As a typical Italian and lover of all things wine, I could not wait to cross Napa Valley off of my bucket list. I have learned a great deal about wine throughout my career in the restaurant industry, but I had yet to step foot onto an actual vineyard for a first hand look at how a winery operates. Last month I finally made it out to Napa to experience the wine and cheese craze everyone has been raving about.
I tagged along with my Aunt, Grandmother, and family friend on their bi-yearly visit and took full advantage of their knowledge of the local wineries. Like me, my Aunt is very much a planner and had a full schedule laid out for us every day from 10am to 10pm. We hit up a variety of wineries, ate at several award winning restaurants, and even polished off an unforgettable cave tour all in a matter of three days. I created a list below from our visit of several noteworthy wineries I highly recommend stopping at on your next trip to Napa.
1 – Black Stallion Winery
My journey to Napa included a lengthy 4 hour flight and an additional 3 hours of travel time on trains, boats, and buses. Needless to say, I was elated to head directly to the first winery on our list upon arrival for a well deserved glass of vino. After completing a tasting of 2 red and 2 white wines on their list, we headed outdoors for some fresh air and scenic views. What I love most about this winery is the section of grape vines growing alongside the outdoor patio. Each row of these grape vines are tagged with a placard explaining the grape, regions it is grown in, and the history and varietals its often used in. This winery is great if you want a nice relaxed walk in visit. It is the perfect starting or ending point for a lengthy day of tastings.
Helpful Tip:
Watch out for special food and wine tasting deals from 11-4 on the weekends!
Appointment Required: No
Tasting: $15-$40
Tour: $40 (private)
2 – Signorello
This winery was highly recommended to me by a good friend. Usually this winery requires reservations well in advance and rightfully so. Sadly the place was fully booked, but my Aunt decided we should visit unannounced first thing in the morning on our second day regardless. To our surprise, they let us in for a quick unofficial tasting before they started their day of appointments. Signorello is a private estate boasting an incredible infinity pool over looking the valley below. Though the pool is off limits to everyone but the owner, the Padrone wine alone is 1000% worth the visit. They also offer a seasonal 5 course food and wine dinner with locally sourced cuisine pulled right out of their gardens.
Appointment Required: Yes
Tasting: $65 – 90 minute Antipasti Tasting
$175 – 2 hour – 5 course food and wine experience
3 – Miner Family Winery
I was not expecting to be wowed by this winery, but this ended up being one of my favorites on the list. Right off the bat, they offer a free sample of their house wine when you arrive. You can continue on with a $25 tasting of several more individually selected wines on their list. My Aunt quickly became a fan and signed up for the yearly wine club membership, which resulted in the VIP treatment for the remainder of our visit. Our host gave us a tasting of every wine on the list free of charge and even surprised us with a sneak peak of their impressive 20,000 square feet of underground caves. They have a beautiful dining room table inside which can also be booked for private events.
Appointment Required: No for parties of 6 or less
Tasting: $25
Cave Tour: $35 for 60 minutes
4 – ZD – Zero Defects
This winery is perfect for a relaxing tasting session on the patio after a long day. They offer complimentary charcuterie and breadstick crackers, which are always appreciated. If you are visiting with a full pocketbook, be sure to check out their coveted Abacus wine. The Abacus is a solara-style bottled Cabernet blend, made from every vintage of their Reserve Cabernet, starting with the release year of 1992. If you are interested in taking this home, it will run you $625 a bottle. Tastings with a detailed tour are available for groups of up to 6 for a $900 set price. If you are on a budget like me, make sure to try their noteworthy Reserve Chardonnay and Cabernet on their $40 tasting list.
Appointment Required: Preferred but not required
Tasting: $40
Tour: Starting at $85
5 – Artesa
This winery offers some really great panoramic views of Napa Valley as it is located high on top of a hillside with the winery built into it. The wine here doesn’t disappoint and the tasting is pretty laid back. The thing I found the most intriguing was the Lavendar Infused Honey they sell in the gift shop. If you make a stop in make sure to grab a bottle or two to bring back home or use as gifts.
Appointment Required: No for groups of 8 or less
Tasting: $25 – $45 (Food pairing tastings available for $45 to $60)
Tour: $40 ($20 for designated drivers and pregnant women – no alcohol included of course!)
6 – Domaine Carneros
This is one of the most luxurious tastings you can find in Napa. The estate itself looks like something straight out of a fairytale. The views from the outside patio are some of the best in all of Napa. They are known for their sparkling wine, so I recommend the 4 glass sparkling wine sampler. Here you will be treated like royalty by the wait staff and will receive detailed descriptions of every glass you are given. You can choose to add a charcuterie style accompaniment while you sit back, relax, and enjoy the breathtaking sights of the rolling vineyards below. The tastings can get a little pricey with add-ons, but its most definitely worth a visit just to experience the shear beauty of the place.
Appointment Required: Yes
Tasting: Starting at $30-$40 with additional $19 for a charcuterie pairing
Elevated Tasting Experiences: Starting at $90 and can reach up to $500 for a couple
7 – Del Dotto – Napa Valley Location
This is by far one of the best cave tours you can find in Napa. I learned and tasted the most on this tour, and our host was incredible. Upon arrival, you are immediately handed a glass and whisked away on an educational (and tasty) journey. Here you learn the history behind the mega millionaire and wine tycoon – Dave Del Dotto – with a detailed inside look on what sets his wine making apart from everyone else. You are guided through the massive underground network of caves and given the opportunity to taste the wines directly from the barrels. At the conclusion of the tour, they serve more wine accompanied with a delicious charcuterie platter. Though this tour is relatively pricey, it is an unforgettable experience worth every penny.
Appointment Required: Yes
Bar Tasting: $45
Barrel Tasting: $60 – $75
8 – Hall Winery – St. Helena
The last stop on our extensive list of wineries is noteworthy for the beautiful gardens and views. Hall Winery (St. Helena location) offers a plethora of different private and public tasting events. When you are finished, you can take a glass out with you to the outdoor area in the back. A beautiful outdoor infinity fountain in the garden area resembles a sheet of glass reflecting images of the sky and surrounding vineyards. Each side of the fountain is surrounded by chairs to relax in and nearby is a sculpture garden to explore. Check out their second location at Hall Rutherford if you want a luxury experience!
Appointment Required: No for parties of 7 or less
Bar Tasting: $40
Tour: $40 and up depending on the event. Visit their website for detailed event information.
Napa is nothing short of breathtaking. The extensive list of over 900 wineries in both Napa and Sonoma can be quite overwhelming for a first time visitor. For a more detailed list of information for events, wineries, and pretty much everything Napa and Sonoma, visit napavalley.com and sonoma.com. I found their information to be quite helpful when researching for our trip! Looking for information on the best way to get to Napa? Just check out my blog post HERE.
Happy Tasting!
