Napa Valley: Rutherford Rules

By Mallory Uran

The town of Rutherford rests in the heart of the Napa Valley, right between Oakville and St. Helena. With only two hotels that claim Rutherford’s zip code, your choices are quite limited, meaning your chances of reserving a room during high season at Ranch Caymus Inn will not be an easy task—so check it out early. The Rancho Caymus Inn was acquired by new owners in 2016 and underwent a complete renovation, reopening in June 2017 to rave reviews. The rooms all include wood fired gas heaters, private patios, a spacious sitting area, and gorgeous bathrooms decked out in white marble.

The Inn has a total southwest, Native American, Spanish vibe—exposed beams, leather furnishings, and gorgeous bed with classic white linens and adorable printed accent pillows. The rooms are complete with a mini fridge to store any leftovers from dinner, coffee maker with delicious local coffee, and an adorable pouch of locally sourced toiletries in the bathrooms. My favorite part was the complimentary continental breakfast, which included the all too famous Model Bakery English muffins, but they take continental one step further and offer breakfast sandwiches with egg and bacon. Or you can order that a la carte and pile your plate high with delicious local pastries, fruit, and of course, gourmet cheese, because no breakfast is complete in Napa Valley without cheese and charcuterie! The best thing about staying in Rutherford at Rancho Caymus Inn: it’s setting is just so serene. My husband and I loved it and we want to return to Rancho Caymus Inn in the near future.

Of course, no scene around of Napa Valley would be complete without wine tasting. Some of my favorite local Rutherford wineries, include Frog’s Leap Winery just down the street from Rancho Caymus. They produce some of the most delicious wines you can find in wine country: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, to name a few. It’s one of those places that reminds you of what Napa was built on. And they have the most gorgeous grounds on which to frolic and explore. You can sit inside or outside in a private room or even secure a spot on the porch overlooking it all. A real treat.

My other favorite locations to visit in the Rutherford area are Honig Vineyards and Round Pond Vineyards. They are across the street from each other and only a half mile from Rancho Caymus, making it convenient for walking or taking a short drive in a car service. Honig Vineyards makes some fantastic estate Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon, focusing on the varietals Napa is most famous for. The hospitality provided at Honig Is like visiting with old friends, they are sweet and generous with their time and offer very informative tours and tastings. If you are looking to pair food with your wine experience, Round Pond is the winery for you. One of my favorite experiences is their Brunch, which is a Wine Club exclusive experience. No person should pass up the opportunity for the garden tour via estate chef and the six-course wine pairing lunch and barrel tasting.

Since you will undoubtedly still be hungry after all of this, make reservations at either, The Rutherford Grill and or Auberge Du Soleil. Rutherford Grill is the more casual option of the two. Whereas, Auberge Du Soleil offers a multi-course meal and amazing views with casual elegance. I got engaged at Auberge Du Soleil, making it a special place for me. So, if you’re planning a special getaway to celebrate anything, it is a great place to do just that. They also have an epic brunch on Sundays! Check out all of these awesome places to visit in Rutherford and don’t forget to tell them how you found them.