Napa Valley, California
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Napa Wine, Wineries & Wine BarsNapa has a number of wineries in or just outside the city. More conveniently, it offers more wine bars—where you can taste wines from a number of different wineries—than the rest of the valley combined. Plus you'll discover great bargains and hard-to-find "cult" wines. |
Napa Valley Vintners Association Winery Finder
www.napavintners.com/wineries/wineryfinder.html
Searchable map shows member wineries by category, such as drop-in tasting, tours, caves, picnic areas and more.
We also suggest trying the Napa WineWalk, where you can visit 10 wine bars, all within walking distance in downtown Napa.
Andretti Winery
4162 Big Ranch Road
Napa CA 94558
707.255.3524 888.460.8463
Open daily for tasting. Founded in 1996 by famed race car driver Mario Andretti. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc.
Back Room Wines
974 Franklin Street
Napa CA 94559
707.226.1378
Directions: Between First and Second Streets in Downtown Napa.
A wine shop and tasting bar. Winetasting by the half-glass or glass, as well as artisan cheeses and charcuterie. Tasting flights of six wines are also available on scheduled evenings. Free wi-fi Internet access.
Bounty Hunter Rare Wine & Provisions
975 First Street
Napa CA 94559
707.226.3976 800.943.9463
Mark Pope focuses on rare, limited-production wines, primarily from California but including wines—and wine paraphernalia—from throughout the world. He's in the historic Semorile Building, constructed in 1888 and located between Main Street and the river.
Mark also offers a wine bar (more than 40 wines by the glass and 400 by the bottle) and bistro fare for tasting and fine snacking. Open until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights, the Bounty Hunter has become a lively and popular hangout. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Caldwell Winery/Cave
270 Kreuzer Lane
Napa CA 94559
707.255.1294
17,000 square foot cave. Tours by appointment, $25/person. Bottle and barrel tastings.
CalWine
1215 Silverado Trail
Napa CA 94559
707.226.7671
Napa Valley wines, particularly "cult" wines, available online and at their Napa store.
Ceja Vineyards Wine Tasting Salon
1248 First Street
Napa CA 94559
707.255.3954
Wine tasting salon, lounge and art gallery. Artisan cheeses, works by local artists. Sample a minimum of four wines from Ceja's own portfolio. Next to Ben and Jerry’s in the downtown Napa mall. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Cellar Collections
1852 W. Imola Avenue
Napa CA 94559
707.251.9553
Stephen Goldberg seeks out hard-to-find wine lots, and consistently sells at below winery prices. His store is located at the southern entrance to Napa on Imola Avenue, which is the street on the northern edge of Napa State Hospital.
Copia - The American Center For Wine, Food And The Arts
500 First Street
Napa CA 94558
707.259.1600 (tickets) 707.265.5900 (admin)
Adults: $5.00 Seniors/Students: $4.00 Children 12 and under: free. Half-price Wednesdays for Sonoma and Napa County residents. Frequently admission is free for everyone thanks to corporate sponsors, and at the time of writing is free throughout 2008. Annual memberships available. Day pass is not required to visit the Café, Julia's Kitchen or the store, but is required for the Wine Spectator Tasting Table, demonstrations and exhibits. Copia is open 10 to 5 daily, except Tuesdays. There's a 30-minute class every morning that for a small fee will teach you the basics of wine tasting. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Copia—The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts.
Copia is situated on 12 acres on the banks of the Napa River, a short walk from downtown Napa. The center celebrates America's contributions to wine, food and the arts. It includes a 280-seat theater for films and lectures, a café gift shop, an 80-seat demonstration kitchen, a 500-seat concert terrace, a restaurant—" Julia's Kitchen " (named after the late Julia Child)—and 3.5 acres of landscaped edible organic gardens for hands-on learning about soils, farming and viticulture. It offers films, classes, readings, lectures, demonstrations, tastings and workshops. Copia also has a free audio tour that you can take listening to commentary from your own cell phone. (Just dial 408-794-2854)
Gardens at Copia. (Photo courtesy of Copia and MJ Wickham)
The Copia theater offers films, lectures, musical performances, and other events. (Photo courtesy of Copia and MJ Wickham.)
Another feature of paid admission to Copia is the Wine Spectator Tasting Table with wines from throughout the world. Visitors can sample wines from a different winery each week. Wine tasting is daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Copia outdoor concert terrace. (Photo courtesy of Copia and MJ Wickham)
Copia offers a variety of wine education classes with such titles as The ABCs of Starting a Wine Cellar and The Carpenters of Wine: All About Wine Barrels and Cooperage, as well as Wine Certificate programs in partnership with the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. Over 40 different wine courses are offered, most paired with food. It also offers more than 200 food classes, including both cooking and non-cooking programs.
