Top Things to do in Napa Valley
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What to do and see in Napa Valley, Napa Valley: The Best Hidden Gems Things to do
Vines, wines and the people who love them are central to the economy of Napa Valley. Other treats for taste buds are in store, too, in the form of local olive oils, tomatoes, cheeses and mustard. The other senses are catered for with a vibrant visual arts scene. Rent a car or book a taxi or limousine to get between sights safely. The Napa Valley Wine Train offers an unusual way to experience the views and vintages. A relaxing array of spas and mud baths and the Old Faithful geyser are attractions in Calistoga.
Restaurants in Napa Valley
1. Jarvis Estate
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 319 reviews
Jarvis Estate is a family owned winery dedicated to crafting a limited quantity of preeminent wines from our sustainably farmed, estate vineyards in the rugged hillside, four miles east of downtown Napa Valley. The Jarvis Estate winemaking facility is entirely contained within 45,000 square feet of cave tunneled into the scenic Vaca Mountains,and is not only a visual masterpiece, but a technical masterpiece as well. Wines are produced only from estate grown grapes and are cave-aged to perfection prior to release. Varietals include: Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot, Tempranillo and a two proprietary Bordeaux blends.
Reviewed By randybH2055JS - Kalamazoo, United States
This is such a cool place to visit. The entire winery is located within the massive network of man-made caves. Once the grapes go in, they never see the light of day until they emerge as bottled wine. You will tour the caves, see where the grapes are crushed, wine fermented, huge oak bariques, barrels, bottling area, tasting rooms, banquet rooms (huge), etc. Even an underground river which provides the proper natural humidity in the caves. Great winery story. You will hear about the "Science Project"...fantastic. Don't miss this one.
2. VGS Chateau Potelle
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 175 reviews
VGS Chateau Potelle Winery offers two unique visitor experiences. At our Tasting House & Garden in St. Helena visitors enjoy an intimate tasting of 6 wines, highlighted by their own unique Riedel glass and punctuated with food bites from Michelin star rated La Toque Restaurant. Open year-round daily 10AM-5PM; $50-$75 per person. Reservations REQUIRED.
Reviewed By julialmey
We spent a wonderful afternoon tasting wines that had been magically paired with fantastic small bites from La Toque restaurant. Luis shared stories and knowledge making our experience an unforgettable one. All the way from France, Jean Noel brought his dream to realization in the fertile Napa Valley soil! Merci bien, M. Jean Noel!
3. Swanson Vineyards Salon
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 173 reviews
The Swanson philosophy celebrates decadence with a wink -- the mixing of the high with the low. Caviar on a potato chip? We think so! At our winery, we offer out-of-the-ordinary experiences that elevate the everyday. Our inviting Salon offers an intimate wine and food experience, guided by our Salonniere who will walk and talk you through each of your pairings. Or, stop into our whimsical Sip Shoppe for tasting of our current releases. We invite you to come, taste and enjoy.
Reviewed By klars67 - Westerville, United States
My wife and I were in Napa for our 1st visit to the area. We had a “non-winery” day and had had Swanson Merlot back home and decided to stop by for an impromptu visit. So glad we did! Nancy was so welcoming and friendly! Very small winery, with a great history (remember your favorite TV dinner:). We sat outside in the courtyard and enjoyed some red wine. Their wines are delicious and extremely affordable. Don’t always need to open a bottle of $100 wines. These wines taste amazing and you can easily open them up to enjoy with a burger. Their wine club is extremely great value! Nancy thanks for your hospitality. Glad we pulled over and paid you a visit Cheers! Kevin and Sue Larson
4. Hendry Ranch Wines
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 301 reviews
Reviewed By BobandDeb - Santa Rosa, United States
What a treat wine tasting is at Hendry! Four of us had reservations for the 11:00 wine tasting (the earlier tour with George was full). When you enter the house, Tamara greeted us and brought us into a room with two other couples. Sitting at the table, Tamara gave us an informative lesson on the Hendry family, the grapes, and of course, we learned about the six different wines that we tasted. We all learned so much, and it was really interesting, not boring at all! It made us want to come back another time to book a tour. We went to two other wineries after this one, and they didn't even compare to this! The tasting fee is waived with wine purchases - you will want to buy their wine! The ambience of the ranch, and friendliness of the employees was outstanding. Thanks Tamara for a great day!
