My wife and I went on the Chateau Montelena Estate Walking Tour & Tasting and it was a wonderful…read moreexperience. The Chateau and pond are great spots for photos of your trip to wine country. The majority of the tasting is done while you are outside on the tour hearing about the history of the winery, with the final wines enjoyed in the tasting room. I would have liked more walking and some access to the Chateau or wine processing areas. TWO reasons that I wanted to go to Chateau Montelena. ONE, the Chateau and pond with Chinese bridges and pavilions looked to be a nice place to visit, and it was. TWO, the website had that the tour fee can be credited to a purchase, AND IT WAS. At the time of our trip, we were able to have the two tour fees credited back with purchase of $250 in wine. We got 5 bottles of wine to bring back home and the money for the tour/tasting was credited back. I liked this as at most of the larger wineries/estates, you pay a lot for the tasting and then would need to pay more for the wine. With this credit it was a win/win for you and the winery. Next time I plan to come back from with vineyard tour, and to pick up some more bottles of wine.

Château Montelena is more than just a winery; it's a cornerstone of Napa Valley's wine heritage…read more Its blend of history, stunning scenery, and exceptional wines makes it a must-visit for anyone looking to appreciate the true essence of Napa. If you're planning a visit, consider spending some time exploring the grounds and soaking in the history. Our guide Jady was truly amazing and a pleasure to be around! He was exceptional knowledgeable and his service was impeccable!

BIRTHDAY FIRST WINERY VISIT…read more The first time I went for a wine tasting menu was four years ago with a group of hip hop dancers. We visited two wineries in Sonoma. Four years later my sister and her husband organized two wine tasting menus at two wineries in Napa for my birthday. There was a group of relatives that went we us. I am the oldest of all the group as I turned 50. Some say I age as good as wine. There is a saying the longer the wine ages the better it is. Well I found that was partly true when I went to this winery. Two weeks ago Saturday the first winery we visited was Vincent Arroyo Family Winery. The host was Ted. He was very insightful during the wine tasting and tour of the winery. The wine tasting menu was unique as each person only had two glasses. I didn't know how many types of wine we would drink as there's no tasting menu. The first glass we had was a Chardonnay. It was crisp and clean. The second glass was the Sangiovese. It had a smooth taste. I mentioned about the two glasses. Ted stated if you don't like the wine dump it in the grey bucket. I enjoyed my first two glasses of wine. After each glass I put the last drops of each wine in the grey bucket. The third glass was the Zinfandel. The fourth glass was Tempranillo, which is a wine well known in Spain. Ted provided an insight of this wine as it is not well known in Napa, but the Tempranillo is produced here as a tribute to the Spanish heritage of the family of this winery. This wine has a light taste that doesn't mask the flavor of the food you eat. What I enjoyed about Ted is his insights. I mentioned about the longer the wine ages the better. Ted stated if you buy a bottle of wine it has a limit of ten years before the wine goes bad. He explained the reason why Cabernet Sauvignon is popular in Napa because land is expensive you need a wine that helps pay off the land. He provided a tour of the winery where he showed the process of harvesting the grapes, distilling the alcohol, and aging of the wine in the French oak barrels. After the tour we when back to the wine tasting room to taste two types of Cabernet Sauvignon - one darker color with the other clearer color. After tasting the two Cabernet Sauvignons I tasted the Petite Syrah from the Rattlesnake Acres of the winery. Of all the wines I tasted the Petite Syrah was my favorite. Petite Syrah is the wine this winery is known for. I got the Petite Syrah Rattlesnake Acres bottle for my birthday. I mentioned about the Rattlesnake Acres. On that property there are vineyards about 70 years old. So maybe it is not how old the wine is but how old the vineyard that results in a tasty wine. Overall I had eight glasses of wine at Vincent Arroyo Family Winery. I can see myself coming back to this winery again to purchase the Tempranillo and/or Cabernet Sauvignon from the Rattlesnake Acres. The first winery visit of the day was a great way to celebrate my birthday.

Every wine I try here is delicious in its own special way! I have been coming here off and on for…read moreover 15 years and every time I say I need to visit them more regularly. Today's tasting favorites were green and black label petite syrah (I can't remember and my dog is sleeping on my lap and I can't move LOL). I am also a fan of merlot which I have had theirs in past visits. Though we didn't taste any today, I bought some because I know it's going to be delicious! I hate that movie Sideways because of what they did to merlot! I also got some Entrada which they're discontinuing:( but I loved from past visits. I am definitely going to visit more often; at least once a year!

Amazing tasting with Daniel, who fit us in the morning of. The horses are magnificent and the wine…read moreis lovely also - we brought 12 bottles home. We especially loved their 97 pt cab--pricey but worth it!

