For those of you who think Napa long ago turned into Disneyland, you are 99% right. But there are still some mom and pop gems tucked into unassuming lanes, and Elyse is one of them. Ironically it is just off of Highway 29, but you feel removed from the fray once you turn onto Hoffman Lane. It's by appointment only so that party buses full of bros and broettes from the Marina don't clog up the one lane road just before closing, but that policy made for some peaceful and undistracted tete-a-tetes with the humorous and knowledgeable gentlemen who were pouring last Friday afternoon. Tasting fee is $15, which is waived with purchase. Their Le Corbeau Grenache, Zins, and Petite Sirahs were all under $40, so well within our price range. The tasting itself was very generous and infused with just the right amount of banter and vino-ese. Definitely don't come expecting a grand castle estate or lavish grounds, but do come knowing that you're getting some damn good adult grape juice, informed and honest service, and patronizing a fine family run business. read more

This is a MUST for all serious wine drinkers. It does not have a fancy tasting room, no gross monuments to oneself here, no long driveways with valet parking, no cheese-and-figs, no members-only library, no bubble room, no car collection, no tram, no tractor ride, no cablecar, no castle, no outdoor sculpture garden, no ponds, not even pistachios...if you know what I mean. This is Napa the original way. A small tasting room with giant, delicious wines that do all the promoting themselves. This is THE BEST OF NAPA. I found the 2005's to be great. They have several zins. Morisoli is the best known, but go and taste all. The Jackson cab was amazing. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. GO,GO,GO and ENJOY! read more

A romantic weekend in Napa is never complete without a visit to Elyse. One of the best bargain wines in the valley, their petit sirah kicks major behind! Yes, I asked everyone I knew if they wanted to join me for an overnight trip to Wine Country. But still had an excellent time solo. read more

This small scale tasting room was recommended to us by our driver. He also made all the arrangements to make sure we got in as it is by appointment only. As many others have said before this is a totally different world than the big wineries. The wines are good but cannot compete with the best I had from Napa but on the other hand the price tags on the wines here are also totally different. The value for money is without a doubt great for the Zinfandel as well as the Petit Sirah but I also like the Chardonnay (not being one that usually likes Chardonnay). The service was friendly, the atmosphere relaxed so really a nice time. Still we did have better stops during this trip (ranking Sinskey and Mumm both slighlty higher and Failla in class of its own) but this was a lot better than Domain Chandon, better than Cakebread and definitely better than Beringer and Coppola. read more

Almost all of our winery and tasting room visits were set up by our local wine shops for us on our latest trip to Napa and Portland. I realized a few days before we left that we had forgotten to include Elyse. We were instead focusing on places with wines that were not necessarily our everyday wines, but I love Elyse. I had never been to the tasting room before. Silly me! I called, made my reservations. Thrilled that I did. It ended up that the only day we had time was on a Saturday. EEEK! Saturday afternoon in Napa, horror. My thought, (it will be too busy). Then we ended up running way late. That was one day that we had a driver. He called for us, and they were very gracious. We arrived, over an hour late, and they were charming. We tasted our old favorites, and some new wines that we can't buy in our local retail wine stores. The two gentleman were very friendly. It was a small, intimate, tasting room, casual, reminded me more of something you would see in Willliamette than in Napa. I loved it. There was no pretense, and when the dog came strolling in when someone opened the door it felt like standing around drinking a glass of wine at home. I love this place. read more

