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    Benessere Vineyards

    4.7 (132 reviews)
    ModerateWineries
    Closed 10:00 am - 4:30 pm

    By appointment only

    Benessere Vineyards Photos

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    Outdoor Patio - Benessere Vineyards - March 21, 2025
    Bruce O.

    Benessere Winery, Saint Helena, CA - March 21, 2025 We arrived at 2 pm on a Friday. Appointments for tastings are required. They have a relatively small indoor lounge area and a much larger covered outdoor patio seating area. It was a beautiful sunny day with a few big grey clouds overhead, so we sat outdoors. Travis was our server. Awesome guy who was knowledgeable in the winemaking business, a former wine maker in Washington, and a true gentleman. Most of their wines are made in the lighter Italian style with numerous Italian varietals going into their blends. They have two tasting options - the Bei Vini (Beautiful Wines) option of 5 wines for $40 a the Grandi Rossi (Big Reds) option of 5 reds for $55. We got one of each and were not disappointed. The Bei Vini option included a sparkling Pinot Grigio, still Pinot Grigio, Rosato, Sangiovese, and a Cab. Sauv. red blend - all delicious. The Grandi Rossi option included a black diamond Zinfandel, Sangiovese, 2018 Phenomenon red blend (that included Cab. Sauv., Sangiovese, Merlot, an Sarah), another Cab. Sauv. blend, and a pure 100 % Cab. Sauv. No disappointments whatsoever. Wine prices are in the $25 - $100 range. We got a Pino Grigio, Zinfandel, and Sangiovese. We'll be back!

    I Stopped here as a recommendation from someone who lives locally and I really enjoyed my tasting here. All of the wines were so delicious and what I also like about this place is it gives more of a small business feel that is very personable . The property is beautiful and I just happened to go when nobody else was there and it was so peaceful and relaxing. The winery is down a long road so it's away from everything and you can just sit outside in their patio and take in the beautiful scenery. I would recommend this place to others to support this winery. Their wines were all good and unique and you can't beat the price points ! I'm honestly now regretting not taking some back home with me. LOL guess I'll just have to go back some other time !

    Kiyah G.

    First off, this is a beautiful winery. I absolutely loved sitting outside next to the vineyards with the wounds of the fountain. Something about this place is pure and for that...I recommend you visit. This is one of a handful of wineries in Napa that produce Italian wines and if that's your thing...you will love having access to wines you can't get anywhere else. Personally I wasn't a fan of the reds, but really enjoyed the Pinot Grigio and Rosato.

    Tasting Menu 5/31/21
    Isabella L.

    *a review during the COVID-19 pandemic* Benessere is officially the first vineyard I've visited since 2019. Benessere is one of my favorite wineries in Napa because they specialize in Italian varietals like Sangiovese. I went with my family and our appointment was at 11:15 (my parents are also wine club members). There were no other parties when we arrived and we had the patio area to ourselves. We were given plastic cups to drink out of and they were ours to take after we were done. The cups actually stack on top of each other and we were given a bag to put them in. Our tasting room associate was Barbara and she was so kind and very easy to talk to and answered any questions that we had. We even go to see where they bottle the wine (though the staff will be bottling the next morning). It was nice for me to compare their setup compared to some of the bigger wineries that I've toured at. Overall I had a great first experience and I've missed wine tasting a lot. I can't wait to visit again!

    a glass of wine and a bottle of wine
    Jonathan K.

    I would give Benessere a 6/5 stars if I can. We paid for the priority wine pass, which gave us 5 pours per person at the cost of $40. Because of COVID, we had to reserve our spots ahead of time. However, the ambience was great since there were very few people present. Our staff associate for the day was Ryan who was beyond exceptional. Not only was the service top notch, Ryan also made sure to answer any of our questions regarding the vineyard or the wines in general. The wines were all phenomenal and I have nothing more to add. I would be happy to have a single bottle of any of the wines I tried during the tasting. The reason why I want to give Benessere an extra star is how the staff here go above and beyond to helping their customers. We had difficulty securing Uber and there were no taxis at the time that would take us to our next wine tasting from Benessere. The manager, Bob, was more than helpful and actively sought out transportation for us to make sure we can get to our next wine tasting on time. In the end, not only did we have a stellar experience at Benessere, Bob also managed to acquire us a ride. Overall, we had a great time enjoying tastings at Benessere and also really appreciated the friendliness of all the staff here! Although Benessere is not a huge estate like Charles Krug, I would certainly not pass on the opportunity to come here if you are in Napa Valley!

