Fleury Estate Winery, Rutherford

We allow the grapes to take center stage in every barrel, bottle and glass of our wines," says Brian Fleury, and his boutique winery reflects that approach. A successful Bay Area businessman who brought his family to the Napa Valley ten years ago, he turned his passion for collecting fine wine into a passion for making it. Fleury Estate Winery now owns 50 acres spanning three vineyards in three appellations and at three elevations: Rutherford, St. Helena and Howell Mountain. Its small Rutherford facility produces and sells out of 3,000 cases a year by winery sales only, without the use of distributors.

Brian is a self-taught winemaker who learned the craft by hiring various mentors and working alongside them. Clearly, he's learned well, since his wines are in such great demand. Current releases include a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, a Zinfandel/Cabernet blend, three Cabernet Sauvignons and a Port. The Fleury flagship wine is "Passionne," a Bordeaux-style blend that is always the first to sell out.

With its elegantly rustic feel, Fleury Estate Winery offers its guests an unusually intimate wine-tasting experience. "Every tasting done at this winery is in a private salon setting among the barrels," explains Brian. "No one leaves Fleury Estate Winery without being provided a barrel sample of our future releases.

For travelers who use our custom trip planner, Rutherford holidays become easier to arrange, with trips to the Fleury Estate Winery and other attractions mapped out and timetabled.
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