Napa Valley is one of the most popular destinations in the world for wine lovers. Napa Valley produces 90% of the wine produced in the United States. Napa Valley is home to some of the most renowned wineries such as Rubicon, Mondovi, Cakebread, some of the finest restaurants such as French Laundry, rated as one of the top 50 restaurants in the world by Restaurant Magazine, as well as several first-rate bed and breakfasts, spas and golf courses. The surrounding views are breathtaking year round. If you are planning on going to Napa Valley plan on being swept off your feet but its vast beauty.
The most popular wine verities you will find in Napa are: Cabernet Sauvignon (red), Chardonnay (white), Merlot (red), Sauvignon Blanc (white), Pinot Noir (red) and Zinfandel (white). Couple with the fact that there approximately 400 wineries to date located in Napa, and having a choice of at least six varieties, you are sure to find a wine to two pleasing to your palate.
The best time to visit Napa is up to you, as each season has something unique to offer. Fall is spectacular in color, and “crushing season” some wineries offer “barrel tastings during this time. Well into October the weather can still be warm, into the 90’s at times and the evenings are perfect of sitting out and enjoying a glass of wine. Winter, still has plenty of offer as mustard season abounds creating an outstanding backdrop of color. The downfall to winter is that it can be rainy so make sure you take your umbrella with you. Spring is the exciting season as it is filled with anticipation of the harvest to come. Summers are when you will see the grapes filling out on the vines, it’s a busier time of the year so when possible make reservations beforehand. During the day temperatures can reach well into the upper 80’s even 100’s in July and August, do dress accordingly.
Without traffic you can get to Napa Valley from San Francisco in 90 minutes, Napa Valley is 70 miles from the San Francisco Bay Bridge. For additional information on visiting Napa Valley the Napa Valley Chamber of Commerce visit:
www.napachamber.org
Wineries in Napa
Several hundred wineries call the Napa Valley home and many are open to the public and offer wine tastings and more.
Elizabeth Spencer Tasting Room - Napa, CA 1165 Rutherford Rd, (707) 963-6067 - Our belief is that wine should be delicious and representative of its appellation of origin. We make wines to drink -- inviting wines that we and our friends (and by extension, our customers) truly enjoy. The model for all of our wines is intensity without excess weight, purity, persistence and length.
Ceja Vineyards - Napa, CA 1016 Las Amigas Rd, (707) 255-3954 - The cool Carneros climate allows our grapes to remain on the vine longer, achieving high acidity and ultimate flavor development. We tend our vines diligently and wait for the exact moment when full maturation has been reached before harvesting.
Del Dotto Caves Winery & Tasting Room - Napa, CA 1055 Atlas Peak Rd, (707) 256-3332 - The new Del Dotto Estate Winery and Caves on our Estate in St. Helena. The new Caves are lined with Italian marble and ancient tiles. The Venetian chandeliers and mosaic marble floors will bring us back full circle to our family’s origin of Venice, Italy.
White Rock Vineyards - Napa, CA 1115 Loma Vis Dr, (707) 257-7922 - White Rock Winery is a working underground winery. The 6000 sq.ft. of caves were dug from the hillside of white volcanic ash that is typical of our property, the same rock that was quarried from the property in the 1860’s to build the original winery building. Caves are the ideal environment for making and storing wine.
Mayacamas Vineyards & Winery - Napa, CA 1155 Lokoya Rd, (707) 224-4030 - Mayacamas Vineyards is a wine estate located in the Mayacamas Mountains that divide the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. The old stone winery is perched on the edge of a dormant volcano crater near the top of Mt. Veeder. Fifty two acres of vineyards are planted on mountain sides ranging from 1,800 to 2,400 feet above sea level.
Cuvaison Estate Wines - Napa, CA 1221 Duhig Rd, (707) 942-2455 - Cuvaison Estate Wines tasting room is a light filled space surrounded by waves of vineyards, offering indoor and outdoor seated tastings.
