It is rare to find someone who not only makes their own wine, but also designed the beautiful…read morebottles that they come in! Iain Bolton, winemaker of Eight Arms Cellars, definitely qualifies as a Renaissance man in my book. I have to admit that I haven't been to an official release party, but does an office party count? Milton would have given up his prized red stapler for a taste of these artisan wines. And lucky me, they were the perfect accompaniment to Friday's Beer (and Wine) Bash. Eight Arms put their marketing genius to work in celebration of their latest release. Where else can you taste wine and then throw down your best target practice at an Octopus inspired "Ink Spitting" contest? I hear the winner got a whopping 18 feet! Being able to talk to winemakers is always a treat. It truly is a craft that takes years of know-how, science, and a highly developed palette. You can pick up these wines at more than a couple local places: Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant, SF New Russian Hill Market, SF Wine on Piedmont, Oakland Du Vin Wines, Alameda Wine Mine, Oakland JV Wine & Spirit, Napa Swirl on Castro ...or you make your purchase online at www.eightarmscellars.com. Be sure to check out their Go Green Drink Red/White program. I was really impressed to learn that this is one company that is "committed to sustainable practices and a portion of the sale from each bottle is donated to help combat global warming." That's a glass of wine that you can feel more than good about drinking! If I had Eight Arms myself, I'd hold on tight to a case or two (and maybe lay some down to cellar for a few years).

A small artisan micro-winery whose vineyard selections, varietal buys, fruit sorting, fermentation…read morestyles, tonellerie, and aging strategies are at the leading edge of the wine industry. On the downside, it is hard to find in stores. I have seen it once at JV in Napa, and once somewhere so obscure that I can no longer remember. I'll just go direct in the future.

The Duckhorn Collection is my new favorite winery in Napa! I had an amazing time on a beautiful…read moreSaturday morning with my girlfriends. The vibe is super chill and relaxing, and the wines are thoughtful and delicious! We got seated on the couches under the shady area and it was perfect. Our server Jaime was friendly and very knowledgable about the different wines & brands under the Duckhorn name. I would definitely recommend Duckhorn to anyone visiting Napa. The outdoor area is huge and beautiful! Can't wait to come back.

A pretty cool winery, but no real gimmicks compared to a few of the other wineries…read more You're getting Duckhorn wine which is pretty good. It's not the largest winery to explore, but again, pretty nice overall. Worth a visit for sure.

We had a lovely cave tour here on a Sunday morning. We made reservations well in advance as I saw…read moreamazing reviews for Pine Ridge online. I was also curious to explore the caves and heard Pine Ridge was the place to do so. What I heard was absolutely correct! Our tour guide Nancy was fabulous and led us through the caves and working areas to learn more about the wine aging process while sampling a few wines along the way. We visited at the end of the grape harvest season so it was interesting to see everyone at work and learn more about the process of winemaking. The caves are incredible and Pine Ridge has done an incredible job creating a beautiful tasting area deep inside. Nancy led us through the rest of our tasting in their tasting lounge along with some delicious cheeses, crackers and other items on our charcuterie plate. The combination of the cheese with the delicious cabs was lovely and we enjoyed learning more about the regions throughout Napa valley where the grapes originated. All in all a wonderful tour experience, unique and definitely worth checking out!

I had been wanting to visit Pine Ridge for quite some time because I had heard so many great things…read moreabout it, and it definitely lived up to the hype. Our host was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming. He went above and beyond in sharing information about the winery, its history, and the wines we tasted, which made the experience both enjoyable and educational. By the end of the tasting, we found a favorite bottle and brought it home with us!

Delicious wine!!! You have to try it. It is one of my favorites. I look forward to uncorking a…read morebottle to share with friends after a long day. It makes a great gift because everyone who I have shared it with loves of it as well. Treat yourself to a gorgeous glass of Kale wines - you won't be disappointed.

From the owner: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvédre, Roséread more

Had a wonderful wine tasting time with Jon/John and a regular club member, Joe. We were also a…read morebunch of women but we had great conversations with our sommelier. He did a great job pouring and explaining each wine. He's also great at cleaning wine glasses. Super fun and would recommend to everyone looking for a great conversation during wine tasting. The photo booth is fun and the bathroom was great. The inside decor is also very cozy and comfortable. $45 for the standard five wine pairing and like $70+ for the select wine pairings. They have cool souvenirs too.

My husband and I found this place by passing by one day on a Saturday. It was not too busy because…read morewe were the 3rd party went in when we arrived. We were greeted right away by the gentleman named either Fredrick or Patrick. Since we had a toddler with us, we chose to be seated in the couch area, which was very comfortable. We did two of the same tastings the first time and enjoyed majority of their wines. Our favorite was The Doctor the first time we visited. We came again a few weeks later to do different tastings. This time our favorite was the Veraison Cabernet. We liked it a bit better than The Doctor, so I purchased a bottle of Veraison. They waived my tasting fee because of the purchase, which was nice. We really enjoyed this place, it was relaxing and we didn't feel rushed. Their place was also very chilled and clean. Will definitely come back every time we visit Napa.

