This charming local winery in Calistoga was such a lovely find. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting. Colette was warm, knowledgeable, and full of fun wine facts that made the tasting even more enjoyable. We did the chocolate wine pairing tasting. The chocolates really enhanced my taste buds! The location was easy to get to with convenient parking, and we appreciated having the choice to sit indoors or enjoy our tasting outside. read more

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Found this tasting room on Groupon. What an experience! Greatly appreciated the one-on-one time with Matt. The conversations were on point which lacks at some of the bigger wineries nowadays. Definitely will be back when we're in the area again. read more

Had a great time! Delicious wines. The owner was very nice and informative. Best Malbec, took a bottle home. Would definitely recommend.

This place is so awesome! I know wineries will take you in with a reservation only but every time I've walked into August Briggs Matt is always willing to take us in for some sips of wine . You walk in to buy a bottle or two or three lol and the next thing you know an hour has passed by. Cheers to August Briggs for being First Class. BTW that Ancient Vines Zin I bought last week was no joke read more

Squeezed in a tasting here, walked in with no appointment, before our next tasting. Had 3 glasses for $20 and a chocolate pairing with the Pinot Noir which was my favorite. Actually came if at the suggestion of the Knights Bridge Winery to try their Charbono wine but they don't have it as a tasting only to buy a bottle. read more

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Highly recommend this winery! The owner Matt is super nice and informative. He pulled out maps and we learned so much! My friend and I split the chocolate and got the flight of 5 which is a steal for Napa area pricing! read more

August Briggs - Chocolate pairing - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

I'm a little behind on this review but didn't want to miss an opportunity to celebrate a great place. My mom and I stopped by here for a tasting back in January. We lucked out because the weather was nice and we could sit outside. The owner was friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable, and gave us plenty of time to enjoy our tastings. The tasting room itself was super cute and inviting. We ended up buying a few bottles to take home. We really liked everything but I would have to say I'd love to go back and get more of that "porch pounding" rose. I am a huge rose fan and this one did not disappoint. Next time I visit Calistoga I will be coming back here! read more

We went in on a Monday afternoon with no reservation. We were the only ones there and Colette was a great host! She had great stories and was knowledgeable. Only 6 wines to choose from but the reds were delish! read more

Last year on my birthday, I became a wine club member of August Briggs. You could say I was persued by the wine, but it was the whole experience and the level of service at August Briggs. Calistoga is a magical place in the wine country, small town feel and this wine tasting is a gem amongst them. The service is friendly, the wine is delicious and the fact I can come in anytime with a guest - makes me feel at home. I have only recieved one bottle ever that did not taste as expected, I mentioned it and they returned a bottle at no cost. Execellent service as they stand behind their wine. We do two wine club pickups a year, so it's a momentus occasion to visit them, but I love August Briggs. read more

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One of the most memorable (and informative...thanks to the owner, Matt, for his gracious service!) wine tastings we have ever had, and all with great and affordable wines. Highly recommend if you want an authentic taste of Calistoga wineries. read more

A beautiful spot for a tasting! Collette is a genius and her patio is stunning! Fun times!

5 stars for the wine and chocolate pairing + Matt. Their wines are mostly hits and zero misses. The chocolate pairing is what we did and I highly recommend... it was so cool to taste the wine, bite the chocolate and then discover a whole new world within the wine. If you buy a bottle the tasting fee is waived and our pours were healthy. I bought the charbano but really I was a fan of most of everything. Their indoor tasting room needs a little update but this place is definitely a great time with quality wine and friendly atmosphere. read more

If you want a more welcoming, casual wine tasting experience, August Briggs is the place to go. This place is quite small but charming. The workers are willing to answer your questions regardless of how ridiculous they may be. They spread appointment times to give you enough time during your tasting. During each pour the worker talking about the history behind each bottle. One of the employees turned owner was present and spoke about her passion for the wines. They give you a tasting menu and allow each person in the party to pick their own wine to try. My party came in with our passports and we were able to book an appointment 30 minutes prior. I have to say, my favorite wine was the chardonnay. I'm slowly trying to build up my wine palette to become accustomed to the bolder red wines but I'm not quite there yet. The chardonnay was fruity but it wasn't overwhelmingly sweet. The worker even poured me another splash! read more

