About RustRidge Ranch & Winery
RustRidge sits in Chiles Valley, a side valley in the hills east of St. Helena, about 1,000 feet above the Napa Valley floor. The property was a large thoroughbred horse ranch when Susan Meyer's family bought it in 1972, and vines followed in the mid-1970s: Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Susan's brothers started the winery in 1985 in a renovated cattle barn, and Susan and her husband Jim Fresquez have run it since 1990, with winemaker Kent Rosenblum helping for more than 21 years. The vines are organically grown and dry farmed, and because nights here run much cooler than in Oakville or Rutherford, bud-break and harvest come two to three weeks later than on the valley floor.
Tastings are by advance appointment and last 30 to 45 minutes at a long wooden table looking out over the vineyard. Choose a vertical of four Cabernet Sauvignon vintages for $40 per person or four Zinfandel vintages for $30 (prices posted in October 2026). Afterward guests can walk the vineyard, picnic under the oak trees and visit the horses; Jim and Susan still breed and race thoroughbreds, and foals arrive each spring.
The ranch is also a bed and breakfast whose lodgings include the RustRidge House, Chiles Valley Room, Poolside Room and Cottage, with a featherbed, private bath and deck. Mornings start with a ranch-style breakfast, evenings bring RustRidge wine and hors d'oeuvres in the country kitchen, and there is tennis, a eucalyptus sauna, hiking and bird watching.
Capay Valley Lavender, which hosts scheduled tours and workshops, is about an hour east and north by way of Lake Berryessa.
What to do
- Taste four vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel side by side
- Walk the dry-farmed vineyard after your tasting
- Picnic under the oak trees
- See the thoroughbreds, with foals in spring
- Stay overnight in the ranch bed and breakfast
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Tastings by appointment; foals on the ranch each spring; harvest runs later than the Napa Valley floor
- Admission
- Vertical Cabernet tasting $40, vertical Zinfandel tasting $30 per person (posted October 2026)
Good to know
- Age
- 21 or older to taste or drink alcohol
- Reservations
- Required
Tips for your visit
- Book your tasting ahead by phone or email
- Pack a picnic to eat under the oaks after the tasting
- Chiles Valley is a winding drive from St. Helena, so allow extra time
- Plan a designated driver, or stay the night at the B&B
Pair it with a lavender farm
Capay Valley Lavender · about 60 minutes away
Book a Capay Valley Lavender tour for the morning, then take the scenic Lake Berryessa road back for an afternoon tasting or an overnight stay.
Getting there
Questions
Can I just drop in?
No. Tastings are by appointment only; call 707-965-9353 or email the winery.
Can I stay overnight?
Yes. RustRidge is also a bed and breakfast, with rooms in the main house and a cottage and a ranch-style breakfast.
Are there still horses?
Yes. The owners breed and race thoroughbreds, and foals are born each spring.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Santa Rosa & Northern Sonoma County, California
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
