Luxury wine experiences in Napa and Sonoma

Napa and Sonoma wine experiences can vary anywhere from casual bar tastings to upscale sit-down tasting with food pairing. While I love looking for high quality experiences at a good price, luxury Napa experiences are one of the best ways to celebrate special occasions or treat yourself to a nice trip! Here are list of wineries that offer more private and luxury tasting experiences for $100-200.

Theorem

Started by a couple from Texas, the property is a combination of modern architecture and historical structures. So many unique design elements throughout and the wines are amazing, with Thomas Rivers Brown as their consulting wine maker. Great Sauvignon Blanc and various reds like Cab, Syrah, and Bordeaux style blends

Lokoya

Tasting experience here is luxurious, fun, educational and delicious! They produce Cabernet from 4 distinct mountain appellations in Napa and you get to do a side by side tasting. Property and the view is amazing, not to mention the house made snack pairing!

Promontory

Driving and walking in to the property feels like a museum! From the gate to the welcome area with the view of Harlan vineyards where they serve Dom Perignon as a welcome Champagne. You get to do barrel tasting then sit down for a tasting flight of their Cabernet Sauvignons.

Repris

This one might be a bit hidden on the mountain of Sonoma but it’s well worth the drive! The view from the Sonoma side is amazing and they take you on a ATV ride to taste wines looking at the vineyards. After the ride, you sit down with an amazing Charcuterie board to taste through their Bordeaux style red wines.


I personally have not been but have heard great things about

Best wineries to visit in Napa Calistoga

Calistoga is home to some of the iconic Napa wineries like Chateau Montelena and Castello di Amorosa. In addition, there are many small family owned places to visit and it’s somewhat easier to find more cost efficient wineries in Calistoga compared to St. Helena and Rutherford. Since Napa is pretty big (it will take ~30min-hour from the southern most region to Calistoga), I’d recommend splitting up your trip to visit 2-3 wineries in the same region. Here’s the list of Calistoga wineries I liked

  1. Spire Collection: This tasting room is unique as Spire collection owns various different wine labels across the globe. This allows them to customize tasting flights based on your preference! They have everything from Pinots, Cab Francs, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Various whites from Australia, Italy, Oregon, and California. $60 to taste, waived with 3 bottle purchase

  2. Envy: Fun small family owned winery at a great price point! No fancy buildings but you get a nice view of the vineyard and friendly host. You can find nice Bordeaux varietals here. $30.00 per person tasting fee, waived with a purchase over $50

  3. Lola: Another small family owned tasting room in downtown Calistoga. Tastings are held in their cute backyard and you get to taste some unique varietals like Malvasia Bianca along with Pinot and Cab. $30 to taste, waived with 3 bottles

  4. Rivers-Marie: Relatively new modern glass enclosed tasting room by Thomas Rivers Brown who makes and consults for some of the biggest names in Napa. From Pinots to Cabs, all around great wine and private experience. $75 to taste, waived with 3 bottles

  5. Schramsberg: Family owned but slightly bigger than other boutiques, the oldest sparkling wine house in Napa and you can add the cave tour to your tasting as well. You might have seen their blanc de blanc or blanc de noir in wine shops, but they have 10+ different sparkling wines that are usually only available at the winery. Experience range from $50-100

If it’s your first time in Napa, definitely recommend Castello di Amorosa and Chateau Montelena as well! They are such iconic wineries with lovely ground and wines that are easy to drink.

Where to taste sparkling wines in California

I’ve been a red wine drinker for a long time but recently have been appreciating sparkling wines a lot. I’m actually a seafood lover and even though it’s not a hard rule to pair seafood with red wine, I do feel weird about opening a bottle of a cab with sushi. Ever since learning that sparkling wine actually goes well with all kinds of food (think how you can drink soda or beer with any meal πŸ˜‚), I’ve been stocking up on more sparkling wines. Also random side tip, ordering a bottle of brut sparkling wine also is an easy choice at a restaurant if there are both seafood and meat dishes on the table. This being said, I’ve enjoyed adding more sparkling wines to my wine tasting itinerary. Here’s some you can try if you are looking to taste a flight of sparkling wines in California

Napa

  • Domaine Carneros: Such a classic Napa stop with its iconic mansion with a beautiful view of the vineyards. Located in Carneros so great to start or end the day here. Worth putting on the list anyone in Napa!

