Ah, California Wine Country. Sunny vineyards and a sense of European ease that doesn’t require a 10+ hour flight across the Atlantic. When people hear “California Wine Country” they almost always think of Napa and Sonoma, and for a good reason. Between the two, there are over 100,000 acres of vineyards and countless award-winning wineries. But which should you visit? Answer: both, eventually. If you’re more of a Cabernet Sauvignon, buttery Chardonnay, or Merlot drinker at the moment — and you enjoy upscale, boutique wineries — Napa is your place. (If not, check out our Sonoma roundup.) With that in mind, here are our picks for some of the best wine tasting experiences Napa has to offer.
Feature Photo: Opus One Winery
Napa
After a guided tour of the winery and its grounds, the Taste the Estate experience takes place in the former Trefethen family home. Enjoy a flight of five wines paired with bites inspired by seasonal offerings from the winery’s vegetable garden, located steps away. The menu changes seasonally, but think offerings like heirloom carrots with cumin yogurt, smoked pumpkin seeds and carrot top chimichurri, and sous vide beef short rib and four cheese arancini.
Founded in 1987 by the Champagne Taittinger family, Domaine Carneros knows how to pair bubbles with, well, anything. The winery’s “A Journey to Southeast Asia” experience pairs sparkling wines with a handful of bites including Vietnamese Style Shrimp on Rice Noodles, Thai Style Chicken Larb, and Pandan Custard Cake. Set aside 90 minutes for the tasting.
Yountville
6490 Washington Street, Yountville
Bacon and wine? Divine. If you agree, or are the slightest bit intrigued, the Bacon Experience at Priest Ranch in Yountville is for you: four thick cuts of pork belly meticulously seasoned to enhance the notes in their respective wine pairings. Priest Ranch takes pride in their adventurousness and unique varietals, so expect wines like Grenache Blanc and Brut Rosé of Syrah in addition to Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc at this and their other tasting offerings.
6484 Washington Street, Yountville
Antithetical to the old saying “chip off the old block,” this boutique Yountville family winery takes their spin on the ol’ wine tasting and it involves only the best kind of chips: small-batch, artisanal potato chips. The Potato Chip Extravaganza pairs five potato chip varieties from small producers throughout the country with Silver Trident’s rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, red blend, and Cabernet Sauvignon, respectively. Enjoy this novel approach to wine pairings in their elegantly casual home setting — their space is decked out with Ralph Lauren home décor and furniture.
1 California Drive, Yountville
Come hungry and prepared to linger longer for this five-course farm-to-table experience. Both sparkling and still wines are poured alongside dishes the likes of beetroot soup with goat cheese and Regiis Ova Supreme caviar, Wagyu New York Strip, and California Fluke Crudo, with yuzu, finger limes, and satsuma mandarin. There’s even a CHANDON Garden Tea to accompany dessert.
St. Helena
254 St Helena Hwy, St Helena
Bask in the shade of your own private cabana or immerse yourself in the depths and history of the Louis M. Martini estate in their underground 85-year-old barrel cellar during lavish two-hour tastings. Sip on four wines paired with Italian bites like Steak Florentine and a torta of garden squash and pickled vegetables with burrata. The Underground Cellar Experience goes deeper, sharing the winery’s history from its underground 85-year-old barrel cellar. Small-lot releases and library wines are paired with a four-course tasting menu created by chef Aaron Meneghelli.
1178 Galleron Rd, St Helena
Move over wine and cheese, wine and dim sum has arrived in Napa Valley and it’s fantastic. Sure, it’s delicious, but just as important, The Prisoner is challenging folks to think about the variety of foods you can enjoy with wine. Come hungry and ready to be impressed.
255 Petrified Forest Road, Calistoga
A mix of historic structures, (some dating to the mid-1800s) a state-of-the-art cellar, and a plethora of tasting experiences can all be found at Theorem Vineyards. For a one-of-a-kind splurge, inquire about the Baccarat Tasting Experience. Along with elevated food pairings, the sparkling affair includes fine linens, fresh-cut flowers, and everyone goes home with a shimmering gift.
1350 Acacia Drive, Oakville
Go for the wine — the Cave Collection Library Wine Tasting features Far Niente’s aged Cave Collection Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnay — but be prepared to be taken by everchanging food pairings. (Think house cured duck prosciutto and creme fraiche panna cotta with paddlefish caviar.) An added perk, this tasting is one of the only chances to taste the Far Niente Cave Collection wines. Save time to enjoy the gorgeous estate; it seems like something is always in bloom. In the fall, the 100 Ginko trees lining the winery’s driveway put on a spectacular show.
