Wineries to Hit in Napa

Favorites and almost-favorites

Your mileage may differ:

Are Public Tastings Available? The last time I was in Napa, summer '96, all these wineries still had tasting rooms open to the public almost every day. Sometimes there is a small fee for the tastings, especially on weekends, and especially at the more expensive wineries.
First thing after you arrive in the valley, stop at a store and pick up a Wine Country Visitors' Guide or similar newspaper. These change names and formats from year to year, but there is always some free weekly newspaper that has maps, lists wineries and hours, has ads and listings for restaurants, lists local events that week, etc. Indispensable.
General Caveat: Not every year is a good year, even at the best of wineries. But good years happen at great wineries more often than they do at mediocre wineries. (This is part of the definition of "great winery," I think.)

Don't Miss

If you are going to spend a day or more in Napa Valley tasting, there are a few wineries that you shouldn't miss. Or, to put it another way, if you were there with me, you wouldn't miss them because I would insist that we stop at these wineries. Don't miss Very sketchy Napa Valley map1.gif

Silver Oak: Cabernet Sauvignon wines only, and among the best in the world. (This is a widely-held opinion, not just Rick's flaming.) Recently, they seem to be soooo popular that they cannot keep any wines in stock. You may not be able to taste more than one or two wines, and you may not be able to buy more than one or two bottles.
Grgich Hills: Chardonnays among the best in the world. Sometimes Cabernets and Sauvignon Blancs and Rieslings, too. Since the wine master, Mike Grgich, has gone back to Bosnia (Bosnia?!? Yikes! Will his next wine be Chateau de Shrapnel?), I do worry about the future of this wonderful winery.
Cakebread: Chardonnays to die for. Sometimes Cabernets and Sauvignon Blancs, too. They seem recently to have changed from the classic California chardonnay style, that is, oaky, to the new style, that is, citrusy. A damned shame, too.
Cuvaison: Cabernets to die for; chardonnays and merlots are very good, too. One of my favorite places in the valley. Many cases of these in the cellar.
Beaulieu: Cabernets still wonderful, sometimes fabulous.

Worth a Stop

There are many other good wineries in the valley that are worth a stop, if you have time. (In order, more or less, from south to north, up the valley.)

Domaine Chandon: Lovely deck to sit on and sip champagne. Restaurant to die for.
Vichon: Partway up Oakville Grade Road from the valley. Good, moderate-price wines. Nice picnic area.
Villa Mt. Eden: Cheap wines, but good cheap wines. Cabernet, even burgundy.
Girard: Very good cabernets and chardonnays.
Robert Mondavi: Surprisingly good wines when they try.
Freemark Abbey: Very good cabernets. Watch particularly for wines from the Bosche vineyard.
Stonegate: Good cabernets and chardonnays. Some years, very good dessert wines also.
Sterling: Good cabernets, chardonnays, sauvignon blancs. Look particularly for Diamond Montain Ranch vineyard. The only problem with tasting here is that it takes a lot of time. You have to park at the base and take the tram up to the winery, so you have to invest several hours.
Chateau Montelena: Good chardonnays and cabernets.
De Moor: Good sauvignon blancs. And some years they make a dessert wine called Fie Doux that is killer.

Save Your Time

Look good from the outside, but undistinguished wines.

Markham
Groth
Beringer: Well, the building is worth a look.

Save Your Tongue

Cool labels, and some even widely known, but pretty odd wines.

Sequoia Grove
V. Sattui
Folie a Deux

Comments and flames to the author: webmaster@ricksoft.com "Why use logic when there's a flamethrower handy?" Hey, go ahead. I didn't exactly leave the gloves on when I wrote this.