Oakville · Napa Valley
Visit FUTO with a Private Chauffeur
A small hillside estate in the western foothills of Oakville, with a minimalist Howard Backen winery and a second vineyard in the Stags Leap District, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
FUTO dwells on two properties: one tucked into the western foothills of Oakville, in the Oakville AVA, and the other across the valley on the rocky slopes of the Stags Leap District. Of their 198 acres, only 28 are planted; the rest is left as forest and rocky ridge. Critic Antonio Galloni has called FUTO "a classic contemporary expression of Napa Valley."
Both sites call for steep hillside farming across many exposures, slopes and soils. The winery, designed by architect Howard Backen and built under his supervision at the Oakville property from 2007 to 2009, is deliberately simple: fruit arrives straight from the vineyards and moves through each stage without wasted space or time. Production is small, and the wines are sold by allocation.
FUTO hosts private tastings by appointment for members of its mailing list, at the winery in Oakville, for groups of up to 10. If you are not on the list, you sign up for the waiting list to request an appointment; we help with that and make the request on your behalf. The estate publishes no fee, so it is confirmed when the visit is set.
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
Oakville
AVA
Oakville
Visiting
Private tastings by appointment for mailing list members, at the winery in Oakville. Others sign up for the waiting list to request an appointment.
Known For
Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines from estates in Oakville and the Stags Leap District
Founded
Winery built 2007 to 2009
Good to Know
Groups of up to 10 per tasting. Pets are not allowed in the winery. Wines are sold by allocation; you can request one on the FUTO website.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Bardessono or Rancho Caymus Inn.
10:00 · Pickup at Bardessono or Rancho Caymus Inn
Bardessono, a garden hotel in Yountville, and Rancho Caymus Inn, at the Rutherford crossroads, are each about 10 to 12 minutes from the Oakville foothills. The day below runs about six hours, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · FUTO Estate
A private tasting at the Oakville winery, set by appointment. We plan about an hour and a quarter; the time and fee are confirmed by the estate.
11:45 · HALL Rutherford
About 15 minutes away. The Halls' hillside estate above Rutherford, with a brick-lined wine cave and the Chandelier Room at its heart. The private Valley View Tasting in the upstairs salon, with cheese and charcuterie, is $125 for 60 to 75 minutes. Open daily by reservation; 21 and over.
1:15 · Lunch at Bottega
About 15 minutes away. Lunch at Bottega, an Italian restaurant on Washington Street in Yountville, serving from 11:30 a.m. Tuesday to Sunday. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:35 · Cardinale
About 10 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.
3:50 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 4:00 p.m., six hours after pickup.
About $250 per person in tasting fees for HALL Rutherford and Cardinale, paid directly to each winery, plus FUTO's fee, confirmed with the appointment.
Bottega is closed on Mondays; on a Monday we book lunch at another sit-down restaurant in Yountville. FUTO sets its appointment time, and we adjust 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 FUTO?
Yes. FUTO hosts private tastings by appointment for mailing list members; others join the waiting list to request one. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at FUTO?
FUTO does not publish a tasting fee. Tasting fees to be verified upon reservation, as of September 2026.
Where is FUTO Estate?
Its winery is in the western foothills of Oakville; the estate also has a vineyard on the slopes of the Stags Leap District.
How many people can visit FUTO together?
Up to 10 guests per tasting.
Can I bring my dog to FUTO?
No. Pets are not allowed in the winery.
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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