Our group of 4 came here on a whim after realizing we started our Napa wine tasting day a little bit too late. We were leaving Domaine Chandon (about a mile away from here) and one of my friends Yelped this place, saw it had good ratings, called them to make an immediate reservation, and directed me to come to this small, quaint winery that was a little off the beaten path. Know note Elyse Winery actually grows its grapes at several different locations around the Napa Valley and processes the wine at this location, so don't expect a potential tour. However, for $15 (fee waived if you buy a bottle), you'll get an excellent wine tasting of about 7 bottles, including a porte, with great explanations and jokes to accompany each one. I don't want to spoil the stories of any of the wines, but as noted by another reviewer, the Petit Syrah was quite wonderful, and one person in our group did purchase that bottle. The fact that they take reservations and the tasting is done on a group at a time basis ensures your not battling anyone for attention or going to have to wait to have your tasting. If you're in Napa Valley and looking for one more stop to round out your day, be sure to stop at Elyse Winery. It's well worth the fee! read more

I left extremely disappointed. They weren't especially busy, but I was rushed through our tasting. Each pouring was small and rapid. The worker gave quick and mumbled descriptions of the wines, and more than once I asked him to repeat himself . He also acted like he was bothered when asked a question, not just by me, but the others in the room. The wines were alright, but not much of a value. To top things off, I was told that I was supposed to be enjoying this. That's kind of hard when I'm made to feel unwelcome. read more

We always have a great tasting at Elyse. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable and entertaining. They have a great selection of wines and tailor the tasting to your preferences. We love their Cabs! read more

I visited Elyse within a group of 10. I had called ahead a few weeks prior to our visit (3/21) and spoke with John, he invited us to come in @ 11am for a private tasting. Upon arrival we were greeted by Otis (the resident winery dog). We found our way through the gate and into the small tasting room. John greeted us with glasses and then tasting began. This winery only makes reds, and they are some of the better reds I have tasted. Pay close attention to the distinct elements of each Zin. I purchased 2006 Pinot Noir and 2005 C'ést Si Bon. Upon purchase they waive the tasting fee, and also gave us a case discount due to the amount of wine we purchased. (At then end of this review are the descriptions from the winery website). I would without a doubt recommend this winery, its small intimate tasting room combined with the staff that loves wine makes this an enjoyable stop... and the wine is decent too, which is always a plus!! From Elyse Website: [(Our 2006 Pinot Noir is vibrant garnet red in color with a perfumed bouquet of dried herbs, clove, cinnamon, and leather along with sweet red raspberry, kirsch and earthy notes. On the palate, assertive fruit flavors of wild strawberries, plums and cassis are followed by hints of earth and spice box character. This wine possesses a silky texture with juicy fruit and firm tannins balanced by nice acidity. If drinking now this wine definitely benefits from decanting. It will age well for 5 to 7 years.) [This is the debut release of C'ést Si Bon (It's so good"!) and we honestly couldn't be more excited! It is made from grapes indigenous to the Rhone Valley in Southern France, yet very well suited to the terroir of the Sierra Foothills. This wine has delightful and intriguing aromas of dried raspberries, tangerine peel, white pepper, jasmine and pomegranate along with hints of leather, smoke and earth. On the palate, flavors of wild plums, black raspberries, Fuji apples and a hint of minerality lead to a creamy, sensuous mouth feel and genuinely long finish. The 2005 C'ést Si Bon is medium in body and amazingly well balanced with vibrant fruit, firm tannins and bright acidity. Bet you can't just drink one glass! This wine works amazingly well with all sorts of cuisine so use your imagination and enjoy. It really IS so good!)] read more

Everything about my experience here was memorable. Out of the 7 wineries we visited over the weekend, this was hands down my favorite and the only one I would definitely come back to each time I visit Napa. While there are many reasons why I love Elyse, obviously the wine was the show stopper here! All of the wines were fantastic. We even got poured a limited edition Petite Syrah that was so delicious. We ended up buying a bottle of the C'est Si Bon, which actually turned out to be the cheapest! They also waive a tasting fee if you purchase a bottle. The homey feel to this tasting room (there is a cat chilling in the background) and the two men that worked there were so friendly that I felt like I was chatting with friends and I didn't want to leave! During the hour we were there we also got great recommendations for hotels and restaurants on our next visit. Bottom line: while this winery is a bit off the beaten path, I love that it's a small, family-owned winery that isn't pretentious or stuffy. Highly recommended! read more

