Rutherford · Napa Valley
Visit Rutherford Hill with a Private Chauffeur
A hilltop winery above the Silverado Trail with a new valley-view terrace, a mile of wine caves and ATV vineyard rides, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
Rutherford Hill was established in 1972 on a hillside just off the Silverado Trail, looking across the Rutherford Bench. Its founders saw a likeness to Pomerol in Bordeaux and made Merlot the house specialty. The Terlato family bought the winery in 1996 and still owns it today. Winemaker Stephanie Jacobs came over after 20 years at Cakebread Cellars.
What sets the visit apart is the setting. The winery sits high above the valley floor in the Rutherford AVA, and the new Valley Vista Terrace looks out across Napa Valley. Behind it, the hillside caves hold about 5,000 barrels. The estate vineyard is one of the few hillside vineyards in Rutherford, on sandy volcanic ash rather than the deep loam below.
Guests can keep it simple with a terrace flight or go deeper. The Cave Tour and Tasting walks the property and the caves, and on Friday to Sunday the ATV Vineyard ride climbs to the estate vineyard before a reserve tasting in the AJT Cave Lounge. Our guests like starting here in the morning, when the terrace is quiet and the valley view is clear.
Tasting Fees
$45 for Discover Rutherford Hill, three wines in 45 minutes (Monday to Friday). $75 for View of the Valley, five wines on the terrace, 90 minutes. $95 for the Legacy Tasting (daily) or the Cave Tour and Tasting (Friday to Sunday), each 90 minutes. $130 for The Skyloft Experience with cheese and charcuterie, 90 minutes. $195 for the ATV Vineyard and AJT Cave Lounge Tasting, 2 hours (Friday to Sunday, up to 5 guests).
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
200 Rutherford Hill Road, Rutherford
AVA
Rutherford
Visiting
Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended; limited walk-ins may be accommodated but are not guaranteed.
Known For
Merlot, plus Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc from Rutherford
Founded
1972 (Terlato family owners since 1996)
Good to Know
Tastings are 21 and over. Families and well-behaved pets are welcome on the Valley Vista Terrace, but the cave and ATV experiences are 21 and over only. Up to 8 guests per reservation; larger groups go through the events team. Tasting fees are non-refundable within 48 hours.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Auberge du Soleil or Rancho Caymus Inn.
10:00 · Pickup at Auberge du Soleil or Rancho Caymus Inn
Stay close and the tasting starts right away. Auberge du Soleil sits on the same hillside, just a few minutes away, and Rancho Caymus Inn in Rutherford is about 8 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Rutherford Hill Winery
View of the Valley on the terrace, five wines in 90 minutes ($75). On Friday to Sunday, the Cave Tour and Tasting ($95, 90 minutes) fits the same slot.
12:00 · Baldacci Family Vineyards
About 15 minutes away. A family-owned Stags Leap District estate on the Silverado Trail with its own wine caves. The Private Table is $85 for about 75 minutes; a private 90-minute experience is $125. By reservation, daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; no minors or pets.
1:30 · Lunch at Bottega
About 10 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.
2:45 · PlumpJack Estate Winery
About 10 minutes away. An Oakville estate around an 1880s winery, named for Shakespeare's Falstaff and known for putting screw caps on top Cabernet. The PlumpJack Experience is $80 for about an hour. By reservation, with tastings booked daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
3:50 · Back to your hotel
Back by 4:00 p.m., six hours after pickup.
About $240 to $260 per person in tasting fees for the three wineries, paid directly to each winery.
Bottega is closed for lunch on Monday; on a Monday we book lunch at Mustards Grill 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 Rutherford Hill?
Reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends; walk-ins are limited and not guaranteed. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Rutherford Hill?
$45 per person for Discover Rutherford Hill (weekdays), $75 for View of the Valley, $95 for the Legacy Tasting or the Cave Tour, and up to $195 for the ATV vineyard ride and cave lounge tasting, as of September 2026.
Can I tour the caves at Rutherford Hill?
Yes. The Cave Tour and Tasting (Friday to Sunday) and the ATV Vineyard and AJT Cave Lounge Tasting both include the hillside caves, which hold about 5,000 barrels. Both are for guests 21 and over.
Can children or dogs visit Rutherford Hill?
Families and pets are welcome on the Valley Vista Terrace. Tastings are 21 and over, and the cave and ATV experiences do not allow minors.
Who owns Rutherford Hill?
The Terlato family, who bought the winery in 1996.
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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