Napa Valley is the most famous wine region in the world. The valley ranks second (after Disneyland) as California’s most visited tourist attraction. Selecting the most renowned winery from its list of top favorites is challenging, let alone amongst its over 500 wineries. The valley offers an incomparable landscape that combines seamlessly with the vineyardS that adorn it. If you are amongst the three million people who visit Napa’s passionate winemakers each year, you may wonder how to find Napa wineries that are the most celebrated.
This article will list some of the best wineries in Napa Valley for your consideration when looking to sample the world’s most exquisite wines crafted by generations of passionate winemakers. Read on and select the wineries that appeal the most to you from the list of top establishments in the region’s most revered wine region.
V. Sattui Winery St. Helena, Napa
V. Sattui Winery St. Helena is the most visited winery in Napa Valley and arguably the most famous. Guests enjoy the winery because of its old-world Italian charm, vast picnic grounds, personalized winery, selection of over 60 wines, barrel tasting tours, excellent food pairing and well-trained staff. Guests are instantly charmed by the terrace grounds behind Vittorio Tower, which are reminiscent of walking through lavender fields lined with olive trees in Italy.
The winery has ensured it deserves its continuing popularity by continuously evolving and upgrading its guest experiences. The management recently added a concierge service that designs tailor-made visits to suit each guest’s preferences. The winery stands out as one of the few in Napa Valley that consistently clinches top awards for the sought-after wines crafted by their celebrated winemaker Brooks Painter.
Its hours of operation are 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM during winter, and 9.00 AM to 6.00 PM in the summertime. This winery is open seven days a week and accessible to guests without an appointment. The winery is family and pet friendly; when you visit, you will see children and dogs playing and basking in the sun.
Amorosa Calistoga Castle, Napa
Amorosa Calistoga Castle is authentically styled after the wineries found in Tuscan castles during the 13th century. The winery makes a lasting first impression on guests. The castle took Dario Sattui (its owner) more than fifteen years to construct. It features elements anyone would expect from authentic Italian courts, like high stone walls, a moat that has a drawbridge, a church, gargoyles and a torture chamber that usually delights and fascinates guests.
The winery specializes in producing hand-made Italian-style wines, including Merlot. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Primitivo. For $25, guests can enjoy the gorgeous grounds, delicious wines, delectable food and friendly staff.
Spottswoode St. Helena
This is a historic family-owned winery located on St. Helena’s west side. George Schonewald established it in 1882. The estate features a distinguished historic Victorian home; the same one clients will find adorning their wine labels. Today, the founder’s daughters (Mary Novak), Beth and Lindy Novak, jointly manage the establishment. The quaint family winery produces four types of wine. Their most considerable quantity is dedicated to Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. They make small amounts of Albarino and Syrah.
Guests are accommodated in a quintessential Victorian farmhouse that is nestled in the vineyard. For $75, guests can enjoy a comprehensive tour any day from Monday till Friday from 10.00 AM. Tours are only available on the reservation because only ten guests can view the winery at once. Guests are encouraged to make reservations on the website four to six weeks in advance to ensure the winery can accommodate them.
Inglenook Winery Rutherford
Inglenook Winery is amongst the first wineries in the Napa Valley. Its grounds are covered in elegant ivy as envisioned by its founder, wine connoisseur Gustave Niebaum (who also happened to be a Finnish sea captain) in 1879. The winery has a fascinating history. In the period between 1930 and 1940, the winery drew many Hollywood legends to its illustrious grounds. The celebrities include Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and Carole Lombard.
After the owners struggled to make ends meet, it was purchased by Frank Ford Coppola, who invested a lot of time, energy and money in restoring the winery to its initial splendor. Various names then knew the winery before Coppola restored the estate to its historical character, the Inglenook Estate, to market it as the real crown jewel of Napa. Guests can only tour this winery by appointment and are advised to book up to two months in advance.
