This is one of my favorite tasting rooms in Napa by far! They allow dogs inside and the woman who usually pours for us is so nice! Most importantly, however, the wines are extraordinary.

Particularly on a warm day, we love coming in to this bright and cheery tasting room for a some Sav Blanc. The 2011 Pomelo for me is the standout among the Sav Blancs for its vivid style and citrus, guava, passionfruit flavors with a grapefruit nose. I almost always end up bringing a bottle home. Honorable mention to the Three Pears and Mason Reserve, which are equally fantastic!

Larkmead puts out some of the finest Cabs and Sauv Blancs in the valley. The vineyard itself is beautiful, located right on the valley floor. Sonny treated us great, explaining the winemaking process and the unique history behind Larkmead. Not to be missed if you are in Napa.
The Larkmead Vineyards tasting room is open from 10am to 3pm, by appointment.

This hidden gem of a winery boasts a no-frills approach to great wine. Their taste is a bit different -- fruity & light merlots, light cabs, amazing port.

The true gem here is Petra. She's a great conversationist and has remembered me and my friends every time we come. This one is WAY out of the way, but a completely unique experience in Napa. The basic tasting was free, and the reserve tasting was $15. The wine was pretty good and the bocce court outside was a nice distraction. The place is like a deserted farm with dogs wandering around and unfinished road through the vineyard. It is NOT fancy, but it is often deserted and gives you the feel that you are in your own country vineyard.

Buttonwood Farm is a small gem set amidst the splendor of Santa Barbara County's Santa Ynez Valley. 39-acre vineyard stretches across a sun-drenched mesa on the eastern portion of our 106-acre property. Buttonwood Winery started planting in 1983 and now have 33,000 vines. Buttonwood now produces 8,000 cases of wine a year.