Rutherford · Napa Valley
Visit Sullivan with a Private Chauffeur
A Rutherford family estate devoted to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon since 1972, and a suggested six-hour day of tasting around it.
Book a Six-Hour Wine Tour
About the Winery
James O'Neil Sullivan founded Sullivan in 1972. His interest in wine began in the 1950s with a grape arbor that he and his bride received as a wedding gift, and he made wine at home before starting the estate. In 1978, with the encouragement of winemaker André Tchelistcheff, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon were planted on the 26-acre property. New family ownership arrived in 2018, led by entrepreneur Juan Pablo Torres-Padilla.
The estate sits on Galleron Road in the Rutherford AVA, on land that brothers Adolphe and Virgil Galleron acquired in 1918. At the center of the property is the family residence, which Jim Sullivan built with architect John Marsh Davis, known for work in the Frank Lloyd Wright tradition. The focus is narrow and deliberate: Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, led by the J.O. Sullivan Founder's Reserve wines.
Visits are by appointment. The Founder's Tasting begins with a guided walk through the vineyards and gardens, then moves to a seated tasting of Founder's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Every experience includes cheese and charcuterie pairings, and the estate asks for 72 hours' notice for dietary needs. For guests who want to go deeper, two seated sessions focus on Merlot alone.
Tasting Fees
$150 for the Founder's Tasting, a guided vineyard and garden walk followed by a seated tasting. $200 for A Conversation on Merlot and $350 for Merlot Mastery, both booked directly with the estate.
Tasting fees as of September 2026. Wineries set and collect their own fees, and they change from time to time.
At a Glance
Location
1090 Galleron Road, St. Helena
AVA
Rutherford
Visiting
By appointment only. Reservations are required and can be made online or by contacting the estate.
Known For
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, including the J.O. Sullivan Founder's Reserve wines
Founded
1972 (vines planted in 1978)
Good to Know
Every experience includes cheese and charcuterie pairings; dietary needs require 72 hours' notice. Large groups and private events are arranged directly with the estate.
A Suggested Six-Hour Day
Pickup at 10:00 a.m. from a nearby hotel such as Rancho Caymus Inn or Harvest Inn.
10:00 · Pickup at Rancho Caymus Inn or Harvest Inn
Stay close and the tasting starts right away. Rancho Caymus Inn, in the center of Rutherford, is about 5 minutes from Sullivan, and Harvest Inn, a vineyard-side resort at the south edge of St. Helena, is about 8 minutes away. The day below fits a six-hour tour, and extra time can be added by the hour.
10:15 · Sullivan Rutherford Estate
The Founder's Tasting ($150): a guided walk through the vineyards and gardens, then a seated tasting of Founder's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with cheese and charcuterie. The day allows about 90 minutes here.
12:00 · Failla Wines
About 15 minutes away. Winemaker Ehren Jordan's Napa home on the Silverado Trail north of St. Helena, where the Tasting Lodge is a seated tasting of five wines in a 1930s farmhouse. $30 for about an hour, with one fee waived per two bottles purchased. By appointment, daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; no picnics.
1:10 · Lunch at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch
About 8 minutes away. Lunch at Farmstead on Main Street in St. Helena, open daily, where the farmhouse menu draws on Long Meadow Ranch's own farm, ranch and vineyards. 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 & Winery
About 13 minutes away. A family-owned Oakville estate that has farmed and made Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay since 1982. A Taste of Groth is $50 (45 minutes), and the Oakville Roots tasting is $75 (60 minutes). By reservation, daily, for up to 6 guests; no pets.
3:40 · Back to your hotel
Back by 4:00 p.m., six hours after pickup.
Optional: St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery
Adds about an hour. A Rutherford estate on Highway 29, about 6 minutes from Groth. Walk-ins are welcome Monday to Thursday when space allows (reservations are highly recommended Friday to Sunday), with the Winemaker's Selection tasting at $46. Open daily until 5 p.m.
About $230 to $255 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 fourth stop is there if the day allows.
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 Sullivan?
Yes. Visits are by appointment only, and reservations are required. When you book a tour with us, your chauffeur makes the reservation for you.
How much is a tasting at Sullivan?
$150 per person for the Founder's Tasting, $200 for A Conversation on Merlot and $350 for Merlot Mastery, as of September 2026.
What is Sullivan known for?
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from its 26-acre Rutherford estate, including the J.O. Sullivan Founder's Reserve wines.
Who planted the Sullivan vineyard?
The Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon vines were first planted in 1978 at the encouragement of winemaker André Tchelistcheff, six years after James O'Neil Sullivan founded the estate.
Who owns Sullivan?
The estate came under new family ownership in 2018, led by entrepreneur Juan Pablo Torres-Padilla.
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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