Amuse Bouche Winery - Napa, CA 135 Camino Dorado, (707) 251-9300 - Collectible wine and collectible art come together to create Amuse Bouche Napa Valley Merlot, a joint wine venture with Heidi Barrett and John Schwartz. This Pomerol-style Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend is made from some of the best grape sources in the Napa Valley. Amuse Bouche wine aspires to rival its greatest cross-Atlantic counterparts, such as Chateau Petrus and Chateau Le Pin.
Fontanella Family Winery - Napa, CA 1721 Partrick Rd, (707) 252-1017 - Fontanella Family wines are a blend of tradition, skill and distinctive winemaking style. Our winery is set in the western hills of the Napa Valley on Mt. Veeder with stunning views of oak studded knolls and graced by the natural beauty that surrounds this world renowned winemaking region. We invite you to enjoy our wines.
William Hill Winery Tasting Room - Napa, CA 1761 Atlas Peak Rd, (707) 265-3024 - William Hill Estate is a true Napa Valley wine estate. By owning and farming carefully selected vineyards, focusing the winery on small-lot production, assembling a talented production team and putting quality first, William Hill Estate makes Napa Valley wines of uncommon character.
Falcor Winery - Napa, CA 2511 Napa Valley Corporate Dr, (888) 402-9463 - Falcor Winery has created wines that are fruit-forward and are superbly balanced by oak while possessing superior nuance and complexity.
McKenzie-Mueller Vineyards and Winery - Napa, CA 2530 Las Amigas Rd, (707) 252-0186 - McKenzie-Mueller is a small, family-run winery committed to making high quality wines. Founded in 1989 by Bob Mueller and Karen McKenzie, our fifty acre estate is tucked away in the enchanting Los Carneros region of southern Napa County. We made our first vintage in 1990, producing 500 cases. We now produce 2500 cases a year. We are proud to be named Estate Winery of the Year in 2000 by Wine & Spirits magazine.
Acacia Vineyard - Napa, CA 2750 Las Amigas Rd, (707) 226-9991 - Set just two miles from San Francisco's San Pablo Bay, Acacia Vineyard is in the heart of Napa Valley's Carneros wine region, with stellar views of vineyards and the bay. This premium winegrowing region enjoys the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean and summer fog, making it an ideal growing area for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Luna Vineyards - Napa, CA 2921 Silverado Trl, (707) 255-5862 - Persian rugs and leather sofas atop handcrafted tile floors. Crystal stemware, inlaid wooden tables. Sunlight streaming through mullioned panes of glass, or the soft glow of sconces on a rainy Napa Valley day. We have transformed the Luna Vineyards' tasting experience to complement our estate's Italianate architecture and classic elegance.
Gustavo Thrace - Napa, CA 1021 McKinstry St, (707) 257-6796 - We are a boutique winery located in the beautiful Napa Valley. Under the GustavoThrace label we currently produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Barbera, Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah and a very unique Bordeaux blend that we co-grew and co-fermented. Under The 3rd Bottle label we produce both a red and a white Napa Valley table wine - one of the best finds in the valley!
Bouchaine Vineyard - Napa, CA 1075 Buchli Sta Rd, (707) 252-9065 - Bouchaine Vineyards inhabits the oldest continually operated winery in the Carneros wine region. The site was first planted to vines and orchards in the mid-1800s by pioneer Boon Fly. In 1927, before the end of Prohibition, the property was purchased by Italian immigrant, Johnny Garetto. After the Repeal he operated perhaps the first winery with a tasting room in the region.
See the more then 300 other local wineries and vinyards in Napa.
Lodging in Napa
Here you'll find the perfect place to stay in Napa Valley - quiet bed and breakfasts, resorts, rental cabins, campgrounds, motels, inns and hotels.
Bed and Breakfasts - Going to Napa Valley for some wine tasting? Napa is thriving with some of the countries top bed and breakfast inns form the ultra chic to some quite romantic getaways.
Find a romantic bed and breakfast in Napa.