One of the very best wineries in the Napa Valley for visitors; conveniently off of highway 29, the Hall team produces superior wines- Cabernet Sauvignons from their Napa Valley bottling to the Kathryn Hall Reserve, the wines stand as some of the best in USA. Don't miss their Sauvignon Blanc as well, it is racy and bright and very varietal with its beautiful ripe melon and dry citrus flavors.
Lokoya Winery specializes in premium small lot wines (100% varietal Cabernet Sauvignon) exclusively from Napa grown hillside fruit from select locations. These are very limited production terroir driven concentrated wines. The name Lokoya is a tribute to the Native American tribe that inhabited what is now known as Mt. Veeder in the Mayacamas mountains towering above the western side of Napa Valley. Lokoya's tastings are by advance reservation only, are for serious wine enthusiasts/collectors and are held at the estate of Cardinale in the Oakville region of the Napa Valley. Lokoya is owned by Kendall Jackson who already owns a healthy portfolio of Napa based wineries. Lokoya is their premium holding. They produce Cabernet Sauvignons from Diamond Mountain, Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder and more recently Spring Mountain.
The brilliant white stucco stands out dramatically against the rugged Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges that flank each side of Napa Valley. Mount Saint Helena makes a lovely distant backdrop. The tour is self guided so it's at your own pace and the gondola ride is unique for the area. It's also one of only wineries that's on a hill in the middle of Napa Valley so the views are to die for. My only suggestion would be (if you enjoy wine clubs) to join the wine club before you go. You can get on the gondola for free for up to 4 people and the tour is included as well. That pays for one of your months of wine right there. Then, you get access to the VIP tasting room which is fantastic.
Situated in the rolling hills of eastern Napa Valley, Hestan Vineyards is a 56-acre tapestry of small, individually farmed blocks, planted to the five principle red Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. The vineyard is named for owners Stanley and Helen Cheng, who purchased the property in 1996. Cheng is CEO of Meyer Corporation, the world’s second largest cookware company with brands including Anolon, Circulon, KitchenAid and Faberware. In 2005, the Chengs released their first wines from the property, the 2002 Hestan Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon and 2002 Meyer Cabernet Sauvignon; both made by consulting winemaker Mark Herold. The wines were a critical success and were followed in 2008 by the launch of Stephanie, a line of red Bordeaux blends made by consulting winemaker Jeff Gaffner.
Krupp Brothers Estate is a sprawling collection of over 600,000 vines planted on over 1300 acres...and growing! This winery is located 6 miles in at the end of Soda Canyon Road off of the southern part of Silverado Trail. It is a partnership between Dr. Jan Krupp and his brother as well as ownership coming from a Gordon Getty trust as well as other investors. Jan told us that he loves growing things; after growing up New Jersey he left for California for his medical shool and was exposed to California's long growing seasons; as a result he never left the "golden state". The vineyard land was originally cleared for planting in the early 90's.
Located off the beaten path and decidedly unpretentious, an afternoon visit to Bouchaine is a favorite. Their wine is quite good, especially considering the mostly modest bottle prices. Their riesling is crisp and wonderful, perfect for a warm sunny afternoon. Their pinots are excellent. There is a self-guided tour through the vineyards that offers great views of the southern Napa Valley.
After a day of trekking around Yountville and St Helena I wound up at Girard Winery. Girard stays open till 7, very smart move I must say as they get the overflow of folks looking for a place to continue their wine tasting adventures or a place to grab drinks before heading off to a nice dinner. It's not a showy vineyard or winery so if you are looking for the fluff you will not find it (although it is a nice tasting room). What you will find are some REALLY GREAT WINES.
Matthiasson Family Vineyards sources grapes from several outstanding grape growers to produce their red and white blends. Steve Matthiasson and Jill Klein take a very proactive approach to tending their grapes and vinifying their wine. In Matthiasson and Klein’s words, “our hands touch every vine and every bottle.” In addition to making his own wine, Matthiasson is also a highly respected vineyard manager in the Napa and Sonoma. He oversees all of the decisions in over 30 different vineyards, and purchases choice fruit for his own wines from several of these properties.
Amici Cellars is a Napa Valley winery creating premium quality wine, and we welcome guests to our tasting room in Calistoga by appointment. At Amici we focus on quality, not quantity. Because we insist on keeping our production small, we can carefully control the process of creating each wine, crafting what we like to consider a small work of art in each bottle.
Karl Lawrence Cellars is a winery located in St. Helena, California. The winery is owned by Michael Karl Trujillo, Bryan Lawrence Henry. The wine at Karl Lawrence Cellars is produced by Michael Karl Trujillo, Michael Henry. Karl Lawrence Cellars has the following amenities you can enjoy: Retail Sales and Wine Tasting. If you want to visit Karl Lawrence Cellars, it is open at the following times: By Appointment Only
