Napa Trip - Tasting Rooms or Walk-In Wineries

WINE TALK
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I’ve searched the archives a bit, but trying to search for “Napa” info on this site isn’t the easiest. My wife and I are staying in Napa 5 days next week with a few other couples. We have several formal tastings and tours lined up with some excellent producers, but I would love if anyone can suggest a few “must try” stops that are either fun tasting rooms that offer really great stuff or some lesser-known wineries that allow walk-in tastings but are still very high-quality. (I keep thinking of a setup like Cliff Lede) Our house is on the north end of Napa (village). Any suggestions you guys might have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! [thankyou.gif]

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If you have any interest in photography, I would highly recommend two places: Mumm, which has a great rotating photog exhibit, Turnbull for the same. Mumm doesn’t seem to keep their gallery web page up to date, but it is always interesting. And there is a permanent exhibit of some Ansel Adams photography in addition to the rotating exhibit. If you take the tour there, you can also see (I believe) a series of Ansel Adams prints that were commissioned by the winery (or someone, not sure) documenting everything that goes on in and around a winery. Fascinating (many people don’t know that Adams did a lot of commercial commission work).

Turnbull says that right now it has an exhibit of Adams and Edward Weston on display. That’s enough to get me to go up there and see it!

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We had a fun tasting with terrific wines as a walk-in at Alpha Omega before having dinner at Mustards , enjoyed both reds and the whites

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On a whim, we stopped in Durand and Booth in Oakville right next to the Oakville Grocery/Deli. Had a really fun tasting there with quite a few different varietals.

Don’t forget to visit Ye (not so)Olde Faithful Geyser while you’re up north.

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Use this winery finder with the No Appointments filter.

https://napavintners.com/wineries/all_wineries.asp

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Grgich Hills and Heitz

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Been years since I’ve been to either of these, but does Hess still have a gallery? And does Clos Pegase have all that artwork scattered all over the grounds?

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Give Tamber Bey a try. It was built on an old horse farm. They still have all of the fencing and board horses there. Very unique in the Valley. Just outside of Calistoga. They have a chill vibe, indoor and outdoor tasting areas, and the wines are great, they used to be made by Thomas Rivers Brown. We went there in January, it was a fun stop.

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I would highly recommend Outpost, but you do need an appointment. That said, you should be able to get one fairly last minute.

They do charge less during the week than on the weekend, iirc.

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+1 on Heitz.

I have a friend who’s the winemaker at Elizabeth Spencer (shameless plug). Simple tasting room right in the middle of Rutherford. Nice variety of wines, very well made, and stylistically they straddle both richness and elegance. They source from Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino.

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+1

This is my recommendation as well. Great wines and amazing views. The drive up is scenic as well.

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The OP did not mention wheter he has experience in Napa. If not, historical, so to speak, walk-ins could include Beringer, Mondavi. Can choose between appelation or reserve wines…for a cost of course. Turnbull was already mentioned. Montelena, I think. Larkmead. And many more. I have often used the walk ins to fill time between or after appointments, depending on how the visit times go.

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Thanks to everyone for taking the time to comment and send PM’s! I have much to discuss with our group and I’ll be sure to report back after the trip.

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I have suggested this many times. Be sure to go to Vincent Arroyo Winery in Calistoga. Very high quality and VERY REASONABLY priced Cab, petite Sirah, chard, Tempranillo and others. All estate grown.

Best of all, all you need to do is call to tell them you are coming, no appointment, just call. And very best of all, it’s FREE.

Some of the best wines in Napa Valley and for sure the best value!

Tom

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Though I haven’t been, I have been wanting to check out the Forlorn Hope tasting room. The wines and their winemaker are definitely fun, and I’d speculate that the tasting room would be as well.
https://www.forlornhopewines.com/tasting-room

For something different, I would absolutely drop by the Mad Fritz tap room in St Helena. Hands-down some of the best beer I’ve ever had.

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That was a great post!

I have never been there and will be sure to try them out.

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+1 on Vincent Arroyo. Try their Rattlesnake Acre and Greenwood Ranch.

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Thanks Anton. Nothing against some of the wineries mentioned, some of them make stellar wines (Montelena etc) but when you are spending $150.00 for a bottle of wine (Cab) it damn well better be good.

Arroyo really flies under the radar and is making some super wines.

Tom

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Another old school producer of mainly Zin but a couple other varieties is Storybook Mountain Vineyards in Calistoga. No high alcohol syrupy zin here, just balanced smooth zin that is nice with a variety of food.

Tom

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These are a few my wife and I enjoyed on our last trip…but most aren’t walk ins…you’ll need to call to reserve tastings:

https://www.pridewines.com/ way up on the top of Spring Mountain…but worth the drive…amazing views. I love their Cabs and Merlots. I highly recommend doing a picnic lunch at the winery after the tour. They’ll point you to where to set up if you ask…

keenanwinery.com nice intimate tasting room here tucked back in the woods…on the way up spring mountain so if you go to Pride this is a good afternoon stop coming down the mountain.

http://www.sthelenawinery.com/ very small producer of Chard and Cab…very intimate tasting experience…pretty much 1:1 with either the winemaker or vineyard manager…highlight for my wife. Aaron Pott is the consulting winemaker here and it shows.

Known for their Zins
http://robertbialevineyards.com/ These guys have been making wine since before Prohibition…fun story here and reasonably priced wine.