  • Schramsberg: Tasting room is located in Calistoga but you can also get their sparkling slight at the sister winery, Davies, in St. Helena. They make high quality traditional method sparkling wines and I love the variety here

  • Chandon: Well-known and widely distributed wines with a beautiful view on the hillside

  • Mumm: Another well-known brand with a beautiful outdoor patio and terrace

Sonoma

  • Iron Horse: Located up the hills in Sebastopol, they specialize in sparkling wines, Chardonnays, and Pinots. Beautiful view of the Sebastopol vineyard area

  • Amista: Small family winery in Healdsburg with a sparkling flight in addition to the regular white/red wine flight. They have interesting Rhone varietals and it’s a fun stop.

  • Gloria Ferrer: I personally have not been but included on the list as it’s one of the popular spot south of Sonoma downtown

  • Roederer: Technically located in Anderson Valley so need to drive further north from Sonoma but worth a stop if you are heading there. They make the famous Louis Roederer Cristal!

Wineries for Cabernet Franc lovers (or for Cab Sauv lovers looking for something different)

Cabernet Franc tends to get less attention while its child grape, Cabernet Sauvignon, is a crowd favorite for big bold red wine drinkers. It’s one of my favorite varietals for that exact reason. I started buying more Cab Francs because you usually get more bang for the buck compared to Cab Sauv. However, I’ve actually come to like Cab Francs more than Cab Sauv on most occasions. It is still bold but isn’t as heavy as Cab Sauvs and usually so drinkable without food. I still love a good Cab Sauvignon but can’t grill ribeyes everyday!

Cab Francs are harder to come by at wine shops and retail stores and same when it comes to wineries. Although it is becoming more popular these days, you don’t typically expect to find a bottle of Cab Franc at any winery. Here’s the list of wineries that make Cab Francs I like!

  1. Titus: One of my favorites, love all their reds. Cab Franc is $58/bottle but personally think it drinks like a much more expensive wine

  2. Amizetta: New found favorite! $80/bottle

  3. Black Cat Vineyards: Wine maker describes her Cab Franc as cooking wine, it’s that smooth and I totally agree. Wines tastings are mostly only reserved for members, contact me if you want to visit!

  4. Gibbs: Gibbs’ Cab Franc has to be my favorite considering their price point. I can’t believe it’s only $32/bottle. No official tasting program but take referrals, contact me if you are interested!

  5. Terraces: This one is a recent find, overall tour/tasting experience is fun and all their wines are great! Cab Franc is one of their premium offerings at $85/bottle

  6. Ballentine: Another great value in St Helena near Titus. $55/bottle

  7. Ehlers: Their profits go to cardiovascular research foundation and wines are amazing. $65/bottle

  8. Kenzo: More $$$ compared to others but can’t go wrong with any of their wines. Believe it was close to $300 but they do sell half bottles for exactly half the price

  9. Paradigm: Same wine maker as Kenzo, Heidi Barrett. Sold out online but believe it was around $60/bottle

  10. Delectus: They are known for their Cab β€œFrench Wedding” but Cab Franc is also excellent (and less expensive) $78

  11. Chappellet: Chappellet is known for their Pritchard Hill Cab Franc, $85/bottle

Best wineries for cute photos in Napa and Sonoma

I don’t think I’ve met a winery that does not look great on photos. But out of 100+ wineries in Napa & Sonoma, these are the ones I like especially because the grounds, views, and etc. I tried to include a variety of backdrops so you can take your pick 

Views

  1. Chappellet: Located on the Pritchard Hill, the view from the back of the winery consists of endless vineyards, the lake, and the mountains. $75 tasting fee

  2. Hamel: Tasting room is located on top of a hill of their vineyards, offering a great view of the vineyard from the tasting/picnic area.  $75 tasting fee

  3. Amizetta: Located up in the mountains so it’s a bit more of a drive to get there but for a good reason. The view is to die for as much as their wines. $75 tasting fee waived upon purchasing 3 bottles.

