The Silverado Trail runs along the east side of the valley. It goes outside most of the towns, and there are fewer wineries and much less traffic. Yet it still offers beautiful views, many wineries and quicker driving if you're in a hurry. Don't be in too much of a hurry, however. The view is too lovely and this road can be dangerous, because people drive much faster than on Highway 29 and seem to get more impatient, passing on stretches where it is unsafe to pass. Use caution and you'll enjoy "the Trail" immensely. We do.
The name "Silverado" comes from the road's history carrying quicksilver (mercury) wagons from the mines in northern Napa County. The quicksilver was eventually transported to the gold fields of California where it was used to separate gold from the ore or sand in which it was found. The Trail also led to the Silverado Silver Mine on Mt. St. Helena, where years later Robert Louis Stevenson gathered the notes for his story The Silverado Squatters.
The Silverado Trail runs along the east side of the valley from Calistoga at the northern end to Napa at the southern end. Even though these attractions do have town mailing addresses, we've listed them here for convenience because they're all located on the Trail. Keep in mind that there are more wineries along the trail than the ones we've listed.
Restaurants & Food
Auberge du Soleil Restaurant
180 Rutherford Hill Rd.
Rutherford CA 94573
800.348.5406 Fax: 707.967.3818
French Mediterranean - Entrees $34-$37 - Four-course prix fixe $80
One star in the Michelin Guide to the San Francisco Bay Area. As close to heaven as you can get, with beautiful views of the Napa Valley, wonderful food and the largest restaurant wine selection in the Napa Valley; 1,300 selections and 14,000 bottles. Enjoy breakfast with a spectacular view as the morning fog gradually burns off revealing the vineyards on the valley below. Or order one of the excellent burgers and salads from their "deck menu" for lunch. A truly romantic place on a moonlit evening.
Grill at Meadowood
900 Meadowood Lane
St. Helena CA 94754
707.963.3646 800.458.8080
Restaurant at Meadowood
900 Meadowood Lane
St. Helena CA 94754
707.963.3646 800.458.8080
Two stars in the Michelin Guide to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Soda Canyon Store
4006 Silverado Trail
Napa CA 94558
707.252.0285
Delicatessen, picnic lunches, espresso, groceries. Picnic tables. Wine tasting bar, where you can taste three local wines. The tasting bar focuses on vineyards in Soda Canyon (such as Atlas Peak Vineyards) as well as wineries along the Silverado Trail. It's the only store on the Trail between Napa and Calistoga.
Lodging
Auberge du Soleil
180 Rutherford Hill Rd.
Rutherford CA 94573
707.963.1211 800.348.5406 Fax: 707.963.8764
50 rooms and suites - $500-$3500
A renowned Relais & Châteaux property that includes a restaurant and 50-room inn. Even if you don't stay here, you can enjoy the food.
Calistoga Ranch
580 Lommel Road
Calistoga CA 94515
707.254.2800 800.942.4220
200 rooms - $400 - $650
Auberge Resorts, which also owns Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford, has built a new "private residential resort" 157 acres east of the Silverado Trail and south of Calistoga. It includes 27 "owner lodges" and 47 guest lodges, for a total of 200 rooms. It also offers spa services, and a restaurant and lounge.
Meadowood Resort
900 Meadowood Lane
St. Helena CA 94754
707.963.3646 800.458.8080
85 cottages, suites and lodges - $375-$3585
Croquet anyone? A feature of Meadowood Resort. (Photo courtesy of Meadowood.)
A Relais & Châteaux property. Meadowood, one of Napa Valley's most exquisite resorts, has the only professional croquet court in the Napa Valley and is the site of many tournaments. You can take lessons from the croquet pro, or enjoy any of the other activities at this luxurious 250-acre resort in a wooded park-like setting. Choose from tennis, golf, biking, swimming, hiking, sleeping or reading in the sun, or revitalizing yourself in the health spa.
In the quiet of the early morning, you may see deer wandering across the nine-hole golf course. Sumptuous breakfasts await early risers seven days a week. Meadowood's superb restaurants attract both locals and visitors from afar.
The resort's wine school offers unique wine and food courses. Not surprising considering that Meadowood each June hosts the prestigious Auction Napa Valley—one of the most famous events of its kind in the world.
Meadowood is elegant, luxurious, comfortable, and convenient to many of the Napa Valley's most renowned wineries. It's the place to stay upvalley.
Poetry Inn
6380 Silverado Trail
Napa CA 94558
707.944.0646
4 rooms - $575-$1250
Bed and breakfast inn above the Silverado Trail in the Stags Leap District overlooking the valley. Private balconies, indoor and outdoor showers, three-course breakfast. Highly-praised.
