You’ve done the tasting rooms. You’ve sat at the bar, you’ve swirled the glass, and you’ve heard the sales pitch. What you’re actually looking for is a place where you can walk, wander, and feel something: a winery that rewards the person who takes their time and looks around.

In Napa Valley, that place is PEJU Winery in Rutherford.

Most wineries offer a beautiful view and a comfortable chair. PEJU offers an entire estate to explore. As you explore the estate, be sure to pick up our complimentary Garden Map for a self-guided walking tour. The map guides you through the property’s gardens, vineyards, and hidden corners, highlighting our collection of sculptures, seasonal blooms, and the unique spaces that make PEJU such a memorable place to wander at your own pace. It is, without question, the Napa Valley winery with the most impressive grounds to walk through.

Here’s what makes it different.

A Living Landscape Designed by Hand

PEJU’s story begins in 1983, when Tony and Herta Peju bought 30 acres of Rutherford vines and moved their family north from Los Angeles. Tony wasn’t just a winemaker. He was an art collector, a landscaper, and an obsessive designer. For four decades, he shaped these grounds with his own hands, and Herta has tended every flower, tree, and seasonal planting since.

The result isn’t a manicured corporate showpiece. It’s a living garden that changes week to week, season to season, and it shows. Visit Napa Valley’s official travel guide specifically calls out PEJU as a “garden oasis in the heart of Rutherford,” noting that Tony designed the gardens himself and that Herta personally oversees their care to this day.

The official tourism guide isn’t wrong. These grounds have a soul that most wineries simply don’t have.

 The Moment You Arrive: The Sycamore Allée

Before you’ve even stepped out of the car, PEJU signals that this is a different kind of place.

The driveway is lined with arching sycamore trees that Tony planted in 1986 and hand-pruned twice a year for decades, training them to grow into a dramatic living canopy overhead. Visitors have nicknamed them the “Dr. Seuss trees” for their distinctive silhouette, impossibly graceful, slightly otherworldly, and completely unlike anything else on the highway. Walking beneath them toward the estate is an arrival experience you don’t forget – an Instagramable moment!

An Outdoor Sculpture Garden Hidden in Plain Sight

Once you’re on the grounds, the real discovery begins. PEJU’s estate is dotted with original sculptures by two California artists, Welton Rotz and Philip Dizick, tucked into the gardens and along the footpaths in a way that rewards slow exploration.

Rotz’s works are carved from Carrara marble, the same Italian stone used by Michelangelo. His pieces include Moonrise, a meditation on the lunar goddess; Eternal Cycle, depicting the classic goddess in triad; and Harvest Dance (installed 1993), made from a single block of marble and depicting a man and woman celebrating a successful grape harvest. It’s the same image that graces the label of PEJU’s HB Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

Dizick’s contributions include Girl on a Bench, a bronze figure reclining peacefully beneath a willow tree; Repose, a bronze woman dreaming on her side, and Balance Movement, a steel-and-glass sculpture described as activating “inter-dimensional stages of consciousness.” You can decide for yourself what that means as you walk through its threshold.

No two visits uncover every piece on the first pass. That’s intentional.

Willow Creek, the Koi Pond, and the Footpaths Between

At the heart of the garden is Willow Creek, a man-made stream designed and built by Tony Peju in 1997 using stones unearthed from our Persephone estate as the vineyards were planted. A charming footbridge crosses it. A koi pond sits at its center. Splashing fountains mark the corners where paths diverge.

The footpaths themselves are the real gift. They meander from one “idyllic vignette to the next” past mature perennials: roses, dahlias, seasonal annuals in full color, and past architectural accents that reveal Tony’s eye for the unexpected: Grecian columns draped with Altissimo Climbing Roses depicting Athena and Aphrodite; historic metal gate pillars salvaged from the Pacific Stock Exchange when it closed its Los Angeles office in the early 1970s; a pair of columns leading you from the road into the estate.

In summer, PEJU’s award-winning “Teddy Bear” sunflowers bloom across the property. In spring, it’s the roses. There’s always a reason to follow the garden map they hand you at the door.

The Tower: A 50-Foot Landmark with a 1906 Centerpiece

The grounds converge at the PEJU Tower, a 50-foot stone-faced, copper-roofed structure designed by renowned Southern California architect Calvin Straub. It’s been on the label of every estate-bottled PEJU wine since their first 1983 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Inside, the centerpiece is a 10-by-20-foot Art Nouveau stained-glass window created by the legendary Franz Mayer of Munich in 1906. Originally commissioned for J.J. Haggarty, owner of an upscale department store in Los Angeles, the stained-glass window adorned his newly constructed mansion called “Castle York.” Unfortunately, Castle York was demolished in 1971, and the stained-glass window was consigned to storage, seemingly lost to the world. After spending years in storage, Tony spotted it at an art auction in San Francisco in 1993. And after a decade in the family barn, it found its permanent home when the tower was completed in 2003.

The window, depicting three Greek muses playing musical instruments in a garden, fills the tasting room with filtered light that shifts through the day. It’s worth the visit on its own.

