Whats That Bucket For
Most Napa tasting rooms will have buckets out on every counter . These are called Spit Buckets or Dump Buckets , and theyre there for you to toss out the rest of your glass or even your mouthful of wine. And dont worry, its not considered rude!
It may seem counterintuitive to pay for a taste of wine that you just dump out, but if youre a serious wine connoisseur, youll find learn that there are some wines you just dont really like and you dont need another sip of. Spitting is also a great way to taste wine without going way over your limits, and it reduces palate fatigue, too.
Heres a sommelier secret to having your best day of wine tasting: you have to spit. When I visit wine country to find wines for Palate Club, I sometimes spend four hours on the road and taste 100s of wines in a day. If there is not a spit bucket, I ask for one to make sure that I get back to my hotel safely. Its not rude, and its not wasting wine. Most winemakers appreciate it when you pace yourself to stay sober enough to enjoy the wines.
That said, if you have different plans for your weekend in Napa, no judgment!
How To Get To Napa
The easiest way to get to Napa is to fly into either San Francisco, Oakland or Sacramento and rent a car. Napa Valley is about an hour north of San Francisco and Oakland, and an hour west of Sacramento.
You can rent a vehicle from the airport you fly into, or directly in Napa. Note that California roads are often windy, so if you get car sick, opt for a comfy SUV rather than a sports car!
- From Downtown San Francisco: If you are staying downtown but HAVE to see the Golden Gate Bridge, take Highway 101 on the way North to Napa but I-80 on the way back. This route will save you from the $8.35 southbound Golden Gate bridge toll. Be sure to plan your route from your hotel, as going downtown to the Golden Gate Bridge adds about 30 minutes to your course. If youre not interested in driving over the Golden Gate bridge, you can take the Bay Bridge from downtown to get to I-80.
- From Oakland: If you plan to go directly to Napa, you can save 20-30 minutes by flying into Oakland and bypassing the jam-packed Bay Bridge and San Francisco traffic.
- From Sacramento: If you fly into Sacramento, your route will likely be I-80 W. The path between Sacramento and Napa is efficient, but youll miss the coastal views of the Bay.
Darioush Winery Oak Knoll Napa
I made reservations for 4pm at Darioush Winery for a flight of five wines with a hosted tasting on a busy Saturday afternoon. The price tag was $150. We arrived a bit early and drove up the beautiful long driveway at the base of Atlas Peak, off Silverado Trail. We were graciously greeted as we approached the entry by Mark, a very friendly concierge, who checked us in with a smile and served us a wonderful Russian River Chardonnay. Mark quickly guided us inside to a sitting area in front of a massive fireplace graced by Persian columns. He then introduced us to our host, Derek, who engaged us with a bit of history behind Darioushs founder, Darioush Khaledi. Khaledi achieved the American dream by immigrating to the US from Iran following the Islamic revolution and started what turned out to become the largest family-owned grocery business in Los Angeles. He then founded Darioush in 1997, bringing the opulent architecture, rich culture, arts, and wines of the famed royal city of Persepolis to Napa. With all of that, his winery is amazingly impressive and rather palatial.
Darioush WineryIt may be busy but Castello di Amorosa is also surprisingly affordable and its a castle! photo by ychamyuen
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Loveliest Backdrop For A Cultural Experience
Courtesy of Robert Mondavi Winery
7801 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena, CA 94574, 226-1395
Yelp: 4 stars, 1092 reviews Tasting price: Starting at $40
Appreciation of art, food, and wine were a core part of Robert Mondavis life philosophy and the winery he built is an homage to all three. Once you pass the seven-foot-tall Robert Mondavi sculpture that flanks the half-moon entryway of this iconic Mission-style winery, youll be able to experience the passion that Robert Mondavi had for the Napa Valley region.
Insider tip: When the winerys beloved Summer Concert Series returns, which has been in place for 50+ years, be sure to snag your tickets as they tend to go fast. Until that returns, check out the variety of culinary-focused events offered at the winery, such as the Garden to Table Dinner, which includes a three-course wine dinner and live fire demonstration.
Planning Your Visit: What To Know Before You Go
In Napa Valley, reservations are strongly recommended and sometimes even requiredespecially on weekends. For same-day visits, you can often call the winery or tasting room to see if theres availability. Also, tastings are a daytime affair. Tasting rooms typically open around 11 a.m. and close at 5 or 6 p.m., so schedule your day accordingly.
Tastings in Napa typically arent free. Most wineries and tasting rooms charge a fee for tastings ranging anywhere from $25 to $100 or more, but many will waive the fee with the purchase of a bottle of wine.
For a day of tasting, plan to visit two or three wineries. If you dont have a designated driver to shuttle your group between tastings, it is possible to use Uber or Lyft to get between wineries. Alternatively, hire a private transportation for the day from companies like Napa Valley Tours & Transportation, Pure Luxury Transportation, and Beau Wine Tours & Limousine Service.
