We are lucky to have Aubrey Terrazas, who is an Advanced Sommelier and wine buyer for the San Francisco-based digital tasting app Palate Club, guide us through the best wineries in Napa. Whether you want to plan and book your next tasting adventure or you own a business that is eager to meet new guests, CellarPass is the leading destination to explore, book, sip and share. European influence rushed in after 1849 when settlers flooded the area searching for gold, bringing their preferred grapes and viticulture methods with them. Spottswoode was also the first winery to become a Certified B-Corporation. Note that California roads are often windy, so if you get car sick, opt for a comfy SUV rather than a sports car! Max Whittaker/Prime/Special to The Chronicle, Jan Grant talks with her husband Alex Grant at the Gamling & McDuck winery tasting room in Napa, Calif. on November 3rd, 2018. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions. Here you can try three small-production time-intensive aged winesa sauvignon blanc, a red blend and a cabernet sauvignonfor $40. The reliably cool, foggy mornings and evenings allow the grapes to retain acidity, which leads to more balance to the wines. The castle is sprawling and no expense has been spared, from the lake to the terraces. *2021: Sterling Vineyards is currently undergoing renovations after the 2020 Glass fire and is not open for tastings. Yes. Wine tastings normally cost between $15-50. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Instead of using pesticides, they use plants and nesting spots to attract natural predators that eat harmful vineyard pests. The luxurious outdoor garden is restricted to wine club members only, but anyone can stop into the casual tasting bar ($20 for the estate tasting). *Note: At the time of writing, all Napa wineries require reservation due to COVID-19 health & safety measures. But if youll be staying overnight or past sunset, bring warm layers. Receive weekly announcements of new destinations, special events and more. Misty mountains. A final plea from this wine critic: Dont be put off from wineries that do require reservations! Which Napa winery are you headed to first? Its a perfect mix of history, innovation, and great wine! Spent most of my time in the southern part of Napa. The 168-acre vineyard on Spring Mountain is dedicated to French-inspired Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Riesling with an ethereal winemaking style: textural, elegant, and with a long, mineral finish. But there are still plenty of places where you can taste without making an appointment. You can rent a vehicle from the airport you fly into, or directly in Napa. A post shared by DeVine Taste (@devine.taste). The ornate chateau could be straight out of Beauty and the Beast, except that its landscaped by California succulents and hydrangea. When Im looking for hidden gems for Palate Club or scenic views, I make a point to venture up into the mountains, or at least to the Silverado Trail. Downtown Napa by the river has some nice places to eat as well as Stone Brewings IPAs right on the river as a palate switch up. In 2016 we quit our jobs, put our stuff in storage, and took off on a (disastrous) year-long honeymoon. Napa Valley is ideally situated to make some of the worlds best wines. For cycling fans they also offer bike rentals on site as well as a Bruschetteria food truck where you can have a snack or lunch. Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Beringer is one of the oldest wineries in Napa, and the historic Rhine-style chateau is worth a visit in and of itself. (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': There are other Black-owned wineries, but incredibly, this is the only one that offers estate fruit. The winery produces cabs from 13 different sub appellations in Napa. Want to plan a leisurely day in Napa Valley and visit wineries and tasting rooms that do not require appointments? Here's a list of our favorites. Head to the counter and choose an experience that suits your mood and your budget. Send us a pitch! Dj vu! Forty-niner John Benson built the property in 1885, but it was later renovated to its current glory. Tasting flights vary in cost. Putting health benefits aside, their Cabernets, red blends, and Pinot Noirs are balanced and nuanced, emphasizing red fruit. And gratuity is not included, but most guides typically expect it if you enjoyed the experience so bring some cash to tip them! Its much colder during the night than it is during the day temperatures can plummet 20 degrees within hours. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Napa. Its definitely easiest to get around Napa with a car but if you wont have one, or you just want to focus on enjoying the wine, you do have a few options. Your email address will not be published. Napa Valley is synonymous with a lux lifestyle, but that doesnt mean you cant glam out on a budget (well, budget by Napa standards, anyway). The grapes get long hours of California sunshine to ripen, but the area quickly drops around 40 degrees Fahrenheit at night due to the cool Pacific Oceans influence. And dont worry, its not considered rude! While youre in Carneros, stop by Bouchaine, one of the premiere Pinot Noir producers in this Cabernet-centric county. Gone are the days whenNapa wine tastings werefree and easy. Just be prepared for crowded tasting rooms and potentially