Wineries to Visit in Napa – Far Niente

1350 Acacia Drive, Oakville, CA 94562,

(707) 944-2861

This storied Oakville winery has long drawn visitors for its quality chardonnay and cabernet wines, but don’t discount the lasting impression the picturesque property has, too.

Lush gardens, sprawling vineyards, and historic wine caves create a beautiful setting from which to taste.

The stone winery building, which looks like it came straight out of a storybook, adds to the serene and magical ambiance.

Even more, the name “Far Niente” — which is an Italian phrase translated to “without a care” — has been carved into the front of the building since it was established in 1885.

In 1985, Far Niente launched Dolce, a late-harvest blend of sauvignon blanc and semillon, which has earned the nickname of “Liquid Gold.”

Domaine Carneros

1240 Duhig Road, Napa, CA 94559

(707) 257-0101

There’s a reason why this stunning estate is so popular amongst visitors — Domaine Carneros is home to the most majestic château in Napa Valley.

Inspired by the 18th century Château de la Marquetterie in Champagne, France, guests are invited to enjoy their sparkling and still wines in the Louis XV-inspired salon or on the terrace overlooking the vines while contemplating what it must feel like to be born into French royalty.

Try the winery’s curated food & wine pairing, Bubbles & Bites, which showcases the versatility of sparkling wine paired with food.

The current offering, A Journey to Spain, features a selection of savory and sweet Spanish-inspired bites paired with some of Domaine Carneros’ top-rated sparkling wines.

Wineries to Visit in Napa – Piazza Del Dotto

7466 St. Helena Highway, Napa, CA 94558

707-963-2134

Cave Experience & Barrel Tasting
This wine tasting experience it what we have become known for at Del Dotto.

Piazza Del Dotto’s Piazza Winery and Cave is spectacular with beautiful gardens and grounds and a one of a kind, bright and impressive marble cave.

Guests are greeted with a pour of white wine upon arrival.

During the cave tour you will enjoy red wine varietals thieved directly from barrels that are sourced from the great forests of the world.

Guests will taste a side-by-side comparison of a single vineyard cabernet aged in French Oak alongside the same cabernet aged in American Oak.

Each experience concludes with a pour of featured bottled wine accompanied by a snack of house-made sourdough pizza.

Please allow approximately 90 minutes and note that it is a communal experience.

The Delicacies Wine and Food Pairing is at the heart of Piazza Del Dotto, embodying Dave Del Dotto’s philosophy that wine tasting should be a complete sensory experience.

Guests will begin with a group barrel tasting in our marble lined cave of approximately 5 of our highly rated world class wines.

You will then be seated at a table to enjoy a welcome bite plus 4 luxurious small plates paired with 5 pours of bottled wine.

Please allow approximately 2.5 hours for the experience.

Beringer Vineyards

2000 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574 Phone: (707) 257-5771

Beringer Vineyards is a large winery in St. Helena, California. Founded in 1876, Beringer Vineyards is “the oldest continuously operating winery in the Napa Valley”, and is listed under both the National Register of Historic Places and as a California Historical Landmark.

Beringer Vineyards is a place steeped in firsts.

It was one of the first to operate using hand-dug caves and cellars, and the first to give public tours back in 1934.

It’s also a great first stop for newcomers to wine country. (The knowledgeable staff will teach you the ins and outs of tasting and happily answer any questions.)

Of course, longtime Napa visitors will also appreciate the warm hospitality and impressive array of quality pours.

Beringer Vineyard’s Backyard Social

This 90 minute experience includes reserved seating in the Beringer Backyard, exclusive access to our Bocce Ball Court, a bottle of wine per every 4 guests with a deluxe charcuterie board.

Upon arrival, guests will select bottle choices from a specially curated list of red and white wine options.

This experience is not privately hosted and available for groups 7 or more people.

Wineries to Visit in Napa – Stags’ Leap Winery

6150 Silverado Trail Napa, CA 94558

707 257-5790

Stags’ Leap Winery is a winery located near Yountville, California, United States, in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley.

The winery’s 240-acre estate vineyard was first planted in 1893.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars achieved icon status after winning the famous blind tasting at the 1976 Judgment of Paris, just six years after purchasing the namesake vineyard.

The winery is known for its cabernet sauvignon and produces a variety of reds and whites.

The FAY Outlook & Visitor Center opened in 2014 to provide wine enthusiasts a uniquely immersive tasting experience with stunning panoramic views.

The building is designed to be enjoyed during all four seasons, and there is plenty of programming to keep visitors coming back for more.

Stag Leap Wine Cellars’s flagship tasting experience is the Cellarius Kitchen Experience, which offers a tasting of four world-renowned wines alongside local dishes created by the winery’s chef.

