Rombauer Winery is a real nice find; the winery is located about 1/4 mile off Silverado Trail on the east side of Napa Valley in the small pine covered hills that are found in this area. Look for the large American flag flying along the Silverado Trail which marks the entrance. An expansive view of Napa Valley can be seen from the deck of the tasting room … [Read more...]

Round Pond Winery opened for tastings by appointment in July 2007. We followed the construction progress on this winery for at least a year visiting during different stages of construction. Our initial visit was on the second day that they were officially open. The property is very historic; it used to be part of what was called "Rutherford tract", a … [Read more...]

Rudd Winery is a 55-acre estate located on the eastern side of the Oakville appellation (arguably the heart of some of Napa's most premium Cabernet Sauvignon). Eastern Oakville and much of nearby Pritchard Hill is composed of reddish iron rich and remarkably rocky soils. While a number of Napa Valley's most premium wineries grow vineyards on these … [Read more...]

Ruston Family Vineyards is located on the western edge of St. Helena at the base of the Mayacamas mountains. In 1941 Fred Carpenter and his wife Lana looked for farm land in the area and purchased 42 acres. They were introduced to the region through their time car camping near what is now Bothe State Park and soon fell in love with the valley. They lived in … [Read more...]

RustRidge Winery. While their address is listed in the town of St. Helena, in reality the winery is located about 40 minutes from this town. While their location feels remote, however, in reality it is less than a 20-minute drive from the Silverado Trail and the valley floor. Because Rustridge is located in rural Napa County, visitors don't just usually … [Read more...]

Pestoni Family Estate Winery, formerly Rutherford Grove, traces its Napa Valley roots back to Albino Pestoni, an immigrant who came to Napa Valley in 1883 from Monte Carasso in Switzerland (Ticino), just north of Lugano near the Italian border. Monte Carasso is located about an hour and 15 minute drive from the airport in Milan and is in the Bellinzona … [Read more...]

Rutherford Hill Winery (founded 1972) is located about a mile east off of Silverado Trail at the end of the same road that winds past the luxurious Relais & Châteaux Auberge du Soleil hillside resort & spa. Rutherford Hill's motto is "Life looks better from Rutherford hill" and could easily be "Life looks better from Rutherford Hill drinking Merlot"! This … [Read more...]

Rutherford Ranch Winery was founded in 1978 by husband and wife Ernie and Virginia Van Asperen and their business partner Charlie Abela (all since deceased). Ernie was a WWII pilot who flew B-24 bombers from Italy and long enjoyed aviation (at one point he donated a small plane for use at the tiny airport at Pacific Union College in Angwin on Howell Mountain … [Read more...]

Taylor Family Vineyards purchased 23 acres in what is now the Stags Leap District in Napa Valley, and have grown grapes here since 1980. Their property is located in the Stags Leap district on the slopes on the west side of Silverado Trail. Taylor Family is very much a small family business; patriarch Jerry Taylor (passed in 2015) like others who became part … [Read more...]