Visual and performing arts programs include photography, design, music, theater, film, dance, art, performance, literature, history, archaeology and fashion. Copia also offers an artist-in-residence Legacy Program for prominent winemakers, chefs, artists, poets, authors, filmmakers, dancers, nutritionists and scientists.
Robert and Margrit Mondavi. (Photo courtesy of Robert Mondavi Winery.)
Copia is the inspiration of winemaker Robert Mondavi and his wife Margrit, and it was he who purchased the land and donated it to the non-profit institution for its new home, along with $20 million to get the project going. Many other individuals and organizations also donated funds. Honorary trustees include chef Alice Waters, good-taste expert Martha Stewart, chefs Thomas Keller and Jacques Pépin, and wine critic Robert Parker.
Corley Family Napa Valley
4242 Big Ranch Road
Napa CA 94558
707.253.2802
www.corleyfamilynapavalley.com
The Corley family has been producing limited-edition wines for over 30 years. The winery is also known as Monticello Vineyards.Try their beautifully soft Corley Proprietary Red, a blend of three wines. It's available only at the winery. Picnic grove available to visitors. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Zinfandel.
Del Dotto Wine Caves and Tasting Room
1055 Atlas Peak Road
Napa CA 94558
707.256.3332
Open daily. Tours and tasting by appointment only. You can either do the basic tasting bar experience, or sign up for their special Cave Experience and Barrel Tasting, where you'll taste wines direct from the barrel, experiencing the difference not only between various types of oak (such as French, American, Russian), but also between levels of toast (the amount the inside of the barrel is "toasted" or burned).
Although the winery is actually in St. Helena, their tasting room is located near Silverado Country Club in the historic Hedgeside Distillery building, constructed in 1884. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese.
Folio Enoteca & Winery
610 First Street
Napa CA 94559
707.256.3700
In the Oxbow Public Market. Microwinery, wine tasting room and shop and café. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Frazier Winery
70 Rapp Lane
Napa CA 94558
707.255.3444
Tours and tasting seven days a week by appointment. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot.
Hess Collection Winery
4411 Redwood Road
Napa CA 94558
707.255.1144
Open daily for self-guided tour and tasting.
Directions: Off Highway 29 in north Napa, turn west on Redwood Road (to the east this road is called Trancas Street). Stay on Redwood Road approximately 6.5 miles to the winery on the left, being careful to turn left over a bridge at the junction of Mount Veeder Road. Look for the sign on the bridge.
A dramatic painting by Franz Gertsch at the Hess Collection. (Photo courtesy of the winery.)
The Hess Collection is both a winery and an art museum. Swiss owner Donald Hess, who now lives in Argentina, has assembled one of the largest modern art collections available for public viewing in California. This remarkable collection complements a winery that produces superb wines. Plus there's an excellent 12-minute audio-visual presentation on the winery. Highly recommended.
Humanitas
1081 Round Hill Circle
Napa, CA 94558
707.259.0349
All profits go to charities dealing with hunger, affordable housing and illiteracy. Funds go to regional chapters in the communities where the wine is sold, not to national headquarters. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Jarvis Vineyards
2970 Monticello Road
Napa CA 94558
800.255.5280
Tasting tours daily by appointment only. Cost is $15 per person. Four miles east of Napa on the road toward Lake Berryessa. The entire winery is located within a stunning 45,000 square feet of caves, with cast bronze doors, fiber optic chandeliers, and an underground stream and waterfall. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Chardonnay, Petit Verdot. Owned by William Jarvis, founder of Jarvis Conservatory.
JV Wine & Spirits
301 First Street
Napa CA 94559
707.253.2624
The place where Napans go for good prices on wine and spirits. It's just over the river from Copia. The largest wine selection in the Napa Valley, with over 1200 different wines, including more than 250 Cabernets, 320 Chardonnays, 120 Zinfandels and 140 Merlots. If that's not enough for you, try one of the more than 115 different micro and imported beers. Wine tasting every day from 1-6 p.m. with a rotation of 40 different boutique wineries. There's a $5 tasting fee, but it's refundable with your purchase of wine. Friday evening offers winemaker tastings, at a charge of $2.00 per person, also refundable with purchase. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
You can also order many of their wines online at www.jvwine.com
Kirkland Ranch Winery
1 Kirkland Ranch Road
Napa CA 94559
707.254.9100
Open daily for tours and tastings. On Highway 12 in Jamieson Canyon between Interstate 80 and Highway 29. Sangiovese, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Muscat Canelli.
