In my last review I wrote about some $20 that was charged for an extra pour, despite me buying $200 worth of wine. It's not the money - it's the gesture. I was pleasantly surprised to see $20 being refunded to me by the business manager. Did not expect it - loved it! Looking forward to bringing some friends for the wine crushing event you have in the fall. See you soon! read more

Benessere Vineyards - Entrance - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

So much fun! A real homey feel with great wine. We did the wine tasting and our guide was amazing! Not to mention the views. read more

Benessere Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

3/21/2025 - Benessere is a small family-owned winery that specializes in Italian varietals. We were seated in the covered outdoor patio area which was relaxing and comfortable. We were given the option of two tasting flights. My husband chose the Grand Rossi flight ($55); I chose the Bei Vini flight ($40), and we shared, so basically we each got to try wine from both flights. Our host was Travis, and he was very friendly and knowledgeable about the wines and the vineyards. He made the tasting experience very enjoyable. Every wine we tasted was excellent, and we took 3 bottles home. Benessere Vineyards is now added to our list of "must visit" wineries when we are in the area. read more

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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! read more

Benessere Vineyards - Outdoor Patio - Benessere Vineyards - March 21, 2025 - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

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 ! read more

Benessere Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

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Our visit to Benessere Winery was one of the most disappointing parts of our Napa trip. I had called in advance to confirm that we did not need reservations for our group of 10 adults and 3 kids. We were told we'd be fine to come by--but when we arrived, we were met with attitude and rudeness. The staff member, Sam, was incredibly unwelcoming and made us feel like we were a burden from the start. He insisted we choose from a very limited menu with no flexibility or effort to accommodate, despite our prior call and confirmation. We ended up walking out because the experience was so unpleasant. Unfortunately, we wasted two hours of our scheduled limousine tour on this completely avoidable stop. With so many beautiful, friendly wineries in Napa, do not waste your time at Benessere. There are far better places that actually care about hospitality. read more

Came here because my friend is a club member. What a beautiful spot. Patio tasting area is large with plenty of comfy couches or chairs to lounge in the sun or shade. Started with sparkling then moved to white and red. And has some chocolate to pair with the red wines. All of it was so delicious. Jared was an attentive and kind wine host. Looking forward to coming back read more

It takes an effort to get 5 Star review for a non-can centered winery from a local Napa Valley resident :) This guys deserve it. Very friendly process from the moment you call to book a tasting to the moment you leave the winery. The place itself feels almost like your own backyard, comfortable, non-commercial setting goes well with boutique small production wines. Wines are not what one would expect from the middle of the Napa Valley, they are more like an Italian style, different varietals of grapes, different philosophy, and yet most of wines are very enjoyable. This is a one-off experience for the valley, but this is one-off you will not regret visiting. read more

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. read more

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*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! read more

Benessere Vineyards - Tasting Menu 5/31/21 - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

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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! read more

Benessere Vineyards - a glass of wine and a bottle of wine - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

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. read more

Benessere Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

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

Benessere Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

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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 read more

Benessere Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

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We came here with friends who belong to the wine club here. I am a very light drinker, so only tried the pinot Grigio. It was perfect for a warm fall afternoon. DH and our friends tried many different wines and our friends purchased a case. We also had olives and chocolate truffles, very yummy. Service was excellent at this off the beaten track winery. When driving up 29 north of Saint Helena, turn right at the red pickup truck and drive up Big Tree Riad read more

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. read more

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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. read more

Benessere Vineyards - Phenomenon bottle - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

Such a hidden gem! We came here a few weeks ago to celebrate a bachelorette - the place is super cute, wines are great, and service is impeccable! Ryan (I think?) was a hilarious host, he tweaked the tasting per our palate, and we finished up with delicious chocolate truffles. Can't recommend this place enough. read more

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. read more

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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 read more

Benessere Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

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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. read more

Benessere Vineyards - Parking area - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

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It was my second time here. Cozy and quiet family-owned vineyard with excellent choices of wine at reasonable prices. Friendly staff and gorgeous views. I'm planning to come back next year! read more