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Great time here! The owner Matt is a fun an informative host. Can't wait to come back, you should visit when you are in the area! Call ahead for an appointment, they book up and the walk in availability is limited. read more

August Briggs - Love the wines! - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

August Briggs was such a lovely and amazing experience. Matt was amazing and really catered to our group of 6. It was such an educational and fulfilling experience. Mind you, we went the weekend after Memorial Day weekend so there was not that many people but all 6 of us loved it. The Malbec was extraordinary and we bought 3 bottles. 10/10 experience, we would totally come back. Matt if you see this, the girls from Long Beach appreciate your service and extensive knowledge!! read more

August Briggs is a gem. We have been coming here for years and joined their club after discovering that they were one of the few wineries were we loved all of their wine. High quality wine for a reasonable price, great location, with sweet and knowledgeable owners. We live coming back and share their wine with all of our friends. Highly recommend!! read more

The wine is excellent! Our favorites are Ancient Vines Zinfandel, Malbec & the Pinots. Service is always good. We enjoy our discussions with Matt. Can't forget - the wine pairing chocolates are spectacular!!! read more

We purchased a Groupon deal for Calistoga Inn Restaurant and Brewery. This deal came with two wine tasting at August Briggs, Two beer tasting at Calistoga Inn Brewery, and $20 credit towards Calistoga Inn Restaurant. It was a great deal. We noticed that the deal for wine tasting at August was from 11 - 5 PM and we arrived at the Inn at 3:40. We called ahead (must call ahead) to see if we are still able to stop by and use our coupon. The person on the phone seemed a little hesitant, as she should be because there was an hour left until closing, but she was able to squeeze us in at 4:10. August Briggs is around the corner from Maldonado. It's a small building and there were a party of three ahead of us and a lady was attending to that party. She acknowledged that we were there and asked us to have a seat. While we were seated, she was having a conversation with her party, and the man whispered "....Mexicans, and Filipinos.. they.." something else but regardless, it was not something that should have been talked about. Another party walked in and they were all Asian and then I stood up and the man that was apart of the first party says "maybe we shouldn't talk about it" and the woman that worked there says "probably not, it's not something I discuss and then puts in her opinion." She finally walks over to us and hands us a menu of whAt we will be tasting, we didn't really understand since she was trying to help two different parties. She walks over with the wine and walks over To the group and continues her conversation. It was a sample of wine, and we finished it in a second. The same first group starts talking about women and how they used their appeal to advance their career, saying you know what you did when you did it and now you're filing for harassment. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but is this really the time and place? The woman finally walks over with our second wine, doesn't mention which one it is, I'm assuming it's from the list of three we were trying and then walks off again. Again it was our first time there, no real conversation or explanation of any kind. It seems like the conversation from the first group was more important. The only good thing about this place is the way it looked and the taste of the wine, not to mention it was complimentary. But with the lack of communication and personable interaction I wouldn't return even if it was free. read more

Definitely not a flashy tasting room, but AB has a perfect location right on Lincoln, friendly staff who take the time to explain the story of the winery, the wine and where the grapes are sourced and really tasty Syrahs and Cabs at really great price points. Enjoyed that they had a non-buttery chard, since I've pretty much sworn off most non-french Chardonnays. We had ridden bikes there from our resort and were super impressed to find them willing to drive our wine over to our hotel for us later that night when we mentioned we'd have to pick it up tomorrow. So sweet of them. You won't be sorry if you stop here! :) read more

A must stop on our trips to wine country! Their wine club is amazing too! They are always very accommodating and friendly which makes you relax. The wines speak for themselves, some of the best Pinot noirs around. They also do a great Syrah. read more

August Briggs - They are known for their pinots! - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

People are great and they took good care of us and there are lots of good wines for a variety of palates.' Plus we met Matt the owner who is awesome. Matt showed us his plaque where his wine was served for president Bush at a state dinner! Great people & very good wine. read more

Four stars for the free (generous) tasting. Small family owned winery -- not a big fan of the wines, but the guy at the counter was friendly enough (flirted with my friend) and we "asked nicely for something extra" like the sampling menu said and got a fifth sample. i am really surprised that it wasn't more crowded because of the free samples, my friend and i were the only ones there, which was nice -- but also awkward. napa valley's best kept free (only!) tastings secret??? read more

We stopped to visit and had a fantastic time! Matt was super knowledgeable and the wines were phenomenal. Would most definitely recommend to those who are looking for a nice wine tasting or wanting to grab a few bottles. read more

