Love wine? Even the most seasoned connoisseur of the beverage may find his or herself overwhelmed by Napa Valley, a region that contains more than 200 wineries. Of course, it’s not possible to visit every location in one trip — although that would be quite the dream vacation for wine lovers — but it is possible to narrow an itinerary down to several standout wineries that pack maximum impact in terms of experiences, tastings, landscapes and just plain delicious wine.
Jarvis Winery
Looking for something different? Jarvis is famous for its astonishing setting: It’s the first winery in California to tunnel a cave large enough to hold its entire winemaking facility underground. The 45,000-square-foot, out-of-sight facility was designed to preserve the unmarred beauty of the natural outside environment. Of course, it actually delights visitors with its own unique beauty, including a stream, waterfall and collection of giant cut amethyst geodes. The tour is engaging even for those who don’t drink (or aren’t snobby about wine).
Castello di Amorosa
If seeking an all-out visual adventure, the architecture of this winery is sure to delight. It’s housed in an authentically styled 13th century Tuscan castle complete with medieval touches such as defensive towers and battlements, a drawbridge, moat and even a torture chamber! Castle owner Dario Sattui, of the Sattui pioneer vintner family, opened the drawbridge in 2007 to the public. Those squeamish of the dungeon features can skip right to the tasting rooms to enjoy the handcrafted Italian wines, but don’t miss the great hall with hand-painted frescoes.
Schramsberg Vineyards
The Schramsberg Vineyards estate boasts the distinction of being a registered historic landmark, located just south of Calistoga on the forested slopes of Diamond Mountain. It’s home to the oldest hillside vineyards in Napa and is the first American producer to follow the traditional French champagne method for its sparkling wines — only a few other wineries in Napa do so as well. Schramsberg’s sparkling wines have been served at official state functions by every U.S. presidential administration since 1972, when President Nixon held the “Toast to Peace” with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai.
Cakebread Cellars
This elegantly understated winery eschews flash for the main event: utterly fantastic wines. Although Cakebread is “by appointment only” for tastings, it’s not snobby at all — the approach merely allows for a bit of crowd control so true aficionados can enjoy breathing room for both the standout varieties (the Chardonnay is a favorite) and the history of the place, delivered by friendly and knowledgeable staff. Cakebread offers food and wine pairings, as well as free recipes to take home and try with the bottles you’ll (no doubt) also be shipping back to your doorstep.
Robert Mondavi
This is an iconic winery in Napa that attracts a fair amount of crowds, but don’t let that dissuade you from visiting, especially if you are new to wine tours. The Mondavi tour takes its visitors from the starting point (the wine) to the end (the wine), explaining the process the whole way. Historically, the Mondavi family owned Charles Krug, which was the first winery in Napa. Family strife caused the business to split, with scion Robert starting his own path and changing the course of wine production in California.
