Grosso Kresser

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 4/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $30-40

  • Main varietals: Chardonnay, Red blend, Cabernet

  • Tasting fee: $20 to taste, waived with purchase

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: Not a lot of ratings

Another small new winery in Paso that just opened up the tasting room in 2020. However, they have been making wines since 2012 and currently pouring 2012, 2013, 2015 wines. Great if you like tasting older vintages! I found zero information about the winery but thought I’d try it out and glad I did. Their Chardonnay was really refreshing and good, we ended up taking a bottle home. Also liked their red blend!

More about Grosso Kresser: Website, No Yelp Page, IG

Torrin Wines

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 3/5

  • QPR: 3.5/5, average price $80

  • Main varietals: Pinot, GSM blends

  • Tasting fee: $40 to taste, waived with membership

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.4

Super friendly boutique winery on the west side of Paso. Small team of ~6, they emailed me even before the visit to ask about preferences and to give us other winery recommendations. Winemaker used to work for Law Estates and consults for numerous wineries in the area and we can totally see why! More and more small wineries are popping up in Paso and seeing a lot more Rhone blends in the area, which Torrin also is great for. Our host gave us a surprise pour of new Chardonnay that was JUST bottled, didn’t even have a label on it! We ended up buying couple bottles of Banshee (GSM).

More about Torrin: 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

Aonair

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 4/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $40-100

  • Main varietals: Bordeaux varietal red blend, Cab Franc, Can Sauv, Grenache blend

  • Tasting fee: No fee to taste

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.5

Boutique winery up on the mountains with the best vibe. Multiple people in the Napa wine industry recommended this place and I couldn’t agree more! One of the best stops in all of Napa. and you get to taste for FREE! But you definitely won’t be leaving without purchasing a few bottles 😂because all of their wines area AMAZING. Tasting room has a outdoor fireplace but the real gem is a hidden tasting area through the vineyards. They will take you on an ATV that leads to a patio with wine barrel chairs and amazing view of the lake Hennessey.

More about Aonair: Website, Yelp, IG

Black Cat Vineyard

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 4/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $55-95

  • Main varietals: Cab Franc, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon

  • Tasting fee: Mostly members only, waived with purchases

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.4

It used be to a lot harder to find Cab Francs in Napa and I came across Black Cat Vineyard while searching for small wineries with Cab Franc. It’s been on my list for so long because they are mostly members only and when I got the chance to visit, it was a no brainer to join the club. Winemaker Tracey hosts all visits, private tasting on the property overlooking one of her vineyards is beautiful. My favorite was of course the Cab Franc, it is my go-to wine all day every day. But all of her wines are really good, including the Syrah, which I’m usually not a huge fan of. Black Cat is definitely a hidden gem that you don’t want everyone to find but also want to tell everyone about.

More about Black Cat Vineyard: Website, Yelp