Lovely setting in downtown Calistoga. The tasting room was welcoming and ready to serve. We had the chocolate and wine flight, with delicious reds. read more

My wife and I have been to the Brigg's tasting room twice now. Both times it's been an excellent wine tasting experience and where we bought some damn good wine. I started tasting wine in Napa Valley in 1984 so I have solid credentials in reviewing winery tasting rooms. We were first told about August Briggs during our Duckhorn (Direct club members) tasting during Sept. 2007. We bought 2 pinot noirs from Briggs then and learn about their NASCAR relatives. Cool! friendly as heck too at this place. Three weeks ago we visited again and bought more tasty pinot. They were just as friendly as ever -- no corporate mentality here. Just good times, good wines, and zero pretense. I'll post a photo. Highly recommended. read more

August Briggs - Sept. 2007 visit - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

We attempted to add this to our stop today. Unfortunately, after my husband checked in and was told it would be about 5 min and we could be seated.. we came back to a hand written sign saying, " closed for 10 minutes." and the same lady staring at us through the door with no explanation. We thought oh, maybe she will come out, so we sat down and waited... to only realize 10 minutes had passed and the lady inside was walking around inside ignoring us. So, we left to take out business elsewhere. Pleanty to see and plenty to drink Guess there was a reason it was empty and no one else was scheduled or wanting to wine taste here. read more

Great tasting room and owner was wonderful (Matt) had a great time will be back next year for a great experience

Despite walking in without a reservation, the woman in the tasting room was able to accommodate a party of six immediately. She was very friendly and helpful. August Briggs's wines were all excellent, but the two that stood out to me were the Pinot Blanc and the Charbono. The Pinot Blanc had just a tiny hint of sweetness that I found to be perfect, and the Charbono was deep and complex without being overpowering. I ended up buying both of them. My Zin friend said that the Zin was excellent. I'll definitely be coming back here soon! read more

I almost didn't visit August Briggs and that would've been a big mistake!!! Luckily, the guys at Clos Pegase gave me a coupon for a free tasting so I swung by afterward. I was met by Aaron who was great and gave me the perfect tasting room experience. He told me everything about the wines I was tasting and about the wine-making and production in general. All of their production is done in very small lots so they sell out of things quickly and their wines are not widely distributed. He started me off with a Chardonnay which I liked quite a bit. He said that their Chard is meant to appeal to people who typically prefer reds like me. He was right. Next was a Napa Syrah, a cooler climate Syrah. It was very interesting. I am not sure I would have been able to figure out that it was a Syrah had he not told me. Then I had a Napa Petite Sirah which was excellent. We finished with a Dry Creek Cab which was outstanding and took everything in me not to leave with a ton of this $55/btl stuff. It was excellent. This is definitely one place I will continue to visit regularly. read more

August Briggs is one of just a few wineries that I can say I really like all their wines~and they make a LOT of wines. Their only white, a Chardonnay, is low on oak and butter, making it light and fruity and yet laid back and mellow. A beautifully balanced white. As Miles from Sideways might say, it's eminently quaffable. They have a long list of reds, all varietals. Two of the varietals I consider relatively rare for the area, a Petite Meunier and Charbono, are both quite good. My personal faves are the Syrah and Petite Syrah and the Zinfandel. Imagine this: We gave a bottle of the Zin to my sister who has not been in a mind to communicate with me unless absolutely necessary and she wrote me a somewhat lengthy email thanking me for it after they got around to drinking it. This makes it a monumental wine, in my view. If you go on the right day, you may be able to get in on a barrel tasting. If you do, be prepared to stick around until you can metabolize some alcohol. Even if you don't get in on a barrell tasting you may need some time to come down to earth. The wines are so good are so many you'll want to taste all they're offering. It's also good for picnics. Dogs are welcome outside but not allowed in the tasting room. read more

Important: please note that the August Briggs tasting room has moved as of August 2011 from the Silverado Trail to their new room in downtown Calistoga. It is on Lincoln in the middle of downtown. The wine quality is excellent. The tastings are informal but informative. The tasting fee is now $5, but waived with the purchase of a bottle. read more