Benessere Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

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Amazing find! Truly small winery experience and the hostess as well as the owner (very humble kind man) we met (who was so nice and gave us some bruschetta from the night before party), were treating everyone so well, made you feel that you were not just another number that comes through the door. You get the tour and then taste the wines, their Rose is fantastic and so are the reds (Merlot we liked the best). So if you want to experience true history, personal touch and appreciate the wines of these hard working people, this is definitely the place to go. read more

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This was our last winery we visited during our Napa trip. The scenery was nice and the seating was very comfy! We ordered some cheese, crackers and olives along with our Wine. Overall we had a great time here. read more

Benessere Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

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Staff is very friendly and walks you through the history of the property, how the the winery was started, and how wines are made! Definitely on the top of my list during the tour! read more

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Mario and Bob are very nice people who gave us a good experience at Benessere. This place has Italian inspired wine. I think it's a good place for people who aren't regular drinkers or like lighter wines more. We got their tastings with chocolates to pair with. They use Annette's chocolates which are sold in Napa downtown. Very beautiful patio furniture and comfy to sit outside. The tasting is $20 which is on the lower end of other tastings in the area. I think people should try this place out. Mario and Bob are very friendly and cheerful people. read more

This was a quaint winery with a beautiful and relaxing tasting area overlooking the vineyards. We really enjoyed the laid back seated tasting which allowed us to spend time with our friends, play our own music on Spotify, enjoy the view of the mountains and choose the wine which was customized in mixed or red selections. We paired it with cheese and chocolate. The service was slow but they looked after us well. We were delighted that it was not crowded at all (yet). read more

Great experience here! Went with my mom on our first mother-daughter trip and this was our first winery visit of the trip! Had an amazing time and Rich was just outstanding. He explained everything so well and was truly so kind and helpful. We went on a weekday and had the entire vineyard to ourself! Stunning views and we highly recommend! The Sangiovese is what they are known for and did not disappoint! read more

What a beautiful vineyard with outstanding service! Rich was so friendly and knowledgeable and was as welcoming of our dogs as he was of me and my husband. We enjoyed a delightful and relaxing afternoon at the stunning Benessere Vineyards and plan to come back each time we go to Napa. Don't miss this hidden gem! read more

Benessere Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

The atmosphere on the patio is amazing! The wine is good as well! The stars are really in consideration to the price. It cost our designated driver $40 to just sit in on the tasting (not taste), and everyone else $80.00 a person. When we arrived we saw the tasting prices were typically 40 a person so unsure why it was so pricey for our group. Most of the group bought wine (including the DD) but no fees were refunded. Though it is a great place would prefer to spend the monies else where next time we visit. read more

The WORST tasting experience WE have ever had. Save your money, and go to Hall Winery instead. We have been drinking all day and decided to end our tour at this winery. The lady up front (has a tattoo on her ankle), was extremely put off by us, and told us to sit outside where we had 3 tiny tastings and no water. We sat in the sun and was hot, and then she refused to pour our last tasting because my wife had her eyes closed. She was extremely rude we will never go to this winery again. I would rate this place a 0 star, but I have to give a rating. She also gave us almonds and olives, but we had to pay for them. Please, please, do not waste your time. And plus, the wine was not good. read more

Despite the chilly weather, Benessere's tasting was extremely cozy. Our tasting, hosted by Mario, was very fun and casual. We really enjoyed how they start with a welcome pour before seating as well as the scenic tasting area. We learned a lot about their property, farming, and Italian inspired varietals. It was pretty busy when we went but Mario made sure to speak clearly and answered all our questions. We will definitely be coming back again! read more

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From the drive in along the creek and vineyard all the way to the checkout process was perfect. The property is located not far from town, made it easy to get to this vineyard. I left with 2 bottles of wine after 1 tasting flight, and I cant wait to go back!! read more

Beautiful winery located in St. Helena on the Napa River. Unpretentious and classy. Friendly and personable service. You feel right at home and they take the time to educate you on their wines. Staff seems to truly enjoy what they do. Lovely patio area over-looking the beautiful property. As for the wine... Pinot Grigio, Rosato di Sangiovese, and Moscato are excellent. The reds are all stellar. Phenomenon and Sangiovese are delicious. Riserva Sangiovese, Aglianico, and Sagrantino will all make your knees buckle. read more