We have given this vineyard two chances. The first time we visited we decided to do their…read moremembership. Once we received our first shipment we decided to cancel it because of the $185 bottle they slipped in with the shipment. Yes, we could have realized it before the shipment went out and made adjustments but life gets busy sometimes and when you have a membership you treat it like a bond or trust that you are taken care of by that company. Two days ago we decided to go back and give them another try after not visiting for 2 plus years. They were very nice about getting us in last min in the morning with us and our two dogs. Once we arrived it just seemed to go downhill. The two men that were working there that day seemed pre occupied by other parties that were supposed to be coming in and other vendors coming through. We at one point got interrupted during our tasting by one of them to let the the other one know that was taking that there was a certain person there they should step away and go say hi to. Which was fine.... It just felt intrusive. Why not wait until he's done pouring and walking away? For their prices they charge for their tastings and bottles, you think they'd higher classier people to pour their wine for them. We have never experienced a tasting where the person who's pouring for you sits down at your table and watches you drink your taste. There is a certain time and place for it and when we aren't talking to you, then why proceed to sit and stare at us while we discuss the wine and what we think about it? It felt really intrusive and awkward. While we there we were told there was a large party coming in (21 year old girls) and that we needed to move our dogs from where they were laying. The party didn't show up for another hour if not more. Once that party and one other one that came in before it, we were no longer paid attention to, like our money wasn't good enough. I even had to ask to get our tab and after waiting for it even longer, I had to go inside and wait for him to come out of the employees office to check me out. He did not seem too attentive or even realize that we were ready to leave. Which is why no tip followed afterwards. We like wine and love to spend money on good wine. The only thing about this vineyard that sets them aside from others is the horses. We will not be back and will continue to frequent our other wineries like The Castle, Peju, and Duckhorn where the tastings are more relaxing, treated like family, and are satisfied with the amount of money we spend.

Such a fun stop at Maria Concetto Winery in Calistoga! Between the beautiful wines and RobinoVino,…read moretheir robot bartender, this was definitely not your typical Napa Valley tasting experience. Watching a robot serve your wine might just make that glass taste a little more fun. A unique, playful stop to add to your Calistoga wine weekend! #MariaConcetto #RobinoVino #Calistoga #NapaValley #WineCountry

A truly unique experience at Maria Concetto Winery Tasting Room in Calistoga…read more Greg and Maria are the perfect hosts, making every guest feel genuinely welcome. The wines are exceptional, and the experience is unlike any other: a one-of-a-kind robot sommelier serves your wine while adding a touch of fun and innovation to the tasting. If you're visiting Napa Valley, this is an experience you won't want to miss. Salute!

I came with a few friends to shop and were enticed to do some wine tasting. We bought a bottle and…read morethey kept it cold in the fridge while we shopped and drank some wine. We also got a frose to sip on and enjoyed their whole experience. All of us bought some jewelry and cute items. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. We ended up returning at the end of the day to have some more wine and snacks. The onion dip was unreal, it was so flavorful and a great snack! We really enjoyed our time shopping and sipping!

I love the stuff here. The sales staff is very helpful. While I didn't come for the wine, they…read morehave quite a few great clothing options, very stylish and good quality at reasonable prices for the area. A must-visit boutique if you are in the area and want to do some shopping.

Calistoga is a beautiful section of wine country, and Amici is a small intimate winery where you…read morecan enjoy private, outdoor tastings. I found this winery through scrolling through blog posts, and when I called to make a reservation, it went to Jeff's cell phone. It spoke volumes that he picked up during his sons little league game & then easily made a reservation with a quick email. It was a beautiful warm day in Calistoga, and the shade was perfectly over our tasting table. Everything about the outdoors was aesthetically pleasing, and Jeff was very down to earth and helpful. Amici wines are truly deluxe and made for people who enjoy quality wine.

What a disappointment!!! It was lightly raining when we got there l, despite this we were still…read moretold to sit on the picnic benches outside specifically on the far end. We didn't sit at the far end and when the hostess came she made the request again and we pointed out the fact that that end of the table was wet. She moved us to the screened in porch. This wasn't a problem except for it was lightly raining before we arrived and it got heavier and there didn't seem to be a real plan in place. She did state that since they had guests staying the home they don't host tastings inside. Well not sure if the rule changed because 3/4 of the way through our tasting the next tasting arrived and they were set to have their tasting in the house. This was only one disappointing aspect of the visit. The hostess was not dressed professionally and we were served what seemed like boxed breadsticks that were extremely hard and tasteless. The wines were okay but definitely priced higher than in the store. We visited because the other couple in our party buys Amici at home and they thought it would be great to schedule a tasting. The experience was overall disappointing.

Envy Wines is a great place to kick back, relax, and enjoy some high quality estate grown wines in…read moreNapa Valley. Conveniently located near adjacent towns, of Calistoga, St. Helena, and Santa Rosa, this offering makes for a great visit, day trip, or wine tour and highly accessible from main roads. The service is phenomenal. Erin was able to explain the wines, grapes, process, and things to do in the area. She was so pleasant to speak to and learn from. She is the definition of true hospitality. The atmosphere is laid back and welcoming. This property is friendly to all, including children, dogs, and cigars! Dress code is casual and the attitude is down to earth and not pretentious, so if you identify as a relaxed and casual person, you'll do just fine here! The wine tastings offer some on and off menu items, so you are getting what the menu promises and more. I enjoyed the 2021 Envy Chenin Blanc, the 2020 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2019 Borderline Petite Syrah. One of the off menu items was the dessert port wine, which I suggest to have with a piece of dark chocolate. A truly great pairing. I highly recommend Envy wines for the value and service provided!

