Smith Madrone Vineyards

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 5/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $30-65

  • Main varietals: Dry Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon

  • Tasting fee: $65, currently not waiving tasting fees

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.2

Smith Madrone is another small family winery up in the Spring Mountain area. It’s so small and operated by 4 people and was closed for over a year when COVID started. They finally reopened for tasting this fall and I jumped on the opportunity. Winery has been recommended by several other people in the industry and the wines and the view lived up to the hype. Tasting is casual and set up on top of the hill and the view was do die for. Dry riesling was so refreshing! Also LOVED the Cabernet Sauvignon blended with a small percentage of Cab Franc that made it unique. Great price point for the area too! If you can’t do a whole tasting, it’s also a good idea to see if you can stop by for the view and purchase a few bottles.

More about Smith Madrone: Website, Yelp , IG

Pride Mountain Vineyards

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 5/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $50-80

  • Main varietals: Merlot, Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Syrah

  • Tasting fee: $30, waived with 2 bottles purchase

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.4

Did you know you can visit a winery that is on both Sonoma and Napa? Such a unique experience at Pride Mountain, winery located right on the country line of Sonama and Napa. Their address says Santa Rosa, which helps them keep their prices lower even though the winery is easier to access from Napa. The entire tasting experience is super fun. It starts from the tasting bar and you also get a glimpse of their cave where they also do a barrel tasting. They also have one of my favorite varietals, Cab Franc! Wines are good and the view is amazing. if you are able to make it up to the mountain, definitely recommend

More about Pride: Website, Yelp , IG

Rivers Marie Vineyards

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 3/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $60-100

  • Main varietals: Pinot, Cabernet, Chardonnay

  • Tasting fee: $75, waived with a 3 bottle purchase

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.3

If you have been to a few different Napa wineries, you might have heard of the winemaker! Thomas Rivers Brown makes wines and consults for a number of different wineries in Napa, all very highly rated and scored. Tasting experience here is private and customized. They contact you after you make your reservation to ask what you like and make sure your tasting flight reflects your preference. Place is super modern in a glass enclosed room and green plant wall. I loved all the wines, but especially loved all the Cabs we tasted. It is also a treat to be able to taste high quality Cab AND Pinot at the same tasting room in Napa.

More about Rivers Marie: Website, Yelp

Reverie II

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 5/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $40-100

  • Main varietals: Cab, Cab Franc, Barbera, Tempranillo

  • Tasting fee: No fee to taste

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.4

If you love a winery and if the winery is somehow connected to another, you definitely want to visit. Reverie is a “sister winery” to Aonair and you definitely get the same high-quality experience, hospitality, view, and wine. You feel like you are visiting your friend’s family home to drink great wine and have a great time. There’s an inviting patio area to taste and also another tasting area up on the hills with amazing view. Loved their Cab Franc!

More about Reverie II: Website, Yelp , IG

Shypoke

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 3/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $35-50

  • Main varietals: Charbono, Cab, Grenache, Zin, Petit Sirah

  • Tasting fee: Didn’t see official tasting fee, ours was waived with purchase!

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.2

Shypoke has been on my list for a long time after finding out the winemaker Peter Heitz at Turnbull has his own label. I was also intrigued with a unique varietal called Charbono which Peter uses to make a rosé, blend, and single varietal red. Peter hosts tastings himself in his patio in Calistoga and it’s a lovely setting! We loved the experience and ended up buying a few different bottles. Can’t wait to open them at home.

More about Law Estate: Website, Yelp , IG