slower service! Today, we share down-to-earth travel tips from our many (mis)adventures on our blog andpodcast! You can grab a sandwich off Highway-29 at Oakville Grocery, just north of the Opus One winery, and bring it along with you. Not only are eco-friendly vineyards better for the environment, but they tend to make better wines! The organic estate is a family wine estate, but their accolades are anything but humble. Click the link below to download! Here's why Austin and Seattle are building way more housing than San San Francisco declares state of emergency over monkeypox. And if all this advance planning is getting you down, you might consider traveling over to Sonoma County instead, where far fewer wineries require a reservation. Drop us a comment below! At the Ackerman Heritage House, afully restored 1888 Queen Anne Victorian located downtown on a quiet side street, there are a variety of different tours and tastings, but for walk-ins, the wine tasting salon, also known as the aviary, is open Thursday through Sunday from 10am until 5pm. Additionally, Opus One is Deep Green certified, meaning that 100% of their energy comes from renewable sources. Meanwhile, Foley Food and Wine Society offer a wide range of wines from five well respected wineries around California. Obviously the author is trying to keep a lot of people happy. It wouldnt be until the 1960s when trailblazer Robert Mondavi galvanized winemakers and wine lovers around the world to discover Napas underutilized potential. Browse them all or take a look at these posts: Psst Looking for more California tips? About Our Contributing Writer: Aubrey Terrazas is a wine writer and Master Sommelier Candidate who lived in San Francisco, Chicago, and Lyon, France. In addition, weekdays from 36pm glasses of wine are available for purchase. California makes the some of the best wine in the world (were biased, but its also true) and Napa wineries are the glittering heart of Californias globally-celebrated wine industry. Heres a sommelier secret to having your best day of wine tasting: you have to spit. Even if youre spitting, youll get worn down quickly without food. CellarPass business subscriptions provide all the tools you need to successfully manage events that are then promoted to our large audience. Plan time for lunch and bring snacks in the car. For a premium, you can book a private dinner with the winemaker Craig Becker. The winery even offers concerts, pending seasonality and pandemics. Robert Keenan planted Cabernet vines in the Mayacamas Mountains at 1700 feet, almost twenty years before the area officially became the Spring Mountain District AVA. Making a last-minute trip to Wine Country? j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'? The easiest way to get to Napa is to fly into either San Francisco, Oakland or Sacramento and rent a car. But if youre down-valley, in the city of Napa, your options are greater. Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc play supporting roles as mono-varietal offerings. Create a CellarPass personal account to book reservations, purchase tickets and earn rewards points. Right next door to Oakville Grocery (the oldest continuously operating grocery store in California) standsanother historical Victorian home (the original home of theOakville Grocery founder) which has been recentlytransformed into 1881 Napa. Meant to be an authentic replica of a 13th-century Tuscan castle, the owner (who also owns V.Sattui winery) used more than 1 million antique bricks taken from Hapsburg palaces and imported handcrafted hardware from Italy. But it was the dramatic Judgment of Paris in 1976, when Stags Leap Wine Cellars and Chateau Montelena shockingly defeated first-growth Bordeaux and Burgundy in a blind-tasting competition, that positioned Napa as the New Worlds most famous fine wine region. Instead of the juicy, giant blockbusters of the valley, Keenan makes a lifted, Bordeaux-style red. Napa Valleys Finest Winery has a storybook-style Chateau at the end of a long, acacia-tree-lined drive. Low key stalk us here and on social media. Hess Collection, a short drive up Mount Veeder, is that rare winery. Owned by a Spanish company, the winery makes cooler climate wines including albario, sparkling, rose, chardonnay, pinot noir and other reds. Stags Leap remains the epitome of quality California Cabernet Sauvignon, made from estate fruit in state-of-the-art facilities. Just got back from Napa and Sonoma. So it is a rare treat to be able to venture into the hillsides when you havent made a reso; these mountainous areas typically have the most strict use permits of anywhere in the county. So before you pick a place to book, think about which part of Napa Valley you want to base yourself in: Napa, Yountville, Calistoga, or St. Helena. Most winemakers appreciate it when you pace yourself to stay sober enough to enjoy the wines. What is Palate Fatigue and how can I avoid it? Aubrey also runs Terra Vine, a wine marketing agency between the USA and Europe. The sexier experiences are more expensive but still a good value when considering that food is included. With a rock and roll vibe, this quirky winery never produces the same wine twice so every visit is an opportunity for exploration and discovery. If youre after a beautiful view, stop by Artesa, the Carneros winery owned by Spanish company Codornu Ravents. Arguably, it was Mondavi that built