Silverado Resort
1600 Atlas Peak Road
Napa CA 94558
707.257.0200 800.523.0500 Fax: 707.257.5400
280 cottage suites - $280-$1415
Golf at Silverado. (Photo courtesy of Silverado Resort.)
1,200 acres whose cornerstone is a mansion built in the 1870s. Two hundred and eighty deluxe cottage suites complete with living room, wood burning fireplace, full kitchen, master bedroom and bath, and private patio or terrace. Health spa. Nine swimming pools. Two championship 18-hole golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Twenty-three tennis courts. Three excellent restaurants. Live music in the bar. It's the place to stay in Napa.
Wine
Chappellet Vineyard
1581 Sage Canyon Road
St. Helena CA 94574
707.963.7136
Tours and tastings by appointment. Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Zinfandel. Molly Chappellet's highly-regarded books on gardening and cooking are available at the winery.
Château Boswell
3468 Silverado Trail
St. Helena CA 94574
707.963.5472
Tours and tastings by appointment. Chardonnay,Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah. A European-style chateau.
Chimney Rock Winery
5350 Silverado Trail
Napa CA 94558
800.257.2641
Open daily for tasting, tours by appointment. A Cape-Dutch style winery whose vineyards include the site of a former 18-hole golf course, gone in a links-to-vines sacrifice. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Fumé Blanc, Rosé of Cabernet Franc.
Clos Du Val Wine Co., Ltd
5330 Silverado. Trail
Napa CA 94558
707.259.2220 800.993.9463
Open daily for tasting, tours by appointment. Co-founder Bernard Portet established the winery in the Stag's Leap area after a two-year worldwide search for the ideal château location. Pétanque (French bocce ball) courts and picnic tables available to winery visitors. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay.
Conn Creek Winery
8711 Silverado Trail
St. Helena CA 94574
707.963.9100
Open daily for tasting. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc.
Cuvaison Winery
4550 Silverado Trail
Calistoga 94515
707.942.6266
Open daily. Tasting fee includes logo glass. Free tours of wine caves. Picnic grove with 350-year-old oaks.
Outstanding wines with a focus on Carneros Chardonnay, since Cuvaison was farsighted enough to buy Carneros land back when few people realized what an excellent winegrowing region it was. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel.
Darioush Winery
4240 Silverado Trail
Napa CA 94558
707.257.2345
Darioush Winery (Photo courtesy of the winery)
Open daily for tasting. A new winery facility whose style was inspired by the Persepolis, the ancient Persian city founded by Darius, the first king of Persia. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Viognier. They also produce an olive oil.
Duckhorn Vineyards
1000 Lodi Lane
St. Helena CA 94574
888.354.8885
At the corner of Lodi Lane and the Silverado Trail. Open daily for tasting; tours by appointment. Founded in 1978 by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn. Gardens, waterfowl art collection. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a dry Vermouth.
Dutch Henry Winery
4300 Silverado Trail
Calistoga CA 94515
707.942.5771 888.224.5879
Tours and tastings by appointment only during spring and summer. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Meritage, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Syrah.
Hagafen Cellars
4160 Silverado Trail
Napa CA 94558 USA
707.252.0781 Fax: 707.252.4562
Tours are by appointment only. Established in 1979, Hagafen (meaning "the vine") Cellars is the only kosher winery in the Napa Valley. Winemaker/owner Ernie Weir turns out award-winning wines, which have frequently been served at state occasions at the White House. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon Brut Cuvée, White Riesling.
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
200 Taplin Road
St. Helena CA 94574
707.963.2745
Tours and tastings by appointment only. Taplin Road runs east off the Silverado Trail, 1/4 mile north of Zinfandel Lane. Founded in 1972 by Joseph Phelps, who currently has 160 acres of vines on a 600-acre ranch. Phelps donated some of his land on the valley floor to be used for farmworker housing. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, and dessert wines.
Miner Family Vineyards
7850 Silverado Trail
Oakville CA 94562
800.366.9463
Open daily for tasting and tours by appointment. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Petite Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel. A beautiful view of the valley from the winery.
Mumm Napa Valley
8455 Silverado Trail
Rutherford CA 94573
707.942.3434 Fax: 707.942.3470
Open daily for tours and tasting.On the west side of Silverado Trail, approximately two miles north of Oakville Cross Road.
The Wine Spectator has called Mumm Napa Valley "perhaps the best sparkling wine producer in California." Very friendly staff and a beautiful view of the valley, particularly at sunset. Mumm is owned by Allied-Domecq, headquartered in England.
