Take in the sunny beauty of Rutherford
Enjoy the wineries and other features of Rutherford. This city's local tours, restaurants and gardens attract many visitors, and its romantic and scenic location add to the charm. Sonoma Plaza and Napa Valley Wine Train are just a couple of the must-sees in the area. Whether you're planning a family vacation, friends trip or romantic retreat, HomeAway has a great selection of vacation homes. Many rentals come with a full kitchen and separate dining area, perfect if you need a space for entertaining.
I heard it on the grapevine
It'll come as no surprise that most people round here make their living growing and squashing grapes, and far be it from you to let them labor in vain. Rutherford is particularly known for its cabernet sauvignon varieties and distinctive local flavors, so take a winery tour or two (or three, or four), and see if you can pinpoint the famously elusive note of 'Rutherford dust'. If you fancy a dash of showbiz with your glass of the red stuff, head to Inglenook Winery, which Francis Ford Coppola bought with the profits from The Godfather.
Baby, you can drive my car
Chances are you're going to want to spend most of your Rutherford vacation rental with a wine glass in your hand. Which means you'd best not have a steering wheel in the other. Fortunately the area is well served by wine tours, from elaborate affairs involving limos and guides, to simpler arrangements where a local does the driving so you can focus on the drinking. Or, for a touch of old-school glamour, there's the Napa Valley wine train. With its vintage Pullman railcars, this elegant service travels the length of the Napa Valley, and offers fine dining and events, including murder mystery tours.
Enough sun to turn you into a raisin
Those vines just love the sun, which is good news if you do too, since Rutherford will treat you to a Mediterranean climate. Summers round here are hot, dry, and sunny, though the temperatures can drop off a little in the evenings, so best pack that linen jacket. Come winter (November to February), the mercury never falls particularly low, but you can bank on plenty of rain. One of the most incredible seasons for a Rutherford vacation rental is fall, when the vineyards turn gorgeous colors, and the process of harvesting and crushing those little black fruits really gets rolling.
A nip of Napa Valley nectar
You might have heard of the Napa Valley, home to some of the most famous wines in the whole of the U.S. Well, Rutherford is right at the heart of it, and has its own AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation. Flanked by the Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges, this once volcanic region can go toe-to-toe with the Mediterranean for the quality of its soil and its grape-friendly climate. The decent winter rainfall and nearby mountain environments also mean the slopes are home to a rich diversity of wildlife and plants, along with canyons and forests.
Transportation options to and around Rutherford
Fly into Santa Rosa, CA (STS-Sonoma County), the closest airport, located 21 mi (33.8 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that works for your travel itinerary, you might consider flying into Oakland Intl. Airport (OAK), which is 52.8 mi (85 km) away.
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