Inglenook stands on 1,700 contiguous acres in Rutherford, with nearly 235 acres planted to vine — one of the largest intact historic wine estates in Napa Valley. Founded in 1879 by Finnish sea captain Gustave Niebaum, the estate produced benchmark Napa Cabernet through much of the early twentieth century before passing through several owners and decades of fragmentation. Francis Ford Coppola began reassembling the original estate in 1975, reclaimed the Inglenook name and trademark in 2011, and brought in Philippe Bascaules — formerly of Chateau Margaux — as Director of Winemaking that same year. The flagship Rubicon, a Bordeaux-style blend anchored by Cabernet Sauvignon from the Rutherford Bench, is the expression of this restored legacy.

History: Gustave Niebaum and the Founding of Inglenook

Gustave Niebaum was a Finnish-born sea captain who made his fortune in the Alaska fur trade before turning his ambitions to Napa Valley. In 1879 he purchased the Inglenook property in Rutherford and began acquiring neighboring parcels, ultimately assembling an estate of more than 1,100 contiguous acres. Construction on the stone chateau — modeled after European estate architecture — began in 1881 and took six years to complete. Niebaum brought the same exacting standards to winemaking that he applied to his trading ventures, and Inglenook wines earned international recognition by the late nineteenth century.

After Niebaum’s death, his grandnephew John Daniel Jr. assumed management in 1939. Daniel maintained rigorous quality standards through the 1940s and 1950s, and Inglenook wines won more awards at the 1939 San Francisco Golden Gate International Exposition than any other California producer. Daniel sold the Inglenook brand, chateau, and about 100 acres of vineyards to United Vintners in 1964 — a decision he reportedly regretted — and the estate fell into commercial production for nearly two decades.

The Coppola Era: Restoration and the Return of Inglenook

Francis Ford Coppola and his wife Eleanor purchased a portion of the historic Inglenook property in 1975. The Coppolas named their new venture Niebaum-Coppola Estate Winery and set about restoring the estate’s winemaking reputation. Their first significant milestone was the 1978 Rubicon, a Cabernet Sauvignon-based Bordeaux blend that established a new benchmark for the property.

Over nearly four decades of patient negotiation, the Coppolas gradually reassembled the original estate, reuniting the vineyards in 1995 and finally reclaiming the Inglenook name and trademark in 2011 — fulfilling the vow Francis made when he first purchased the property. That same year, Philippe Bascaules, who had spent his career at Chateau Margaux in Bordeaux, joined as Director of Winemaking. In 2022, the Italia Coppola Wine Caves were completed — a 23,000-square-foot state-of-the-art winemaking facility with 120 individual fermenting tanks, one for each vineyard block, allowing the team to preserve the character of each parcel through harvest.

The Wines: Rubicon and the Rutherford Bench Portfolio

Rubicon is the wine that defines Inglenook. A Bordeaux-style blend anchored by Cabernet Sauvignon from the Rutherford Bench, Rubicon has been produced from every vintage since 1978 — through ownership changes, name changes, and vineyard reunification — and remains the fullest expression of the estate. Director of Winemaking Philippe Bascaules, trained in the restrained, aromatic tradition of Bordeaux, approaches Rubicon with a philosophy of mystery and finesse: wines that whisper complexity rather than shout power.

The broader portfolio includes a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Blancaneaux (a white Rhone-inspired blend), and the RC Reserve Syrah. Each wine is drawn from specific vineyard blocks on the 1,700-acre estate, with the new Italia Coppola Wine Caves enabling block-by-block fermentation that preserves the terroir signature of every parcel. The result is a range of wines that reflect both the depth of the Rutherford Bench and the influence of a winemaker steeped in European tradition.

Visiting Inglenook: Tastings, Tours, and the Historic Chateau

Inglenook welcomes visitors to its historic stone chateau on Highway 29 in Rutherford, one of the most architecturally distinctive wineries in Napa Valley. The estate offers a range of tasting and tour experiences, from introductory wine flights to immersive explorations of the Rutherford Bench terroir and the estate’s winemaking history. Heritage Society members unlock additional access and member pricing across the portfolio.

The chateau and grounds reflect the full scope of the Coppola family’s restoration: original nineteenth-century stonework, the new Italia Coppola Wine Caves beneath the vineyards, and 235 acres of sustainably farmed estate vines stretching across the Rutherford floor. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (707) 968-1161 or through the winery website. The combination of architectural grandeur, historical depth, and wines under the direction of a Chateau Margaux-trained winemaker makes Inglenook one of the most compelling estate visits in California wine country.

Inglenook: Frequently Asked Questions