winery, then a seated tasting. By reservation; kid and pet friendly.
4:30 · Back to your hotel
Back by 4:45 p.m., six hours after pickup.
About $265 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Elizabeth Spencer is open Thursday through Monday, so plan this day for one of those days.
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 Elizabeth Spencer?
Yes. Tastings are seated and booked by reservation, Thursday through Monday. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Elizabeth Spencer?
From a complimentary 30-minute flight to $45 to $65 per person for the seated experiences, waived with a two-bottle purchase, as of September 2026.
What is the Elizabeth Spencer building?
The tasting room is Rutherford's historic brick post office from 1872, with a garden behind it.
Who owns Elizabeth Spencer?
Jean-Charles Boisset, proprietor of the Boisset Collection, who acquired it in 2021.
When is Elizabeth Spencer open?
Thursday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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":"Elizabeth Spencer Winery","url":"https://elizabethspencerwinery.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"1165 Rutherford Road","addressLocality":"Rutherford","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"94573","addressCountry":"US"},"containedInPlace":{"@type":"Place","name":"Rutherford AVA"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a reservation at Elizabeth Spencer?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Tastings are seated and booked by reservation, Thursday through Monday. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at Elizabeth Spencer?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"From a complimentary 30-minute flight to $45 to $65 per person for the seated experiences, waived with a two-bottle purchase, as of September 2026."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the Elizabeth Spencer building?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The tasting room is Rutherford's historic brick post office from 1872, with a garden behind it."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who owns Elizabeth Spencer?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Jean-Charles Boisset, proprietor of the Boisset Collection, who acquired it in 2021."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"When is Elizabeth Spencer open?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Thursday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m."}},{"@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."}}]}]}