This is one of the best places for a private wine tasting. The wines are of cult following quality. The staff presents the most thoughtful tasting events. read more

Sullivan Rutherford Estate - Ask for Cuquita! She's the best. - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - St Helena, California

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Prepare for the best Merlot you've ever had! Sullivan specializes in Merlot and Cab, but they also produce a blush wine along with -- occasionally -- Petit Verdot! The estate ambassador Laura Cropper took time to explain the history of the winery, and shared with me a number of great wines including their specialty Merlot and Cab blends in several vintages. read more

Sullivan Rutherford Estate - Sullivan wine tasting - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - St Helena, California

What makes Sullivan stand out in a valley of 10,000 vineyards? One word: exclusivity. The estate is serene, expansive, and quiet. Tastings happen one group at a time. In other words - you'll have the beautiful venue all to yourself. Personally I find that more relaxing and more prestigious than having to share a tasting room with strangers, as is the norm at most wineries. Of course, ambience alone isn't enough. But fortunately, they have the wines to match. I love their Coeur de Vigne, and the entire James O'Neil lineup - which is well over $300 a bottle, and NO member discount - but worth every penny. read more

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Sullivan was the first stop of our winery retreat. First impression, love the art works and their personal touch to the wine labels as family members created the label that represents a significant story. Great family touch and contribution to its business. The wine tasting experience was enjoyable and pleasant, we enjoy the Cab. Each of the tastes were served slowly as stories were told about the creation of their taste. Sean managed two parties at a time with his personal touch, we did not felt we were left out. read more

Sullivan Rutherford Estate - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - St Helena, California

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At only 4,000 cases a year, this boutique winery hardly attracts the attention that its larger neighbors do, but thank goodness - what's left is a serene experience to enjoy some of the best wine in the area. Try the Coeur de Vigne or their Estate Cabernet Sauignon - spectacular. Join their wine club to attend intimate, private events, and the owners open up their library wines and their home to their guests. What a fabulous winery! read more

Sullivan Rutherford Estate - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - St Helena, California

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Magnificent tasting area on a majestic property smack in the middle of Rutherford. Low key, staff is friendly and knowledgable. A must visit for a relaxing tasting. read more

Had a terrible experience at Sullivan. The property is beautiful the wine is good but the service was awful! We also bought a bunch of wine and they still charged us 150 a person for a tasting fee. The host left us without any wine to try in a room for 30-40 min. We have been to many wineries in the Napa Valley area I have never seen one not accommodate when people are ordering wine. Unbelievable! read more

Cuquita was fantastic during my tasting! She was so helpful, knowledgeable and personable throughout my experience. All the questions that I asked, she had an answer and background story. Such a neat experience, highly recommend! read more

My cousins are members here and they recently brought us along for a tasting. Although the wine was excellent, I'm no expert so I won't pretend to be. The tasting included a pretty strong pour of the 5 wines on the tasting menu, which consisted of 2 whites, 3 reds. 1) Sauvignon blanc 2) Chardonnay 3) red blend 4) Cabernet Sauvignon 5) second red blend The service was quite wonderful! We were seated by one of the owners, and the other owner came to our table and some to us about the history of the property, as her family has owned the land for many years. The property itself was absolutely beautiful. Lush, green grass, budding flowers, birds and butterflies fluttering about, cool breeze through the trees.... It was a lovely experience. They apparently host several events throughout the summer with food, music, games, and plenty of wine. We would love to come out for one of these events next summer! We will most definitely be back! read more

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I wish there were 6 stars for this winery! First of all, the education you receive when you visit this winery is worth the trip. Knowledgeable staff will educate you about the history of the vineyards, and what makes their wine special. We visited this winery with Platypus Tours and after a long day of tastings (life is rough) this was the perfect winery to end our tour. I would describe the winery as sunny-chic. Beautiful open windows and lovely quiet grounds made this a winery to remember. I loved the artwork that was displayed ( artist isSullivan's daughter). The sommelier took his time and explained the different tastes, ingredients, and harvests to the group. He was very engaged with our group asking us questions about what we tastes we picked up on in the wines. Our favorite was the 2012 Rutherford Estates Merlot. The wine is a little more costly than other places you may visit, but it is worth the price. We will definitely be making Sullivan one of our stops when we visit Napa. read more

