Winery Tastings and Tours
Here’s a listing of Wineries in Napa and Sonoma that we’ve visited, including contact information and a quick snapshot on the highlights of the winery.
Napa Wineries:
Barnett Vineyards
4070 Spring Mountain Road
St. Helena, CA 94574
707-963-7075
www.barnettvineyards.com
Appointment Necessary – No Tasting Fee
Go here for both great, hard to find wines and one amazing view. Tours and tasting are given by winemaker or assistant. Winery sits at the top of Spring Mountain with views over all of Napa Valley.
Rating:
Wines – Average/Above Average
Staff – Average
Ambiance – Above Average (Amazing Views)
Cakebread Cellars
8300 St.Helena Hwy
Rutherford, CA 94573
800.588.0298
Appointment Necessary – Tour and Tasting: $10
A very good tour incorporates a selection of six of their wines including a couple of nice chardonnays, a pinot and their cab. Knowledgeable staff and enormous facility make this a must-visit in the valley.
Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Above Average
Ambiance – Above Average (For the tour)
Domaine Chandon
1 California Dr
Yountville, CA 94599
(707) 944-2892
www.chandon.com
Tour and Tasting Fees – $20/$30
Nice winery attached to an enormous facility including a top-flight restaurant. Skip the tour and just take in a glass of bubbly on their patio area, or visit after 6pm when they open their wine lounge.
Rating:
Wines – Average
Staff – Average
Ambiance – Above Average
Grgich Hills
1829 St. Helena Hwy.
Rutherford, CA 94573
(800) 532-3057
www.grgich.com
Tasting Fee: $10
Friendly staff pour wine and tell stories at this Napa winery that makes great Cabs and Chardonnay as well as a great dessert wine. A no-frills kind of place that hangs its success on the product.
Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Above Average (Very Friendly)
Ambiance – Below Average (Basically a barn)
Markham
2812 Saint Helena Hwy N
St Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-5292
www.markhamvineyards.com
Tasting Fees: $10/$15/$20
Overall not very interesting wines, the tasting room is fairly basic with local art displayed. An unremarkable winery in general.
Rating:
Wines – Below Average
Staff – Below Average
Ambiance – Below Average
Neyers Vineyards
2153 Sage Canyon Rd
Saint Helena, CA 94574
www.neyersvineyards.com
Appointment Necessary – No Tasting Fee
Amazing winery with a very gracious staff and a wonderful facility. Sit outside if the weather’s nice and enjoy their variations on Chardonnay and Syrah, both at which they excel.
Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Above Average
Ambiance – Average
Pride Vineyards
4026 Spring Mountain Rd
St Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-4949
www.pridewines.com
Appointment Necessary – No Tasting Fee
Beautiful winery and tasting room where you’ll taste great Cab, Merlot, and Chardonnay. Call ahead to find out what they are pouring as their wine change often based on availability. Also make sure to bring a picnic lunch and take advantage of their beautiful vineyard views
Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Above Average
Ambiance – Above Average (Amazing Views)
PlumpJack Winery
620 Oakville Cross Road
Oakville, CA 94562
707 945-1220
www.plumpjack.com
Tasting Fee: $10
Available wines change often and the staff is only so-so, but they do make a very good Chardonnay and Cabernet. Worth the stop for the wines.
Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Below Average
Ambiance – Below Average
Silver Oak
915 Oakville Crossroad
Oakville, California 94562
800.273.8809
www.silveroak.com
Tasting Fees: $10 (Complimentary Glass)
Pretty nice setting though the new tasting room is still under construction. You’ll taste two wines, their cabernets (Napa and Sonoma) and if you’re a Silver Oak fan, you won’t be disappointed.
Rating:
Wines – Average/Above Average
Staff – N/A (Too Busy to Rate)
Ambiance – Average (Original tasting room burned down in 2006)
St. Supery
8440 St. Helena Highway (29)
Rutherford, CA 94573
707.963.4533
www.stsupery.com
Tasting Fees: $15/$20
Friendly, knowledgeable staff helps guide you through rather good wines from start to finish. They are usually tasting some of their more reserve Cabs, plus a good mix of other red and white wines. Self-guided tour is also one of the best in the valley.
Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Above Average (Very Friendly)
Ambiance – Above Average
Silverado
6121 Silverado TRL
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 257-1770
www.silveradovineyards.com
Tasting Fees: $10/$20
This is a beautiful winery, with a tasting room perched on a ridge overlooking Stag’s Leap area. Wines are consistently good, and the staff recommends enjoying their wines on the patio area.
Rating:
Wines – Average
Staff – Average
Ambiance – Above Average (Great Porch area overlooking Stags Leap)
Sterling
1111 Dunaweal Ln
Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 942-3300
www.sterlingvineyards.com
Tasting Fees: $20/$45 Reserve
Besides a nice view and an interesting tour, the wines leave little to make the trip for. Plus the increased tasting fees make this a tough sell.
Rating:
Wines – Below Average
Staff – Average
Ambiance – Above Average
Whitehall Lane
1563 Saint Helena Hwy S
St Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-9454
www.whitehalllane.com
Tasting Fees: $10
A no-frills winery that makes a decent Sauvignon Blanc and a Dessert wine. They make decent Cab and Merlot but the most recent vintage (2004) was a bit of a miss. Average tasting room help.
Rating:
Wines – Average
Staff – Average (Very Friendly)
Ambiance – Below Average
Sonoma Wineries:
Ferrari-Carano Winery
8761 Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 433-6700
www.ferrari-carano.com
Tasting Fees: $5/$15
Over-the-top wine chateau complete with fountains and Italian-style artwork, they have two levels of tastings where you choose the wines. Reserve wines are worth the extra cost with wonderful Chardonnay and Cabs. Worth a trip for their extravagant tasting room.
Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Average
Ambiance – Above Average
Gary Farrell Wines
10701 Westside Rd
Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 473-2900
garyfarrellwines.com
Tasting Fee: $10
Perched high in the Russian River valley, this winery specializes in Pinot Noir, and wonderful views. Helpful staff guides you through their selection of wines, focus mainly on Chardonnay and Pinot. Very good wines make the trip up the mountain well worth it.
Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Average
Ambiance – Above Average
Ridge Vineyards / Lytton Springs
650 Lytton Springs Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 433-7721
www.ridgewine.com
Tasting Fees: $5 (Donated to Local Charity)
A charming tasting room situated directly up against the vines. This location pours mainly zinfandel and Bordeaux blends. Friendly staff adds to the relaxed atmosphere at this solid wine producer.
Rating:
Wines – Above Average
Staff – Average
Ambiance – Above Average
