Rutherford · Napa Valley
Visit Inglenook with a Private Chauffeur
The historic Rutherford château reunited by Francis Ford Coppola, home of Rubicon, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Gustave Niebaum, a Finnish sea captain, founded Inglenook in 1879 and built its château between 1881 and 1887. Under his grand-nephew John Daniel Jr., Inglenook became one of America's most celebrated wineries before it was sold in 1964.
In 1975 Francis and Eleanor Coppola bought part of the estate, and over the years they reunited the vineyards and the château. In 2011 they bought back the Inglenook name. Director of Winemaking Philippe Bascaules came from Château Margaux, and the Italia Coppola wine caves were completed in 2022.
The flagship is Rubicon, a Bordeaux-style blend from the Rutherford Bench. The Coppola family still owns Inglenook, and a visit to the château, the caves and the Bistro is one of the grandest in the valley.
Tasting Fees
$85 for the Inglenook Experience Tour & Tasting, Thursday to Monday at 11. $100 for the Legacy Tasting, about an hour, not on Tuesdays. $135 for the Private Cave Tour & Tasting and $150 for the Private Library Tasting, each 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
1991 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford
AVA
Rutherford
Visiting
By reservation; experiences run from 11 a.m. to about 3:15 p.m. The Bistro is open daily 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Known For
Rubicon and Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon
Founded
1879
Good to Know
Standard reservations take up to 6 guests. Most experiences welcome guests 12 and over; the Inglenook Experience tour is 21 and over. No pets inside. Bookings within 24 hours go by phone.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:45 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Rancho Caymus Inn or Auberge du Soleil, in time for the first tastings at 11.
10:45 · Pickup at Rancho Caymus Inn or Auberge du Soleil
Stay close and the tasting starts right away. Rancho Caymus Inn, a small hacienda-style inn in the heart of Rutherford, is about 3 minutes from Inglenook, and Auberge du Soleil, on the hillside above Rutherford, is about 9 minutes away. Pickup is at 10:45 because tastings begin at 11. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
11:00 · Inglenook
The Legacy Tasting, about an hour ($100). For 4 or more guests, the Private Cave Tour & Tasting ($135) runs 90 minutes and moves the rest of the day back 30 minutes.
12:10 · Beaulieu Vineyard
About 2 minutes away. Founded in 1900, home of the Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet, with a new visitor center in its restored stone buildings. The 1885 Tasting is about an hour ($50). By reservation, 21 and over.
1:20 · Lunch at Rutherford Grill
About 2 minutes away. Lunch at Rutherford Grill on Highway 29 in Rutherford, open daily for lunch. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:30 · Groth Vineyards
About 8 minutes away. A family estate on Oakville Cross Road, farming Oakville Cabernet since 1982; its 1985 Reserve Cabernet is known as the first California wine to earn 100 points from Robert Parker. A Taste of Groth is 45 minutes ($50); Oakville Roots is an hour ($75). By appointment, 21 and over.
3:35 · Back to your hotel
Back by 4:45 p.m., six hours after pickup.
Optional: Grgich Hills Estate
Adds about an hour. Founded by Mike Grgich, the winemaker behind the Chardonnay that won the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Walk-ins are always welcome for wine by the glass or bottle on the garden patio; open until 4:30 p.m.
About $200 to $260 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Three wineries is the right pace for a day of serious tasting. The Legacy Tasting is not offered on Tuesdays, when we suggest the Private Cave Tour instead.
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 Inglenook?
Yes. Reservations are required, and bookings within 24 hours go by phone. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Inglenook?
$100 per person for the Legacy Tasting, $85 for the Inglenook Experience and $135 for the Private Cave Tour & Tasting, as of September 2026.
Who owns Inglenook?
The Coppola family, who began buying the estate in 1975 and bought back the Inglenook name in 2011.
Can children visit Inglenook?
Most experiences welcome guests 12 and over; the Inglenook Experience tour is 21 and over.
What is Rubicon?
Inglenook's flagship Bordeaux-style red blend from the Rutherford Bench.
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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