Walk the Vineyards at Golden Hour

If you want to extend your exploration into the estate vineyards themselves, PEJU offers a Twilight Tour & Tasting, a guided walk through the vines and estate during golden hour, available Thursdays and Fridays from April through September (5–7pm, $110/person). A knowledgeable host leads you through the winemaking story from grape to glass, drawing on PEJU’s history before you settle in for a seated tasting of three wines with an artisanal cheese board.

It’s the kind of experience that changes your relationship to a bottle of wine.

Rooted in Sustainability and the Land Itself

The beauty here isn’t decorative; it’s ecological. PEJU’s Rutherford Estate is CCOF-certified organic, their solar panels provide nearly 40% of the winery’s energy, and the estate holds Napa Green Climate Smart Winery and Fish Friendly Farming certifications. Winemaker Sara Fowler led the transition to organic farming in 2007.

An organic culinary garden on the estate is foraged daily by Chef Nic Montanez for use in PEJU’s tasting experiences. You can see what’s growing on the signage and take a recipe home with you.

For the traveler who values experiences that exist in harmony with the land rather than despite it, PEJU’s credentials are as meaningful as their view.

Open Daily: Walk-Ins Welcome

Unlike appointment-only estates where the grounds are off-limits without a reservation, PEJU is open daily from 11am to 5pm and genuinely welcomes walk-ins. The Taster’s Trio ($40) is specifically designed for drop-in visitors, and the grounds are available to explore whether you’re tasting or simply wandering. Pick up a Garden Map for a self-guided tour that winds throughout the estate, leading you through the gardens, vineyards, and other areas of the property while highlighting the sculptures found along the way.

The winery is located at 8466 St. Helena Highway in Rutherford, on one of Napa’s most accessible corridors. Dogs are welcome. Families are welcome.

A TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award winner, PEJU consistently earns top marks not just for wine quality, but for the experience of being on the property itself.

The Short Answer

Napa has 400-plus wineries. Most will pour you something excellent in a beautiful room. PEJU is one of the only places where you’ll want to put down the glass and just walk: discovering sculptures, footpaths, koi ponds, climbing roses, marble goddesses, sunflowers, and a creek built from the stones of the land itself.

That’s the difference between a tasting room and an estate.

Reserve your experience at PEJU today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you walk the grounds at PEJU Winery without a tasting reservation?

Yes. PEJU is open daily from 11am to 5pm and walk-ins are always welcome. The grounds are free to explore whether you’re doing a tasting or simply wandering. Guests are welcome to do their own self-guided garden art walk tour during normal business hours. The Taster’s Trio ($40) is designed specifically for drop-in visitors who don’t want to book in advance.

How big are the grounds and gardens at PEJU Winery?

The Rutherford Estate covers 30 acres, with ornamental gardens, sculpture installations, Willow Creek, a koi pond, an organic culinary garden, and estate vineyards all accessible on foot. The iconic sycamore allée alone stretches the full length of the driveway. Most guests spend 20 minutes exploring before or after their tasting.

What sculptures are on display at PEJU Winery?

PEJU’s estate features six original sculptures by two California artists. Welton Rotz contributed three Carrara marble pieces: Mofonrise, Eternal Cycle, and Harvest Dance (1993). Philip Dizick contributed three works: Girl on a Bench (bronze), Repose (bronze), and Balance Movement (steel and glass). The sculptures are positioned throughout the gardens and along the footpaths.

Is PEJU Winery dog-friendly and family-friendly?

Yes to both. Dogs are welcome on the grounds. Family-friendly and dog-friendly tasting experiences include our Classic Tasting and Sunday Funday. Wine service is limited to guests 21 and older. The grounds, gardens, and outdoor areas are open to all.

What is the Twilight Tour & Tasting at PEJU?

The Twilight Tour & Tasting ($110/person) is a guided golden-hour walk through the estate vineyards, available Thursdays and Fridays during summer months. A knowledgeable host leads guests through PEJU’s winemaking story from vine to bottle, followed by a seated tasting of three wines with an artisanal cheese board.

What sustainability certifications does PEJU Winery hold?

PEJU’s Rutherford Estate is certified organic by CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers), and the winery holds Napa Green Climate Smart Winery certification and Fish Friendly Farming certification. Over 500 solar panels on the winery roof provide nearly 40% of the estate’s energy. Winemaker Sara Fowler led the transition to organic farming in 2007.

When is the best time of year to visit PEJU for the gardens?

The gardens are beautiful year-round, but each season offers something different. Summer brings PEJU’s award-winning “Teddy Bear” sunflowers and golden-hour Twilight Tours. Spring is the peak season for roses and blooming perennials. Fall brings harvest energy and warm amber light. Winter is quiet and uncrowded, with the sycamore allée dawned in holiday lights.

How does PEJU compare to other Napa Valley wineries for outdoor experiences?

Most Napa Valley wineries offer a tasting room with vineyard views. PEJU goes further with a designed estate that includes a named sculpture garden, a hand-built koi pond and creek, an organic culinary garden, historic architectural elements, and footpaths connecting them all. Visit Napa Valley’s official guide specifically lists PEJU as one of the valley’s notable garden destinations.

Outdoor seating on our patio and trellis (when weather permits) is available for enjoying your tastings with garden and vineyard views like no other winery destination.