Welcome to Napa Valley Wineries
Napa Valley wineries
offer visitors an opportunity to unwind in several distinctive settings.
Take in fantastic views as you overlook acres of rolling vineyards from
atop a hill. Tour a state-of-the-art facility specializing in the production
of several varieties of Bordeaux wines. Set and relax in front of a crackling
fire or on a deck with an incredible view of the vineyards while sipping
on the vineyards wine. Visit a winery voted one of the top 50 wineries in
the world by Wine Spectator. Get a little dreamy and enjoy a walk through
candlelit caves at one of the regions more family-oriented wineries. Napa
Valley wineries provide a variety of experiences so be sure to visit more
than one.
Calistoga
Sterling
Vineyards
www.sterlingvineyards.com
Sterling Vineyards, founded in 1964 by Englishman Peter Newton, overlooks
miles of rolling vineyards from a hilltop south of Calistoga. Its grapevines
stretch across a 1,200-acre estate. Visitors may sample the following
wines: Sterling Vineyard's Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot
and Pinot Noir. The winery, located at 1111 Dunaweal Lane, is open daily
from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., but not on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas,
or New Year's Day.
Stonegate
Winery
www.stonegatewinery.com
Stonegate's
state-of-the-art facility specializes in varieties of Bordeaux wine (cabernet
sauvignon, merlot, petite verdot, and cabernet franc). All of its fruit
is harvested on 212 acres of property. Stonegate, located two miles south
of Calistoga at 1183 Dunaweal Lane, is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.; however, it is closed on Easter, Christmas, New Year's Day,
and Thanksgiving.
Napa
Bouchaine
Vineyards
www.bouchaine.com
Some
visitors may find it difficult to leave the grounds of Bouchaine Vineyards,
Carneros' oldest continually operating winery. The pace of tours
seems to slow down a bit once visitors enter Bouchaine's tasting
room, where they may sit comfortably in front of a crackling fire and
savor every sip of the company's wines. The winery's deck
area is also a favorite spot because it offers a picturesque view of Bouchaine's
vineyards - a 104-acre property that sprawls across Napa Valley's
Carneros region. Bouchaine's Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines are
world-renown. The winery, located at 1075 Buchli Station Road in Napa,
is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tours are available by appointment
only. Call 1-800-654-WINE to schedule an appointment.
Signorello
Vineyards
www.signorellovineyards.com
Signorello
Vineyards' signature winemaking technique is causing lips around
the world to pucker with enjoyment. The winery specializes in premium
varietals by mixing California's fresh fruit with French winemaking
techniques. Signorello's Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Syrah and Viognier wines are produced
on its 100 acres. The winery's tasting room is open daily from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors should also browse the winery's gift shop.
Rutherford
Rutherford
Hill Wineries
www.rutherfordhill.com
Visitors
who browse the wine-aging caves at Rutherford Hill leave with whetted
taste buds and a new appreciation for the winemaking process. The dark
tunnels and passages that snake through the winery are branded as America's
most extensive wine-aging cave systems. Touring them is a fascinating
experience. Visitors may uncover other secrets to Rutherford Hill's
award-winning wines as they walk the company's grounds, located
at 200 Rutherford Hill Road. The winery offers group tours daily at 11:30
a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Tour and tasting fees start at $10 per
person.
Sullivan
Vineyards
www.sullivanwine.com
Jim
and Joanna Sullivan's early vision, to make the finest wines from
their Napa Valley home, has had a tingling affect on the world since the
1970s. They're dream, known today as Sullivan Vineyards, yields
goods that keep people buzzing. Reviews about the couple's wines
are exemplary. The Wine Spectator magazine, in 1992, rated Sullivan Vineyards
as one of the world's top 50 wineries. The Wall Street Journal promoted
it, in a September 1999 news article, as "one of the top five wineries
to visit in the Napa Valley." Napa Valley visitors may sample the
Sullivans' tasty concoctions during tours of the winery, which is
located at 1090 Galleron Road. Visits to the tasting room are arranged
by appointment only.
St. Helena
Beringer
Vineyards
www.beringer.com
You've
most likely spotted a bottle of this vineyard's wines on the shelf
at one of your local grocers, or maybe even served glasses of its California,
Founders' Estate, Stone Sellar or other varietals at your dinner
table. If so, expand your knowledge of Beringer wines by touring its world-leading
winery. Beringer Vineyards, which is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places, is Napa Valley's oldest continually operating winery.
It is open daily for tours; however, its hours of operation vary depending
on the season. Visit the winery's Web site for more information
about its hours and tasting fees.
St. Clement
Vineyards
www.stclement.com
The
sightly Victorian Gothic-style house known as St. Clement Vineyards lures
visitors with its old-fashioned setting and its verdant gardens. A German
stained-glass merchant named Fritz H. Rosenbaum originally built the house
and turned it into a winery in 1878. Since then, the house has endured
changes in its appearance and ownership a number of times, but only to
end up as the present-day prized possession of the world's largest
premium wine company - Beringer Wine Estates. St. Clement Vineyards,
one of Napa Valley's first wineries, houses 20,000 cases of wine
per year. The winery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tours are available
by appointment only.
Yountville
Goosecross
Cellars
Part of this winery's motto is "Goosecross Cellars -
where premium wine is an art and a passion." Napa Valley visitors
have an opportunity to see, first-hand, how the company brings its passion
to fruition on a daily basis at the winery. In fact, visitors will feel
at home while exploring Goosecross Cellars because it is known for its
friendly and hospitable environment. The winery, located at 1119 State
Lane in Yountville, offers a free 1 ½-hour course that teaches
students the basics of winemaking, tasting techniques, serving etiquettes,
and proper storage methods. The class is held every Saturday, from 11
a.m. to 12:30 p.m., from March to November.
S. Anderson
Vineyard
www.sandersonvineyard.com
The family-oriented S. Anderson Vineyard offers a more intimate wine-tasting
experience. The vineyard, located at 1473 Yountville Cross Road, is a
producer of sparkling wines. Couples, particularly, enjoy romantic strolls
through its candlelit caves. S. Anderson, which offers public and private
tours, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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