Best Wine Tasting Rooms Napa
Article by Igor Sill
[Editor's Note: We update our list of the Best Napa Valley wineries once per year. The updates are based on feedback from our Facebook fans, our review of Yelp and Trip Advisor data and our network of Napa Valley winery travel experts like our partners at The Priority Wine Pass. We will provide a list of wineries from prior years below the list of our current top 10]
Readers often ask us, "What are the best Napa Valley wineries to visit?" This isn't an easy question to answer because there are so many amazing wineries. Some people prefer the small boutique or "micro" wineries, some are looking for a winery that focuses on their favorite wine style or varietal, while others want a lively venue with many amenities like restaurants, shops, and art galleries. Our list is meant as a starting point for your exploration of this globally revered wine region. Please don't stop exploring as you may find your own list of the best Napa Valley wineries differs from ours. That is the fun of exploring the valley!
No other wine region on the planet draws as much attention or visitors as Napa Valley. It's visited by some five million people every year, making it the second most visited tourist destination in California (Disneyland is # 1). Perfect for a day or weekend trip from San Francisco, Napa Valley awards one with beautiful scenery, exceptional wineries, and world-renowned wines.
For many San Francisco Bay Area tourists, the opportunity of tasting exceptional quality wines is an absolute must. Napa's soil, gentle climate, and growing conditions (terroir) make for ideal grapes, coveted by wine enthusiasts everywhere.
Napa Valley contains well over 400 wineries, with most welcoming guests with tours, wine education, and tasting rooms. While enticing, the sheer number of winery options can be overwhelming. In this article, I've focused on wineries that offer excellent wines, rich history, an informative and entertaining adventure.
Wine is not to be feared, though at first, it can seem daunting. A knowledgeable wine tender can erase those fears while guiding your pallet to an enjoyable and memorable experience on your very first visit. If you are a first-time visitor, you may wish to consider picking the right time of year to visit. The best times to visit Napa are during the Spring and Fall seasons, meaning April to early June and then September to October time frames. Early fall is our "crush" period when wineries are harvesting their grapes. If you want to experience a winery in action, come in the Fall. The other optimal time is early Spring (late February to March) when the Valley's mustard plants are all in full, brilliant yellow bloom.
Since acquiring my own Napa Valley vineyard some 28 years ago, I've taken the opportunity to get acquainted with and tour most of the popular wineries, with numerous repeat visits amongst my favorites. My recommendations, supported by researching 3,000+ yelp.com reviews, for the best, as well as the hidden gems, are from my own first-hand experience of their hospitality, exceptional wines, the facility's ambiance, history & beauty, the wine tasting experience, and the memories that linger long after the visit is over.
Excellent wines are certainly appreciated, however, the entire experience that a winery and its staff provide leaves its guests wanting to return. Wineries achieve a first-class status when their staff enjoys greeting people, are extraordinary experts in their fields, and capable of conveying their knowledge in a friendly, fun, and understandable fashion. Life is way too short for lousy wine and a mediocre time. And so, with the help of yelp.com reviews, here are 10 of my favorite wineries with tastings and tours that are open to the public.
Of course, this list only scratches the surface. Napa has dozens of other wineries worth noting, such as Beaulieu, Cakebread, Clos Pegase, Ehlers, Mondavi, Pine Ridge, Shrader, Silver Oak to name a few.
The smaller wineries will often receive guests on an appointment-only basis, so always call ahead, or visit their website for availability. Also, note that Napa zoning restrictions preclude picnic eating at all but a couple of Napa estates, so hold off on that picnic basket.
Most wineries will charge a fee for the tour or tasting, but given the amount of information garnered and the quality of wines poured, along with the beautiful and stylish settings, these visits are an incredible bargain.
You will save money at some of the best Napa Valley wineries with the PRIORITY WINE PASS. L EARN MORE HERE
Our list of the best Napa Valley wineries to visit
Note: Due to state regulations, wineries in Napa Valley are limiting group sizes for tastings. They are enforcing social distancing measures and tastings must occur outside.
Almost all wineries in Napa already required advanced booking before the onset of this public health emergency, so please don't arrive in Napa without having booked your tastings online. If you don't already own great wine glasses, pick one from our list of the best wine glasses and bring it along with you.
If you want some suggestions on how to reduce your risk while tasting at the best Napa wineries, you can click here.
Are you visiting Sonoma on your trip? Consider stopping by Meadowcroft for a tasting.
V.Sattui Winery
(Save $25 on Wine Tasting at V. Sattui with Priority Wine Pass.) St Helena, Napa (www.vsattui.com): This is the most popular and most visited winery in all of Napa. Hours are 9-5 in the winter and 9-6 in the summer months with no appointment required, 7 days a week. It's a top favorite because they offer old-world charm, 80 different varietals of wines, champagne and ports, vast picnic grounds, personalized winery and barrel tasting tours, a legendary Italian deli with fresh foods, cheeses, and friendly, well-trained staff. It's one of the few wineries that consistently wins top awards for all of its wines. Winemaker, Brooks Painter received the Winemaker of the Year award, 2015. The main tasting room is as close to a party as you'll get in the often seriously snobby Napa. Those who want to learn and talk about terroir while indulging in aficionado conversations about serious wines should go to their Vittorio tasting room (Tower).
