Rutherford · Napa Valley
Visit Quintessa with a Private Chauffeur
A 280-acre Biodynamic estate of rolling hills, oaks and a lake on the east side of Rutherford, with tastings in an open-air vineyard pavilion, and a suggested six-hour day around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Agustin and Valeria Huneeus founded Quintessa on a 280-acre site on the eastern edge of Rutherford, at the foot of the Vaca Mountains. They believed the land was destined to become one of the world's great wine estates, and the first vintage of Quintessa was released from the 1994 harvest. Valeria, the founder and vineyard master, set the tone: farm the land as a living entity.
Only 160 acres are planted, in 26 blocks that follow the hills, and about 100 acres are kept as natural woodland around Dragon Lake. The vines are farmed organically and Biodynamically, and each block is picked and made separately before the single red blend, Quintessa, is assembled. The gravity-flow winery is built into the contours of the hillside, with 17,000 square feet of caves.
Every visit is private or shared with one other party at most, so it feels personal from the moment we pull up. The Estate Experience starts with a walk through the vineyards with views across Rutherford, then a seated tasting of current and library vintages. The Quintessential Experience is poured in an open-air pavilion among the vines, and the Collector's Experience tours the winery and caves on weekends.
Tasting Fees
$125 for the Communal Estate Experience, a vineyard walk and seated tasting shared with one other party (up to 4 guests). $175 for the private Estate Experience (up to 6). $200 for the Collector's Experience, a winery and cave tour, Saturday and Sunday (up to 4). $225 for the Quintessential Experience in the open-air pavilion (up to 8). $300 for Autumn at the Estate, by inquiry (up to 5). Each is about 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
1601 Silverado Trail South, St. Helena
AVA
Rutherford
Visiting
By appointment only, Thursday to Monday, with visits between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Appointments are prepaid in full when booked; full refunds with 24 hours' notice.
Known For
Quintessa, a single Bordeaux-style red blend from an organic and Biodynamic Rutherford estate
Founded
First vintage 1994, by Agustin and Valeria Huneeus
Good to Know
Guests must be 21 or older. Experiences take 4 to 8 guests depending on the format, and the fee applies to every guest in the party. Prices are plus California sales tax.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 9:50 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Meadowood or Rancho Caymus Inn. Quintessa's first appointments are at 10 a.m., so we pick you up a little early to be there for the first visit of the day.
9:50 · Pickup at Meadowood or Rancho Caymus Inn
Meadowood, the resort at the foot of Howell Mountain, and Rancho Caymus Inn in the village of Rutherford are each about 8 to 10 minutes from Quintessa on the Silverado Trail. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:00 · Quintessa
The Estate Experience, a hosted walk through the vineyards followed by a seated tasting of current and library vintages, about 90 minutes ($175). The Communal Estate Experience ($125) follows the same pattern alongside one other party.
11:45 · Odette Estate
About 15 minutes away. A contemporary estate lounge set among the vines, with the Stags Leap Palisades as the backdrop, beside a LEED Gold certified winery. The Odette Experience is $100 with Estate and Reserve Cabernet and a cheese plate; we plan about an hour. Open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by reservation; only guests 21 and over taste.
1:00 · Lunch at Brix
About 12 minutes away. Lunch at Brix on Highway 29 between Yountville and Oakville, a sit-down restaurant beside its own gardens, serving lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day but Tuesday. Prefer a picnic? We can arrange a catered picnic at a winery that allows one; the cost is quoted when you book.
2:15 · Crocker & Starr
About 15 minutes away. A small St. Helena estate where the visit starts with a glass of sparkling wine and a walk into the vineyard, then a seated tasting under the Garden Arbor. The Estate Vineyard Experience is $95 (or $125 with cheese and charcuterie, 48 hours' notice), about 75 minutes, for groups of up to 6.
3:30 · Back to your hotel
Back by about 3:45 p.m., within six hours of pickup.
About $370 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery (about $320 with the Communal Estate Experience).
Quintessa hosts Thursday to Monday and Brix is closed on Tuesday, so this day works Thursday through Monday.
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 Quintessa?
Yes. Every visit is by appointment, Thursday to Monday, prepaid when booked. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Quintessa?
$125 per person for the Communal Estate Experience, $175 for the private Estate Experience and $200 to $300 for the cave, pavilion and seasonal experiences, plus tax, as of September 2026.
Can children visit Quintessa?
No. Guests must be 21 or older.
What is Quintessa known for?
A single red blend from an organic and Biodynamic estate in Rutherford, made from up to five Bordeaux varieties grown on the property.
Who founded Quintessa?
Agustin and Valeria Huneeus. Valeria is the founder and vineyard master.
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":"Quintessa","url":"https://www.quintessa.com","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"1601 Silverado Trail South","addressLocality":"St. Helena","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"94574","addressCountry":"US"},"foundingDate":"1994","containedInPlace":{"@type":"Place","name":"Rutherford AVA"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a reservation at Quintessa?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Every visit is by appointment, Thursday to Monday, prepaid when booked. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much is a tasting at Quintessa?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"$125 per person for the Communal Estate Experience, $175 for the private Estate Experience and $200 to $300 for the cave, pavilion and seasonal experiences, plus tax, as of September 2026."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can children visit Quintessa?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. Guests must be 21 or older."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is Quintessa known for?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A single red blend from an organic and Biodynamic estate in Rutherford, made from up to five Bordeaux varieties grown on the property."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who founded Quintessa?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Agustin and Valeria Huneeus. Valeria is the founder and vineyard master."}},{"@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."}}]}]}