Northern California, Napa Valley Wineries

Napa Valley’s Calistoga Wineries

Napa Valley Wine Train. Enjoy a 3-hour culinary adventure on the Napa Valley Wine Train. Enjoy elegant rail travel, distinguished service, and a gourmet meal in lavishly-restored, vintage 1915-1947 Pullman Dining, Lounge and Vista Dome Railcars. Take a 33-mile journey through Napa Valley's picturesque vineyards and world-renowned wineries. Call (707) 253-2111 or visit www.napavalley.com.

Artesa Vineyards & Winery. Views, modern architecture, and pinot noir discoveries make this a favorite stop. The cescue-grass covered winery offers a gift shop and a long bar where tastes include chardonnays, pinot noirs, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, and sparkling wine. 1345 Henry Rd., 707/224-1668.

Beaulieu Vineyard. Bordeaux native Georges de Latour found the third-oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley in 1900. Visit the brick-and-redwood tasting room or the Private Reserve Tasting Room that offers a "flight" of five reserve wines for $25. 1960 St. Helena Hwy. (Hwy. 29), 707/967-5230.

Beringer Vineyards. Beringer Vineyards is where everyone heads to taste wine and view the hand-dug tunnels in the mountainside. Found in 1876, this is the oldest winery in Napa Valley - open during Prohibition when Beringer made "sacramental" wines. White zinfandel is the winery's top seller, but other varietals are available. Enjoy tasting current vintages ($5) or sampling the reserve wines in the Rhine House. Try the 1.5-hour vintage legacy tour. 2000 Main St. (Hwy. 29), 707/963-7115  [Top]

Charles Krug Winery. Founded in 1861, Krug was the first winery built in the valley. The family of Peter Mondavi (Robert’s brother) owns it today, so it's worth paying your respects to sip releases and reserves. Enjoy a picnic on umbrella-shaded tables overlooking the vineyards and wine cellar. 2800 St. Helena Hwy, 707/963-5057

Clos Du Val. The ivy-covered building and rose garden offer a romantic wine-tasting experience. Bordeaux winemaker Bernard Portet garnered a reputation for the cabernet, chardonnay, pinot noir, and merlot. There's a $5 tasting charge (refunded with purchase) for four wines. Lovely picnic facilities and the French game pétanque are available in grassy nooks. 5330 Silverado Trail, 707/259-2200.

Clos Pegase. Architect Michael Graves designed this oasis, which integrates art, aging caves, and a luxurious hilltop home. View the art while tasting the wines - from the 2000 Vin Gris merlot to the 1998 Hommage Artist Series Reserve, an extremely limited blend of the winery's cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Taste three current releases costs $7.50.Enjoy the sculpture garden and picnic spots. 1060 Dunaweal Lane, 707/942-4981

Cuvaison. "Cuvaison" is French for the fermentation of wine on grape skins. Since 1982, John Thacher has crafted world-class Chardonnay, Chardonnay Reserve, Merlot and Pinot Noir from the vineyard in Carneros, Cabernet Sauvignon from the heart of Napa Valley, and Zinfandel from the mountains.  [Top]

Domaine Chandon. Found in 1973 by Moët et Chandon, the Valley's sparkling winery offers elegant grounds, atmosphere, and sculpture gardens. Linger with fizzing bubbly in the salon or under the patio's shade, and indulge in a French-inspired meal at the restaurant. A tour of the winery includes a gallery that depicts the history of champagnes and art exhibits. Sip and listen to live music. 1 California Drive, 707/944-2280.

Dutch Henry Winery. Don’t miss this small, family-owned winery named after nearby Dutch Henry Canyon. With a limited production of 3,000 cases a year, the winery specializes in hand-crafted Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah, Meritage, Rose and Chardonnays.

Frank Family Vineyards. The "friendliest winery in the valley” serves up the bubbly (blanc de blanc, blanc de noir, and reserve rouge, at $20-$70 a bottle) you desire. Wine lovers can slip into the back room to sample chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon. Uders the oaks, a picnic area overlooking the vineyards. 1091 Larkmead Lane, 707/942-0859

Joseph Phelps Vineyards. Enjoy a knockout tour and tasting at this stellar winery found in 1973 off the Silverado Trail in Spring Valley. Phelps launched the first syrah in the valley. aste sauvignon blanc, viogner, syrah, chardonnay, merlot, and cab. 800/707-5789  [Top]

Hans Fahden Winery. Hans Fahden vineyards and winery consists of 100 acres, located at 1,200 feet in the Mayacamus Mountains above Calistoga. The winery features panoramic views of Mt. St. Helena. Taste wine and share stories from the family.