Benessere Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

Amazing experience, the view is beautiful with mountains every direction. Sitting on the patio was lovely as you're surrounded by vines of the wines you're drinking. It's tucked back off the road so it's very laid back and quiet, went in the morning and had the patio to ourselves. Service was excellent, custom tailored to what we like to drink. Their Sangiovese was the best I've had. Will certainly be visiting again on our next trip to Napa. read more

I was a huge fan of Benessere and I don't think it hurt that we had a private tour (thanks, Platypus Tours) accompanied by the cutest black lab, Roo. The vineyard is gorgeous and my favorite one I saw in all of Napa. It's a family-owned vineyard with an adorable love story centered around wine. The owners' super dreamy yellow home overlooks a luscious field of grapes and scenic mountain backdrop - everything you imagine a Napa vineyard to be! Not only was I in love with the scenery and the dog, I was also sl obsessed with their rosé and red blend, Phenomenon, that I splurged on the bottles (the Phenomenon itself was $60) to bring home. Sadly, like most family-owned wineries, Benessere only sells direct to consumer, but the good news is they offer a Wine of the Month Club for only $100 per shipment (gets you 3 bottles every 4 months), which I just might have to invest in after divulging in the two bottles I brought home. Cheers! read more

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

We visited Benessere as part of a Platypus wine tour and decided it was our favorite stop of the tour. Benessere is a small lot estate that specializes in Italian varietals Sangiovese, Moscato di Canelli and Sagrantino in addition to Napa stables Cab, Merlot, and Zinfandel. The property is absolutely stunning. As part of our tours we were able to see the house and walk around the grounds. The best part of the tour was of course the tasting. They were extremely generous with their pours and their Phenomenon blend was our favorite. They even cracked open some pretty pricey bottles of some older vintages and let us sample. Our barman was extremely knowlegable and friendly. Although we experienced friendly service at all of the small vineyards we visited, they were exceptional here. They spent a lot of time explaining each variety and we really felt like we had a very personalized tour. My wife ended up joining the wine club as the wines were all very desirable and it waived our tasting fee. It was a much more relaxed experience than a tasting at a large commercial winery. Overall, this place is amazing and now that we are wine club members we will make it a point to make it back for one of their events. read more

Benessere Vineyards - Amazing place - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

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I'll be the first to admit that I'm easily influenced by hype and big names, so it's no surprise that on my first visit to the Napa Valley, I toured Domaine Chandon and Robert Mondavi Winery. As much as I enjoyed my experiences at those two places, however, I think I enjoyed my time at the lesser-known, family-owned Benessere Vineyards just a little bit more. Benessere has a cute little tasting room where you can sample a few of their wines for just $10. I'm not a huge wino, but I loved their Pinot Grigio and their Muscat di Canelli Frizzante. I love typing "Muscat di Canelli Frizzante"...doesn't it make me sound so smart and cultured? Well, truthfully, I wouldn't have remembered the name if it wasn't for the fact that I bought half a dozen bottles. Anyhow...the people at Benessere were absolutely amazing and genuine. They spent so much time talking to us about wine, about food, and about life in general. Both the man and the woman (Nan?) had lived in So-Cal before, and they talked about the days when people bought milk and eggs from a dairy store, and when the 5-freeway was only 2 lanes wide. ...Whaaat? I don't know which is more shocking. I might have given Benessere 4.5 stars, but their 150-pound Newfoundland puppy won me over. The photo I included doesn't do this dog justice - in reality, she's so huge that her head is wider than my body! She's also the sweetest, most docile dog I've ever met. 5 stars for Benessere! read more

Benessere Vineyards - 150 pounds of pure dog... - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

Love. Love. Love. When I booked I was concerned there might be something wrong with the place because the tasting per person was $20 (much lower than anywhere nearby) and the outdoor seating area looked beautiful. We made a reservation for six and were promptly seated upon arrival. It was busy, but Mario took excellent care of us and impressed us with his extensive wine knowledge. The ambiance was so nice, the vineyards so beautiful, the wine so good. There was no food available. read more