15 Top Napa Valley Wineries to Visit

Whether you want to indulge in deep reds or sip crisp whites, these gorgeous Napa Valley wineries will help you do it in style.

Rutherford Hill Winery: Rutherford

Chateau Montelena Winery: Calistoga

For an uber-romantic experience, stop by Chateau Montelena Winery to explore its dreamy Calistoga grounds and robust wine offerings. Set against Mount Saint Helena, the chateau was built in 1888 to resemble the gatehouse of an English Gothic castle. The structure overlooks a Chinese garden, a lake and the property’s vineyards, which are ideal for a romantic stroll. Wine tastings start at $45 per person and must be reserved in advance. They range from tastings of current release wines to more exclusive options, all of which allow you to explore the grounds afterward. Must-try wines here include the property’s chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon varieties.

Clos Pegase: Calistoga

Located less than 3 miles east of downtown Calistoga, Clos Pegase offers 20,000 square feet of wine caves, vineyards and a tasting room overlooking a garden. Renowned for its iconic postmodern design by architect Michael Graves, the estate is set on a volcanic knoll and contains both the winery and a residence. Visitors will be dazzled by the property’s grand entrance, open roof and cypress-lined courtyard. Red wines to try at Clos Pegase include merlot and cabernet sauvignon, while their chardonnay is a crowd pleaser as well. Tastings cost at least $40 per person.

Chimney Rock: Napa

Situated on the Silverado Trail in the Stags Leap District, Chimney Rock features Cape Dutch architecture, which is prominent in the Stellenbosch region in South Africa and includes white stucco exteriors and other distinct elements. Be sure to view the ornate wall sculpture of Ganymede – known in Greek mythology as the cupbearer to the gods – from the courtyard of the tasting room. Highly regarded for its cabernet sauvignon, Chimney Rock offers a Vineyard Odyssey Tour & Tasting that includes a tour of the estate vineyards, an overview of winemaking and an outdoor tasting session for $125 per person. The Seasonal Selection tasting, the least expensive option, costs $65 per person.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars: Napa

Head to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in the city of Napa for a lesson in wine history. Founded in 1970, the company took home the top prize for its cabernet sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris wine competition. Today, Stag’s Leap offers multiple tasting options and is best known for its sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon. On-site experiences include a wine and food pairing with dishes created by chef Travis Westrope, a tour of the winery and a cave tour through some of the property’s more than 34,000 square feet of tunnels, which are centered around a rare Foucault pendulum. Tastings range from $50 to $125 per person.

Castello di Amorosa: Calistoga

Domaine Carneros: Napa

Sip wine in a French-inspired chateau at Domaine Carneros, which resembles the 18th-century Château de la Marquetterie in Champagne, France. Enjoy a reservation-only seated tasting on a terrace that overlooks Napa Valley and pair your sips with charcuterie and cheese. The winery’s award-winning sparkling wine and pinot noir are standard crowd-pleasers, but those seeking an even more special experience should sign up for the Art of Sabrage tasting to enjoy the property’s celebrated wines paired with meats and caviar. Standard wine tastings, which start at $40 per person, are also available daily.

Inglenook: Rutherford

Francis Ford Coppola and Eleanor Coppola own this winery and chateau in Rutherford, which includes both the original Inglenook chateau (constructed in 1881) and the Niebaum-Coppola Estate Winery. Inglenook is home to the Bistro tasting room, Infinity Caves carved into the hillside and a courtyard with a reflecting pool. Kids can sail wooden sailboats in the fountain while adults enjoy tastings paired with artisanal cheeses. Wine tastings start at $60 per person and may include a sample of the property’s signature wine, Rubicon, which is named after a river Julius Caesar crossed in 49 B.C. The winery also produces varietals like syrah and sauvignon blanc.

Robert Mondavi Winery: Oakville

Founded in 1966 and best known for its cabernet sauvignon wine and signature Fumé Blanc variety (which is made from sauvignon blanc grapes), Oakville’s Robert Mondavi Winery’s To Kalon Vineyard features many unique ways to sample its wine and explore its grounds. Patrons can enjoy tastings starting at $65 per person on the winery’s patio and opt to pair wines with lunch or dinner.

Del Dotto Estate: St. Helena

At this Venetian-style estate, wine lovers can sample varietals like cabernet sauvignon and the property’s signature vino, The Beast. Del Dotto Estate in St. Helena honors the Del Dotto family’s heritage, with elegant wine caves fitted with Italian marble and large chandeliers. In the caves, visitors can enjoy 90-minute communal tastings paired with a housemade sourdough pizza for about $120 per person. The experience includes both white and red wines, some poured directly from oak barrels sourced from around the world.

HALL St. Helena: St. Helena

Art lovers would be remiss to leave Napa Valley without visiting HALL St. Helena, a winery that mixes modern artwork with fine wines. To fully immerse yourself in the property’s art, book the HALLmark tour, which includes a tour of the grounds and more information about winemaking and some of the winery’s artwork. At the end of the tour, you’ll enjoy a seated tasting of four award-winning wines in a private salon. The estate is known for its cabernet sauvignon, merlot and sauvignon blanc varieties. If you’re a fan of cabernet sauvignon, book the Art of Cabernet experience to sample some of the vineyard’s best cabernets. Standard wine tastings and tours start at $50 per person, and reservations are recommended.

Opus One Winery: Oakville

Known for its Opus One, Opus One Magnum and Overture wines, Opus One Winery is an estate located in Oakville comprised of four vineyards growing five Bordeaux grape varieties. For $100 per person, visitors can sip wine in a courtyard surrounded by 120-year-old olive trees or on a terrace overlooking the vineyards. Alternatively, upgrade to the Opus One Experience ($200 per person) to tour the winery, barrel cellar and vineyards. You’ll also learn about the estate’s winemaking practices as you enjoy a glass of vino and expertly paired canapes.

Joseph Phelps: St. Helena

You’ll find a variety of interesting tastings at Joseph Phelps, a winery and vineyard located off the Silverado Trail outside of St. Helena. Joseph Phelps is known for its flagship Insignia wine, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and sparkling wine. Spend a day enjoying wine and food pairings developed by the winery’s chef, or learning how the venue’s location influences the wines it produces and what role oak barrels play in making cabernet sauvignon. The 75-minute standard Terrace Tasting costs $90 per person.

Far Niente: Oakville

Founded in 1885 during the California Gold Rush, the Italian name “Far Niente” translates to “without a care.” The stone winery, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is best known for its chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, offers 13 acres of gardens filled with colorful azaleas, redwoods, acacias and dogwoods. There are also large wine caves where vintage varietals are aged in French oak barrels. Wine tastings start at $90 per person for 60 minutes. Visitors can also upgrade to a tasting that includes a guided tour of the estate.

Frog’s Leap: Rutherford

According to Frog’s Leap, “Time’s fun when you’re having flies!” Along with its playful motto, the Rutherford winery – which was founded in 1981 – is recognized by its trademark red barn, and it farms its grapes organically, without irrigation. Top wines from Frog’s Leap include cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc, merlot, zinfandel and others. Wine experiences start at $45 for a flight of five wines and a snack plate, while guided tours with tastings or an in-depth tasting and walking tour focused on the Rutherford AVA are available at an additional cost.

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