V. Sattui Winery is an excellent place for a laid-back tasting or picnic with friends.
Courtesy of V. Sattui Winery
The wine world can be intimidating if you dont know your stuff, but these wineries excel at making beginners feel comfortable.
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Absolute Best Wineries In Napa Valley
Wineries around the world have undergone quite a transformation in the last few years. For most, the pandemic required that they readjust their approach and how they did business, with many winemakers offering virtual tastings and 3D winery tours. But in Napa, California, the constant and devastating wildfires created a heightened amount of pressure. In addition to potentially losing their vines, vineyards were concerned with smoke affecting the quality of their grapes. They couldn’t catch a break yet still, many of them are cheerfully pouring glasses and welcoming visitors
Now is a great time to visit Napa Valley, to help vineyards rebuild and finally understand why America’s most popular wine region has rightfully earned that title. If you’re able to take a visit to Napa, here are 25 must-visit vineyards. And if you can’t visit, many of them offer virtual tastings and can ship wine across the country.
Things To Know About Napa
Lets start with why Napa Valley is famous: really, really good wines. Napa Valley is ideally situated to make some of the worlds best wines. The grapes get long hours of California sunshine to ripen, but the area quickly drops around 40 degrees Fahrenheit at night due to the cool Pacific Oceans influence. The reliably cool, foggy mornings and evenings allow the grapes to retain acidity, which leads to more balance to the wines.
Mountains surround the valley on both sides: the Vaca Range to the East and the Mayacamas to the West. Within less than an hours drive, soil types and microclimates vary widely, and between these two mountain ranges, wineries and vineyards are sprinkled throughout!
It takes less than an hour to get from one end of Napa Valley to the other, but the wineries density could quickly fill up a week of wine tasting.
Most Napa tourists stick to Highway 29, which is lined by dozens of wineries . Traffic can lurch on the weekends, but driving Highway 29 and stopping wherever tickles your fancy is the easiest way to visit Napa without much planning. Just be prepared for crowded tasting rooms and potentially slower service!
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What Is The Cost Of Tastings In Napa
Wine tastings normally cost between $15-50. $30 is about an average price for a tasting, and yes, thats per person. Napa is pricey!
That said, you can usually get this fee waived by buying a bottle or two of wine. You can also sometimes find two-for-one tasting deal coupons by stopping by the Visitors Center.
An Insiders Take By Napa Valley Tour Guides
There is no topping Napa Valley winery tours and wine tasting. Even though tasting rooms re-opened with fits and starts during the pandemic, the regions passionate winemakers never took their focus off creating some of the worlds most exquisite wines.
Today, most of the over 500 wineries in Napa Valley welcome guests for winery tours, education and wine tasting. If you have just one day to tour the wine country from San Francisco, where are the best places to go in Napa Valley?
This post will leave the question of best wine to others. Instead, it focuses on the best winery tours in Napa Valley. Some Napa wineries feature over-the-top luxury, others beautifully cuofted gardens, and some intimate experiences with the winemaker at a family-owned winery.
What we will cover in this guide to the best winery tours in Napa:
We asked a panel of Napa Valley tour guides to judge the hospitality, education, ambiance, and the overall wine tasting experience at hundreds of Napa wineries. According to our panel, these are the best Napa Valley winery tour and tasting experiences:
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Napa Wine Tours & Experiences
If youre still looking for additional recommendations or guided tours around Napa Valley, here are some of the most highly-rated options you can find in the region right now.
If you enjoyed this guide, consider joining the for additional insight and travel inspiration around the world. You can also pre-register for the Winetraveler Wine Club to receive unique wines and itinerary suggestions to your door. Let us know your favorite Napa wineries in the comment section below!
Napa Valley Wine Train
Ride the Wine Train – But Not at Full Price
Im not going to kid you, no way does the Napa Valley Wine Train qualify as budget. But if riding the vintage train to wineries or having lunch or dinner as it rocks down the tracks is on your bucket list then at least do it with my discount. You only need one Wine Pass to get the discount for up to four people.
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Cain Vineyard & Winery
From their perch at 3800 Langtry Road high atop Spring Mountain, you’ll enjoy spectacular views overlooking Napa Valley. The focus here is on the classic five Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. Guests will taste their Cain Cuvéea blend of two vintages and a selection of vineyards Cain Conceptrepresenting the classic benchlands of the Napa Valley and Cain Five the product of their estate Cain Vineyard. Christopher Howell came to Cain as a winemaking consultant in 1990, becoming general manager and winemaker in 1991. His C.V. includes stints at Mouton Rothschild in France and Peter Michael. Tip: Ask for the vineyard hike experience, and hopefully you’ll meet Chris and tour with him through their estate vineyard, which offers mesmerizing views, and varying aspects, followed by a tasting of Cain’s three current vintages and a library vintage.