5. Bell Wine Cellars
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 135 reviews
Established in 1991, Bell Wine Cellars is a small, family owned winery committed to hand-crafting limited edition bottling of extraordinary wines. We're less than a mile south of Yountville on Washington Street, in an exquisite pale stone winery, surrounded by vineyard and cloaked in quiet.If you enjoy Cabernet, you'll enjoy Bell. We make six different Cabernets as well as Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah; total production is under 15,000 cases annually. Nestled between the towering stainless steel tanks, guests can taste our signature wines at the intimate, elegant Tasting Bar. We also host more extensive educational tastings in our lovely, enclosed Reserve Room overlooking the barrels. During much of the year, our spacious Patio is also open for tasting appointments, under the arbor as the sun slowly arcs toward the Mayacamas to the west.Come visit and taste what Anthony Bell, a globally educated winemaker with over 35 years of experience in Napa, can produce. We guarantee you'll leave speaking Cabernet fluently, and with a smile.
Reviewed By 568sienap - Bicester, United Kingdom
We loved the eccentric and knowledgeable tasting guide, the peaceful setting among the vines and most of all the wines which packed a punch!
6. Pride Mountain Vineyards
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 622 reviews
Pride Mountain Vineyards specializes in red wine production, mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The property is only open for wine tasting appointments to guests with a prior appointments. In compliance of our local codes and use-permits all appointments must be made in advance of arrival. Thank you, Pride Mountain Vineyards
Reviewed By brettbarry1
This was our 4th or 5th visit to Pride over the years, but this past visit was by far the most informative and entertaining/enjoyable. Our wine guide Paul was so exceptional at his work representing Pride – a caring & knowledgeable person, never arrogant – always on point (funny) and frankly one of the best wine tour guides my wife and I have met in over 30 years of visiting Napa. He is just WOW ???? I know everyone felt that way – especially my wife’s family and friends from Norway who were visiting Napa for the 1st time. We arrived 90 min earlier than our appointment - after our tour at neighboring vineyard Keenan which was abruptly ended at the start because their boisterous big dog had gotten into something poisonous and was foaming at the mouth and in distress. So we left early…(we later found out that the dog was OK thank goodness after an emergency vet run). That was jarring & scary enough, but when I arrived early @ Pride with a busload of 10 and asked Paul what to do – he didn’t hesitate or miss a beat… rolling with the situation, and starting us early on easily the best Cave tour we have ever had???? Many Napa vineyards seem to have gone into a kind of automatic mode – going through the swirling motions, not listening to their customers on tour – pushing customers to buy/buy at the end without ever connecting with them. However what you have with Paul is a truly gifted “connector” – a man who plainly loves his work, knows Pride inside the caves & out – and makes each guest feel as though they have had a very unique experience. We have always loved Pride as both a winery and source of outstanding juice. We are Spring Mountain fans for 20+ years (we knew Barbara and Jim at Paloma + we love Schweiger, Sherwin Family, and we are longtime Spring Mountain Vineyard club members). When you try the wines on Spring Mountain you will discover the biggest and richest reds in Napa - complex wines with aging potential. Our stop at Pride last Sunday was the last stop on our 3 day tour, and it left a delicious taste in everyone’s mouths. It made my wife's 50th even more memorable. The vino at Pride Mountain is TOP drawer - their famous Merlot is a monster of deep richness and structure, with massive aging potential. We are fans of the Cab as well & Chardonnay - all the wines at Pride are some of the best you will taste in Napa. Well worth a drive up the mountain. You will not easily find these incredible wines are your local store - do yourself a favor and experience the magic of Pride (and seek out Paul).
7. O'Brien Estate Winery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 672 reviews
We are by appointment only. Please go to our website to inquire about our experiences. We do not take phone reservations. The cost is $55.00 per person. We regretfully are not permitted to have anyone under 21 years of age nor allow any pets on the premises. Our award winning wines come from our 40 acres in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley. From grape growing to bottling, the entire winemaking process is managed at the estate. The vineyards are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Our wines are sought after by collectors and have received many awards, including a recent 98 point score for our 2013 Unrestrained Reserve Bordeaux Blend.
