Rutherford · Napa Valley
Visit Martin Estate with a Private Chauffeur
A private Rutherford estate around an 1887 stone château hidden by valley oaks, revived by the Martin family after 115 quiet years, and a suggested six-hour day around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
In 1887 Henry Harris broke ground on the H.H. Harris Wine Cellar on the original Caymus land grant in Rutherford. The stone château then sat dormant for 115 years. Greg and Petra Martin bought the property in 1996, planted it with vines for the first time and in 2002 bottled their first estate Cabernet Sauvignon under the Martin Estate name. The family still owns it.
The twelve-acre estate is on the eastern benchland of the Rutherford AVA, and the château is hidden by old valley oaks, so most people driving past never see it. The vineyard was planted in 1996 with 17,000 tightly spaced vines of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot, with help from neighbor Chuck Wagner of Caymus. Every wine is made entirely at the château, and the farming is Napa Green certified.
This is a private estate, not a tasting room. It is not open for public tours, but it offers a limited number of tastings by prior appointment, with priority for its Collector's Club and mailing list members. We make the request on your behalf, and guests who get in see one of the oldest historic estates in Napa Valley.
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
Conn Creek Road, Rutherford
AVA
Rutherford
Visiting
By prior appointment only, with limited availability; priority goes to Collector's Club and mailing list members. The estate is not open for public tours. We arrange the request on your behalf.
Known For
Small-lot, estate-grown Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon made in an 1887 stone château
Founded
1887 as the H.H. Harris Wine Cellar; Martin Estate since 1996
Good to Know
Limited tastings by prior appointment only, requested by email to the estate. Wines are sold mainly to mailing list members by allocation. Ages, group sizes and visit length are confirmed when the visit is arranged.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Rancho Caymus Inn or Auberge du Soleil.
10:00 · Pickup at Rancho Caymus Inn or Auberge du Soleil
Stay close and the tasting starts right away. Rancho Caymus Inn, an inn at the Rutherford crossroads, is about 5 minutes from Martin Estate, and Auberge du Soleil, a hillside resort above Rutherford, is about 6 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Martin Estate
A private tasting by prior appointment, if the estate accepts the request; we allow about an hour. Tasting fees to be verified upon reservation. If the date is not available, we suggest another small Rutherford estate in its place.
11:30 · B Cellars
About 12 minutes away. An Oakville winery built around food pairing, where a garden and cave tour ends at the open-hearth kitchen of the Hospitality House with chef-made B Bites. The Oakville Trek, with five wines, is $150 for 90 minutes (Thursday to Monday); on Tuesday and Wednesday the Vineyard Flight with cheeses is $100 for 60 minutes. Reservations at least 24 hours ahead.
1:15 · Lunch at Lucy Restaurant and Bar
About 10 minutes away. Lunch at Lucy, the restaurant at Bardessono on Yount Street in Yountville, with a seasonal menu drawn from the hotel's organic garden. Lunch is served daily until 2 p.m., so we keep the morning moving. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:30 · Round Pond Estate
About 15 minutes away. A 468-acre Rutherford farm and winery that presses its own olive oils, so guests can taste the oils side by side with the wines. The Portfolio Estate Tasting is $60 and the Artisan Estate Tasting with a gourmet plate is $95. By appointment, Wednesday to Sunday.
3:30 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 3:45 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
About $210 to $245 per person in tasting fees for B Cellars and Round Pond, paid directly to each winery, plus Martin Estate's fee, to be verified upon reservation.
Martin Estate offers few appointments, so we request your date as early as possible. B Cellars runs the Oakville Trek Thursday to Monday and Round Pond is open Wednesday to Sunday, so Thursday to Sunday works 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 Martin Estate?
Yes. Tastings are by prior appointment only and limited, with priority for members. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Martin Estate?
Tasting fees to be verified upon reservation. Martin Estate does not publish a fee, as of September 2026.
Can I tour Martin Estate?
The estate is not open for public tours. Limited tastings are available by prior appointment, and we make the request on your behalf.
How old is Martin Estate?
The stone château was built as the H.H. Harris Wine Cellar, begun in 1887. The Martin family bought it in 1996 and bottled their first vintage in 2002.
Who owns Martin Estate?
Greg and Petra Martin and their family.
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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