There’s also a Judgment of Paris 45th Anniversary S.L.V. Tasting happening this year that features a tasting of four vintages from the winery’s Legacy Collection.

Porch Tasting
Offered daily at 10:30AM, 1PM and 3PM by Appointment. Maximum of 4 people.

During your tasting you will enjoy a wonderful mixture of appellated Estate wines, as you are transported back to the time when the property was a fashionable country resort.

Stags’ Leap Winery Tastings >>

Château Montelena

1429 Tubbs Lane Calistoga, CA 94515

707.942.5105

Built into a hillside in 1888, the château at Château Montelena winery is worth a visit even without tasting a single drop of wine.

Not only is the setting spectacular—it overlooks a Chinese garden, lake, and vineyard that stretches to the base of Mount St. Helen.

Its stone construction and English gothic castle gatehouse style are unique for the region and atypical of the time and place in which it was built.

Reservations are suggested for parties of eight or more.

For an uber-romantic experience, stop by Chateau Montelena Winery to explore its dreamy Calistoga grounds and robust wine offerings.

Set against Mount Saint Helena, the chateau was built in 1888 to resemble the gatehouse of an English Gothic castle.

The structure overlooks a Chinese garden, a lake and the property’s vineyards, which are ideal for a romantic stroll.

Wine tastings start at $45 per person and must be reserved in advance.

They range from tastings of current release wines to more exclusive options, all of which allow you to explore the grounds afterward.

Must-try wines here include the property’s chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon varieties.

This place looks like a castle out of our childhood storybooks, and really, what more do you need to know? We also hear they have pretty good wine—particularly if you fancy a white.

The winery took home first place in a blind taste test known as the Judgement of Paris for its chardonnay by some of the toughest critics on the planet when it comes to American vino—the French.

It’s also one of the only vineyards in the area to produce Riesling.

Wineries to Visit in Napa – Joseph Phelps Vineyards

200 Taplin Rd, St Helena, CA 94574

(800) 707-5789

You’ll find a variety of interesting tastings at Joseph Phelps, a winery and vineyard located off the Silverado Trail outside of St. Helena.

Joseph Phelps is known for its flagship Insignia wine, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and sparkling wine.

Spend a day enjoying wine and food pairings developed by the winery’s chef, or learning how the venue’s location influences the wines it produces and what role oak barrels play in making cabernet sauvignon.

Insignia Blending
Play winemaker for a day and learn the art of blending our flagship wine, Insignia.

Smell, taste and experiment with blending six Insignia components, then compare your blend with the current Insignia vintage.

The Prisoner Wine Company (St. Helena)

1178 Galleron Rd, St Helena, CA 94574

877 283-5934

The Prisoner Wine Company, known for its bold red wine blends, drew inspiration for its unusual name from a sketch called Le Petit Prisonnier by 19th-century Spanish artist Francisco Goya.

Painted in protest of the Spanish War of Independence in 1808, it serves as an inspiration for the brand both literally (it appears on the label of its flagship wine) and philosophically (through its advocacy of racial justice and donations to the Equal Justice Initiative)

At the winery, an industrial, modern space in St. Helena that opened in 2018, don’t expect your typical Napa tasting.

Yes, you can choose a standard sampling of wine, or even a food-and-wine pairing with several small bites

It also offers a dim sum–and-wine pairing as well as a wine-and–house DJ experience, where guests can taste wine while its DJ-in-residence spins.

Wineries to Visit in Napa – Paraduxx Winery

7257 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558

707 945-0890

Since being founded in 1994, Paraduxx has earned acclaim as the only winery solely devoted to stylish Napa Valley blends.

Paraduxx brings a sense of urban sophistication to the wine country experience, a visit to the winery is as unique as our innovative blends.

With a bright, inviting courtyard and sophisticated table-side wine service, the modern beauty of the Vineyard House and grounds sets the standard for refined hospitality.

The Paraduxx Tasting highlights current-release wines as well as sought-after library selections.

Ask about an optional charcuterie pairing to accompany your tasting.

For those who want a more personalized tasting experience, an Elevated Tasting is available.

Visit the winery in Napa Valley, CA for an unforgettable wine country experience.

Hess Persson Estates

4411 Redwood Rd, Napa, CA 94558

707 255-1144

Hess Persson Estates sits atop Mount Veeder as part of a historic site where wine was first produced in the 1860’s.

Hess Persson Estates is home to The Hess Collection Winery and Lions Head Collection.

The original stone buildings are joined by The Hess Art Collection, a world-class showcase of contemporary art that captures two passions under one roof.

We use sustainable practices with the axiom, “Nurture the land, and return what you take.”

The wineries philosophy brings with it a dedication to delivering wines that speak to their environment.

Culinary experiences include pairings with small plates, artisan cheeses, and house-made chocolates.