I’ve also gotten recommendations for Kuleto, Signorello, and Cade for their views but have not been yet.

Architecture, buildings, and grounds

  1. V Sattui or Castello di Amorosa: Both owned by the same owner, V Sattui is a Tuscan style while Castillo de Amorosa is a medieval castle. $45 tasting fee for V Sattui, $55 for Castello di Amorosa

  2. Chateau St Jean or Ledson: Another set of wineries with a castle-like ground near each other. Ledson castle is a French Normandy structure and Chateau st Jean feels like rustic gardens of country villas in Italy and the south of France. $45 tasting fee for Chateau St Jean, $30 for Ledson

  3. Caymus or Peju: Lots of green backdrops and walkways filled with greenery. $50 tasting fee for Caymus, $40 for Peju

  4. Domaine Carneros: This one is a popular one so you’ve probably seen/heard of it. Known for sparkling wines and the Chateau. $40 tasting fee

Small Boutique Wineries in Napa

Larger wineries in Napa have well structured programs for tasting and winery experience but sometimes it’s super fun to visit smaller boutique wineries where you get to meet people who are part of the wine making process and get a more intimate experience. And you get to support small family owned businesses! If you are looking for a more unique personal experience, these are some of my favorite small boutique wineries to visit in Napa

  1. Elyse: Tasting is held at a charming house with a friendly winery dog. Really good red wines, $40 tasting fee is waived with 3 bottle purchase.

  2. Matthiasson: I visited before they built a formal tasting room and offered appointment only complimentary tasting on their vineyard patio. Can’t speak for the current experience but enjoyed the wines! (looks like current tasting fee is $50 but paused due to COVID)

  3. AXR: Small production winery but you can sometimes find their wines online. Really enjoyed their Chardonnay and Bordeaux varietal reds. $75 tasting fee is waived upon bottle purchase

  4. McKenzie-Mueller Vineyards & Winery: Located in the Southern part of Napa, tasting experience is like visiting a farm house. You taste where wine barrels are stored and can hang out in the cute garden. $30 tasting fee, waived with purchase

  5. Gibbs Vineyards: Family owned and operated winery that usually takes tasting appointment through referrals. Quality to price ratio is amazing with most bottles at $20-35. No formal tasting program but tasting fee is waived with purchase

  6. Black Cat Vineyard: One of my favorite hidden gems where owner/wine maker hosts tastings herself. Ended up joining the club after getting a chance to visit. Really good red wines from Cab Franc, Cab Sauvignon, Red Blends, and Syrah. Typically only take members and referrals for tastings.

I’m always looking to add more to this list so please send me recommendations if you know of any!

Napa and Sonoma wineries with affordable tasting fees

Let’s face it, wine tastings in Napa and Sonoma are not cheap. Believe there used to be a list of wineries with free tasting but most are outdated by now. Typical Napa tastings are now around $45-$80 making a trip almost a splurge (especially if you are visiting multiple wineries) vs. a fun casual trip. If you are looking to taste some wine and have fun while not spending a lot, here’s my list 

I’m going to keep updating list with more wineries so make sure to follow me on Instagram for updates and other recommendations! Keep in mind that wineries do change their menu and fees so use this list as a reference but always check with the winery or their website for the latest policy.

Napa

  1. Rombauer: You might have seen their bottles at different retail stores. They are known for Chardonnays and Zinfandels and their tasting is super affordable at $20 (which is a price of 1.5 or 1 glass at a restaurant) and the ground with a picnic area is super cute. Seems like they now also offer wines by the glass instead of the tasting experience 

  2. Paloma Vineyard: They offer free vertical tasting of their Merlot (as of Feb 2021). Small family owned winery so it’s a private and intimate experience. Please do leave with a bottle if you like them!

  3. Vincent Aroyo: Located a bit further north in Calistoga, you can taste variety of whites and reds and $20, waived with a 3 bottle purchase. Casual and super friendly hosts!

  4. Lola Wines: Another charming tasting house in downtown Calistoga where you can taste for $30, waived with a 3 bottle purchase. Have a variety of whites, Pinot, and Cab.