Reviewed By mrg0137
O’Brien Estate was the first Napa Valley winery that really got my wife and I hooked on Napa wine when we visited the area for the first time a few years ago, and we became members at O’Brien after that trip. Since then, we’ve continued to enjoy their wines, and we try to stop in for a free member tasting every time we make a trip to Napa. This visit was our third visit to O’Brien Estate, and we had a very good experience. As compared to most wineries in the Napa Valley, O’Brien Estate is a very small producer. The winery is family owned, with a beautiful 40-acre property in the Oak Knoll District. The O’Brien family lives right in the house on the property, and when you come here for a tasting, you’re doing it right in their backyard and getting right to the heart of the operation. Because it’s so small, O’Brien doesn’t distribute their wines, selling them only at the winery itself and to wine club members. This exclusivity makes us feel that being wine club members is really worth it, since we know it’s the only way to have their wines at home on a regular basis. This was our third time doing the tasting experience at O’Brien, and it wasn’t our favorite experience in Napa either of the previous two times we came (although we loved the wine). On our first trip to Napa, we admittedly weren’t overly educated about the area or its wines, and the guy who did our tasting was quite rude and epitomized the standoffish reputation that Napa can sometimes have. The second time, after we had become members and knew a lot more about Napa wines, the tasting was much better, but still not great. The guy who did our tasting that time was absent for most of it and just gave off an attitude of not wanting to be bothered with us. He spent most of his time giving his attention to walk-in guests who had shown up without reservations, even though O’Brien doesn’t take walk-ins and is normally focused on making the experience very intimate. Those experiences were in the past, and we’ve still stayed loyal to O’Brien since we love their wine. I’m glad to report that the third time was a charm for having a great in-person tasting experience, this time with Marilyn. Marilyn hosted us and we had the entire winery to ourselves, and she really took the time to make it fun and informative. She was a great host and we’re glad to have had such a nice experience this time. Tastings at O’Brien are held outside for most of the year, in picturesque seating areas right by the edge of the vineyard, much closer than you get to the vines at almost any other winery we’ve been to in the area. In this case, since it was chilly in January, our tasting was held inside the barn, but Marilyn still invited us to have a glass of chardonnay while taking a quick walking tour through the vineyard, which we enjoyed (walking in the vineyard was not offered to us on previous visits). It was a beautiful afternoon to be outside, and we learned a lot about the process of preparing for each growing season and even how the process of replanting works when a portion of the vineyard has outlived its useful life. The O’Briens’ adorable dog, Heidi, was also there and ran around the vineyards with us while we took our walk. Hanging out with Heidi is always a highlight of a visit to O’Brien Estate. After touring the vineyards with Marilyn, we settled down inside for a tasting of all of O’Brien’s current releases – merlot, two Bordeaux-style blends (Romance and Seduction), and the cabernet sauvignon. We’ve had all of these before, and especially love Seduction and the cabernet sauvignon, but it’s always fun to do another tasting and have a chance to relax and talk about the wine. They also provide a nice cheese plate to accompany the wine as well. They’ve just set up new seating areas for tastings in the barn, so it was a nice change of pace to do a tasting there for the first time, although in warmer weather, it is still preferable to be outside overlooking the vineyard. Our time with Marilyn was very enjoyable, and we spent close to 90 minutes with her, just talking about all kinds of things, from dogs, to the happenings at O’Brien, to Napa in general. It was informal and laid-back. We really enjoy the wines at O’Brien Estate and think a stop here is worth it (reservations are required and can be made online). The blends are priced in the $70-$80 range per bottle, and the cabernet sauvignon is now just under $100 a bottle, which I think are good prices for the quality of wine produced. We enjoy our membership at O’Brien, and even if you don’t become a member, a tasting there is a wonderful way to spend a portion of a day, in the world of a laid-back, small producer. I am very glad that we had a great tasting experience this time with Marilyn, and we now look forward to similar positive experiences in the future!
8. Fontanella Family Winery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 113 reviews
Great family, boutique winery in sunny Napa, CA. I want to review this great winery that we just visited! Cheers!
Reviewed By CR_Robb - Castle Rock, United States
This was our first trip to Napa and Fontanella was our first stop. Jen was absolutely amazing, my girlfriend and I were the only ones there for our tasting and tour. Jen was incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable. She set the bar super high for the rest of the tours we did that day. We had an amazing time and laughed a ton. If your uptight you might want to avoid Jen, she’s a free sport and we enjoyed every minute we spent with her! Thanks for starting our trip off with a bang, we can’t wait to come back and see you soon!
9. Robert Biale Vineyards
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 170 reviews
“We have been on a quest to realize the full potential of California’s historic vineyards - and to create greater understanding about the joyful pleasures and true character of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. Honoring the wisdom and labors of our forefathers, and keeping the agricultural and social traditions alive that are unique to American wine … it doesn’t get any more gratifying than that in the wine business…” - Dave Pramuk and Bob Biale, Co-Founders, Robert Biale Vineyards
Reviewed By seawaif
The staff were friendly and welcoming (Jim, our host, was genuine, knowledgeable and entertaining). The wines of course were excellent - with the focus being Zinfandel. The views from the patio are great - you are on the valley floor - I have to come back when the vines are full of grapes. Family owned, family run, and it shows.
10. Palmaz Vineyards
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 148 reviews
Reviewed By 208MaryK208
Fabulous tour with views of vineyard- tasting starts there and then continues through the wine making process. Finishing part is the food and wine pairing ... Outstanding!