Pine Ridge Winery
5901 Silverado Trail
Napa CA 94558
800.575.9777
Open daily for tasting; tours by appointment. Tours include wine caves. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc-Viognier.
Quintessa
1601 Silverado Trail
St. Helena CA 94574
707.967.1601
Tours and tastings by appointment only. Founded by Agustin and Valeria Huneeus. Agustin was formerly CEO of Chile's largest winery, and head of Franciscan Estates. Valeria is an advocate of biodynamics and uses those agricultural techniques on their vineyards. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc.
Quixote Winery
6126 Silverado Trail
Napa CA 94558
707.944.2659
Carl Doumani, former owner of Stags' Leap Winery, brought in Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser to design his new winery. This is the only Hundertwasser-designed building in the United States, and follows such principles as: no straight lines; roofs are planted with grass and trees; every building is capped with a golden turret to elevate man’s sense of himself; and, color is king.
Produces small quantities of Petite Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon under the Quixote and Panza labels. All grapes are grown organically. Winery visits by appointment only.
Regusci Winery
5584 Silverado Trail
Napa CA 94558
707.254.0403
The Regusci family has been farming in the Napa Valley since 1932. Their Stags Leap District winery is located in a "ghost winery," built in 1878, and crafted from lava stone with two-foot thick walls. Their focus is on reds—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel. All are delicious.
Reynolds Family Winery
3266 Silverado Trail
Napa CA 94558
707.258.2558
Open daily for tasting. Small family winery. Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir.
Robert Sinskey Vineyards
6320 Silverado Trail
Yountville CA 94599
707.944.9090 800.869.2030
Open daily for tastings; tours by appointment. Sinskey is farming its vineyards organically, and also using the even stricter methods of biodynamics. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc.
Rombauer Vineyards
3522 Silverado Trail
St. Helena CA 94574
707.967.5120 800.622.2206
Tours and tastings by appointment only. Founded in 1982. Over one mile of caves. Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon.
Rutherford Hill Winery
200 Rutherford Hill Road
PO Box 427
Rutherford CA 94573
707.963.1871
Rutherford Hill opened in 1976 producing Merlot, and still focuses on that varietal, although it makes many others as well.
The winery makes picnic areas available to visitors, and its winery tour includes a walkthrough of its extensive system of wine caves, perhaps the largest in North America.
The winery also offers Blending in the Caves, which allows participants to create their own blend of Rutherford Hill Merlot. After a tour, your wine instructor will assist you by informing you about vineyard locations, varietal characteristics, flavor, taste and a few basic principle of blending. Then, sampling three varietal wines taken directly form the barrel, you'll create your own blend that you will bottle and take home to enjoy. For a special experience, your group can enter team blends into a "Merlot Blend-Off" competition. Reservations required. Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, Port, Sangiovese, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc.
Rutherford Wine Company
1680 Silverado Trail
St. Helena, CA. 94574
800.778.0424
www.rutherfordwine.com
Located at the intersection of Silverado Trail and Rutherford Cross Road. Sales room open daily, tasting by appointment. Offers Rutherford Ranch, Round Hill, and Reindeer Ranch wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay. Merlot, White Zinfandel, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel
Shafer Vineyards
6145 Silverado Trail. Napa
707.944.2877
Tours and tasting by appointment only. Vineyards were originally planted in 1922. Fifty years later John Shafer founded this winery, one of the first in the Stag's Leap area. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot.
Silverado Trail Wineries Association
Nearly 40 wineries on, or near, the Silverado Trail are members of the association.
Silverado Vineyards
6121 Silverado Trail
Napa CA 94558
707.257.1770
Open daily for tasting; tours by appointment. They've been producing outstanding wines for years at this winery founded by the family of Walt Disney. Beautiful views from the tasting room area. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
5766 Silverado Trail
Napa CA 94558
707.944.2020
Open daily for tasting; tours by appointment.
Stag's Leap staggered the international wine community—and particularly the French part of it—when its 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon took first place in a blind wine tasting in Paris in 1976. The renowned (and very French) wine tasters were horrified that an upstart California winery would best France's finest wines. Some even tried to get their tasting notes back.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' place in history was secure. Other Napa Valley wineries have since won many awards in France and other international competitions, but owners Warren and Barbara Winiarski have never rested on their laurels, and continue to produce superb wines, including their celebrated Cask 23. It well deserves your visit. White Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon.
ZD Wines
8383 Silverado Trail
Napa CA 94558
800.487.7757
Open daily for tastings. Founded in 1969 in Sonoma County, and moved to the Napa Valley in 1979. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon.