There's always a party going on at this winery because it's always packed with visitors, frequent BBQs, special events, entertainment, and Spring weddings. This winery has a full-time executive food pairing chef, Marc Galic, who combines phenomenal wine and food pairing tasting events. It's also a great spot to relax with their wines while enjoying a family lunch on their picnic grounds. V. Sattui is a family, dog-friendly winery where you'll see children having a great time as well. This is truly a wonderful and gorgeous place to spend your day. Click here to make a reservation at V. Sattui.
Darioush Winery
Oak Knoll, Napa I made reservations for 4 at Darioush Winery for a flight of 5 wines hosted tasting on a busy Saturday afternoon @ $150 per person. We arrived a bit early and drove up that beautiful long driveway at the base of Atlas Peak off of Silverado Trail. We were graciously greeted as we approached the entry by Mark, a very friendly concierge who checked us in with a smile and served us a wonderful Russian River Chardonnay. Mark quickly guided us inside to a waiting living room setting in front of a massive fireplace graced by Persian columns. Mark then introduced us to our host, Derek, who engaged us with a bit of history behind Darioush's founder, Darioush Khaledi, who achieved the American dream by immigrating to the US from Iran following the Islamic revolution and started what turned out to become the largest family-owned grocery business in Los Angeles.
He then founded Darioush in 1997 to bring the opulent architecture, rich culture, arts, and wines of the famed royal city of Persepolis to Napa. And, that he has done. The winery is amazingly impressive, with Persepolis columns framing the entrance with a royal palace setting inside. Our 5 wines were served paired perfectly with artisan cheeses and nuts. We tasted 2 Syrahs, a Merlot, a 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, and lastly, the Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. All were luscious and superbly outstanding. Darioush himself walked over, introduced himself, and welcomed us to his winery with genuine and gracious hospitality, making us feel like royalty. Derek then invited us downstairs where we toured Darioush's personal wine collection cellar, filled with first-growth Bordeaux wines, in the style of Haut-Brion, Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux (one of my personal favorites), Chateau Lafite, and Mouton Rothschild, including a bottle of 1942 Chateau Lafite Rothschild--reportedly one of only 2 left in the world. Derek then pulled out a wine thief and proceeded to extract tastings for each of us from a cellar French oak barrel of 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, yet to be bottled or released. It was truly outstanding and, though a bit young, will clearly be brilliant in a few years. Overall, we tasted some 7 lovely wines and were graced with an unforgettable wine tasting experience in one of Napa's absolutely finest wineries. Without question, it's an exceptional and memorable experience, worthy of 6 Yelp stars (5 is the max)! Appointments required. 4240 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558 (707) 257-2345
Chateau Montelena
Calistoga, Napa (www.montelena.com): Chateau Montelena thrust itself onto the
world's stage in 1976 as its 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, crafted by winemaker Mike Grgich, took first place at the famed "Paris Tasting" beating France's best white Burgundies. While their Chardonnay continues to be one of the most age-worthy Chardonnays produced in California, their Bordeaux style Cabernet Sauvignon now occupies the winery's focus these days. With its impressive old-world stone chateau, the unusual Chinese grounds with a lake, and the enchanting, if not small, greeting room, it certainly delivers a memorable wine tasting experience. Though the picnic grounds are reserved for Wine Club members only, visitors are welcome to meander around and take in the sites.
While their Chardonnay continues to be one of the most age-worthy Chardonnays produced in California, their Bordeaux style Cabernet Sauvignon now occupies the winery's focus these days.
Inglenook Winery
Rutherford, Napa(www.inglenook.com): As one of the original Napa wineries, the elegant, ivy-covered Inglenook was founded by a Finnish sea captain and Wine Connoisseur, Gustave Niebaum in 1879. Gustave was passionate about making fine wines in small quantities. In 1975, Francis Ford Coppola acquired the winery from the Niebaum family and spent considerable time, money, and energy restoring it back to its magnificent original splendor. It has since been known by several names, ala Niebaum-Coppola, Coppola, and Rubicon until 2011, when Francis Ford Coppola acquired the Inglenook trademark, paying more, he said, than he had paid for the entire estate. He has since, restored the historic name Inglenook to the estate so that it remains a true crown jewel of Napa Valley. Tours are by appointment and definitely worthwhile so that you can appreciate these amazing grounds.
It has since been known by several names, ala Niebaum-Coppola, Coppola, and Rubicon until 2011, when Francis Ford Coppola acquired the Inglenook trademark, paying more, he said, than he had paid for the entire estate. He has since, restored the historic name Inglenook to the estate so that it remains a true crown jewel of Napa Valley. Tours are by appointment and definitely worthwhile so that you can appreciate these amazing grounds.
Source: https://californiawineryadvisor.com/the-10-best-napa-valley-wineries-to-visit/
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