Laird Family Estate
5055 Solano Avenue
Napa CA 94558
877.297.4902
Tours and tastings by appointment. On the west side of Highway 29 at the intersection of Oak Knoll Avenue. The Laird family has been growing grapes since 1970 and eventually opened their own winery. The winery also serves as a "custom crush" facility for a number of other Napa Valley wineries. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot.
Mason Cellars Oxbow Tasting Room
714 First Street
Napa CA 94559
707.255.0658
Tasting room near the Oxbow Market and Copia. They specialize in Sauvignon Blanc, but also offer Cabernet Sauvignon. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Monteverdi Spirits
P.O. Box 6079
Napa CA 94581
707.255.5368
Makers of Nocino, a traditional walnut liqueur in Italy and southern Switzerland.
Napa Fermentation Supplies
575 Third St, Bldg A
Napa CA 94559
707.255.6372
Located at the Napa Valley Expo fairgrounds. A very popular place for locals—professional and amateur—to get the equipment and supplies they need to make their own wine, beer and olive oil.
Napa General Store
540 Main Street
Napa CA 94559
707.259.0762
A specialty market and cafe. Visitors can choose from a daily selection of four reds and four whites by the glass, which are in turn chosen from a rotation of 25-30 varietals. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Napa Valley Wine & Cigar
161 Silverado Trail
Napa CA 94559
707.253.8696
www.napavalleywineandcigar.com
Located on the Silverado Trail next to Big O Tires at the south end of Napa. A small but excellent wine shop focusing on wines from California, Washington, Oregon and Australia. A particularly good selection of ports and a wide range of cigars.
Napa Valley Wine Train
1275 McKinstry
Napa CA 94559
707.253.2111. 800.427.4124 Fax: 707.253.9264
On-Train Restaurant: Wine Country Cuisine - $85-$110 prix fixe
Directions: From Soscol Avenue turn east on First Street and take the first left onto McKinstry Street. Take the second left into the parking lot of the McKinstry Street Depot.
The Napa Valley Wine Train—gourmet dining on the rails through the heart of the wine country. (Photo courtesy of Napa Valley Wine Train.)
A 36-mile, three-hour fixed-price brunch, lunch or dinner excursion that travels year round through the heart of the Napa Valley. Meticulously restored 1917 Pullman dining car, damask linens, bone china, silver flatware, lead crystalware. Lounge and wine tasting cars are resplendent in polished mahogany, brass and etched glass. Wine Emporium stocks over 200 Napa Valley wines for purchase or shipping. Special "Winemaker Dinner" trips. There's also a less expensive "open-air" car—the "Silverado", and a more expensive vista dome car. Basic no-food fare is $40. A la carte lunches are $6.95 to $16.95.
You can take the brunch, lunch or dinner runs all the way to St. Helena and back to Napa, or you can enjoy the special luncheons that include a tour of Grgich-Hills Winery in Rutherford or Domaine Chandon Winery in Yountville.
The Wine Train is fun, folks. If you like trains, great food, great service and/or a great view, take a trip. The whole thing is done with superb flair. If you think you'll be hungry soon, make sure you get the first seating. The second seating doesn't happen until one and half hours later when the train starts its return trip from St. Helena—although you'll have hors d'oeuvres and beverages on the trip upvalley.
During your trip you may still see a few signs that seem to indicate that some of the locals don't care for the train. This is true. Some don't. The opponents are primarily "upvalley". They complain about the traffic that it allegedly produces, about the environmental damage, the noise, the danger at crossings; some have even alleged that the noise bothers their grapevines.
The Wine Train's opponents, although vocal, are greatly outnumbered by its proponents, and certainly by those who don't care one way or another. It's just a train. It's very pretty. It's a lot of fun to watch it go by. And even more fun to ride. Enjoy your trip.
Napa Wine Merchants
1146 First Street (corner of Coombs)
Napa CA 94559
707.257.6796
A shared tasting room offering wines from more than 10 wineries and featuring Gustavo Thrace wines. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Oxbow Wine Merchant and Wine Bar
Oxbow Public Market
Napa CA 94559
707.226.5587
Offers tasting from 15-20 wines by the 2 oz. taste, the 5 oz. glass, (in some cases) the half bottle, and the full bottle. Carries smaller production wines from around the world, as well as everyday, high-quality labels. The owners also operate the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant in San Francisco.
Palmaz Vineyards
4029 Hagan Road
Napa CA 94558
707.226.5587
The winery was built by the co-inventor of the "stent" used for heart patients.The entire winemaking and aging takes place in a wine cave 18 stories deep. The fermentation dome is the world's largest underground reinforced structure. Produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Johannisberg Riesling and Muscat Canelli.