Sullivan Vineyards was the first stop of the three recommendations we had that day (at least for wineries). We parked and then started to run--wait where are we running to? An employee was walking by and saw us (probably took pity on us since we were drenched) and led us to the warm and inviting tasting room. Morgan (I sure hope that's his name 'cause otherwise it'd be quite embarrassing) asked if we had an appointment....but we didn't. He shrugged it off and led us closer to the warmth and got us ready for our tasting. By then, my tummy had started doing jumping jacks so I asked to just share my flight with the Boy. I kind of wish I didn't. The chardonnay was ridiculously good. Boy doesn't usually like whites but he took an immediate liking to this one. I also liked the Red Ink (we purchased both). The other wines were delicious as well but nothing stood out like those two. I am blanking on the flight fee since we bought bottles but for THAT kind of wine; totally worth it. As the Boy was forking over the dough for the wine....APOLLO came out. This dog was cute and could sell me wine anyday. He greeted me the only way dogs do--by sniffing your butt. He was wet and soggy from the rain but oh so friendly. He looked like he was going to follow us to the next winery but Morgan just explained that he has the run of the place and goes wherever he pleases. Say hello to Apollo if you ever happen here (and you should) and drink the chardonnay! Morgan is awesome too! read more

Sullivan Rutherford Estate - Apollo!! - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - St Helena, California

This place has a beautiful courtyard where you can sit outside and the sommeliers walk up to you pour every taste for you! The wine here was by far my favorite out of all the places I visited this day however it's definitely pricey! Bring some cheese and chocolate and be prepared to relax under the sun. read more

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Believe the hype. We came here on a personal recommendation from a friend and verifying said recommendation on yelp (yeah, we saw all the 5-stars too). What an experience. We planned a last-minute trip to Napa and upon calling for an appointment were told to "drop on by." Once there, we met with Asa who had us join him outside with one other visitor. We spent the better part of our afternoon just talking about wine, the history of the wine, and cars. I was kinda bored for that last part but my father-in-law was loving it. Asa is a wonderful guide thru all their varieties and has a good amount of random knowledge to keep you amused for a while! An old yellow lab wandered the beautiful grounds, stopping by to say hello now and then and I couldn't have been more happy to be sitting there in the warm sun, kept cool by a May breeze and the trees above...thinking about how I was not at work that day! If you are looking for a simple, but authentic, napa experience this is it. BUT if you want cheaper price point wines, or the type of place where you can get in and out and onto the next, this is not for you. I think it goes without saying this ain't the kind of place you can get t-shirts either. read more

I really couldn't have found a better place to take in the sunny weather in Napa Valley while sipping on some of the best reds to touch my palate. My friends and i loved the beautiful, spacious central patio area decked out with several classic cars for that finishing touch. We had a chance to chat with winemaker, Sean Sullivan, too and both he and Rachel were such gracious, down-to-earth hosts. The Chardonnay was very nice, but the stars were the reds - namely the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and the Coeur De Vigne. Bold, supple and chewy with delightfully long finishes, I savored every sip and, by the end, departed with a bottle of the Merlot. This is winemaking at its best without a hint of pretense. read more

Probably one of the most delicately beautiful winery experiences I have ever had. When you visit this space you are at home in Napa. The Sullivan's gladly welcome you into their home with vintage cars awaiting spectacle and the wine is wonderful! It was a beautiful sunny day in Napa and the breeze was slightly moving throughout the day. The tables were set up for 8 of us and the brothers were quick at their feet for service. The wine came with generous pours and the conversation came with abundance. The winemakers being on the property gave this special day and added touch of class that wasn't your typical hoity-toity Napa snobbery. Sean was a gracious host and I know their wines will continue to be successful. Grab a glass and raise a toast for one of the best Napa experiences you can have. read more