One of those experiences in Napa that gives Napa its great name. Small and nothing commercial - just great wines. The zinfandel we bought had us all gasping about how great it was. We still haven't dived into our C'est Bon. They also waive the tasting fee when buying a wine. That is very un-Napa. As someone who became a bit opposed to Napa because of how expensive tastings have gotten and how pretentious things have gotten, this place was a breath of fresh air and makes me now think otherwise. read more

I found this wine on Vivino, so when in Napa we had to track down this winery amongst the hundreds of wineries. Has become my favorite Cabernet Sauvignon. We were so happy we found them. Reservations are required but let me tell you, this place you want to reserve!!! Garrett and Chloe were so fun to hang out with and the pours were incredible. A chance to try one year vintage vs another. So much fun and learned so much. Of course we left with bottles of wine, how could we not!!!! read more

We went to Napa with some idea of what wineries we wanted to visit, and actually hit most of the places we'd intended on seeing. But of all the places we went, my favorite ended up being Elyse, a winery not on our list. We were sent to Elyse by Haven's down the road. We walked in without an appointment (they are technically appointment only) but Sam and John, the two guys working that particular Saturday, were happy to accommodate us. Despite our lack of appointment, they didn't rush our tasting, let us try a few things not on the regular tasting menu, and let us try things again before we decided on what to purchase. My favorites of the day were the Cab's. While pricier than their other wine at about $65 a bottle, they were so big and yummy my friend and I ended up buying a bottle to share. Their Couzins (Zin/Primo blend) was also amazingly spicy and flavorful and we all purchased a bottle. Great wine and great people. While some of the other wineries I could give or take, I will make a point of always visiting Elyse when I'm in the Napa area. read more

Elyse winery should be the top of your list while you are in Napa! Though it is a smaller winery, the tasting is so personalized not to mention the fantastic staff! We had Brooke walk us through way more wine than any other winery and each was so enjoyable and has a fantastic history! Would absolutely visit again! read more

This is such a cute winery, very low key but has a good assortment of quality wine. My friends and I were here yesterday and enjoyed the experience tremendously. We also brought my toddler with us and the staff were great. I would totally recommend Elyse winery to friends and family! My husband and I bought a bottle of the 2010 Hoffman Lane Cabernet Sauvignon from their estate right next to that tasting building to enjoy for Thanksgiving! read more

I guess we must have been unlucky... We showed up at 4:30 (they close at 5pm) and didn't have an appointment (the person who recommended it hadn't told us about the appointment), but there were no other people there and no other appointment for the day, so the guy who was pouring the wine served us a tasting. He was very unfriendly. Obviously our presence was bothering him. He was not a member of the family by the way. We were not enamored with their wines either (perhaps because, as they say, one also tastes with the brain, and a wine probably can't taste so good when one is treated poorly). We won't go back and can't recommend it. read more

We discovered Elyse winery through a wine club subscription that picks standout wines from the Napa region. I couldn't remember the varietal but I did remember it was an excellent wine and wanted to see what what the small family owned winery was capable of. Fast forward to finally visiting - appointment only, as many places are these days. Took a wrong turn initially but then greeted by a sweet ol' puppy chewing on a chunk of an old grape vine trunk. My husband and I each tried a different tasting menu so we could get a sense of all of them. Nearly all were excellent, and most of the ones they are pouring are released after 6 years, so we had an assortment of 2010-2013. A surprise find was that they make Angelica dessert wine as well! If you like wine and want a smaller more casual visit off the beaten path in the heart of wine country, don't miss this place! read more

