Napa Valley in California has become one of the favorite wine destinations in the USA for it amazing scenic beauty, wide variety of wines, and exclusive wine tasting experience offered by its top-end wineries. Napa Valley wineries represent American wine culture in its true sense.
The glitz and glamor of wine tasting at plush wineries, and wine tours that attract a large number of tourists every year. The region boasts of over 400 wineries, which allows visitors to cover multiple wineries in a day.
Best Napa Valley Wineries
If you are planning a wine tasting tour to Napa Valley, we suggest you make a list of wineries that you would like to tour. Check out the following list for the eleven best wineries in the region.
#1. Hall Wines, St. Helena
Hall Wines in St. Helena is one of the premier wineries in Napa Valley that boasts five estate vineyards producing classic Bordeaux varietals. This family-owned winery is an expert in Cabernet Sauvignon and their winemakers skillfully crafts15 unique Cabernet blends that demonstrate Napa Valley’s distinctive and diverse nature. You will love this place even more if you have an inclination towards artistry.
Helpful Tip: The Wine and Art Exploration Tour leads you through the outstanding works by John Baldessari, Nick Cave, and Peter Wegner. The tour begins at 11 a.m. on Sundays.
#2. Del Dotto Vineyards (St. Helena Venetian Estate Winery & Caves)
The St. Helena Del Dotto winery exudes opulence in its very existence. Sipping a glass of Chardonnay by candlelight completes a cave tour tasting experience. You will sample eight wine varietals in total, including bottled selections in the Cave Experience. Guests are also offered house-made salumi and a selection cheese after leaving the caves.
Helpful Tip: The Cave Experience and Barrel Tastings are priced $75 per person and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from April to November.
#3. Domaine Chandon
Domaine Chandon is where you will get to taste true sparkling wine. It was founded in 1973 by Moet and Chandon and offers the pleasure of tasting some of the best sparkling wine in the world against a breathtaking backdrop. The winery offers a number of wine tasting events for its guests to enjoy in both indoor and outdoor settings.
Helpful Tip: Although it welcomes large groups every day, it is necessary to make prior reservations 10 or more people.
#4. Beaulieu Vineyard
Beaulieu Vineyard is on of Napa Valley’s oldest vineyards. Established in 1900, Beaulieu Vineyard occupies a special place in California’s winemaking history. Today it is home to some of the best Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay in the United States.
Helpful Tips: Beaulieu offers several tasting options to its visitors. You will be able to taste a selection of its current releases during the tours.
#5. Castello di Amorosa
Castello di Amorosa isn’t just a winery, but a huge castle that was built over a period of 14 years. The original owner of Castello di Amorosa was greatly influenced by Italian architecture. It was thus built like a 13th century Tuscan castle. With its five defensive towers, high walls and over 30 acres of vineyards, Castello di Amorosa deserves a visit.
Helpful Tip: The winery is very much kid-friendly and provides grape juice and lots of places to explore.
Castello di Amorosa. Photo courtesy Oleg Alexandrov. See credits below. Oleg Alexandrov [CC BY-SA]
#6. Chateau Montelena Winery
While the whole of Napa Valley is always bustling with activities, Chateau Montelena Winery provides a peaceful and calm setting for visitors looking for less noisy corner in town. Established in 1882, the winery is sits inside a castle nestled by the hillside. It overlooks a lake, Chinese garden and vineyards that stretch out to the base of Mt. St. Helena.
Helpful Tip: Make reservations for one of the Limited Release Tasting for sampling the wineries latest releases. The tastings cost $50 per person and are held at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily.
#7. Clos Pegase Winery
Clos Pegase Winery proved that wineries do not have to be baroque or stuffy. The awe-inspiring architecture and its drought resistant garden present an amazing tour of the winery. Experience award winning wines and luxury hospitality at Clos Pegase Winery, situated near the town of Calistoga.
Helpful Tip: Book a picnic on the patio to enjoy the wineries latest releases along with a gourmet outdoor lunch.
#8. Domaine Carneros
Domaine Carneros was inspired by France’s 18th century Château de la Marquetterie. It is Napa Valley’s grandest Chateau, and known for its awesome sparkling wines having distinctive styles. You can enjoy the tasting sitting at the elegant Louis XV-inspired salon or on the terrace overlooking the endless vineyards.
Helpful Tip: Try out the winery’s famous sparkling wine varietals with The Sparkling Suite Tasting sitting at a private room with a balcony overlooking the estate.
#9. Fairwinds Estate Winery
Experience a memorable wine tasting and cave tour at Fairwinds Estate winery, built in 1969 and boasts of limited production and elegant wines. You can make prior reservations for one of its wine and food events.
Helpful Tip: The winery offers well-manicured grounds for picnic basket events along with wine and food pairing experiences.
#10. Tamber Bey
Tamber Bey, located at Sundance Ranch in Calistoga, is a premier equestrian facility for training top performance horses. What is unique about this winery is that guests can mingle with the horses while tasting wines. The tasting room is housed in the facility’s barn clubhouse.
Helpful Tip: Tamber Bey offers various types of tasting experience, such as its signature wine and cookie pairing or library wine flights.
#11. Beringer Vineyards
Beringer Vineyards is Napa Valley’s oldest continuously operating winery with a long history in winemaking that started 140 years ago. It was, in fact the first winery in the region to offer public tours to visitors. And it still features on the list of top wineries in Napa Valley.
Helpful Tip: Book a Taste of Beringer tour in which guests learn about its rich winemaking and culinary traditions.
Napa Valley Wineries: A Wine Lover’s Paradise
Napa Valley has become a wine lover’s paradise for its stunning natural beauty and world class wine tasting experiences. Although, it offers a variety of choices in wineries it is important to select carefully so that you don’t miss out on the most rewarding experience.
For More:
- Visit Napa Valley, www.visitnapavalley.com/wineries/
- Napa Valley Wineries, www.napavalley.com/wineries/
- Hall Wines, St. Helena, www.hallwines.com/
- Del Dotto Vineyards, St. Helena Venetian Estate Winery & Caves, www.deldottovineyards.com/
- Domaine Chandon, www.chandon.com/
- Beaulieu Vineyard, www.bvwines.com/
- Castello di Amorosa, www.castellodiamorosa.com/
- Chateau Montelena Winery, www.montelena.com/
- Clos Pegase Winery, www.clospegase.com/
- Domaine Carneros, www.domainecarneros.com/
- Fairwinds Estate Winery, www.fairwindsestatewinery.com/
- Tamber Bey, www.tamberbey.com/
- Beringer Vineyards, www.beringer.com/
Photo Credit:
- Castello di Amorosa photo courtesy Oleg Alexandrov [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