Niebaum-Coppola. Hollywood meets vine at Francis Ford Coppola's Inglenook Vineyards, Niebaum-Coppola. The 1880’s ivy-draped stone winery offers historic grandeur, while the inside promotes Coppola's wines and films. On display are Academy Awards from The Godfather. Wine and food dominate the cavernous tasting area, where an estate-grown blend, cabernet Franc, merlot, chardonnay, and organic zinfandel are sampled. The château and garden tour includes a private tasting and glass. 1991 St. Helena Hwy., 707/968-1100

Opus One. Opus One winery - developed by Robert Mondavi and Baron Phillipe de Rothschild - caters to one ultra-premium red wine, which is offered for a whopping $25 per 4-ounce taste. You’ll enjoy the tour through the Greco-Roman-meets-20th-century building and ultra-tech production and aging facilities. Grab your glass and head to the redwood rooftop deck to enjoy the views. 707/944-9442

PlumpJack Winery. Chic, wild, and popular with young hipsters, this playful winery offers a colorful atmosphere and serious winemaking. Sample the imprssive cabernet, merlot, and chardonnay at this refreshing winery. You’ll want to hang out all day. 620 Oakville Cross Rd., 707/945-1220  [Top]

Prager Winery & Port Works. If you want a down-home, off-the-beaten-track experience, Prager can't be beat. Pull open the old wooden door, pass the oak barrels, and you'll come upon the clapboard tasting room. Hosted by the Prager kids, your tasting includes a late-harvest Johannesburg Riesling and tawny port ($45/bottle). 1281 Lewelling Lane, 800/969-PORT

Robert Mondavi Winery. The Mission-style winery offers hour jaunts through vineyards and winemaking facilities as you sample varietals. .The "essence tasting" lets you compare wine with the scents of fruits, spices, and nuts, and the "appellation tour" includes a vineyard picnic. Taste in the Appellation Room, an outdoor tasting area and ToKalon Room, where a 3-ounce taste costs $5.. The "Art of Wine and Food" on Friday includes a presentation on the history of wine, a winery tour, and outdoor concerts and events. 7801 St. Helena Hwy. (Hwy. 29), 800/MONDAVI

Sawyer Cellars. A visit to Sawyer reveals high quality wines and humble attitude. Step into the restored 1920’s barn to get to the tasting room. Enjoy a picnic on the patio overlooking the vineyards, get dirty in a grape crushing, or reserve the wine library for a luncheon. Tour the property on a tram and learn about the winemakers. Taste estate-made wines - sauvignon blanc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and Meritage.  With a limited production of 4,200 cases and a friendly attitude, this winery is a rare treat. 8350 St. Helena Hwy. (Hwy. 29), 707/963-1980

Schramsberg. This 217-acre champagne estate, once frequented by Robert Louis Stevenson, has an old-world feel and is one of the valley's best places to explore. Explore the champagne caves, which wind 2 miles - the longest in North America. With dangling cobwebs and endless passageways, you're on an adventure. The tour ends in a charming tasting room, where you'll sit around a table and sample bubbly. 1400 Schramsberg Rd., 707/942-2414  [Top]

St. Supéry Winery. This modern winery encourages first-time tasters to learn about oenology. Wander through the demonstration vineyard, where you'll learn about growing technique. The adjoining Atkinson House chronicles 100 years of winemaking history. For $5 you'll get lifetime tasting privileges and a tour, which includes samples of delicious sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, and cabernet. 8440 St. Helena Hwy. (Hwy. 29), 800/942-0809

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. Found in 1972, Stag's Leap shocked the oenological world in 1976 when its 1973 cabernet won first place over French wines in a Parisian blind tasting. Visit the charmingly landscaped winery and its cozy tasting room where you can taste current releases. A tour and tasting runs through the vineyard, production facilities and swank wine caves used to store and age wine. 5766 Silverado Trail, 707/944-2020

Sterling Vineyards. Take the aerial tram, which offers stunning views, to this white Mediterranean-style winery, perched 300 feet up on a rocky knoll. Follow the self-guided tour of the winemaking process and take the elevator to the tasting room, where you’ll sample varietals limited releases and reserves in a panoramic setting. 1111 Dunaweal Lane, 707/942-3344

Swanson Vineyards & Winery. Experience a whimsical tasting party, called a "sa-lon,” where you and up to seven guests sit at a centerpiece round table in a coral parlor adorned with paintings, seashells and a fireplace. Over the snack-and-sip event, you’ll savor a bright pinot grigio, merlot, and hearty Alexis - their signature cab-syrah blend. 1271 Manley Lane, 707/967-3500  [Top]

The Hess Collection. Experience art and wine at this winery and art gallery on Mount Veeder. Enjoy a working winery interspersed with gloriously lit rooms that exhibit Donald Hess’ stunning art collection. Take a tour through the galleries and the winemaking process. Sample the winery's current cabernet, chardonnay and featured wines. 4411 Redwood Road, 707/255-1144

Trefethen Vineyards.  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the vineyard's main building was built in 1886 and is Napa's only wooden, gravity-flow winery. One of the valley's oldest wineries, Trefethen produces an award-winning Chardonnay, and other whites and reds for tasting. 1160 Oak Knoll Ave, 707/255-7700

V. Sattui Winery. A family winery established in 1885 in St. Helena’s red wine country, V. Sattui produces excellent cabernets, merlots and zins. At this winery and gourmet deli, you can fill up on wine, pâté, and cheese samples. The long wine bar offers chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, Riesling (winner at the 2004 California State Fair), cabernet, zinfandel, Madeira and muscat dessert wine. V. Sattui's grassy picnic area makes this a favorite for families. Visit www.vsattui.com  [Top]