The two words that come to mind when thinking of Sullivan- intimate & delicious! Why: In December, we wanted to celebrate a birthday with a total of ten girls. Sullivan came highly recommended. Unfortunately, the weather out was muggy, rainy, and wet. Thanks to Sullivan, we were able to enjoy the day and not let the weather ruin the celebration. What: The tasting took place in an intimate & cozy room. The toasty temperature inside treated us well since it was cold and rainy out. Fred, the Tasting Manager, sat with us, tasted with us, and cracked jokes with us- very personable & witty guy! He took us through 5 tastings, mainly reds. I was impressed with their Chardonnay, but opted for a case (to divvy up, of course, with the rest of my gals) of their 2007 Red Ink. This is a nice "everyday" type of wine, 25% Merlot & 75% Cab. We stayed for about a fun hour of laughs and drinks. Being in Napa, we had a few more wineries to get to. Our visit was not hurried at all, service was impeccable (thanks Fred), wine was delicious, and our time there was unforgettable. Bottom line: I love this place & would definitely come back! There's a reason why the WSJ named Sullivan Vineyards one of the top 5 wineries to visit in Napa Valley. Tips: *Tastings are by appointment only. *Your tasting fee ($20) can be applied to your bottle purchase. Sweet! *You can bring your dog. They are dog friendly- how cool is that!!???! read more

Sullivan Vineyards is a small location, off the beaten path, tucked away within the tranquil confines of Napa. The grounds are really pretty, with a nearby pond and lots of ducks. There is an outdoor tasting area with large wooden tables and chairs, and large parasols to keep you shaded. I came across Sullivan Vineyards on Yelp, and upon perusing their site, I reserved a party of two for a tour and wine tasting. To my surprise, upon my arrival to their front doors, they apparently "weren't doing tours" at the time. It was very awkward when I asked them about the tour, as the guy looked confused and told me they weren't doing them. There wasn't any warning or seasonal time frame regarding the tours, so it kind of threw off our Napa trip schedule. Regardless, we were seated right off the bat, and began our tasting. We ordered the current selection wine tasting. It was pretty good. The clearest chardonnay I've seen. The reds were also really rich and full bodied. In terms of our experience, it felt a bit too separated. People were left to their own devices, conversing amongst themselves, and every so often the guy would come to serve us our next wine on the tasting menu. So after the tasting, people would leave, and continue along with their days. I personally didn't find much that was really memorable about Sullivan. Warning: Don't bring your own food. You aren't able to eat on the grounds. Even a bit of bread and cheese to go with your wine. They didn't have a food permit at the time of our visit, but were in the process of renewal. Hopefully they get it soon. I felt bad when the guy came to us before we started eating to tell us this fact. My gf and I just looked back, and were like "uh... ok?" read more

I'm really disappointed. My husband and I are wine enthusiasts, and every so often we like to enhance our wine collection with several new bottles of wine on our tasting trips. That said, at around 415pm, we looked at Yelp to see who was still open, and saw that Sullivan had great reviews and the business hours posted on the site. So we found Sullivan, saw that the posted sign outside the winery says "Open 10-5", parked the car and started walking toward the tasting room in the pouring rain. Mind you, the time is 440pm. And I know the time posted says closing is in 20 minutes, but there are 20 minutes, and we aren't sloppy wine tasters like I'm sure they get especially after 4pm. We get to the front door, and a man walks out and stands IN the door without saying a thing. Just barring the door, keeping us out in the rain. And I said "hi!" and he just says "No. We close at 5." I say "ok..." and he says "AND we are by appointment only. sorry." and closes the door. I'm sorry, but really? As someone with a pretty extensive background in customer service, I'm appalled that this is the way someone would handle patrons walking up to your door, especially in the rain. 1 - Post BY APPOINTMENT ONLY on your front signs. 2 - Seriously, don't be rude. Watch how you talk to people. We turned around and went down the short block to Franciscan, which ALSO closes at 5, but welcomed us and just politely informed us that they would be closing shortly. Shame, with good wine reviews we were excited to try a new place, but I can say in all honesty that the way you treat people goes a long way, and I'll never give them a shot. read more

Wow! Talk about stumbling upon an amazing vineyard! Our driver suggested we drop in and boy are we glad we did! The cabs are out of this world at Sullivan! I still have people raving about the bottles I've shared with them. Very nice property, incredible service that is very personalized and not done in group settings. We were very pleasantly surprised with everything we tasted and fully intend on reordering what we had from there. The wine, the experience, the property, all in all, a very enjoyable experience with amazing red wines! We appreciate the hospitality and look forward to returning! read more