Napas reputation for fine wine. Named for its owners' nicknames (two sommeliers turned winemakers from Minnesota), Gamling & McDuck is in its tenth harvest making cabernet franc and chenin blanc. As a wine consumer, you can help change that by driving consumer demand and insisting that diversity in wine is the future of the industry. And when youre paying as much as you are for tastings in Napa, it also means youre probably not getting your moneys worth. Eco-friendly or sustainable wineries are umbrella terms to cover organic, biodynamic, and environmentally-friendly wineries. Keep in mind that it takes anywhere from 35-90 minutes from upper Nappa Valley to lower Napa Valley depending on traffic, so its helpful to think of which wineries you want to visit before you book your hotel to keep your driving time down! We are always open to suggestions for improving our articles! Travel Tip: Keep in mind that the Bay Area is rated one of the worst areas for traffic in the country, so give yourself plenty of cushion time, especially during rush hour (7-10 am or 4-7 pm). According to Hailey Trefethen, Everything we do comes from this land, so we strive to keep it healthy. Trefethen offers several outdoor experiences where you can appreciate their work with a view of their lively estate vineyards. How monsoonal moisture could impact Bay Area McKinney Fire update: Two found dead in car parked in the blazes path. CellarPass is proud partner of the following online travel companies. The winery focuses on two varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. You can also download the Winery Finder app and browse wineries in Napa by the best deals and whats nearby! The Brown Estates coveted Zinfandels are magnets for top scores year after year, and their Cabernets and Chardonnay stand well on their own. Even better? Napa Valley takes its name from the biggest city in the area, Napa, and the town of Napa was named after the Napa River which runs through it. The wine industry, as a whole, lacks diversity. Its one of the few wineries on the Eastern side is one of the best-situated spots for watching the sunset, especially during the winter months. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! Rolling vineyards. Below, Ive organized the best wineries in Napa by their best or most interesting qualities! })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-P6R8DKB'); 3 years ago we quit our jobs, put our stuff in storage, and took off on a (disastrous) year-long honeymoon. What that means is that while many wineries buy their fruit from vintners, an estate owns their own fruit. There is a wide range of tasting options available: the cheapest option is just a class of wine and a stroll around the estate for $20, and the next option up is an outdoor seated tasting of 4 wines for $35 per person. Its a fresh, clean style that pairs well with seafood, salads, and fruit sauces. Gone are the days whenNapa wine tastings werefree and easy. August used to be perfect for the High Sierra. Site by, 30 Things Nobody Tells You About Quitting Your Job to Travel, 32 Things Nobody Tells You About Long Term Travel as a Couple, 30 Things No One Tells You About Backpacking in South America, 36 Amazing Napa Wineries: a Sommeliers Guide to the Best Wineries in Napa. And yes, youll still get a snack. Required fields are marked *. Napa Valley is actually a region that includes several small towns, all of which typically have a little walkable area and are close to wineries. A dog hunts for truffles at Robert Sinskey Vineyards. When Im looking for new wine for Palate Club, I taste at four or five wineries a day. Aubrey has frequented Napa Valley for the better part of a decade, and has discovered unique tasting experiences while acting as a tour guide to visiting friends and family (um, can we. But dont fear. Now the most popular places book up weeks in advance. Napa Valley is about 40 minutes east of Sonoma and the Pacific Ocean, and its daytime temperatures climb much higher than foggy Coastal California. There are a few great options for day trips to Napa Valley that include pickup and drop off in San Francisco: There are fantastic wineries spread throughout the entire Napa Valley region! Whether you're headed to one of the topwineries in Napa, or a satellite tasting room, youll be warmly welcomed at these cozy spots which often offer warm patios, stellar gardens, colorful art collections and historic buildings. Sprawling vineyards shoot out from the tasting room in all directions, with a clear view of the sunny and forested Vaca Mountains. Napa Valley, Elevated. Situated high on the Mayacamas near Calistoga, Sterling is a high-elevation winery best known for its vantage point. Every vintage of their rare Cabernet flies off to allocations (pre-arranged agreements to sell the wine to specific collectors or restaurants), but you can taste it by the glass with an appointment. Monkeypox vaccine is scarce in San Francisco. Try another? Napa Valley started its viticultural journey with Spanish missionaries in the 1770s. Explore Californias newest AVA, the Petaluma Gap, Newsom declares statewide monkeypox emergency in California. Gamling & McDuck, a new tasting room downtown, stays open until 8 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday and until 11 p.m. on Saturday. If you really want to get to know the valley, take the time to plan a visit and contact the