Discovered winery from Groupon. It is hidden in the outskirts of Calistoga, worth the drive. Very…read morepeaceful, relaxing wine tasting vibe. Both staff were great and friendly. I liked the Petite Sirah the most. My son liked their Cabernet more. For me, it was a bit too dry. Both petite sirah I thought were good, not dry, smooth finish.

Love Bennett Lane. Jackson was great and was very knowledgeable in our sampling. My favorite is the…read moreMaximus

After finishing at Tamber Bey, we asked the tasting room crew where we should go next, and the…read morerecommendation was Bennett Lane, so off we went! We arrived shortly after they must've opened, so we had the place to ourselves and were seated outside in the garden for our tasting. Since we had a bit of a drive back to where we were staying, we opted to all 3 split one tasting. The scenery was breathtaking, the wines were smooth, and the environment just plain relaxing. Ezra took excellent care of us, and even allowed us to taste something not on the normal menu, which was fell in love with (White Maximus). We were looking forward to having a private chef-made meal in our Airbnb that night, and Ezra was incredibly helpful in giving us recommendations for the wine to pair with our menu. Absolutely great experience!

This winery is a absolute gem!…read more The day is getting later as we arrive in Calistoga. We wonder if we will have a chance to have a wine tasting. I find Olabisi (meaning; joy multiplied). I call the winery and set up a private tasting. Within 20 minutes the owner, Ted Osborne, warmly greets us and opens the door to this delightful tasting room. We are comfortably seated as he pours his Rose, Rose Syrah, and a beautiful crisp Sauvignon Blanc. The conversation is jovial and informative. We agree that it would be a shame to not drink a wine or rum found in a 300 yr old pirate ship, on the bottom of the ocean no matter if it is questionable. We laugh, he produces a wine called Black Pearl! True story!! It was great! We tried great great wines here. What a treat! Bought wines from Howell Mountain region. Amaze. Also a 2014 Cab Sav for our Christmas table, which is the highest honor I can bestow on a bottle of wine. Can't wait to return!

We were camping at the nearby state park and were looking for a place that was open for wine…read moretasting and picked this one. It was around 5pm on a Thursday and we were the only ones around. The tasting cost $40 for 6 pours, starting with a rose and ending with a Cabernet Sauvignon. I am not very fond of reds but all the ones that were on the tasting menu that day were very good. The rose was my favorite. I was talking to the owner and he mentioned that he prefers to be out making wine instead of pouring and I can see that. Also, the pours were very tiny. There was not much information shared about the wine etc, he left the bottle with the information side turned towards you to read up on your own. The place itself is beautiful and it used to be a hardware store. It's right next to the city hall and across the street from the police station. There is street parking as well as a public parking lot next to the police station. The place is dog friendly and the owner bought out a bowl of water for my baby. I didn't buy anything but I would visit again.

Blessed to have had a wine tasting session at Spire Collection Winery today. Fantastic offerings…read moreof Cabernets, Pinot, and Chardonnay. The knowledge imparted, the science, the willingness to answer questions fully and openly were a real gift, and the insights Wil shared were amazing. All of this in a magnificent setting and a relaxed, unhurried manner made this the best wine tasting I have ever experienced. Consider it a major loss if you do not schedule time with Wil at Spire Collection!

We'd made reservations for a tasting here with our best friends because Spires represent, among…read moremany others, two (2) labels of which we were interested. Our appointment was made the week beforehand for Jan 3rd at about 2pm. Our preference is red wines. They noted this when taking the reservation and promised to provide reminder email/text the day of the tasting. A good start. The tasting room is in the northern part of the Napa Valley in Calistoga. Gorgeous setting. We were greeted as we walked up to the door by Estate Manager Ryan Hughes. He was friendly, engaging, and created a relaxed atmosphere from the beginning. He let us know this would be a private tasting. I knew I was in trouble with a capital "T" almost immediately. The tasting table was preset with stemware and water pitchers. Elegant but not stuffy. I noticed jazz background music immediately - Coltrane: A Love Supreme is spinning on the vinyl record player. Classic. The wall facing the small vineyard is a picture glass window providing a spectacular view. They know how to set a stage. It only got better as we were given the best tasting presentation I've ever had. He was informative, educational and seemed interested in our opinions. Even though this setting could be seen as formal, it was the opposite. The wines were excellent. An outstanding group of global labels and wines were sampled. I don't need to be a member of another wine club, but I couldn't help myself. There was no turning away. We left with the 4 bottles of our favorites (our friends with 2 more). And I can't wait for the next shipment. I guess "A Love Supreme" was apropos.