Napa Wine Tasting Guide

Of course it is pretty hard to go wrong in Napa these days. There is so much to see and so many great wineries to visit. If your budget is unlimited and you know what kind of wine you like then just go for it. Drive down the 29 through Rutherford, Healdsburg and St. Helena and stop wherever your heart desires. Most of the wine will be great. But if you want to narrow it down a little bit, these are just a few of the places that we like to visit on a regular basis. They all seem to have something a little bit out of the ordinary.

Please note: these are in no particular order! The cave tastings have to be pre-scheduled and take about 1 1/2 - 2 hrs. so your best bet is to pick up a local winery map - they have them at all the wineries and shops, or look at this one on-line: http://napavalley.com/maps/ before you go and pick your destinations according to your scheduled tour times and  how many days you have to enjoy the Napa Valley.

Schramsberg - Charming and full of grand history, this is one of our favorite spots. Schramsberg sparkling wine has been served at many presidential dinners and it is great to see the commemorative photos and invitations on the wall to prove it. Great cave tour, fab sparkling wines, very educational and great people. You'll leave feeling like a personal friend of the winery.

1400 Schramsberg Road
Calistoga, CA 94515
707-942-4558 for reservations (tell Lisa that Wendy & April from Zengari sent you!)

Mumm Napa - perfect patio and fabulous tasting portions. This is a good place to just chill for a little while, especially if the sun is shining through the clouds over the beautiful Napa Valley. This is one of my favorite views of the valley with the mountains across the way. Love it! They have an art gallery you can enjoy with a glass of champagne. Culture, stunning views and delicious sparkling wines...also a great gift shop.



8445 Silverado Trail,                                         
Rutherford, California
800-686-6272 - no reservation required

Del Dotto - cave tour and tasting. The Rutherford winery is very Italian & full of marble with opulent caves that have barrel tasting and venetian chandeliers. Great wines, fun guides and snacks when you are done. We haven't been to the Historic Winery yet, but maybe we will go this week! We hear it is even more authentic as the caves were some of the first in the Napa Valley dug by Chinese laborers in 1885.


          
Historic Winery & Tasting Room                     Del Dotto Estate Winery
1055 Atlas Peak Road                                    1445 St. Helena Hwy South
Napa, CA 94558                                            St. Helena, CA 94574
707-963-2134                                                707-963-2134

Brix - beautiful views, great garden, cozy bar with fireplace, intimate velvet couch seating for dinner. Perfect happy hour! This is our normal stop after a hard days work.

7377 St. Helena Highway,
Napa, CA 94558

707.944.2749

Coppola - Rubicon Estate - historic mansion, beautiful surroundings, deli, fountains, and nice wine & gift shop.

1991 St. Helena Hwy
Rutherford, CA 94573
800-RUBICON

Rombauer - THE stop for a nice oakey chardonnay. Small and intimate with a cult like following.

3522 Silverado Trail North
94574
800-622-2206





TraVigne

Must have: THE HOMEMADE BUFFALO MOZZARELLA. Don't be surprised if it doesn't come with tomatoes when they are not in season, you actually don't even need them. The bread is garlic rubbed and crunchy and the cheese is to die for.

1050 Charter Oak Ave.
St. Helena, CA 94574
707-963-4444

Castello di Amorosa - worth the visit to see the Italian replicated castle and the gift shop. Great for exploring and taking photos. The gift shop has lots of pretty glasses, tablesettings and candles.

4045 North Saint Helena Highway

Calistoga, CA 94515

707-967-6272

Mustards - delicious, seasonal, local fresh foods. Cindy Pawlcyn opened here 27 years ago with the organic garden supplying great fresh flavor combos and of course a huge local wine selection.

7399 St. Helena Highway      
Yountville, CA 94558
707-944-2424

Oxbow Public Market - fun because it has it all;
food, wine, coffee, tea, dessert. We like the oyster bar only $1 oysters during happy hour.

610 & 644 First Street
Napa, California 94559

Silver Oak - "Life is a Cabernet" great tagline and they make a great Cabernet!

915 Oakville Crossroad
Oakville, CA 94562
707.942.7022

Frank Family Winery - Down to earth wine experts who tell great stories, low key atmosphere, always a fun place to hang out. Great wine too & one of the best Chardonnays.
 
1091 Larkmead Lane
Calistoga, CA 94515
800-574-9463

Burgess Cellars - a personal favorite as it is family owned by our old college friend Steve Burgess, his father Tom and his brother Jim. A little bit off of the Silverado Trail, but worth a visit for vintage cabernet and a great, authentic &  friendly tasting experience. Tell Steve we sent you, enjoy the views and make an appointement for tasting.

1108 Deer Park Road
St. Helena, California 94576
707-963-4766

Dean & DeLuca - perfect for picking up snacks for the road. also has some nice home shopping items

607 South St. Helena Hwy
St. Helena, CA 94574




ACCOMODATIONS:

Harvest Inn - beautiful gardens, cozy & quaint. Request a King Vineyard room and enjoy the rustic charm with a fireplace and jacuzzi tub overlooking the vineyard. Blissful!

One Main Street
St. Helena, California 94574
707-963-9463



Calistoga

Indian Springs - A trip to Indian Springs is not complete without experiencing our Olympic-sized mineral pool. The pool is the heart and soul of Indian Springs. Built in 1913, the Mission Revival-style pool replaced the original 19th century "plunge."

The view from the pool is of the nearby mountains and steam rising from Indian Springs' geysers. The 230-degree geysers keep the mineral pool at 102 degrees in the winter and 92 degrees in the summer. The water's warmth adds a healing element to the bathing experience...soak, rest and then soak some more.

1712 Lincoln Avenue
Calistoga, California 94515
800-950-8466

On the Sonoma side:

Kenwood Inn and Spa - perfection . . . there is nothing else to say.

10400 Sonoma Highway

Kenwood, CA 95452

800-353-6966

There are many gorgeous wineries in the Sonoma area as well; Viansa, Gloria Ferrer, Kunde, Ledson, St. Francis, Chateau St. Jean, Imagery, etc., etc. Lots of wineries here with a great country feel.

Send us your faves & we will continue the blog of THE most enjoyable places in the Napa/Sonoma Valley :)