I'm COMPLETELY shocked at these ratings. I've been coming to Napa for over 15 years, and I have to say that this was the biggest disappointment I have ever experienced. We came from an incredible vineyard that charged $65 per person but poured wines that cost up to $500 per bottle, multiple wines, and included barrel tasting in a cave. Not to mention if you purchased 2 bottles the fee was waived. So here we were - charged $45 for the "library " tasting and $25 for the standard tasting was an absolute joke!!!!!! The wines were as my friend wanted me to type #worstwineryever. We all wanted to walk out after the first sip of the red wine. However we didn't know the place and didnt want to be rude and hoped it would get better. Well at least the reserve wines were better than the standard tasting, but the standard tasting was undrinkable!!! No joke. All of our tongue were super dry from that wine. We thought that we got some type of tongue canker sores because of how acidic the wines were. Our mouths are still raw. I asked if we purchased a bottle if the tasting fee would be waived, the help said only if we purchased a case or were wine club members. For 4 people, two had standard tasting the other 2 library, was the worst $140 I have EVER spent in my life. So then the help had the nerve to ask me if I wanted to add a tip to the cost of the tasting. Sorry, but no I don't need to put extra salt on my wounds thank you! All I can say is....run...run as far as you can from this place read more

Upon arriving we were put on a side table off to the side with other tables open. Over the course of our tasting I feel like little attention was given to us and little explanation was given on each wine. Wines were okay, but not great, and definitely highly over priced for quality. Over all, I got the feeling, if you did not look rich, they were not interested in catering to you. Months later after our visit, I received a very pushy sales call where the sales lady made me think I had ordered wine and the wine was ready to ship....when, in actuality, she was just trying to make a sale. Not cool. read more

I am really tempted not to review Sullivan Vinyards/Winery. Furthermore, I am really tempted to keep it a secret and not tell anyone outside of my immediate family about it. But since I'm a good little Yelper, I am going to Yelp, Yelp, Yelp. I enjoyed a very relaxed afternoon at Sullivan Vineyards with a group of friends (two of whom are members of Sullivan's) after going to Hess. We sat on their patio and enjoyed our Dean and Delucas cheese, sandwiches and baguettes while the gentleman at the winery came out with one bottle of Pink Ink and one bottle of Sullivan's 2006 Chardonnay. I wasn't too fond of the Pink Ink, but I absolutely adore Sullivan's Chardonnay, so I was very happy when he poured me a 1/2 glass of it. He left the Pink Ink on the table for us to finish. Once our glasses were done we were poured Red Ink, Sullivan's Cabernet, Blend and about two others. Plenty of wine all around and we were able to revisit whichever one we wanted to. After my fifth glass, I decided that it was time for a walk around the property. There is a great area by the pond for picnicking and the family's retriever loves to go in there to play. According to our friends that are members, dogs are always allowed on the property, so bring your pups to play! We were able to walk around the vineyard and the garden and it so beautiful, I really can't wait to go back! The Sullivan's house is on the property and is absolutely beautiful. The layout is open and airy and I really, really want to model my house after it. There are so many windows there is absolutely no need for lights or anything - how fabulous! We were the only ones at the vineyard (we arrived at about 3 pm on a Friday afternoon) and were able to enjoy each other's company, therefore, making it a very delightful afternoon. We were all very reluctant to leave, but everything good has to come to an end, so we left Sullivan's around 5:30 pm (they usually close around 5) and headed back out to the main strip. read more

The building here was so gorgeous! Walking up it was like a dream. They only have outdoor seating - or at least they only had outdoor seating on the day we were there - so you may want to prepare appropriately! The table was great - there were 8 of us and we easily fit around one of their larger tables. I think we tasted like 6 wines for $25! And I'm pretty sure we all bought a bottle cause the wine was affordable and delicious! Service was great, ambiance was great, definitely would return! read more

