This should have been an easy internet search, but damned if I can find a map or list all in one place. Trying to figure out who has tasting room in the actual “marketplace” of St Helena. I know there are 5 dozen wineries within a stone’s throw. But I’m talking about tasting rooms (or collectives) to walk into off the sidewalk while your wife’s next door looking at frilly whatevers. So far I’ve identified:
Tamber Bey (while we’re at it, any opinions on them?)
A Dozen Vintners
Orin Swift (who apparently offer tastings in their offices)
I know there have to be more, probably many more. Thanks for any help (and feel free to point me to a nifty online list or map and then kick me in the pants for my inferior Google skills).
Unfortunately, there are very few tasting rooms on that strip that you could just duck in to while your wife is buying out Footcandy. You may have them all on your short list. Depending on the time and date, St Helena Wine Center offers some tastings.
Just a little further walk down Hwy 29, Merryvale is basically across the street from Gotts Refresher. Right next to Merryvale is Long Meadow Ranch. Both are walkable, but your credit card will be maxed out by your wife by the time you walk there and back.
A Dozen Vintners is a car ride from downtown St. Helena - over on the corner of 29 and Lodi. I think Tamber Bey is the only dedicated winery tasting room in the heart of St. Helena. In very close proximity, down a little alley, is 750 Wines ( retailer) - I’ll bet you won’t be disappointed there. A little walk outside downtown is Acme Fine Wines - they might have something to taste (and the walk will give your wife time to buy out Footcandy and one or two others). Check St. Helena Wine Center’s website - they have a schedule of wineries pouring on Saturday afternoons. Over by Acme is David Fulton Winery (car ride from downtown, and much easier by car from Acme than on foot) - excellent Petite Sirah.
I was aware of that since that’s where the street of the same name is. However, Google Maps shows a location right in downtown when you’re simply looking at the town, so I was under the impression they’d perhaps opened a tasting facility there.
750wines is in downtown St. Helena. Kind of a hybrid wine shop and concierge for everything new in Napa Valley wine. You should probably call rather than walk in - but depending on your tastes they have an unbelievable assortment in all prices.
In 2009 the City of St. Helena adopted a policy that required “tasting rooms” to pour only wines with a Napa Valley appellation - the wines offered must contain 75% local grapes.
Not sure if this is still in effect, but it might, in part, explain the lack of tasting rooms in town, while they are springing up like mushrooms in the City of Napa.
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