    Jazzy S.

    We made a reservation for a Saturday morning, and we were happy with our experience here. We were seated in this cute indoor seating area, which was decorated for the holidays. The wine tasting was a bit pricier than what was listed on the most recent menu (now $35 and $45 for each tasting). It was a bit pricey, but a good experience overall. The server was friendly and knowledgable. My favorite was the cabernet served at the end. Super smooth, and one of the best cabernets I had in Napa.

    Christina J.

    Outstanding winery This was our favorite: 2018 SANGIOVESE (CURRENT RELEASE) Protip: This sandwich spot was really good for afterward "Giugni W F & Son Grocery"

    Willow R.

    We had a really nice experience. The woman who greeted us was pleasant and led us to an outdoor tasting tent. We were offered a seat on a very cold day with a space heater and that was a nice touch. Two people ended up Helping us and both were very pleasant. Being in the wine industry, it alleviates a sense of stiffness that we find from other places. We were able to just interact, be friendly, and I have a much more relaxed tasting experience. The wines were light and aromatic, which was a good start to our day in Napa because most of the wines are much more full-bodied. The Sangiovese it was our favorite of the day. The inside space looks welcoming and I look forward to that reopening although they're doing a great job accommodating people outdoors

    Cheers to an amazing sip of 2017 Sorridente wine at Benessere Vineyards in St. Helena.
    Jason F.

    When driving into the grounds that make up Benessere Vineyards, there is a big red truck that greets visitors in their parking lot and there is nothing more down home country meets Italian elegance than the wines, grounds and tasting room that is Benessere Vineyards. Located just north of downtown St. Helena, Bennessere is a small but enterprising vineyard that specializes in small-lot Italian inspired wines that the Napa Valley is so famous for. The grounds here provide not only the perfect backdrop for visitors but the ideal locations and soil for growing classic Italian varietals such as Sangiovese and Sorrodenteo as well as other non-Italian varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel. I came with a group of friends on a sunny Saturday afternoon and before we decided where we wanted to go wine tasting this day, we looked online and found out that Benessere was one of the more affordable places in the region for an estate wine tasting, on top of being of the few places in the region that still had reservations even with a couple days notice. What caught my friend's eye when it came to booking a tasting for our group was their A Taste of Italy tasting that cost $35 a person. Technically it was for four pours, but we had got there so early that the tasting rooms associates as led by Ryan were generous with their pours as we received two extra pours that were not on their tasting menu. Benessere has managed to keep up with the times, no matter the situation thanks to their covering outdoor tasting area set on top of a gravelly area right in the center of their vineyards. The open-air covered portion is still there with a lot of casual patio seating and table seating, but now its more covered tent areas to give people more privacy and sense of security. Our first pour began with their 2019 Pinot Grigio, which technically wasn't on their Taste of Italy menu, but was a light and crisp way to start our afternoon with a refreshing preview of the wines that Benessere has to offer. Our tasting then continued with a pour of their 2017 Sorridente, which is the Italian word for "smile" and is their signature red blend that had an amazing bouquet upon our first pour. With a lush and rich lingering taste on the palate, this wine could have been my favorite pour of our afternoon. Then tasting room associate Ryan was generous enough to give us an extra pour in between our regular tasting. Their 2017 Sangiovese had a wonderful depth to its taste thanks to flavors of various berries and spices. By this time, our party was intrigued by a food item on their menu at Benessere, their Sangiovese Chocolate Truffles which are actually made from their Sangiovese and paired so well with all of the remaining red wines we drank. Our fourth taste was their 2016 Phenomenon, which is known as their super Tuscan thanks to the expansive blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Syrah. Our fifth tasting was their wine known as John's Promise which tasted as if it was a fine dark chocolate that lingered on the palate and accentuated the chocolates we tried with each sip. Our sixth and final pour was their 2017 Aglianico, which is a dark-skinned Italian variety indigenous to the Campania region around Naples, and was a beautiful red wine with powerful aromas and flavors and significant tannin. For a little over forty dollars, we enjoyed six wines and two chocolate truffles each, which for Napa Valley is not a bad deal and all you can hope to experience. This hidden gem is tucked away far away in the upper echelon of wine country among more notable wineries that may have more buzz but do not have more enriching red blends. With the sole exception of their Pinot Noir, all of their grapes are grown here in the valley. Recently they lost over ninety percent of their vines due to smoke damage from the recent wildfires that ravaged the area. They regretfully couldn't do anything with an inferior product and I admire their dedication to quality wines because at Benessere Vineyards you are not going to get anything less with great homespun customer service and amazing Italian varietal blends this intimate winery deserves any wine lovers attention.