We went to like five wineries and this place was my favorite, not just because the tasting was free but the wine was damn good. Though I have pretty refined palate, I'm not going to pretend I know what I'm talking about when it comes to wine. Sure it has a full bodied, cherry aroma? What does that mean? Don't answer that. The Pinots were some of the tastiest I've ever had and the guy pouring was quite friendly. He was so friendly and we were so happy to have some good wine that we joined their club (only sends out 2 wines about 3x's a year), which meant we privy to the barrel tasting. The barrel tasting was great fun and also included some fantastic wines and our host had me cracking up! Talk about deadpan. It's small and off the beaten path, but I recommend checking it out! read more

Definitely worth the trip to Calistoga! I came in while passing through town on a whim (saw a sign for wine a chocolate pairings and couldn't resist) and had such a great experience that I ended up joining the wine club and have been back many times since. August Briggs has excellent wines, including many unique varietals like Charbono and Pinot Menuier that I haven't seen elsewhere. They switch up the tasting menu frequently so even if you are a wine club member who comes by all the time, it is still something different. Matt and Collete are both wonderful- its clear that they both love sharing their love of wine with everyone who comes in. read more

Beautifully constructed wine that houses a wine-maker that certainly knows what he's doing. The wine-maker is focused on developing a wine that challenges the palette to study each and every individual characteristics and succeeds in doing just that. August Briggs offers a petite sirah that would accompany a dinner and would please any crowd. The Monte Rosso Cabernet is huge full of berry and hints of chocolate. Love the tasting room where the staff is warm and wonderful. read more

Matt was super helpful and informative. He was charismatic and made everyone feel very welcome. If you "ask nicely", you can get away with a lot of things we shouldn't mention here on yelp. We had a great experience and ended up buying their pinot meunier. #goodstuff The wines were not so expensive that you'd break the bank too! read more

August Briggs - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

Sucks!!! Wine was not good - tasted like grape juice and not in a good way. Tasting room associate turned out to be the owner who was loud and rude. Don't waste your time!! Go to some of the more fabulous wineries in the area... read more

I recently visited August Briggs and really enjoyed the experience. They have a small tasting room on Lincoln Avenue in Calistoga and a very nice staff. The organization is employee-owned and they have been in business for over 20 years.They are very serious about their wine and have some really excellent choices.Because they but their grapes from other growers, they have some interesting and different varietals. I started with a 2012 Leveroni Vineyard Chardonnay that was very tasty. The vineyard is located just south of Sonoma Town Square on Leveroni Road. Next I tasted a Pinot Noir flight from Dijon Clones grown in the Green Island Vineyard in South Napa Valley. The 2011 was excellent and had an old world taste to it. The 2012 was nice, but the 2013 was superb. Though young it is very good and very fruity. Next I tasted the 2012 Napa Valley "Wishes" which is a red blend. This wine is different every year and this particular version consisted of equal parts Charbono, Petite Syrah, Syrah, and Zinfandel. I really loved this wine and strongly recommend it. I finished with the 2011 Two Moon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a very solid and smooth Cabernet from the Dry Creek Appellation in Sonoma County. Business during my visit was steady and those visiting were serious wine people. I appreciated the thoroughness and education provided by my host. If you are in Calistoga, make a point to stop in. read more

I think August Briggs is true to old school Napa Valley. It's not very commercial. The tasting room is small, with just a handful of very knowledgeable people pouring. The tasting is free (yes FREE!!!) and they don't pressure you to get anything after you taste. The guy pouring for us was very laid back and engaging. He knew a lot about the wines, grape varieties, and area. The wines are quite good, though priced in the 30+ range. Though I don't normally pay that much for wine unless it makes my tastebuds dance like Michael Flatley, I was willing to because of the excellent service, solid wines and friendly staff. (See my review of Frank Family for a good contrast and to understand why I was willing to pay) The only thing that would prevent me from going there every time I visit the valley is that it's all the way up in Calistoga. read more

Aaron poured us here and he was totally knowledgeable about wine and the biz. We showed up about 20 minutes before closing but he didn't seem to mind. Their wines are all very good and their tasting is free. Auf. read more

What a find! This place is hidden behind some construction happening now in downtown Calistoga but it is worth maneuvering to get there. The gentleman who helped was very friendly, knowledgeable, and even helped us pick other tasting rooms in the area for the rest of the day. The Chardonnay is delicious and a must try. The Charbono however was the stand out. Never tried that varietal before but I was blown away. We will definitely be back once we have drank the bottles we bought! read more