California has been doing great as a tourist destination. From its favorable weather to the vast beach area, the thrill in California is just getting started.
But there is one aspect of California that is often overlooked, its winemaking prowess. Characterized by extensive vineyards and elegantly designed wineries, no other American city matches California’s wine game. With over 500 wineries setting base in the Napa region, settling for a few to sample can be challenging.
These are 10 wineries that will make the Napa wine tasting experience worth it.
10 V. Sattui Winery
V. Sattui is an ancient Italian-themed winery located on Napa’s busiest street, St. Helena. This facility is among the most visited wineries in the larger Napa region. V. Sattui serves over 60 different types of wines, which shows how much is on the vacationer’s plate to sample. The firm doesn’t require any prior booking before visiting. Vacationers can go ahead to plan their tasting tours any day of the week. Adventurers need to prepare their tasting buds for a tasting tour experience like no other.
- Location: 1111 White Ln, St Helena, CA 94574, U.S.
9 Brown Estate
Diversity is something the wine business in California has embraced to the core. Part of the wineries that are a result of this diversity is Brown estate, a family-owned business in Napa Valley. This winery has one of the most elegant tasting rooms in downtown Napa. Vacationers are required to make reservations before visiting. Make a date with this firm’s zinfandel because it’s worth the experience.
- Location: 1005 Coombs St, Napa, CA 94559, U.S.
8 Promontory
The convenience and reliability of a given winery have nothing to do with when the operations began. It is all about their commitment to the process. No place does it better than the Promontory Winery when those three factors are in consideration. Since its first vintage came out in 2008, this winery has never looked back. Promontory offers vacationers an undefeated wine tasting experience befitting the California thrill.
- Location: 1601 Oakville Grade Rd, Oakville, CA 94562, U.S.
7 Cakebread Cellars
Cakebread Cellars is a family-owned winery that has been in operation since the 70s. This place doubles up as a wine destination and culinary spot. The farm-to-table cuisine served here is a great way to prepare taste buds for the big occasion that lies ahead. This winery has four packages of seated wine-tasting expeditions that vacationers will truly love.
- Location: 8300 St Helena Hwy, Rutherford, CA 94573, U.S.
6 Ghost Horse Vineyards
Seated deep in Napa’s busiest street of St. Helena is a winery with a rich history. Though official operations at the Ghost Horse Vineyards started in 2009, there was some real work behind the scenes for more than a decade. This winery serves some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon in the larger Napa region. The tasting tour of Ghost Horse Vineyards is quite unique and vacationers have no choice but to witness it first-hand.
- Location: 680 Rossi Rd St. Helena, CA 94574, U.S.
5 Chateau Montelena Winery
The Chateau Montelena Winery offers more than just an incredible tasting experience. Endowed in an ancient English Gothic-style castle on the hillside, the unique design of this winery is food for the soul. Vacationers have a chance to sample quite a variety of wines for as low as 30 dollars.
- Location: 1429 Tubbs Ln, Calistoga, CA 94515, U.S.
4 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Before 1976, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars was just any other Napa winery going about its business. However, fortunes turned with the 1976 Judgement of Paris award won in a blind tasting competition. Since then, the winery has never been the same. It has grown to be one of Napa’s most frequented wineries, thanks to the legacy collection available for vacationers to sample.
- Location: 5766 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558, U.S.
3 Cain Vineyard & Winery
While most Napa wineries have opted to produce multiple types of wines, Cain Vineyard & Winery has opted for a different approach. To them, they would rather do one and perfect it. Essentially, they have opted for three sauvignon blends which have paid dividends over the past. With a small bill of 65 dollars, vacationers are taken on a tasting tour like no other.
- Location: 3800 Langtry Rd, St Helena, CA 94574, U.S.
2 Inglenook Winery
Inglenook is one of Napa’s oldest winemakers. Since opening its doors in 1879, this winery has continued to serve some of the best wine glasses. Over the past century or so, the winery has changed names, but the services are constant. Tasting tours here are on an appointment basis.
- Location: 1991 St Helena Hwy, Rutherford, CA 94573, U.S.
1 Tres Sabores
Tres Sabores is a preserve for those who adore an intimate experience. Who doesn’t anyway? It is among the few wineries where vacationers get to enjoy cool outdoor breezes as they sample their glass swirls. Adventures who don’t mind bringing their kids to the facility can go ahead. After all, there is a variety of culinary for children to explore. The Tres Sabores tasting experience requires reservations of 50 dollars per head.
- Location: 1620 S Whitehall Ln, St Helena, CA 94574, U.S.