We set up our visit for the morning after Valentine's day, so I was suprised they were even going to be open on a Monday! I was looking forward to our tasting at this small winery more than any others we planned to visit in our two day adventure in Napa (my first time). My husband and I agreed that this was the best place we visited, for a number of reasons: First, John was easy going and answered all of our questions patiently; Second, he poured maybe 8 different wines for us to try, which we were suprised and pleased by; and Thirdly, every wine was honestly very good. We bought 2 bottles of C'est si Bon, a mellow sort of red wine which I fell in deep like with, and saw as the perfect thing to drink with my vegetarian dinners. We also appreciate that there was NO pressure to join their wine club or any feeling in the air (which we had elsewhere) of "if you aren't going to join the club, then get out -now." Call to book your tasting in advance, since they require an appointment. This is such a refreshing place to go, after some of the large impersonal tasting rooms up the road. It's a great place for newbies to get your feet wet too. read more

Thanks to Yelp, my husband and I decided to visit Elyse Vineyards. We called them to get a last minute appointment and they were very accommodating. The gentleman who did our tasting was very friendly. I'm personally not a huge fan of reds, but the hubby is and he loved it. He especially loved the Jacob Franklin Cab, which I have to admit as pretty amazing. What i loved the most was the Port....I could pour that over Ice Cream every day of the week. It also is enjoyable on its own. We left that day with both the Port and the Cab and cannot wait to enjoy them! P.S. Their dog was terrific! He greeted us and led us to the tasting room!!! read more

We had a very nice visit to Elyse winery on Saturday. I stupidly wrote down the wrong address, but when I called to explain they were completely understanding. Probably due to the weather, there was only one other couple in the tasting room so with two people working we had John's undivided attention. Because we are relatively young, I think he judged us to be drinkers, but after a few minutes of talk where we firmly established ourselves as wine nerds, he warmed up and was happy to chat. Overall I really enjoyed the wine here and we took home a few bottles of the C'est Si Bon, which is the most ready to drink (in my opinion) of the wines we tasted. Bottles are moderately priced given the quality of the wine, with their biggest Cabs running about $60. This is not a good place to go and drink with a big group. This is a good place to taste good wine, talk with the staff, and possibly run into Ray (the winemaker) who was wandering around during our visit. read more

This place is fantastic. Call ahead and book a tasting; it's worth your time. Off the beaten path, Elyse (named after the founder's daughter) makes excellent wine from their own fruit and fruit from around the world. I had some of their wine at a friend's dinner party and went by about a month later. I'd intended to probably pick up 6 bottles and picked up 2 cases instead. Their wines are eminently ageworthy but it's very difficult to hide them from yourself for long enough. Every time I've been they've poured more wine than they're supposed to, even though I'm sure I'm a "smaller" buyer (1-2 cases, not 10-15). Fantastic wine, great napa price, free tasting. Just get the Morisoli Zin quickly after release before it sells out... read more

Pleasant surprise in this Napa Valley tasting room visit. We'd had a handful of people in Rutherford and Yountville recommend Elyse as a must visit when in Napa. We called ahead to make sure we could secure an appointment as we were told the tasting room is quaint. I was happy to see that they don't cram people in tour bus style like some of the other larger wineries - our visit felt like we were in a friend's home - tasted great wines, laughed a lot and didn't feel rushed. At the end of our tasting, we were even offered a chance to revisit a wine or two. John's dry sense of humor, knowledge of the wine and area and generous pours made this $10 tasting/per person commendable. Plus the tasting fee is waived if you purchase wine which was not even a question. The wine is fantastic -- we tried a selection of C'est Si Bon, Pinot Noirs, Zinfandel and Cab each one offering a little something different but all delicious. We also topped off the tasting with a little port and some good tips on how to impress at future dinner parties. Can't wait to visit again and see what's in store. read more

Not what you could call the average wine tasting experience - and thank you for it! Rich from day one was awesome to work with over the phone, and combined with John we had the most relaxing, unpretentious wine tasting to date. Very interesting selection of wines and a very comprehensive tasting list for only $10. We really enjoyed the white varietal L'Ingenue and the Howell Zin. I will say that many of the other wines, like the C'est Si Bon and very peachy Le Peche aren't styles I would be coming back for, but they have a very strong Zin presentation you can't miss. Oh! And don't forget to give Otis a behind-the-ear scratch! read more

