8 Best Places For Wine Tours In Napa Valley
Napa Valley wine tour in California, USA, is one of the most loved wine tour destinations in the world. Napa accounts for 4% of California’s wine, and offers a wide variety of wines. With its gorgeous scenic beauty and fresh, tasteful wines, this region located in the north of California is a wine lover’s paradise.
The region’s wineries offer interesting wine tasting tours to visitors. Whether a wine enthusiast or not, wine tours are always a great learning experience for everyone. It is not just about tasting different types of wines, but also about learning the interesting steps of how wine is produced.
If you are planning a trip to Napa Valley, don’t forget to book a few wine tasting tours at some of its most popular wineries. However, with 522 highly competent wineries with tasting rooms, choosing the best ones can be a difficult task to accomplish.
We have listed the 8 most popular wineries in the region below to help you better decide.
The 8 Most Popular Wineries in Napa Valley
Napa Valley offers different types of wine tasting experiences. However, if you are looking for something a little different from the usual wine tasting options offered in this region, schedule a winery tour. The following is a list of the 8 most popular wineries in the region for you to consider.
#1. Hall Wines
If you have a predilection for works of art, Hall Wines would be a fine place for you to take a tour. The winery, owned by Kathryn Wall Hall and Craig Hall, has been producing high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon for decades. It offers an interesting wine-cum-art exploration tour during with you will be able to explore a wide collection of modern art while tasting the latest selections from Hall.
Useful tip: Try the “Sunset Cruise,†which includes a tour of the property on foot and a tasting on the terrace overlooking the vineyards during sunset.
#2. Castello di Amorosa
Castello di Amorosa offers a unique wine tasting experience to visitors with surroundings that exude an old world charm. It was built to resemble a Tuscan castle from the 13th century, and consists of 107 rooms on 8 levels. It is a sprawling structure that spans a total area of over 121,000 square feet.
Useful tip: Opt for the royal food and wine pairing tour. The tour offers an innovative package that includes a historical castle tour, wine tastings, and scrumptious gourmet meals at the lavishly decorated Royal Apartment.
#3. Hendry Ranch
This is a small, family-owned winery located on Redwood road and offers a cozy, comfortable atmosphere. It feels like a home away from home, with friendly staff and first class wine tasting. You will learn everything you need to know about wine-making and the winery’s history from their knowledgeable staff.
Useful tip: You can bring your dog to the winery, which further promotes the home-like atmosphere of the place. Your furry friends will be welcomed warmly, and with a bowl of water.
#4. Newton Vineyard
The vineyard, founded by Dr. Sue Hua and Peter Newton, is among the earliest wineries which were built on the Spring Mountains. It is mostly known for its unprocessed Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot.
However, what is unique about Newton Vineyard is that its founders tried to incorporate some of their ancestral elements into the estate, glimpses of which are found throughout the grounds. These elements include: a typical London phone booth, beautiful English gardens, and Chinese-inspired red gates, just to name a few. Newton Vineyard offers fascinating tours of their wineries and vineyards.
Useful Tip: If you’re at Newton Vineyard request a sip of, “The Puzzle,†the winery’s trademark Cabernet Sauvignon. Each year the proportions of the varietals going into the wine changes, which is a bit puzzling.
#5. Twenty Rows
If you’re looking for a pleasant and relaxed wine tasting tour, without too many activities, a trip to Twenty Rows is worth it. This place is also well adorned with beautiful artwork. You can lay back in the comfortable lounge-like tasting room and allow the enthusiastic staff to pour you different varieties of wine. The best part is that prices are pretty low, compared to other wineries.
Useful Tip: Make sure to carry a light jacket since the barrel wine tasting at the winery is done in a temperature-controlled room.
#6. Schramsberg Vineyards
The winemakers at Schramsberg Vineyards, located deep inside the Calistoga caves, have dedicated themselves to crafting the most extraordinary sparkling wines. The winery has been run by the Davies family for over 50 years and offers a remarkable wine tasting experience through its enchanting caves.
Useful tip: You can celebrate a special occasion, like an anniversary or birthday, by asking the staff to arrange a special candle-light wine tasting for the two of you.
#7. Chateau Montelena
The winery was built by Alfred Tubbs in 1888 and was initially named A.L. Tubbs after its founder. It went on to become famous in the 1976 Judgement of Paris. Chateau Montelena still stands tall at 1429 Tubbs Lane and is known for its high-quality Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The winery tours allow visitors to explore its viticulture and farming processes before indulging in a pleasant experience of tasting the winery’s latest releases.
Useful tip: Don’t forget to halt at Yo el Rey Roasting for a caffeinated tonic following the tour.
#8. V. Sattui
Sattui is the ideal wine tour destination for wine enthusiasts who cannot say no to good food. It is mouthwatering to even think about all the delicacies V. Sattui has to offer, along with the selection of high-quality wines. From mesquite-grilled prawns to wood-fired pizza, the winery’s famous deli is swarming with visitors on weekends during the high season.
Useful tip: To gain access to the winery’s private cellar room, sign up for the wine club.
Napa Valley being a popular wine tour destination offers a bounty of unique wine tasting experiences. The impressive natural beauty of the region coupled with the extraordinary wine tasting tours creates an unforgettable experience.
Tango Tours offers exciting deals on wine tour packages for Napa and Sonoma Valleys. If you want your wine tasting tour in Napa Valley to be a special one, contact us today for more details.