  5. Domaine Chandon: Mostly known for sparkling, their flights range from $20-35. Expansive ground with picnic chairs and indoor tasting bar

  6. Mckenzie Mueller: $30 waived with a bottle purchase. Small family owned winery. They have a charming barn with a grass area and view of the vineyard

  7. Cosentino: $30, waived with a bottle purchase. They have a variety of bottles between $16-40 for you to choose from.

  8. V Sattui: Their tasting flight isn’t technically under $30 but you can purchase a bottle fo RosΓ© or sparkling for ($30-40) to enjoy in their picnic area

Sonoma

  1. BR Cohn: Their most recent experience options include $35 for tasting and also offer $10/glass options. View is pretty great as well so it will be a fun experience as a couple or small group

  2. Cline Cellars: Have various options starting at $15, waived with purchase 

  3. Ledson: They have multiple tasting options and the cheapest option is $30. They also used to have a casual $5 tasting inside their wine shop

  4. Jacuzzi Family Vineyards: I have not visited yet but their tasting fee is $20/person

*List is based on the information from early 2022 and would recommend double checking directly with the winery to confirm 

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View fullsize Love being surrounded by all the greenery in Napa this time of the year πŸ’š Small but adorable and friendly tasting room in St Helena! Part of the Schramsberg fam so you get to taste reds and sparklings Bonus point for being so close to Azteca, the
View fullsize Wineries that allow picnics (of offer food) are so clutch when you are trying to fill the day with more wineries🀣 This was a 3rd winery during my latest trip to Sebastopol and was possible because we got to bring food πŸ€—πŸ™Œ (from @pascaline.patisse
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View fullsize This place makes you feel like you are transported to a small rural wine region πŸ’« Away from the main road, you will find this boutique family owned winery with a line up of unique varietals. (Have you heard of Picpoul Blanc?!!) Tasting started wit
View fullsize Found a little gem in Healdsburg πŸ₯° Was delighted by this adorable setting, and then found out tastings come with wood fired pizza on weekends! I mean…😍 and every single wine we tasted were so good! Added another winery to our membership lis
View fullsize I’ve been lazy about making weekend plans and Sonoma square is becoming my go-to for last minute weekend activity πŸ˜† Was able to get a same day reservation at Sosie and so glad I did. Small new winery! Felt unique when we saw sparkling red, C
View fullsize Brought this amazing bottle to enjoy with this view πŸ₯° From a new boutique winery in Paso founded by a wine loving couple! Small line up as wines tend to sell out but got to taste three of their amazing wines. πŸ“: @topwinery 🍷: tasted Grenache, G
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View fullsize 🌟Save this place for your next trip to Northern CA🌟 Did you know there’s another Twomey tasting room in Anderson Valley? Twomey’s been on my list and when I saw they have another location on the way to the Mendocino coast, it was a mus
View fullsize Super chill and inviting tasting room! Bonus points for this view and a great #cabfranc πŸ˜πŸ˜† Heard Cab Francs are getting sold out everywhere in Napa, go get them before they are gone! Or don’t… so I can get them 🀣 πŸ“: @reverie_wine
View fullsize If you like tasting older vintages, add this place to your list. They recently opened for tastings in 2020 with the release of 2012 vintage! We got to taste wines from 2012, 2013, 2015 with the owner/wine maker πŸ“: @grossokresser 🍷: Refreshing an
View fullsize What a treat to taste wine on the vineyard where grapes come from πŸ₯°πŸ™Œ Are you sick of me talking about #cabfranc yet? 🀣 I came across this small winery in Paso that releases two different cab francs and had to schedule a tasting πŸ˜† Casual tasti
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View fullsize Adorable winery with the most adorable story behind it πŸ’• πŸ“: @clossolene 🍷: Variety of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvédre blends, rosé πŸ’°: $40 to taste, waived with 3 bottle purchase
View fullsize Small tasting room with the nicest people πŸ₯° Even before we got there, they sent us an email asking for our preferences and also to recommend other wineries in the area! Owner/winemaker used to make wines for Law, another popular winery in Paso, an