With more than 400 wineries and tasting rooms in Napa Valley, deciding where to sip and swirl can be overwhelming. It’s hard to go wrong, but we’ve pulled together a list of some of our favorite spots, organized by locations to make planning even easier. So, get a date on the calendar and enjoy!
Featured Photo Courtesy of Briana Forgie
Napa
Compline Wine Shop
Founded by the sommelier team behind Michelin recognized Compline Restaurant, downtown Napa’s Compline Wine Shop boasts 600+ bottles (and the room to add hundreds more) ranging from local favorites to budget-friendly labels, to rare vintages from around the globe. Along with offering vino by the bottle, flight and glass, the Napa newcomer holds educational workshops and other wine-centric activities; check their events calendar once you know when you’ll be in town.
Wine Girl Napa Valley
Technically a wine bar, Wine Girl Napa Valley offers something for everyone, from rotating wine on tap, wine by the bottle, beer, and seltzers. The downtown Napa space features an Instagram-worthy backdrop at every turn. If you like pink, you won’t want to leave.
Yountville
Cornerstone Cellars
Cornerstone Cellars offers three tasting flights. The Taste of Cornerstone features five current releases while the Reserve Flight is solely limited production Cabernet Sauvignon wines. If you like to nibble while you sip (Who doesn’t?) The Pairings Flight matches small bites with single vineyard wines. Dogs are welcome on the patio.
Silver Trident Winery
Enjoy two of our favorite things — potato chips and wine during Silver Trident’s Potato Chip Extravaganza. It pairs five wines with five different artisanal potato chips. Pampered pooches are welcome here. There’s even a Puppy Pairing featuring an assortment of doggie treats and a winery branded water bowl to take home.
St. Helena
Clif Family Winery
A visit to Clif Family in St. Helena is about sipping and eating well. Wine and food experiences range from wine paired with brunch-inspired bites to a street food showcase alongside a flight of wine. The winery’s Bruschetteria Food Truck, typically parked alongside the tasting room Wednesday through Sunday, is a favorite of locals and those in the know. Sustainability is a priority for Clif Family; the winery just earned B Corp certification.
The Pavilion by Ink Grade
This St. Helena tasting room uses tech to transport guests to its Howell Mountain winery. SENSES by Ink Grade is what described as a “cinematic tasting experience.” 360-degree video projection is paired with the winery’s collection of single-estate wines. Ink Grade Estate Vineyard has been farmed biodynamically since 2019; stretching 220 acres, it is reportedly the largest Demeter Certified Biodynamic ranch in Napa County.
Calistoga
Picayune Cellars
Pronounced pee-ka-ˈyün, Picayune means “a little bit” in regional French. Owner, winemaker, and French native, Claire Ducrocq Weinkauf crafts wines with grapes from both Napa Valley and the Sonoma Coast. And thanks to a partnership with a French family, she also boasts a Champagne. Along with a tasting room, Picayune offers a colorful mercantile.
Tank Garage Winery
Wine tasting in a vintage gas station and garage — it’s a fun outing you didn’t know you needed in your wine country repertoire. Tank’s tasting menu is always changing; but expect limited-edition wines ranging from red, white, and orange, to sparkling pét-nat, rosé, and natural wine. Visitors can also sip by the glass.