    Phenomenon bottle
    Arely C.

    I am beyond impressed with the service. It was such a memorable experience. Thank you so much for having such lovely staff. Being new to the wine tasting world. The wine was explained throughly without it being too boring. The seating area was well distanced from each other. The red truck outside is so cute. I went with the Phenomenon wine bottle. The wine prices did range around $30-80. I can't wait to be back.

    Winery entrance
    Karen C.

    This is a hidden gem I will definitely visit again. The wines are lovely. I especially enjoyed the Rosato di Sangiovese on a pretty hot day. The server was very experienced and knowledgeable. More importantly, she was very welcoming and made me feel right at home. This was particularly nice, as I did this tasting by myself. It's always nicer to share wine with someone. We had a lovely conversation. I will definitely return there on my next visit.

    Stan P.

    We had a great time and had great wine. This was the best winery we visited yesterday. Our server explained everything to us novices. We so enjoyed the tasting and then bought several bottles of wine between us all Our next winery was much bigger and more crowded and way more touristy. Although it too was fun, nothing like Benessere Vineyards. This is wine tasting at its best

    Parking area
    Ben A.

    Our first time at Benessere after several visits to the Valley over the years. Mario was taking care of us on a moody afternoon with some rolling fog and a bit of crisp in the air. He was very knowledgeable about the Italian wine cultural, as we upgraded our tasting to the "Taste of Italy" for $35. We left with a bottle of the Black Glass Zinfandel. We would have loved to have left with a case, but queue moderation. A nice view of the western ridge of the valley is framed inferiorly by the estate vines just off the tasting area. Tucked away off the main drag, it's close enough to not be a logistical burden to get to but far enough to not few the hustle and bustle of the main drag of Hwy 29.

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    3 months ago

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    Lovely setting, excellent wine, very unassuming and tranquil. We will absolutely come back.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Benessere Vineyards

    Does this place have any sweet/dessert wines?

    Benessere has a Moscato di Canelli. While it's not on the tasting menu you can ask for a splash of it

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    Review Highlights - Benessere Vineyards

    Benessere is one of my favorite wineries in Napa because they specialize in Italian varietals like Sangiovese.

    Mentioned in 18 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Davis Estates - Tasting Deck

    Davis Estates

    4.9(86 reviews)
    1.3 mi
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    Davis Estates gives an amazing tour and the tasting is absolutely fantastic!! The grounds are so…read moregorgeous too!! Definitely do a food pairing with the wine and you will not be disappointed. The wine is absolutely amazing!! Our tour guide was so fantastic and friendly and made the experience so much fun!!

    Davis Estates was the wife's and my first stop on our tour of Napa wineries. We had reserved the…read moreNapa Cave Tour & Wine Tasting ($125/person) for a Monday morning. Davis Estates took my breath away as we drove up. The winery and surrounding vineyards nestled against the mountains were picturesque and made a wonderful first impression. It almost seemed like we had been transported back to Napa Valley a century ago with the rural, rustic architecture of the buildings on the property. However, outside appearances were definitely deceiving as the interiors were a blend of ultra-modern and the rural rusticity. Being from Las Vegas, I would even go as far as to say that there were some Vegasy touches like the beautiful works of art such as Chihuly glass pieces on display and the Cellarium, a beautifully designed, ultra-exclusive, private tasting room behind a biometric-locked vault door. After being guided around the property by our gracious host, Amy, we were taken to the large tasting room and seated on the patio with an amazing view overlooking the vineyards. We enjoyed a tasting of several of their current releases of differing varietals accompanied by food pairings from the estate's outstanding chef. The selection of Davis Estates' wines that we tasted were all excellent on their own, but having them paired with a thoughtfully prepared selection of delicious bites elevated them through the roof. Both the wife and I love to cook and, needless to say, we drew a lot of inspiration from the wines and how they paired so well with a variety of food. There are many wonderful wineries throughout the valley. Yes, there are less expensive tastings available at other properties, but if you're passionate about both wine AND food, then Davis Estates is for you. I loved it and can't wait to come back!