I called earlier in the week for an appointment so it was no problem, getting there. It's $10 for tastings but they waive it if you make a purchase. Of all the wineries that we went to, Elyse had one of the best wines. They were all delicious. They have 1 maybe 2 whites on the list to try and the rest were reds so if you're a white fan, just let them know and see if he can pour you some whites to try. Their reds were very good, very rich and intense flavors. Of everything that we tried, La Peche was my favorite. Perfect summer wine! Definitely visit this one again. read more

SO YUM! Yesterday, my husband and I visited for a tasting, mostly to bring home some wine (hint, hint, see below). My sister-in-law first introduced me to Elyse some time ago. I'm a super fan of their C'est Si Bon red wine! I love this little tasting room! It's very intimate, you get to meet people from other places, and the customer service is fantastic! I've only been here three times, but I've never had a bad/uncomfortable experience. I will definitely be back for more C'est Si Bon before it's gone (hopefully not too soon) and to find another favorite! Thank you so much, Elyse! read more

This winery is one of the best I've been to. All the wines are good and I would purchase every bottle but since this was the first stop on my winery list, I had to limit myself to just one bottle. Ended up taking a bottle of Tietjen Cabernet. I tried 9 wines (most ever) and the 10 dollars tasting fee was waived with a purchase. The guy behind the counter was really generous in pouring and even offer to revisit any other wines on the list. Now I regret not buying more....Another excuse to come back to Elyse. read more

I had much much higher hopes for this winery than the wine that we tasted. The wines were pretty expensive but nothing was outstanding. the only memorable wines were the first white and one of the zinfandel's. Personally I don't find Zinfandel's to be very good from Napa. Ridge is the best out there i have tested, and Lodi producs some great Zin's for some good bargains. Overall this place was expensive and the fine was fair. read more

They make tasty red wine (all kinds) and $10 for tasting all of them (6 or 7) is fair. It's just hard to keep track of them after you leave the place. I do wish wineries would at least offer or sell bits of cheese or crackers with the tastings. I could bring some, but that may look tacky? Like everyone else said, it's a no frills tasting room. read more

My favorite winery in Napa. The place is very hard to find, but once you know about the place you'll always make a stop there. This year we went to get a bottle of the Chenin Blanc (which is now La Peche) and the amazing Jacob Franklin Cabernet. The 2004 vintage has a particularly great taste, something I can't quite place from the last vintage. But it's definitely worth the price as it is one of the best wines I've had the opportunity to try. It's right across the street from Sequoia Groves too, which makes another great Cab. Get there earlier because at 4:45 they are ready to close up shop :) Oh and I have to give an honorable mention to the awesome lazy dog, which was chilling square in the middle of the driveway. read more

Poor customer service. Can't sell their wines worth a damn. We purchased three wines only to comp one of our tasting. I would never recommend this winery and will never be back. The ladies hosting were snooty, explains why we were the only customers. Good luck! read more

I recently visited Elyse for the 3rd time. My other two trips were prior to the recent purchase of the vineyard. Every visit has not disappointed, and this most recent trip was no exception. To be honest, I enjoyed our tasting even more now than my prior 2 visits. My husband and I went to Elyse with another couple, and we spent the afternoon enjoying Elyse's finest wines with Josh, Khris, and Garrett. Great wine, great company, great vibe all around. Definitely a must visit for someone looking for a more laid back tasting and fantastic wine. read more

One of my favorite small wineries in Napa. It's not flashy, and it's off the beaten path, but they consistently make good to outstanding wines. The reservation only wine tastings are private, and our hostess, Kayla, was very knowledgeable about the wines being served (she was also very nice). read more