Wineries to Visit in Napa – Jarvis Estate Winery

970 Monticello Rd, Napa, CA 94558

707 255-5280

Hilltop winery with tours & tastings in an underground cave with huge oak barrels & a waterfall.

Jarvis is the epitome of a small artisanal Napa Valley winery.

It was borne of William and Leticia Jarvis’ shared love of wine, particularly those of Spain and France, where they lived for many years.

This limited-production winery has spared no expense to create a place of beauty for beautiful varietals.

All Jarvis wines are produced from estate vineyards, located high above the city of Napa, in the beautifully rugged mountains between Mt. George and Milliken Canyon at the southeastern end of the Napa Valley.

The vineyards are planted in gently sloping meadows one thousand feet above the valley floor

A visit to Jarvis Estate is like no other, into the world of exceptional winemaking.

Visitors to the country’s first winery built entirely underground are offered an intimate glimpse into the meticulous steps that go into producing Chardonnays, rich Cabernet Sauvignons and velvety Merlots, among others. 

Two Tours are offered: The Vintage Tasting, open to the public, and the Founders’ Reserve Experience is available exclusively to Inner Circle members and their guests.

Advance reservations are required for both

Fallia

3530 Silverado Trail N, St Helena, CA 94574

707 963-0530

Failla is a beautiful winery that sits near the Silverado Trail. The winery owns one of the most beautiful caves in the valley, which are over 15,000 square feet.

The caves were built above a hill under the vineyards, however most of their grapes are grown in the Sonoma Coast.

The winery tour inside the caves is an unforgettable experience, and the tasting lodge offers a cozy ambiance.

Failla’s tasting room and caves are located in Calistoga, however, their grapes are from Sonoma which is pretty cool.

It’s very rare you find a Winery located in one county producing Wines from another county.   

Regardless, their Wines are great values and something you should experience if you like Sonoma Coast & Russian River Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  

The Pinots are very lush with gorgeous balanced fruit.

They also have delicious Russian River Chardonnays.

Frank Family Winery

 1091 Larkmead Ln, Calistoga, CA 94515

707 942-0859

The Frank Family Vineyards’s new design-forward entertaining area was designed to host exclusive events.

The Frank Family unveiled a new tasting and entertainment space, located behind its iconic Craftsman House.

The Miller House is the vision of the winery’s cofounder Leslie Frank, née Miller, who married Rich on the exact site where the new structure now stands.

The 2,300-square-foot Miller House overlooks the vineyard’s Member’s Lawn with framed views of the valley and features a modern farmhouse feel with white-painted shiplap exterior wood siding and steel finishes, with a yellow cedar interior ceiling and walls. 

ESTATE TASTING
$60 A tasting of current release sparkling and still estate-driven wines from the comfort of your private table on our back patio or shaded courtyard.

CRAFTSMAN HOUSE TASTING
$60 Experience our single vineyard, estate-driven wines within the private rooms of the famous yellow craftsman house.

WINES OF WINSTON HILL TASTING
$80 Winston Hill has been the heart of Frank Family Cabernet wines since Frank Family’s inception.

Etude Wines

1250 Cuttings Wharf Rd, Napa, CA 94559

(707) 257-5782

Etude was established 1982, when founding winemaker Tony Soter set his sights on the cool-climate Carneros region in the pursuit of producing world class Pinot Noir.

In 2000, Grace Benoist Ranch was developed – the culmination of an eighteen year journey in finding the most suitable terroir for our Estate vineyards. 

On the ranch are seven Chardonnay clones, nine Heirloom Pinot Noir clones, and eight additional Pinot clones, all divided into 24 individual vineyard blocks, each with its own soil type, rootstock, grape variety and clonal type. 

These individual vineyard blocks average only 8 acres in size.

The spacing is dense to ensure low per vine yields of fully concentrated fruit.  

The Study of Pinot Noir

In this 75-90 Minute private, seated experience guests will enjoy the best wines that Etude has to offer. Specifically the single vineyard Pinot Noirs from our famed Grace Benoist Ranch in Carneros. 

This lineup of Pinot Noirs is nothing less than extraordinary and with the scores from top wine critics year after year to back it up. 

The Terroir Experience

“Terroir” is a French word used to discuss how a wine smells and tastes based on the specific location. 

In this 60-minute tasting experience, you will utilize all of your senses to delve deep into what makes one wine different than another based on geographic location, soil type, and many other factors. 

Club Member Experience

Guests sample an assortment of single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon wines, all of which are winery-exclusive and relatively small in production. 

The club member tasting at Etude is a rotating selection of Etude wines carefully curated by the Wine Club Ambassador. 

The experience will include four (4) Etude wines, from new Sparkling wine, award-winning Pinot Noirs, to the highly touted Cabernet Sauvignon wines.