wineries in advance. Fried chicken and chardonnay, anyone? Castello Di Amorosa is in that last category. Lightning. Most Napa tourists stick to Highway 29, which is lined by dozens of wineries (many of which you dont need typically a reservation to visit). The Brown Estate tasting room is well regarded for its hospitality and is one of the few wine tastings available in downtown Napa. Whether you chalk that up to people with too much money doing ridiculous things or you have a deep appreciation of medieval replicas, you just have to go see it for yourself. Located in St. Helena, Clif Family offers small production Napa Valley wines as well as olive oil, savory nut mixes, fruit preserves, spices and chocolates. The artsy and funky tasting room is lots of fun, even if their critically acclaimed wines are serious. Ive either been to or tasted the wines from all of these wineries. Many wineries require reservations, and they can fill up quickly during the busy season. The sunny ranch-style estate wraps around a courtyard with hidden views of Oakville vineyards. 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); There are a plethora of certifications: certified organically grown grapes, Demeter biodynamic, and Napa Green are just a few. The signature flight is $40. The Napa Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area) includes 16 distinct sub-regions and includes the towns of Carneros, Napa, St. Helena, Yountville, and Calistoga. Only then will you see the difference. Welcome to Napa Valley, Californias most iconic wine country and for good reason! You can book a tasting, a tour, or a dining experience. The winery, which is also certified organic, feels hidden within the Eastern Mayacamas Mountains. Napa is pricey! Their wines start at $17, which is a fraction of the cost of many Napa Estates. And some, you visit because theyre so absolutely ridiculous you just have see it for yourself. A sculpture outside the modern Artesa winery. The estate vineyards surround the modern tasting room sprawls with top-tier real estate right off Highway 29. Subscribe and well send you our FREE 22-page Travel Planning Guide. If the name sounds familiar, its because it is the same people who created the Clif Bar. The event, now dubbed The Judgement of Paris, turned the worlds attention to the quality and potential in this unknown area in Northern California. That said, if you have different plans for your weekend in Napa, no judgment! Sutter Homes yellow Victorian Mansion is packed with country-club style charm. Be prepared to get stuck behind a tractor or bus without a passing lane, which can significantly pressure test your schedule. They offer tastings in a range of styles, from Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon to oaked Sauvignon Blanc. In the wineries defense, it isnt their fault: County regulations require the appointment system, as part of an effort to control congestion levels in the valley. If you have a few days in wine country, I suggest starting with a tour to learn more about Napa, then venturing out on your own to hit up your top-choice wineries! Take it away, Aubrey! Napa is rather dry, so the view has a desert-meets-the-ocean view, with oak and pine trees studded along the golden, low-range Vacas. Want to write us an article? Napa Valley is a must-visit destination if youre planning a trip to Northern California! Im a wine professional with a decade of experience, and I still find that I have significant palate fatigue after three wineries. Psst: Save this post for later on Pinterest! Youll want carbs, healthy fats, nutrients, and lots of water. Ah, maybe thats the true reason behind the torture chamber . Did Ricci, Gun Bun and Viansa in Sonoma, and Hill Family, Boyd and Caymus in Napa. Staying in San Francisco? What was formerly a large, industrial 1930s warehouse has been fully renovated and reopened as a tasting center. Are you a blogger, writer, or just an avid traveler with lots of travel tips to share? William Hills stunning Atlas Peak estate rests peacefully on the Eastern side of the valley, well hidden from busy Highway 29. Thats right: this winery has a torture chamber. Check out these Napa wine tastings that don't require an appointment. A rule of thumb: Two tastings in a day is relaxed. Palate Fatigue is what happens when youre tasting the same thing over and over again until you become unable to taste its nuances anymore or lose all appetite for the thing youre tasting. You can also take a bus and train combination through Amtrak to get from San Francisco to Napa Valley in 3-4 hours for around $40 round trip this is definitely the cheapest option! 