Inglenook has one of those stories that actually matters—a California winery built in the late 1800s, then gutted by corporate interests, then restored to something special by someone who genuinely cared. Francis Ford Coppola bought the place and rebuilt it with real attention to what made it work in the first place. Now it’s back to being the kind of place worth planning around when you’re in Rutherford.

You can do the full experience: the Inglenook Experience Tasting takes you through the Chateau, out into the vineyards, down into the Infinity caves, and finally to a private cave where you sit down with wines paired alongside artisan cheeses. It’s structured but not rushed. Advance reservations are pretty much essential if you want to do this one.

If you want something easier, The Bistro is the move. It’s designed to feel like a European café—you can sit inside or grab a table in the Parisian courtyard next to the reflecting pool. There’s actually something specific to like here: the courtyard has a fountain, and younger guests can borrow wooden sailboats to float around in it, the same way kids do it in the Luxembourg Gardens back in Paris. It’s a small detail that shows someone thought about making the space work for different kinds of visitors, not just wine drinkers.

The Bistro serves wines by the glass or bottle, plus soft drinks, coffee drinks, cheese and charcuterie boards, and they sell cigars if that’s your thing. The vibe is genuinely relaxed—you’re not being pushed through on some schedule. The wines are good, but the setting is what stays with you. Check their website for current hours before you head out, as they do change seasonally.