This is the most popular and visited winery in all of Napa. For many San Francisco Bay Area tourists, the opportunity to taste exceptional quality wines is an absolute must. Napa's land, mild climate and growing conditions (terroir) make grapes ideal, coveted by wine enthusiasts around the world. There is no need to fear wine, although it may seem daunting at first.
A knowledgeable wine merchant can erase those fears while guiding your pallet to an enjoyable and memorable experience on your first visit. If this is your first time visiting, you may want to consider choosing the right time of year to visit it. The best times to visit Napa are during the spring and fall seasons, that is, from April to early June and then from September to October. The beginning of autumn is our crushing period, when wineries harvest their grapes.
If you want to experience a winery in action, come in autumn. The other optimal time is in early spring (late February to March), when the valley mustard plants are in full bright yellow bloom. 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.
Smaller wineries often welcome guests by appointment only, so always call ahead or visit their website for availability. Also, keep in mind that Napa zoning restrictions prohibit eating at a picnic except at a couple of Napa estates, so wait for that picnic basket. Most wineries charge a fee for the tour or tasting, but given the amount of information gathered and the quality of the wines served, along with the beautiful and elegant surroundings, these tours are an incredible bargain. Save money at some of the best wineries in Napa Valley with the PRIORITY WINE PASS.
LEARN MORE HERE Nearly every winery in Napa already requires advance reservations before the start of this public health emergency, so don't arrive in Napa without having booked your tastings online. If you don't have great wine glasses yet, choose one from our list of the best wine glasses and take it with you. Are you going to visit Sonoma during your trip? Consider stopping by Meadowcroft for a tasting. While their Chardonnay remains one of the most ageable Chardonnays produced in California, their Burdeaux-style Cabernet Sauvignon now takes center stage in the winery these days.
We know, you're thinking that famous wineries can't offer good wine. Quite simply, that is not the case here. The winery they created is a reflection of their twin passions. On a visit to Andretti winery, you will enjoy the best Italian varietal wine from this side of Tuscany, along with wonderful French varieties.
Combine that with the relaxed hospitality of the Andretti staff and you have one of the best wineries for first-time visitors to the Napa Valley. The winery offers an incredible variety of wine tasting experiences. Be sure to make a reservation in advance. We recommend that you enjoy a tasting with a pairing, but you will surely like any of their experiences.
You can select a few different tasting options here. Private property tasting is an incredible experience. You can sample reserve wines in the comfort of the Turnbull living room with a wine educator. Or you can opt for the more traditional Gallery Tasting.
Taste current Turnbull releases in a stylish bar with beautiful views of the valley around you. Opus One Winery Offers a Luxury Wine Experience. The farm is impressive, especially when you drive along the central road to the entrance of the winery. Looking out over the Opus One vineyards from the upstairs terrace, you can immediately see the beauty of the Napa Valley.
This is a winery to sit, relax and have a wonderful glass of wine in the company of good friends. There's nothing more luxuriously sophisticated than this, so take lots of photos while you're there. Constellation Brands acquired Robert Mondavi winery in 2004 and entered into a management agreement with Baron Rothschild to manage Opus One.
Winery tours
are by appointment only, so be sure to call ahead to secure your reservation.Do you prefer boutique-style wineries when you visit Napa Valley? See Our Winery List for Napa Experts For a full list of Napa Valley wineries, visit our Napa Regional Page. We have links to wineries, accommodation and tours. Author Igor Sill cultivates a terraced cabernet sauvignon vineyard in Santa Elena, Napa, California. Passionate about wine; writer; certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers; attended the UC Davis winemaking program; member of the Napa Valley Wine Technical Group; Judge, International Wine Challenge, London, UK, and holds his master's degree from Oxford University.
BE SURE TO ENTER CODE CWA15 TO RECEIVE OUR SPECIAL PRIORITY WINE PASS DISCOUNT. According to the Darioush website, in the late 1990s, Darioush and winemaker Steve Devitt made an unorthodox decision, to commit to the south of the Napa Valley, choosing its cooler microclimates to develop their unique style. Not only was it the first major Napa winery to open after the ban, but Mondavi talked about the Napa Valley and everything it had to offer (via the Washington Post). The Napa Green certified winery is proud that 89 percent of its material is recycled or diverted from landfills, while all of its vineyards on the farm are Napa Green certified land, and each with a fully customized conservation program to promote and protect biodiversity.
Give your customers the ultimate Napa Valley experience: information on accommodations, wineries, restaurants, art, transportation, special offers, events and more. For some connoisseurs and connoisseurs of the wine industry, the entry wineries are cheesy and embarrassing, the places that make Napa feel like an adult Disneyland. A Yelp reviewer ranked Tres Sabores first after visiting several other wineries on the same day because they were impressed by the hospitality. Nearly every winery in Napa already requires advance reservations before the start of this public health emergency, so don't arrive in Napa without booking your tastings online.
Be sure to explore, as you can find your own list of the best wineries in the Napa Valley that differs from ours. He then founded Darioush in 1997 to bring the opulent architecture, rich culture, arts and wine of the famous royal city of Persepolis to Napa.
Napa Wine
Project put it best when they said: “It's what a wine farm should look and feel visually impressive, while containing layers of history and depth of stories gathered over its 140-plus years. ..