You need a reservation on busy days, but we got in without one on a Sunday in July. Wines are great. It is a little more expensive than other wineries in the area ($25), but they let you taste really good and expensive wine so it is worth it. They are more of a boutique wine maker than the other big ones in the immedaite area. Most of the tastings were red wines. The outdoor seating very nice. They have a courtyard with nice, comfortable patio furniture. There are nice trees in the courtyard for shade and you can see cool little pond nearby. I would recommend that you check it out if you are in the area. read more

We have taken both of our sons to the Napa Valley to celebrate their 21st birthdays, and everyone agrees that Sullivan Vineyards is their favorite. Their hospitality is wonderful -- they treat you like a dear friend. Our most recent visit was in May 2010, and Asa was just awesome. He's got a wealth of knowledge -- and even knows something about wines! Sullivan's wines are amazing! We liked them all so much, we are now members of the wine club. I'm sure the restaurants in Atlanta regret that we bring our own wine to dinner ... but the wait staff always enjoys the Sullivan wines ... especially the Coeur de Vigne. I want to thank Sean M. Garzee at The Platinum Concierge (www.theplatinumconcierge.com) for introducing us to Sullivan. I only wish we lived closer so we could visit more often. read more

This winery is definitely one of the best kept secrets! First, the winery felt so welcoming. It definitely felt like someone's home. It was just so comfortable. The staff was friendly and they offered 6 tastings. They were able to explain each one. I had to wander outside and see the American Classic cars. Paintings and photo groans on walls. My sisters and I definitely wished that we could have spent a longer time at this winery. It was beautiful! Wines were so good too. I bought 3 bottles. :) I will definitely come back here! read more

Fantastic visit. My wife and I were celebrating our twentieth anniversary in Napa, and Sullivan Rutherford Estate didn't disappoint. Their focus on small production of luxury reds (specifically cabernets and merlots) really demonstrates "quality over quantity". I highly recommend the exclusive/private experience. Our guide was Laura and she was knowledgeable, friendly, etc. Prices were as expected. I have several cases shipping to my house. Looking forward to remembering the California sun through the East Coast winter. read more

I loved this place, it was such a pleasant experience and very relaxing. They definitely don't rush you out the door. We sat outside under the trees in the courtyard between the tasting room and the private residence. Our guide was a really nice cowboy type guy that had a lot of stories to tell about the wine and the family, he was very personable. Their wine is very interesting, each time you taste it you find different tasting notes. Bought two bottles of the cabernet, should have bought more. We made an appointment, which is definitely recommended and something I also found on yelp. read more

Wonderful setting with excellent wines. Crisp white Sauvignon Blanc was our first taste and it was outstanding. read more

Sullivan Rutherford Estate - billy momo band in the background ;). - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - St Helena, California

Sullivan Rutherford Estate is as good as it gets when looking for an experience tasting high quality wines in a remarkable setting. The hospitality staff is at the top of their game for delivering an exclusive and private experience. I've been a member for a couple of years and love sharing with friends who want to experience these low production, luxury Cabernets and Merlots. It's easy to tell that quality matters much more than quantity for this winery! You can't go wrong with an exclusive and private experience unlike other wineries! read more

A late afternoon appointment at Sullivan virtually guaranteed that our group had this lovely vineyard with its beautiful lake all to ourselves. We were warmly greeted by one of the Sullivan family members, and our guide spent plenty of time telling us about each individual wine. Happily, he provided us both cab and merlot tastings, along with a chardonnay and rose...probably a total of 10 different wines. The rose here is surprisingly good (it's called Pink Ink and so different from what you expect from a rose) and the cabs and merlots are award-winning for a reason. The lovely family labrador retrievers were wonderful greeters at this pretty winery. Because one of us joined the wine club, and a number of wine purchases were made, we were comped the $10 tasting fee, which would have been well worth the price anyway for what it covers. Side note: we ate dinner at Bistro Don Giovanni following our tour at Sullivan, and several members of the Sullivan family came over, greeted and thanked us for visiting their winery. It was a very charming, small-town touch that only endeared them to our group even more. Even if it might have been for P.R. reasons, we found it to be simply delightful. read more

