1. St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery
City: Rutherford, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (707) 963-4507, (800) 942-0809
Address: 8440 St. Helena Highway S.
Description: More than its intriguing historical setting and its rich lineup of wines, St. Supéry is known for its Wine Discovery Center. You can wander through the display vineyard and the exhibit gallery (the SmellaVision display is a must-do) or sign up for a $10 guided tour. St. Supéry (named for a onetime owner of the property) has a lengthy list of wines, with an emphasis on Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon, plus surprises such as a dessert Moscato and a Merlot Rosé sold only at the winery.
2. Peju Province Winery
City: Rutherford, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (707) 963-3600, (800) 446-7358
Address: 8466 St. Helena Highway S.
Description: Herta Peju’s prolific flower beds have been photographed for numerous garden magazines, while husband Tony sticks to winemaking. His Cabernet Sauvignon has won many awards, and he also makes Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and a Zinfandel Port. The Pejus opened their French provincial–style facility in 1991 and produce about 15,000 cases a year.
City: Rutherford, CA
Category: Nightlife
Address: 1991 St. Helena Highway S.
4. Zd Wines
City: Rutherford, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (707) 963-5188, (800) 487-7757
Address: 8383 Silverado Trail
Description: ZD might be last on the alphabetical list, but it has been first elsewhere, such as the Los Angeles County Fair, where the 1996 Chardonnay was named Best of Class. And the label is clearly bipartisan—it has been served at the White House during three presidential administrations. ZD got its start in Sonoma County in 1969, then moved to Napa County a decade later. Today it makes primarily Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
5. Mumm Napa Valley
City: Rutherford, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (707) 967-7700, (800) 686-6272
Address: 8445 Silverado Trail
Description: The setting in Mumm’s tasting salon is one of the most soothing in the valley, with a long wall of glass that faces uncluttered vineyard. Tours of the winery are offered on the hour; the last stop is the photo gallery, which is reason enough to make a pilgrimage (see the Arts and Culture chapter). Mumm Napa Valley was launched in 1979, a coventure between G. H. Mumm of France and Joseph E. Seagram and Sons of New York. The winery currently bottles three Bruts—Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noir, and Brut Prestige—and a vintage sparkler, DVX, its prestige cuvée.
6. Beaulieu Vineyard
City: Rutherford, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (707) 967-5230, (800) 264-6918
Address: 1960 St. Helena Highway S.
Description: The oldest continuously producing winery in Napa Valley isn’t Charles Krug or Beringer. It’s Beaulieu, which was founded by Georges de Latour in 1900 and survived Prohibition by turning out sacramental wines. By 1940 Beaulieu might have been the nation’s most famous winery, a status no doubt aided by de Latour’s recruitment of young, Russian-born enologist Andre Tchelistcheff, who was more or less the Luther Burbank of the wine industry. The winery’s Napa Series is made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, and Merlot; the BV Coastal Estates wines include Shiraz. (The Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet, hunted by collectors, remains BV’s benchmark product.)
7. Grgich Hills Cellar
City: Rutherford, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (707) 963-2784, (800) 532-3057
Address: 1829 St. Helena Highway S.
Description: The Grgich is Miljenko Grgich. The Hills, you might be surprised to learn, is a reference not to the rugged terrain around Rutherford, but rather to Austin Hills of the Hills Brothers coffee family. Hills added his business acumen to Grgich’s winemaking skills back in 1977, and they have been making tasty wines ever since. Grgich Hills is known for its buttery, creamy Chardonnay, though it also produces Fumé Blanc, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a late-harvest dessert wine. Visitors may purchase library wines, which are available only at the winery, which celebrated its 30th year of operation in 2007.
8. Franciscan Oakville Estate
City: Rutherford, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (707) 967-3830, (800) 529-WINE
Address: 1178 Galleron Road
Description: Franciscan specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with all the grapes for Magnificat (a meritage blend) coming from its 240-acre estate in the heart of the Oakville appellation. It also sets itself apart through its experiments in “wild” yeast fermentation, using the native yeast of each vineyard to help ferment those particular grapes. The winery’s Chardonnay is 100 percent wild yeast, barrel fermented. Outside the winery, which is right off Highway 29, you’ll encounter the Rutherford Bench, a tongue-in-cheek reference to a local geologic feature.
9. Rutherford Hill Winery
City: Rutherford, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (707) 963-1871, (800) MERLOT-1
Address: 200 Rutherford Hill Road
Description: Rutherford Hill produces numerous varietals (including a Zinfandel Port), but the name has become nearly synonymous with Merlot. It’s also known as one of the most pleasant places to visit, with picnic grounds amid shady oaks and olive trees, and stunning views of Napa Valley. Rutherford Hill’s wine caves are said to be some of the most extensive in America, with nearly a mile of tunnels, galleries, and passageways. Rutherford Hill hosts a regular “Blend Your Own Merlot” class for small groups to learn the basic principles of making wine. You get to create your very own blend to take home in a bottle. It’s offered by reservations only, so call ahead to inquire about dates.