50 California Street Suite 1500 San Francisco, CA 94111, Use of CellarPass is Subject to our Terms Of Service and Privacy Policy. We already have this email. Your email address will not be published. She is a Co-founder and wine buyer at Palate Club, the online wine club that features a blind tasting experience with wines matched to your taste. Inside the restored filling station at the intersection of Highway 128 and the main drag in Calistoga is a winery tasting room. J.Moss focuses on single-block Cabernet Sauvignons sourced from fruit throughout the valley, though they also make Petit Sirah and Chardonnay. The movie Bottle Shock dives into the dramatic story, and the day that put Napa officially on the map forever! Granted, some of the recs are good & this took a lot of time to put together but Hire a pro that will actually take you to just the better and the best, not meaning more expensive, actually the opposite. We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. Jump off the tourist trap crap train and youll never look back. Many of Napas treasures delicious wines, stunning views and wonderful people are hiding away in wineries with restrictive county use permits. Napa wine tours are a safe, relaxed way to visit Napa Valley and the easiest way to visit Napa wineries without worrying about transportation. Today, we share down-to-earth travel tips from our many (mis)adventures on our blog and podcast! They also practice water conservation, waste diversion, diverse employment, and solar-powered electricity. The project is a brainchild of Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe Rothschilds familythe family behind one of the five Bordeaux Chteaux to be awarded First Growth status. This blog post was created by a contributing writer. Compare and contrast and, if you like, buy a glass or a bottle to enjoy in the back patio with provisions from the grocery. Spitting is also a great way to taste wine without going way over your limits, and it reduces palate fatigue, too. Whos to blame for that? Their outdoor deck is well situated to catch sunlight and views of rolling vineyards. The reason why Napas wine industry is so white stems from land ownership, which long ago created a divide between class and race in the wine world watch this YouTube video to learn more. The family emphasizes biodiversity. By Contributor | Updated on: March 1, 2022. Robert Sinskey is known for crafting food-friendly wines not surprising, since Roberts wife Maria Helm Sinskey is an acclaimed chef. Beringer, Schramsberg, and Inglenook followed suit until the area faced devastating decline due to phylloxera, an insect pest of grapevines, and Prohibition. Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Wineries in Napa, Even More Awesome Wineries in Napa Valley, 30 Things Nobody Tells You About San Francisco, 33 Incredible Wineries in Paso Robles, California, California PUCs Transportation Carrier Lookup, Muir Woods Redwoods and Wine Country Tour, 3331 St Helena Hwy North St Helena CA 94574, diversity in wine is the future of the industry, 9 Fabulous Things To Do in Napa Valley, California, Where to Stay in San Francisco (& Where NOT to), Where to Stay in Barcelona (& Where NOT to), The 10 Best Weekend Getaways in Florida (& Over 60 Activities! The magic of the setting and the refreshing wines may cause you to lose track of time, so give yourself plenty of space to savor the moment. But If youre not particular about where you go and want more guidance from a local (and transportation as well), consider one of Napas many wine tours! Mika Leonard and Ryan Gall of Denver, Colorado enjoys tastings at the Merryvale Winery Monday, March 4, 2019, in St. Helena, Calif. S.F. This selection lends for a more elegant style of red wine. This is typical with online recommended wine country activities. Aim for wine country casual kind of a cuter, frillier version of business casual. new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], If Napa is Northern Californias land of wine-fueled luxury, with its chic wineriesand tasting rooms, Sonoma is its laid back cousin: equally as beautiful with vineyards producing vintages just as world-class, but less crowded and somewhat more humble. Learn how your comment data is processed. Senior wine critic Esther Mobley joined The Chronicle in 2015 to cover California wine, beer and spirits. And dont miss the chance to stop into its world-class art gallery, admission to which is free. So, when most people say Napa, theyre typically referring to ALL of those regions and towns throughout the Napa Valley not just Napa, the city! Napa Valley is one of the worlds most iconic wine destinations, but it isnt just the Cabernet that brings in nearly 4 million tourists every year. As it closes at 7 pm, its the perfect way to wrap up a day of driving and give your DD a break. If there is not a spit bucket, I ask for one to make sure that I get back to my hotel safely. Walk in visitors can choose between two tastings of five wines that include grapes from Carneros as well as Stags Leap. Vietnam-born Kieu Hoang is an American entrepreneur drawn to red wine during his analysis of health benefits from food and drink products. Planted by Napa viticulture legend David Abreu in 2002, owner Cliff Lede named the vineyards after his favorite songs: My Generation, Dark Side of the Moon, etc. The Crown Bar is open daily and offers four wines for $30. That said, you can usually get this fee waived by buying a bottle or two of wine. Within less than an hours drive, soil types and microclimates vary widely, and between these two mountain ranges, wineries and vineyards are sprinkled throughout! They produce Cabernet, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay, but Im a fan of their Sauvignon Blanc for its bright fruits and refreshing acidity.. Their flagship is Sterling Vineyards Iridium. Traffic can lurch on the weekends, but driving Highway 29 and stopping wherever tickles your fancy is the easiest way to visit Napa without much planning. While at a tasting room you may also be able to book a reservation for a Napa Valley wine tour or a table at one of the best restaurants in Napa.