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    Davis Estates - The Cellarium

    The Cellarium

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    Davis Estates - The food is on point

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    The food is on point

    Madrigal Family Winery - 12/13/2023

    Madrigal Family Winery

    4.7(130 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Dave, scott, jimmy and owner chris madrigal ALWAYS treated every guest like family. Beautiful…read moreproperty, wine education would take us out in the vineyard. Love madrigal! Highly recommend. Beautiful back patio deck views and barrel room. The madrigal family has been caring for the land for decades makes killer wine. Update: Sad to hear madrigal is CLOSED recently sold June 2024. Sign is down. Per the north bay business journal (Jul 10, 2024) quote: "The deal, completed June 21, includes 8 acres of planted vines, the winery, appointment-only tasting room, a garden and a small home, but founder Chris Madrigal retains the namesake brand, according to Hundred Acre. Madrigal did not respond to inquiries on the future of the brand. Madrigal's father, Jess, also founder of Madrigal Vineyard Management, retained 40 acres of vines, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The purchase price and other terms of the deal weren't disclosed. The Madrigal grape and wine family came to Napa Valley with Jacinto Madrigal from Mexico in 1938. Jess Madrigal started the vineyard company in the mid-1980s, farming about 800 acres of vines. Chris Madrigal started the winery in 1995, and it was producing about 10,000 cases annually."

    We had such a wonderful visit last time w/Sam, I knew we had to come here again. This time we came…read moreto celebrate my sister's birthday and crossed my fingers that Sam would be the one who was going to take care of us. He was just as fantastic as the last time. a true gem! He's so personable and he took his time with us and we didn't feel rushed at all. We just felt so comfortable w/him, as if he was a friend. I forgot he was on the clock! 5/5 for Sam! We were able to walk into the grapevine areas and snap some pictures. He gave us all a tour of the inside where they keep the barrels. We really enjoyed the wines and Sam's company. This is the reason why I'm not rating it a 5. We were out front waiting to use the restroom and there was a guy hanging out there. I asked him if he was the owner and he said he was. I'd read reviews about how nice the owner was. But upon meeting him, I did not get the same impression. I let him know how wonderful Sam was and that he's the reason why we returned for a 2nd visit. The owner's mood changed, he stopped making eye contact with me and looked away like he didn't want to hear me praise his employee any further. You would think he'd be like, that's fantastic, I'm so glad you returned, etc. But no. You'd think, as the owner, he'd be super pleased to know that we're a repeat customer because of his employee. But I could tell by his body language that he was bothered by it. I think he's accustomed to other folks praising him, telling him how nice he is, etc. and I didn't, so that stung because pretty quick into the conversation, he took a dig at me for our choice of restaurant we were heading to next. (We loved it the first time, that's why we were going again :) ) It's quite funny because upon arriving to the restaurant, there was a HUGE party (30+ people) seated behind us. All men and dressed really nice! We asked an employee what was going on and he told us they were a bunch of winery owners in the area and their friends celebrating a birthday, oh and the owner of the 49ers was there too ;) So yeah, the crème de la crème was sitting next to us. I guess they didn't invite the owner of Madrigal. Side note, w/the summer time approaching, I'd encourage them to invest in an additional umbrella for the outdoor furniture since there was a party reserved on the deck and they were using all of the umbrellas.

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    Madrigal Family Winery - Last stop on the tour. Buy wines here. We got a case each.

    Last stop on the tour. Buy wines here. We got a case each.

    Madrigal Family Winery
    Madrigal Family Winery - Mmm... Can I take one off these to go?  ;-)

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    Mmm... Can I take one off these to go? ;-)

    Frank Family Vineyards

    Frank Family Vineyards

    4.0(527 reviews)
    1.0 mi
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    We were able to book a complimentary tasting through our hotel concierge. Upon arriving, the check…read morein host suggested that we should have our tasting inside, as the usual courtyard seating was a bit too hot. When we arrived inside, we found out that it wasn't a private tasting and were shared a 4 seater table with another couple across from us, and also a group of 10-12 next to us. I'm not sure if there are different tastings you can book on their website, but I did want to mention this. Our wine educator was very personable and knowledgeable though, which was great. He managed our table and the large group next to us and made the entire tasting seem like one large group tasting. As for the wines, I didn't enjoy them quite as much as other wineries we went to on our trip (Fortunati and Joseph Phelps). The price of the Frank Family bottles were also comparable to Joseph Phelps, but slightly cheaper on average. For that price, I would have expected a better taste. At the end of our tasting, our host did bring out a 2019 Winston Hill Red which was on the higher end compared to the typical wines provided at the tasting - this one was tasty and was actually one we purchased. We didn't like any of the other wines enough to purchase.

