For many people, good wine tastes even better when paired with good food, preferably in a comfortable and often stylish setting. At Napa Valley’s hilltop winery, Rutherford Hill, this philosophy is coming to life in a new partnership with former model and celebrity designer Monica Pedersen of HGTV. As part of this alliance, the winery invites you  to create your very own “Entertaining with Rutherford Hill” design.

To start with, check out Monica’s tablescape themes to get ideas and tips, then get creative with your own entertaining design and add it to the mosaic to be entered for the chance to win a makeover designed by Pedersen.

“Rutherford Hill is known for delicious, classic wines, our extensive caves and for picnicking, so we partnered with one of America’s top designers to work with us to create four tablescapes that can be set up either outdoors or indoors and each features a food and wine pairing with Rutherford Hill wines,” says Susan Holmer, Rutherford Hill spokesperson.

“We also have created entertaining videos featuring Monica offering tips on designing the tablescapes, wine and food pairings, and special recipes. Our website has four different tablescapes she has designed They are, not at all surprisingly, very appropriate to our unique property with its view across much of the beautiful Napa Valley. They are Americana Picnic (we love picnics here in our rustic olive grove!), Cozy Luncheon, Contemporary Wine Tasting and Napa Style Feast. 

“Visitors to the website are introduced to the quintessential Napa Valley Merlot from Rutherford Hill – the Bordeaux-style wine it is world famous for. You can also learn about the Rutherford Hill Chardonnay, Rosé – the perfect picnic and summer wine – plus the complex Cabernet Sauvignon. After exploring Monica’s entertaining ideas consumers are invited to enter a contest to win a home entertaining makeover from Monica.”

Entering is simplicity itself. Go the Rutherford Hill website (www.rutherfordhill.com), click on the link and follow the instructions.

You can share the experience with others by “Telling a Friend,” or look through other photos by “Browsing the Mosaic.” Each unique photo uploaded will award you one entry into the contest to win a home entertaining makeover, valued at nearly $5000 (see www.rutherfordhill.com for complete rules).

You can also sample Rutherford Hill wines at the four-sided wooden tasting bar at the entrance to the caves. Considered to be one of the most extensive cave systems in the country, they extend a mile and are large enough to hold over 8,000 wine-filled oak barrels. This environment is regulated by nature and it keeps the caves at a constant temperature and humidity throughout the year. This reduces evaporation from the barrels, cuts down on excess exposure to oxygen and allows the wine to age gracefully and consistently. The result is elegant wines with distinct character.

The winery is located at 200 Rutherford Hill Road in Rutherford (right off of the Silverado Trail) and you can visit the tasting room every day of the week. They’re open from 10 a.m.  until 5 p.m., and tours (which include a special cellar tasting) are held at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Groups are limited in size to maximize the experience. For more information go to www.rutherfordhill.com or call at (707) 963-1871.