We went last September. Second recs above for Outpost, Kapscandy, Mayacamas. If pressed for time, can coordinate/schedule back-to-backs to minimize driving as several great wineries do tastings at Wheeler Farms - Vice Versa (if new tasting room not open), Tor, Kinsman-Eades. Would also throw in others based on your preferences - Spottswoode (history) and Fantesca (view/hospitality). Enjoy!
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Thank you all, this is valuable feedback and recommendations. I am going to start finalizing the schedule and will definitely report back on our experiences after the visit.
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My group was also disappointed in both the tour and the wines. Generally been a fan of her regular bottling, but did not enjoy the higher end wines especially for the cost of the tasting.
I have really liked my visits to Spottswoode (as well as their wines) but it has been quite a few years since I’ve been there.
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We also enjoy visiting Darioush. The house style is quite good and they put on a relaxed and unrushed tasting…with good variety. Very pleasant place and wine.
Agree 100% on the quality and qpr of the higher end Corison wines and the cost to taste them. For old school Cabs, Heitz was actually a much better experience and value.
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Elyse is a fun and relaxed visit. One time I stood at the bar, another time I was sitting at a table outside under a tent. Also got to see the winery, barrel room, etc.
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Another vote for Elyse. Not only do they have an extensive lineup (all great QPR), you can ask ahead of time to taste their Addax wines as well as Institution. Josh Peeples (one of the owners) is a great guy.
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If you want something a bit off the beaten path, reach out to Bobby at Chiron. We really enjoyed our time there. Nicely appointed warehouse winery, excellent wines, fun all around.
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If view is important, can’t do better than Pride…plus cool caves 
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I haven’t been to Pride, but you can see San Fran from Mayacamas. The view is incredible on top the the mountain where they’ll pour you a glass at a lone table at a lookout.
I agree about the too cold aspect of the tasting. We went in Dec of 2021 and the wines were very cold and hard to enjoy. When we went back in May of 22 we were able to do the Kronos vertical tasting outside at a huge marble table right next to the vines. This tasting was incredible, and the Kronos might be one of my favorite Napa Cabs in the entire valley. It’s a pricey tasting, but isn’t everything in Napa these days…
Chappellet’s estate on Pritchard hill is gorgeous and they have some wonderful wines. I have not tasted there in probably 17 years but it was a memorable experience and off the beaten path.
Rivers-Marie does not really have the great views you’re talking about, as it is on the floor off 29 in Calistoga. But it was one of my favorite places to visit last time because Frank Ingraselli (sp, sorry) was such a gracious host and the wines were so damn good and also fairly priced.
B Cellars is a great visit. The tour is fine. Caves kinda look the same at some point. But the wine and food pairing part of the tasting is delicious and satisfying and the quality of service is really excellent. I wanted to try their cabs, not all their various blends. After tasting the Rutherford, I asked if I could try their Oakville, as I’d heard good things about prior vintages. This was right after they released 2016s. No hesitation yes. Pulled a bottle popped it and poured it (it was excellent and I bought a good bit).
Consider also Pride Mountain and Hunnicutt/DR Stephens for good wines, good views, cool tasting setting.
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I want to follow up on this. If you let them know you’re a big cab guy, heard all about how amazing tastings are with Rick from a bunch of geeks on Wineberserkers.com, and ask to setup a private tasting, it will be absolutley worth your while. But please, if you’re going to do that, plan to spend some serious coin. Rick is sensational. We talked wine, we talked stylistic preferences, and then he put together a lineup of like 14 wines or something, including almost all of the single vineyard big boy cabs and ERA wines from multiple vintages and we went to work discussing the wines, comparing notes, discussing favorites and why. It was one of the best tastings I’ve ever experienced. Alpha Omega is not really my style of wine, generally speaking, with high ABV, major extract, and a lot of oak, but I went fairly deep on three of their single vineyard cabs from 16 and do not regret it.
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Concur on both of these. Pride gave us a great tasting experience.
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Lots of good suggestions, covering a range of styles which may or may mot appeal to a given taster. I am a big fan of Robert Craig, and the view from their Howell Mtn hilltop winery tops (pun intended) the others mentioned IMO, and the cabernets are terrific. Thurs- Sunday’s if I recall correctly. On Spring Mtn, Barnett also offers a spectacular view of the valley. The Turnbull tasting room in Oakville is a beaut, redecorated a few [quote=“T_Roy, post:1, topic:294063, full:true”]
I am planning a trip to Napa in the near future and looking for new wineries in multiple areas around Napa Valley to go to and experience. Trying to identify wineries that have great views, spectacular wines, and overall great experience/hospitality.
For context, here are some wines that we enjoy; VHR, Diamond Creek, Continuum, Del Dotto, Realm, Gargiulo, Darioush, TOR, Schramsberg
Looking for feedback on the following that I have discovered:
Howell Mountain
Outpost, Dunn, Cade, O’Shaugnessy
Calistoga
Vineyardist, Rivers-Marie
Specialty
Vice Versa, Amici, Macauley
Pritchard Hill
David Arthur, Chappellet
St Helena
Heitz Cellar
Oakville
Cardinale, B Cellars
Mount Veeder
Mayacamas
If I missed any please feel free to recommend them. Thanks in advance!
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years ago.
If you go out to Forman better add Seavey to the day before or afterward!
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Unless you are a longtime member Montelena can be underwhelming
Pride is always a great experience and nice place to have picnic lunch after. Chappellet I’ve been many times as friends are long time members and worth the visit
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Heitz went from being the last(?) holdout of free tastings to being super expensive?
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I recall it’s $125 and no waiving fee regardless of purchase.
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Definitely visit Tench! I would also suggest looking into Promontory, Memento Mori, and Greer.
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