Robert Craig Winery
880 Vallejo Street
Napa CA 94559
707.252.2250
Tasting by appointment only.
Directions: From downtown Napa take Main Street north to Vallejo. Turn right and continue two blocks east.
Although his Cabernet Sauvignons are made on Howell Mountain and come from vineyards in such varied locations as Coombsville, Mt. Veeder, Howell Mountain and Spring Mountain, Robert Craig has opened a convenient tasting room just minutes from downtown Napa. Also features Chardonnay and Zinfandel. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Rocca Family Vineyards
1130 Main Street
Napa CA 94559
707.257.8467
Although their vineyard is in Yountville, Rocca offers tasting and sales at their tasting room in Napa. By the tasting, glass or bottle. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Seguin Moreau Napa Cooperage
151 Camino Dorado
Napa CA 94558
707.252.3408
Just off Highway 29 south of Napa. Three tours a day Monday through Friday. Call in advance for reservations and directions.
How many places can you actually watch wine barrels being made? A fascinating part of the wine business that most visitors miss. A wonderful educational experience for kids as they watch skilled coopers plying their art in nearly the same fashion as their ancestors have for hundreds of years. Yes, kids, people still do this. And isn't it neat the way they build a fire inside the barrel to "toast" it?
Stave Wine Lounge
1149 First Street
Napa CA 94559
707.259.5411
Wine bar with automatic wine dispensers. Buy a card, then use it to pour yourself one of the many available wines from small Napa Valley producers and elsewhere. The dispensers automatically give you a one-ounce taste. You can also buy a bottle of any of the tasting wines, and take it home or sit back and enjoy it in Stave's comfortable surroundings.
Thirty-two wines available for tasting, including eight international wines. Cost per ounce tasting ranges from $1.10 to $9.00. By the bottle from $10 - $100. Small production local wines are featured. Also dessert and sparkling wines by the glass. Free wi-fi. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Stonehedge Winery
1004 Clinton Street
Napa CA 94559
707.256.4444
The winery is upvalley but the tasting room is in Napa. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Taste at Oxbow
708 First Street
Napa CA 94559
707.265.9600
Wine tasting (Mahoney and Waterstone Vineyards), gourmet food snacks and retail items. Enjoy a glass, or try a taste of five wines for $10. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Vintner's Collective
1245 Main Street
Napa CA 94559
707.255.7150 Fax: 707.255.7159
A co-op tasting room representing a number of Napa Valley boutique wineries. This is the only place in the valley you can sample these excellent wines. Wines are available from more than 15 wineries. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Wineries of Napa Valley
1285 Napa Town Center
Napa CA 94559
707.253.9450 800.328.7815
Open daily with sales, tasting and concierge services located very close to the Visitors Center in downtown Napa. Wines from a number of small wineries. Free Internet wi-fi when you purchase a glass of wine. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
X Winery
1405 Second Street
Napa CA 94559
707.204.9522
Tasting home of X Winery and Amicus Cellars wines. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel. By appointment only. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
ZuZu
829 Main Street
Napa CA 94559
707.224.8555
Spanish Tapas - Plates: $3-$11 each
Although ZuZu is a restaurant, it's an excellent place to sample wines, as it offers more than 20 wines by the glass. Limited-release, off-the-beaten path wines from California, Spain, Italy, Portugal, South America and New Zealand are featured.
Bib Gourmand rating (good meals at moderate prices) in the Michelin Guide to the San Francisco Bay Area. Located across the street from Veterans' Park and the Napa River, ZuZu has been packing them in since the day it opened. It didn't hurt that the San Francisco Chronicle gave ZuZu the greatest raves we've ever seen in their restaurant reviews. ZuZu doesn't take reservations, so be prepared to wait.
ZuZu's menu focuses on Spanish "tapas," those delicious little mini-dishes prepared both cold (tapas frias) and warm (tapas calientes). Enjoy them with a glass of sherry. Our personal favorites are the Mexican corn soup and the Flat-Iron Steak, but we're always pleased no matter what we order. Excellent, friendly service, a lively atmosphere, and wonderfully tasty food. In fact, we get more excited about the food each time we go there. It's delicious.
If you'd like to sample wines from a variety of wineries, but your visiting time is limited, consider wine bars. Wine bars offer you the opportunity to taste wines from a number of wineries at a single location.
In the past year, the number of wine tasting bars in the Napa Valley has greatly increased. There is a fee for sampling the wines, but the wine bars are convenient and they also give you a chance to try hard-to-find, limited-production wines.
We suggest trying the Napa WineWalk, where you can visit 10 wine bars, all within walking distance in downtown Napa.
Napa General Store (Napa Mill)
Wine Spectator Tasting Table at Copia
