This renowned winery was most recently known as Niebaum Coppola. In early 2006 the name was changed to Rubicon Estates. Rubicon denotes the series of “reserve�? premium wines produced by owner Francis Ford Coppola. The name change also brings about a focus on a different clientele. It’s $25 a guest just to enter Rubicon and take a look around.
Our first visit to this magnificent winery was in the early 1970s when it was then Inglenook Winery. We have been back many times since. It is a wondrous estate with beautiful vineyards and stunning architecture.
We heard about the changes and out of curiosity, we decided to venture into Rubicon. We drove down the long beautiful driveway and were greeted midway by a group of young men. They handed us a welcome card detailing the visit. For $25, a visitor can taste five wines, tour the Inglenook Chateau, browse the museum, plus have valet parking. We said “no thanks” and we were shown the well-marked turnaround route.
Although $25 is a lot to pay, a few other wineries do the same in Napa Valley, such as the tour and tasting at Schramsberg or Chateau Montelena. We would say it is definitely worth a visit, especially for the first timer. The grounds and historic buildings are spectacular and one can learn some history about wine and the Napa Valley.