By Luke Jeramaz, Digital Marketing Manager · Published 9/9/2026
In short: A visit to Grgich Hills is a relaxed, seated tasting in Rutherford, on the Napa Valley floor. You’ll taste estate-grown, Regenerative Organic Certified wines — including the Chardonnay and Cabernet that made us famous. Reservations are recommended, though we routinely welcome walk-ins. Expect substance and authenticity over spectacle.
Fast Facts
- Where: Rutherford, on the Napa Valley floor along Highway 29.
- Format: mostly seated and guided tastings of estate-grown wines.
- Booking: reservations recommended; walk-ins are always welcome.
- Hours & pricing: the Tasting Room is open daily from 9:30 am until 4:30 pm, and prices range from $60 for the Miljenko’s Wine Tasting to $250 for our Private Library Wine Tastings. We are dog-friendly, family-friendly, and accept children of all ages, but only those 21 and older are permitted to taste wine.
- Seasonal highlight: our annual harvest grape stomp.
What this guide covers: what a Napa Valley wine tasting is like, how visiting Grgich Hills works, the tasting experiences we offer, the wines you’ll try, and how to plan your visit.
I have welcomed a lot of guests to this estate, and the ones who enjoy it most are the ones who know what to expect before they arrive. So let me walk you through it — what a Napa tasting is generally like, what makes ours different, and how to plan a visit that feels easy from the moment you book.
What is a Napa Valley wine tasting like?
A Napa Valley wine tasting is usually a guided flight of several wines, poured one at a time, with someone from the winery walking you through each. Most estates now ask you to reserve a time rather than drop in, but we can often accommodate walk-ins.
Tastings can be casual bar pours or relaxed seated experiences. At Grgich Hills, we lean toward the seated, unhurried version since it gives us more time to talk with you about the wines in your glass.
Do you need a reservation to visit Grgich Hills?
We recommend a reservation, especially on weekends and during harvest, so we can give you a proper seat and a proper pour. That said, we can often accommodate walk-ins when we have space.
Booking ahead is simply the surest way to guarantee the experience you want. Grgich Estate is also dog-friendly and family-friendly. We accommodate children of all ages with their parents, but only those 21 and older are permitted to taste wine.
What tasting experiences does Grgich Hills offer?
We offer a range of experiences, from a classic seated tasting to more in-depth options. The table below is a guide.
| Experience | Format | Approx. duration/price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seated Milkenko’s Tasting (Our Estate Wine Tasting) | Seated, guided flight of current-release wines | $60 per guest and 90 minutes in duration | First-time and returning visitors |
| The AVA Exploration | Seated tasting of wines from our five Regenerative Organic Certified estate vineyards | $125 per guest and 90 minutes in duration | Guests curious about how the wine is grown |
| Private Library Tasting | A rare and bespoke wine tasting of 6 aged wines from our library cellar | $250 per guest and 90 minutes in duration | Collectors and enthusiasts |
| Harvest Grape Stomp (seasonal) | Hands-on harvest tradition | $150 per guest and 90 minutes in duration | Groups in the fall |
What wines will you taste?
You’ll taste our estate-grown, Regenerative Organic Certified wines — our Cabernet Sauvignon and, most famously, our Chardonnay that carries our Judgment of Paris legacy, alongside other varietals depending on the experience and season. If you have strong wine preferences, please let our team know. We do our best to accommodate requests when possible.
Because everything is estate-grown, what you taste in the glass connects directly to the vineyards located just outside and throughout the Napa Valley.
What makes a visit here different?
I’ll be honest with you: we are not a castle on a hill. Grgich Hills is a traditional, working estate, and that is on purpose. What we offer is authenticity — real farming, real history, and wines built for the table.
If you want a flashy architectural spectacle, other estates do that well. If you want to taste classically styled wines where they are grown, on land farmed to the strictest organic standard, that is us.
When is the best time to visit?
There is no bad time, but each season offers something different. Harvest (late summer into fall) is the liveliest, with our grape stomp; spring is quiet and green; and weekdays are calmer than weekends year-round.
“The best visits are not about how grand the room is. They are about tasting honest wine in the place it comes from, with someone who can tell you the story behind it. That is what we try to give every guest.” — Luke Jeramaz, Digital Marketing Manager at Grgich Hills Estate
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a reservation to taste wine at Grgich Hills?
Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends and during harvest, but walk-ins can almost always be accommodated.
How much does a wine tasting at Grgich Hills cost?
Tasting fees vary by experience. Prices range from $60 for the Miljenko’s Wine Tasting to $250 for our Private Library Wine Tastings. Fees are waived with a qualifying purchase.
What are Grgich Hills’ hours?
Open daily from 9:30 am until 4:30 pm, Grgich Hills is located in Rutherford, on the Napa Valley floor along Highway 29.
What wines does Grgich Hills pour?
Guests taste estate-grown, Regenerative Organic Certified wines, most notably their Chardonnay tied to the estate’s Judgment of Paris legacy and Cabernet Sauvignon, plus other varietals by season and experience.
Is Grgich Hills good for first-time Napa visitors?
Yes. The seated, guided format and estate story make it approachable for first-timers while still rewarding experienced collectors.
Plan your visit to Grgich Hills
Now you know what to expect — the seated pours, the estate-grown wines, the honest, unhurried welcome. Reserve your tasting in Rutherford, and come taste a piece of Napa Valley history where it was made.
About the author
Luke Jeramaz is the Digital Marketing Manager at Grgich Hills Estate in Napa and the son of winemaker Ivo Jeramaz.
