If you’re planning a Napa Valley wine tour, the sheer number of wineries available can be overwhelming. From big name wineries to small family-owned wineries, you can’t miss with this top 10 list.
Top 10 Napa Valley Wineries #1-V. Sattui. This family-owned winery is the perfect place for a great picnic and a bottle of wine. V. Sattui has one of the best delis around with great selections of cheeses, pastas and desserts. We usually start our wine tour here where we can fill up on a wonderful lunch and partake in the affordable wine tasting in the tasting room. http://www.vsattui.com.
Top 10 Napa Valley Wineries #2-William Hill. Grab a glass of Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon (my favorite from this winery) and head out to the Adirondack chairs overlooking the vineyards and the valley. Great wine, great scenery, peaceful atmosphere. http://www.williamhillestate.com.
Top 10 Napa Valley Wineries #3-Frank Family Vineyards. Owned by the Frank Family and started by Rich Frank, a former Disney executive, this is a great place to stop and do a tasting. We stumbled across this winery and had the best time talking with the guy running the tasting. http://www.frankfamilyvineyards.com.
Top 10 Napa Valley Wineries #4-B.R. Conn. This winery is located in the Sonoma Valley and was founded by Bruce Conn, manager of the Doobie Brothers. B.R. Conn has great wines, olive oils and atmosphere. When we visited we had fun checking out the Woody parked outside and seeing Moose, the winery’s mascot, lounging around the tasting room. Unfortunately, Moose passed away January 21, 2009. http://www.brcohn.com.
Top 10 Napa Valley Wineries #5-Beringer. This is the oldest winery in Napa Valley and the buildings and grounds are beautiful. Great deals on boxed selections of wines. http://www.beringer.com.
Top 10 Napa Valley Wineries #6- Schramsberg. As you drive up the winding tree-lined road, take in the beautiful scenery around you. Once inside, spring for the tour of the caves and you’ll be fascinated with the amazing production of stacking the bottles. http://www.schramsberg.com,
Top 10 Napa Valley Wineries #7-Domaine Carneros. With beautiful grounds and amazing 18th century-style architecture, grab a glass of champagne and head out to the patio to enjoy the view. http://www.domainecarneros.com.
Top 10 Napa Valley Wineries #8-Cakebread Cellars. This family-owned winery has a great Wine and Food Pairing experience that is a definite must. Cost is $40 and well worth the price. http://www.cakebread.com.
Top 10 Napa Valley Wineries #9- Grgich Hills Estates. Another family-owned winery, Grgich is best known for their Chardonnay beating the French in 1976 shocking the entire wine industry. That event put Grgich and Napa Valley on the map. http://www.grgich.com.
Top 10 Napa Valley Wineries #10- Sterling Vineyards. Don’t miss a trip to Sterling Vineyards when heading up to Calistoga. A tram takes you to the top of the hill where you’ll find the tasting room. Beautiful scenery surrounds you. http://www.sterlingvineyards.com.
So head to Napa Valley for some of the best wine tasting and scenery around. You’ll agree that you’ll definitely want to come back year after year.