    Recently took a girls trip to Napa and Frank Family was one of our stops. I have visited once…read morebefore, probably almost 10 years ago, and I remember enjoying it. This time, I KNOW I loved it so much. It was my favorite stop. The property is beautiful and it was a lovely fall day with a breeze and leaves changing color and falling. Unfortunately I can't remember our sommelier's name but he was very kind and knowledgeable. We were located in a semi-private room with another girls trip so it was a perfect match. The wine was so delicious our whole party ended up purchasing a bottle of the Pinot noir to take home. I know there are a plethora of wineries in Napa Valley, but Frank Family is a must visit.

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    Frank Family Vineyards - Miller House

    Miller House

    Frank Family Vineyards - '22 PN

    '22 PN

    Frank Family Vineyards - Miller House

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    Castello di Amorosa - Castello di Amorosa in the Diamond Mountain District of the Napa Valley.

    Castello di Amorosa

    4.1(5.1k reviews)
    2.0 mi
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    Very cool winery up on a hill. Castle construction is a cool concept…read more We did the wine tasting and the juice tasting. I thought it was slightly expensive but not terrible. It was very busy. They clearly work on a volume basis compared to other wineries. Since I only like very sweet wines, I was able to find something for me.

    Eli, our tour guide, was amazing! He was incredibly engaging, knowledgeable, and made the whole…read moreexperience really fun. You could tell he genuinely enjoys what he does, and he kept the tour interesting the entire time. The castle itself is stunning and the whole experience felt really unique. The wine tastings were all delicious and added a lot to the visit. The only downside was unfortunately someone in our tour group. One woman made sure everyone knew she was a member and kept mentioning how she had already seen the castle too many times and was bored of it, saying she only came to bring her family for a birthday. It kind of disrupted the experience for the rest of us. When we got to the torture chamber she also started making some really inappropriate remarks, which was a bit uncomfortable for the group. Aside from that situation, we still had a great time and really enjoyed the tour and tastings. Overall it was a memorable experience and definitely worth visiting if you're in Napa. 5 stars for Eli!!

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    Castello di Amorosa - Castello di Amorosa wines

    Castello di Amorosa wines

    Castello di Amorosa - Morning sun on the Castello. It's always a great day to visit.

    Morning sun on the Castello. It's always a great day to visit.

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    Chocolate pairing's

    Larkmead Vineyards

    Larkmead Vineyards

    4.3(95 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$$

    Arrived on a Friday afternoon with a reservation. We were associated with a group that entitled us…read moreto a complimentary estate tasting. Not busy on a Friday ad we were greeted by our tasting guide with a nice glass of white. We were seated outside in a beautiful pergola among the vines. Also serve a nice cheese and charcuterie plate. Very nicely, the owner and current CEO of the estate came and sat with us, telling nice stories about the family and the estate. Turns out she's also an artist and encourage us to visit her small gallery in a separate building. Our guide took us through the remaining red wines which were all very nice but not transcendental. He then nicely took us back to see the gallery which was quite nice. Lovely winery and experience!

    Stunning Backdrop for a Soulless Experience…read more Stopped by Larkmead Vineyards today after a wonderful afternoon at a down-to-earth winery that reminded us why Napa used to be special (Venge). Sadly, Larkmead represents everything wrong with what Napa is becoming - all aesthetic, no heart. We pulled into a nearly empty parking lot (telling), and politely asked if they were offering tastings. We were met with a stiff $90 per person price tag - no flexibility, no hospitality, just a cold transaction. My dad, who's lived in Napa for years, asked if we could simply buy a bottle and enjoy it on the property. The response? "We're not licensed for that." Translation: we're too busy clinging to an image of exclusivity to actually welcome people in. The whole experience reeked of pretension over passion, gatekeeping over community. Stunning grounds, yes -- but empty of the warmth, generosity, and authenticity that made Napa legendary in the first place. If you want a reminder of why Napa is losing its soul, Larkmead IS NOT IT. They don't want locals. They don't want connection. They just want prestige. Plenty of other wineries deserve your time, your support, and your love. Larkmead Vineyard is a hard pass.

    Photos
    Larkmead Vineyards
    Larkmead Vineyards
    Larkmead Vineyards - View of the estate

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    View of the estate

    Benessere Vineyards - wineries - Updated May 2026

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