DELICIOUS, DELICIOUS, DELICIOUS!!! We found this place from Yelp. It was a day before Christmas so the place we had an eye on was closed. We called them 30 minutes before the closing time and they kindly told us to come in. The staff was very very friendly and knowledgable and their wines taste AMAZING! Don't forget to call and make an appointment before you go! read more

My absolute favorite winery in Napa Valley! Enjoyed my recent visit so much because Kelly Sullivan -- the artist whose amazing work is featured all over the grounds and on the wine bottles themselves -- was such an amazing host! Love her, will be back soon!! read more

World class wines in a beautiful setting in the heart of Rutherford! I enjoy our personalized tastings with the knowledgeable and personable staff. Sullivan tends to hold on to their releases a bit longer than most wineries so you'll often be tasting slightly older vintages. I recommend the James O'Neil Cabernet Sauvignon, Coeur de Vigne, and the Petite Verdot...all my personal favorites. read more

Sullivan Vineyards is like sitting out on the patio of your home drinking some really good wine. No one else to bother you except for the guy who pours the wines. He drops by every 15 minutes with his big smile and gives you another pour. Plan to be here for at least an hour. I left with two bottles, their red ink and their cab. The tasting is waived with a purchase. read more

Just became proud wine club members! Now we're up to 2 - Pine Ridge and Sullivan. Couldn't be happier with our choices. By far the best cabs in Napa...the James O' Neal is mouthwatering. Tried a 2001 Merlot and 99' cab which were beyond amazing. Beautiful grounds, comfy outdoor seating, family owned/run, no crowds...best secret gem in Napa! read more

They're wonderful here. We have been here twice and both times we were greeted by at least one of the family members. Since it is by reservatrion only, the tastings are on a very personal level. I think we spent almost 2 hours here both times because it was so nice. The first time we were there, Sean, the winemaker himself, brought us in back and poured wine for us right out of the barrel. Then he continued to chat with us as we tasted the rest of the wines. Both times they had about 5 or 6 wines for the normal tasting and then added about 3 or 4 more reserves or very limited edition wines to the flight. While I didn't become a member, I did buy several bottles. Our friend who were with us, the same both times, did become members and walked out with a case and a half each trip. I recommend the Pink Ink if you like the rose veriety and the Chard if you prefer whites. In fact my wife is addicted to the Pink Ink. Of course the reds (I like the Red Ink) are spectacular as well, you can't go wrong with any of the wines here. However, they do run out of wines late in the season, so go early in the season or get on their mailing list. read more

Sullivan Vineyards is a quaint little place not too far off of HWY 29, but it's definitely worth checking out if you've never been there before. Much less pretentious and over-the-top like some of the other places on "The Strip", but the varieties of wine are delicious and can compliment practically any meal. The Pink Ink is very popular as it is perfect for sitting outside on a warm summer afternoon in the Napa Valley. The Chardonnay was also quiet good. The Red Cuvee was good for a red blend. But I did NOT care for the Red Ink, which is Sullivan's equivalent to a Table Red wine. Highly recommended! read more

I love Sullivan Wine!! All of the wines were absolutely delicious. Great Chardonnay. Great, great place to wine taste. It's a very casual environment & the service is excellent! The require reservations, which is great. You get 1-on-1 treatment as you relax outside & enjoy wine. I prefer wine tasting at smaller family owned wineries such as Sullivan Vineyards. They are also very dog-friendly & welcome your pets generously! read more

I highly recommend Sullivan Vineyards for an intimate, unhurried and uncluttered wine tasting experience with personal touch. On arrival, several family members greeted our group. We then sat out on the patio overlooking the vineyard as Sean Sullivan guided us through at least five of the vineyards offerings, all the while providing interesting tidbits on wine tasting and wine making. The wines were excellent and mostly on the high end, with my favorites the Chardonnay and Cab. To end things, we sampled a few younger wines straight from the barrel. A sneak preview, if you will. I felt like I spent the afternoon hanging out at a friend's beautiful house out in the country. At what other winery can you play fetch with a dog? If you prefer a casual and intimate atmosphere over the corporate look, feel and experience of many other wineries, you might want to check this place out next time you're in the area. Definitely make a reservation. read more