Had an appointment here. We sat outside, which was pretty laid back and spent time with the winery dog, Hank. Garrett was our host- goes by "Cubby". Do yourself a favor and get another host if you do decide to come here. I've been to many tastings in my life, over many visits to Napa and Sonoma. Have encountered so many wonderful people. This one was unlike anything I've ever experienced. "cubby" covered every label during the tasting and would not describe the wine during the tasting. When I asked if he was going to tell us what he was pouring (so I could mark the paper with notes and IF I wanted to buy something, imagine that), he got upset and went into a snarky diatribe that he wanted consensus from the table before telling us the wine to make sure we liked it. He also wanted to ensure that the tasting was not comedy hour, this was "his stage" and he needed control of the (wow). Last I checked you my friend are in hospitality and you sell wine to patrons - I think that's the goal of these tasting rooms - IF you tell them what the wines are and are friendly to your guests and they enjoy the visit they buy from you - none of this occurred, but it had potential to initially. Can't comment on the wines because I have no idea what I tasted before I walked out....Probably should've just hung out with the dog, he's really sweet. EDIT: From 1 to 4 stars. I want to update this review as I've since spoken to the owner, Josh. He called me just a few days after this visit. He was very kind and apologized for our experience. He also sent me a "care package" which I've both tasted and shared with family and friends. Their 2015 Petite Sirah was delicious as was the 2014 Reserve Cab. I have not made it through the others yet but it was definitely a great sampling of their portfolio and I am very appreciative of his kindness. I would give these guys a go again with a different host. It is a pretty spot and the wines, so far, have been delicious. Thanks to Josh at Elyse for listening, being understanding and showing what true customer service should be. read more

As a local, I rarely take advantage of the tasting opportunities in Napa Valley. I know, it's like having a pool and never swimming- who does that? Visiting family is the perfect reason to get out and explore and I am SO glad my family suggested Elyse. Make an appointment in advance (they're required) and enjoy exactly what you hope for a Napa experience, a cozy, intimate tasting with rock star customer service (Kim and Kayla are great!!!) and yummy, bold, rich red wines. If you like Zins, Elyse's are hard to beat. read more

Went to Napa on a beautiful November morning. This was the second stop of the day and we realized that it was "reservation only" on the way there. So I called ahead and they were kind enough to serve us if we got there in the next 15 minutes. This winery is very small and quaint. Most wineries of this size and locale make up for their shortcomings with excellent service and wine. Both were mediocre. Though the server was nice enough, we just got the feeling that we were not the wine snobs he would rather deal with. The pours were very small for the $15 per person and don't even think about taking the glass (It was a nice glass too). The wines ranged from good to just OK, so overall, we will not be coming back. read more

Outrageous tasting fee of $25/pp which is not announced in any way. You have to buy 3 bottles of wine to have 1 fee deleted. Wines are ok but not great and their facility is "home-like". There are many many wineries in the Napa area where you get much more for your experience and money. Do not wAste your money like I did. read more

This was our last stop of the day Sunday, April 13, and I am so glad we stopped!!! We were treated to great wines!!! Okay, we bought three bottles!!! (Which is a lot for a couple if teachers). I cannot recommend this place enough. Make an appointment and get ready to enjoy!!!! read more

Elyse may be small, but the wines are not small at all. Their bold zinfandels and cabernets were some of our favorite wines tasted during the last trip to Napa. Do call ahead for a reservation. read more

Do yourself a favor and avoid the theme-park pretention of other Napa wineries and get an intimate tasting experience at Elyse. The wine is fabulous and there's a good chance you'll get to chat up the owners (Ray and Nancy) or the winemaker (Mike). This is what Napa should be like everywhere. read more

Anyone giving less than 5 stars it a total tard, navigating life on the short bus. I have had more than a few barrels in my life, some memorable, others not and a few blank due to black out. No other in Napa can compare to Elyse, outstanding in every varietal. Customer service is outstanding! read more