A friend of mine ,who is a crazy wine collector, turned me on to Cliff Lede probably 5-6 years ago…read more I have been hooked ever since! These guys are making wine for the love of wine!!! Did you read that? Read it again! Their production is in the 100s of cases per style! Mondavi, Gallo, Trinchero, Treasury wine yatta yatta yatt...these guys produce millions of cases ...much of it swill and some high end good stuff. Lede treats you like a human being when you taste....last time I was at duckhorn ( use to love their wines...now just mass produced grape juice) it was a horrible experience being treated like a number. I like Lede so much I joined their club....they treat you really well...their wines are superb ( reds imho). Check them out and see what you think1

Cliff Lede has been my favorite wine for a long time and I have been a member for some time…read more Finally being able to go and do a tasting and enjoy the vineyard was a fantastic experience. Gabe was a PHENOMENAL host. He went way above and beyond to make my birthday and first tasting ever in Napa so special and fun. I can't recommend this more it was so special and so beautiful. As an aside, this is an elevated experience. They have a small shopping selection for accessories but this is all about tasting the best wine in the valley. Everyone should go! Thank you again Gabe for making the morning so beautiful and being so fun! I'm gonna be back again soon!

I am disappointed to see the reviews below. However, it may echo what my wife and I have been…read moreexperiencing lately. We have pre ordered some futures from John but have not seen them. Fortunately, we have not paid for the wines. John Ruston did achnowledge that we did not receive it and offered to comp us a bottle or two at the next shipment. We havent seen that one either. We have ordered Ruston wines several times w/ no problems directly from John himself. We have also visited his farm like house just west of St Helena several times...one time a group of us did a tasting in his mom's kitchen while she made souup! That would require a whole different review in itself. John was nice enough to leave us a few open bottles while he tended to his daughter's computer problems and said "dig in, dont be shy". We were hoping to stop by his place again this March when we are back in town but he hasnt returned any emails! I have seen their wine now on LOT 18 at reduced prices which makes me wonder...... Too bad...their bordeaux blend is as good as it gets in napa for $25!

oh Boy!!! Similar situation - I'm getting ready to follow up and ask for assistance and came up on…read moreHelen's comments while searching on Google. I ordered, paid, never received my order totaling 15 bottles of 2002 Ruston Family Vineyards Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvingnon @ $47.95. The invoice's declared phone number 619-224-9463 is out of service and Brad Harrington, President of Varietals Wine Merchants, Inc. never replied to my email requesting to be updated concerning the shipment. Never received. Knowing what I know now - I shall proceed and seek appropriate assistance. Your posting, Helen, has saved me from wonderment and given me all the assurance I need to proceed.

Great service. It was a very hot day and we started outside but had to move inside. The staff was…read morevey acommidating made the whole experience much more enjoyable. Our host Nikki was fantastic! and the wine was great!!!

Our whole family had a wonderful experience here at Alpha Omega Winery. We were a large group of 9…read moreranging from a 7 month old baby to 73 year old seniors celebrating my mom's 70th birthday. The best thing about Alpha Omega is that is that it's very family friendly. Not many wineries welcome children and this location was very accommodating. Our children were well behaved, I kept them occupied with lots of arts and craft activities, but my child still end up knocking over a glass of wine. Our server Jokayla was so gracious with us and helped us clean up. She was also very accommodating with everyone's taste preferences and offered customized recommendations for us. This is one of the wineries that did not require an upfront charge to enter which I appreciate so much. Not everyone in our party drank. Up to 2 adults can share a $75 flight of wine. If you purchase 2 or more bottles of wine, the tasting fee is waived. The pours are also plenty so this is a great deal. I just loved their flexibility. Valet parking was free! The winery is upscale, with beautiful views of the vineyard and the water fountain if you get terrace seating. We had reservations for 10:30am and had front row at the terrace. We had a relaxing time and this is one winery I will highly recommend to families. 100% we will come back and enjoy this beautiful location and great service!

We had an amazing time at Napa Cellars! Special shoutout to Darlene, who was the best host we could…read moreask for! She was super knowledgeable and provided us with a rich history of the wines. She greeted us upon arrival, was friendly and accommodating and gave us a tour of the property. The weather was perfect and the grounds are beautiful. You can bring your own snacks, so we brought a charcuterie board and sat outside, relaxed, and enjoyed the sunshine. We tried several different wines and I can't wait to come back again.

Walk in was greeted by our last name. We were a few minutes early. They were so incredibly inviting…read moreand welcoming that we were here. Many thanks. So lovely inside and outside, photo opportunities for sure. Wonderful music playing the atmosphere top tier. Yes the Napa train pass by twice nice photo opportunity. Our server oh my goodness what a beautiful experience with Shawn, a great deal of knowledge, so down to earth and incredibly kind. Just amazing and intimate experience with our friends. They were first timers with wine tasting. Shawn met them exactly where they were with Q&A. He made them feel so comfortable with asking questions. The white wines my favorite! Yes please go get a top tier experience at Napa Cellars.

When I was first discovering red wine, I had come across Sangiovese, which still to this day is one…read moreof my favorite varietals. I'd come across Atlas Peak in countless menus and unfortunately, I can't say that I've ever been wowed. I understand nowadays, Atlas has put that wine totally behind them and are concentrating on cabs. I believe I shall give them a try again in the near future and update the review accordingly, to see how their reinvention has progressed. 3.5 stars

From the owner: CABERNET AT ITS PEAK Atlas Peak produces high elevation…read moreCabernet Sauvignons from the most prestigious mountain top appellations of the Napa Valley; Mount Veeder, Spring Mountain District, Howell Mountain and Atlas Peak Atlas Peak Wines now being poured at the Historic Buena Vista Carneros Winery: 18000 Old Winery Road Sonoma, CA 95476 707.265.1472 Tasting room open daily from 10:00AM - 5:00PM