Appointments available: Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., or 12:00 p.m.. Saturday 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
Fee: $75 for the vineyard hike and tasting $50 for just a 45-minute tasting of current releases
Cain Vineyard and Winery, 800 Langtry Road, Saint Helena, 707-963-1616
A Brief History Of Change
Winery visits have changed dramatically over the past two decades. Experiences have become more sophisticated in almost every major wine region around the world, with tours, tutored tastings and wine and food pairings offered almost as standard.
For a long time California was lauded as one of the standard bearers in how to host wine lovers. Cellar doors, wine clubs and tasting rooms overlooking stunning vineyards have become an enjoyable way of life and an effective way of selling wine.
Yet, following the global pandemic, both Napa and Sonoma have reopened with an increased vigour to cater for tourists. Napa Valley is more polished than ever, and Sonomas once casual wineries have also matured into their own distinct boutique style.
As the range of activities has grown so have prices many more than double those quoted in a Decanter article in 2016. But that hasnt quelled wine lovers, with the region attracting more than 3.85 million visitors in 2018 with a cumulative spend of over $2 billion. Given the interest in these wine regions, booking an appointment for a winery visit is now the rule rather than the exception, and all should be done well in advance.
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What Should I Eat In Napa
I typically practice intermittent fasting, but I always eat breakfast before wine tasting. Even if youre spitting, youll get worn down quickly without food. Plan time for lunch and bring snacks in the car.
Youll want carbs, healthy fats, nutrients, and lots of water. I like to pack nuts, fruit, baguette, and plenty of water in a reusable water bottle. You can grab a sandwich off Highway-29 at Oakville Grocery, just north of the Opus One winery, and bring it along with you.
I also included my favorite restaurants in Napa at the end of this post because if theres one thing Napa does amazingly well other than wine, its food!
Veraison
Best Medieval Castle: Castello Di Amorosa
Castello di Amorosa knows how to make a first impression. The authentically styled, 13th-century Tuscan castle winery was constructed using more than 200 containers of European materials and furnishings.
Begun in 1994, a humble building gradually morphed into a castle spanning 121,000 square feet with 107 rooms located in four underground and four above-ground levels. The building has all the elements youd expect from an authentic Italian castle. A moat with a drawbridge, high stone walls, gargoyles, a church, and a fully equipped torture chamber will fascinate on the way to the vaulted wine tasting cellar.
Thankfully, Castello di Amorosa puts the same love and attention into its wines which are elegant, intensely flavored, and well-balanced. The castle winery produces hand-crafted Italian-styled wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Primitivo and Sangiovese.
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How To Get Around Napa
Its definitely easiest to get around Napa with a car but if you wont have one, or you just want to focus on enjoying the wine, you do have a few options.
- Rent a Car: You can rent a vehicle from the airport you fly into, or directly in Napa once you arrive. Its challenging to get around Napa without a car, so draw straws and pick a Designated Driver .
- Ride Sharing Apps: Lyft is available in Napa Valley and start around $15 for a 15-minute drive. Wineries could be 45 minutes away from one another, or just up the street, so I suggest planning ahead. In my experience, it takes around 10 minutes for a Lyft to show up, but expect longer for more remote locations. If you have appointments, plan with extra time, as you may need to wait for your ride to show up in more isolated locations.
- Rent a Limo: If youre balling out or looking to party, limo or party bus rentals are the best way to get around Napa Valley. Napa Shuttle Limousine provides custom packages depending on your itinerary. Limos start at $99, depending on the company.
- Hire a Driver: Companies such as Designated Drivers Napa Sonoma offer local drivers. Because they drive your car, the cost tends to be lower than private shuttles or tours. Make sure your driver is licensed and insured by referencing the California PUCs Transportation Carrier Lookup. Their name should be listed there if they are licensed.
Artesa Vineyards & Winery Napa Ca
Out of all ten wineries, Artesa offers the very best in terms of Napa scenery. The family-owned winery is set upon the highest hill of the 350-acre estate. A terrace offers beautifully expansive vistas of the surrounding countryside, and on clear days, a view of the San Francisco skyline.
Artesas architecture reflects a series of Spanish Mediterranean themes. Originally named Codorniu Napa, the name was changed to Artesa in 1997, which translates to handcrafted in Catalan. Today Artesa wines are produced from the varietals for which Carneros and Napa Valley are best known: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Tastings are $35, $45, and $55 per person, depending on the exclusivity of the wines served. The views are picturesque, as you absorb and enjoy some truly great wines.
Artesa Vineyards & WineryThe Taittinger family modeled Domaine Carneros after an 18th-century French mansion. Photo courtesy the winery.
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