California’s most prestigious wine region
Napa Valley is California’s first AVA and North America’s most iconic wine region. Even if it may not be our favorite region, it deserves to be covered on Wine Scribes, given the sheer amount of visitors and notoriety Read below for our ultimate Napa Valley wine guide.
Best boutique wineries in Napa Valley
Finding great small producers can be a challenge in Napa. Like the Douro Valley in Portugal, this region is dominated by the big names: Beringer, Jackson, BV, Mondavi, Chandon etc.. while these brands reserve a small amount of premium quality juice, their primary incentive is profit and their label is diluted by their bulk wine production.
Stick with our recommendations on finding producers who’s main focus is producing the best tasting wine, not the balance sheet. First, a bit about the region.
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History
Vines were planted in Napa well before Prohibition but the region was made famous after the Judgement of Paris in 1976. This blind tasting shocked the world, proving that California wines were on par with some of the best from France. There’s a great movie on this called Bottle Shock
Quick Facts about the Napa Valley AVA
- Located in Northern California, roughly 1.5 hour drive northeast of San Francisco.
- 50% of grapes planted are of the Cabernet Sauvignon variety.
- Climate is dry mediterranean with diverse soils like volcanic, sedimentary and marine sediment.
- There are over 400 wineries and 200 more in the neighboring Sonoma County.
Geography
Napa has many sub-AVA regions, so you will want to dedicate at least two days to get the most out of the trip. We recommend staying in Yountville as it has one of our favorite hotels in the region and is very centrally located.
Where to taste in Napa Valley
Spring Mountain Vineyard
Delicious Cabs, check. Library vintages for tasting, check. Non-stuffy yet professional and enjoyable tasting experience, check. Affordable tasting fee and bottle prices, check check and check.
The Spring Mountain Vineyard tasting is a beautiful, classic Napa experience and has been a staple in our lineup for years. We were introduced to them via a pre-COVID member pick up event which featured several live bands, whole roasted pig and endless pours. We hope these epic parties continue in the future as they are one of our criteria to look at when gauging when to join a wine club.
Matthiasson Wines
If you follow us on Instagram, you know that we’re over-the-moon for this producer. Steve Matthiasson is approaching cult status, as he is highly regarded for being a savant both in the vineyard and the winery.
We always appreciate when a winemaker spends a lot of time in the vineyard. Why? Well for one, it means the production is likely small (larger, commercial wineries will build an assembly line, separating vineyard managers from cellar workers). It also means the person who is fermenting and aging the wine is intimately familiar with how the grapes were grown (important for key cellar decisions).
Unlike the Cab-focused Spring Mountain, expect more non-traditional single-varietals and blends from this organic-farming producer. We’re in love with the 2019 Old Vine Zinfandel from the Royal Tee vineyard in Lodi; it may just be the best Zinfandel we’ve ever tasted.
Seavey Vineyard
In similar fashion to Matthiasson, Jim Duane at Seavey Vineyard is extremely hands-on in the vineyard in addition to his role in the cellar. Seavey is tucked away in a non-official sub AVA named Conn Valley, down the hill from the acclaimed Howell Mountain AVA.
Cabs, Bordeaux Blends and Merlot are the highlights here. As with Spring Mountain, Seavey keeps a well-stocked library collection available for both tasting and purchase. The wines have a beautiful subtleness to them, with delicate tannins, intense aromas and long lasting finishes.
B. Wise (Brion)
We featured B. Wise in our Sonoma guide, as their main winery and vineyard is located on Moon Mountain in Sonoma County. But the producer also has a small facility in Yountville, focusing only on Cabernet Sauvignon from single-vineyard sites.
While the price point of the Brion label may be high, they truly are incredible wines. Only 1,000 cases are produced–in California terms, this is miniscule. The rest finds its way into the B. Wise Bordeaux blends, which are delicious as well albeit at a lower price point.
The tasting experience is highly individualized, taking place in a two story converted barn on top of the scenic Sleeping Beauty vineyard in Yountville. If you are a Cabernet fanatic and are willing to spend a little more for your tastes, don’t miss this spot.
Ashes and Diamonds
We heard of this new trendy tasting room off Silverado Trail and were skeptical. Trendy wineries that spend more time on ambiance than wine are not our cup of tea (give us a garage tasting room with good juice any day)! But we were pleasantly surprised here.
The wines are mostly Bordeaux blends but are very approachable at a young age. Guess who they hired as a consulting winemaker? Steve Matthiasson from Matthiasson Wines. And by the way, the tasting room is very slick, in a 1970’s vintage glitzy airport lounge kind of way.
Where to eat in Napa Valley
Bistro Jeanty: The BEST mussels in Napa if not the planet. And everything else is delicious too. But seriously, those mussels. A classic french-style bistro where the tables are so close together, you’ll fall into an enjoyable conversation with your neighbor as you chow down on a sensational, non-pretentious meal.
Oakville Grocery: Akin to the Red Hills Market in Willamette or Hye Market in Fredericksburg, this is the lunch spot along the wine route. Unfortunately the secret is out, so call ahead to avoid a massive line and miss your next tasting.
Oenotri: If you’re craving Italian in downtown Napa, check this place out. Tasty pastas, pizzas and an extensive wine list featuring some gems from Sicily (one of our favorite sneaky-good wine regions).
The French Laundry: For the celebration occasion, this is one of the most famous places to dine in California. The cost of admission is very high but the food is delicious and the service is the best we’ve seen.
Gott’s Roadside: The opposite of French Laundry: cheap, quick and easy. If you’re just craving a quick burger and fries but want higher quality than the normal fast food outfitters, hit this classic spot.
Where to stay in Napa Valley
North Block Hotel: We love the small boutique style of this luxury spot. The location in Yountville is prime, staff is extremely friendly, the pool has a nice vibe, and the on-site restaurant serves the best espresso martini. Rent their e-bikes during the day and lounge at the pool in the late afternoon.
Carneros Inn: Down south near Saintsbury is another luxury resort gem (it’s Napa so budget accommodations aren’t really a thing). The Carneros Inn features a gorgeous outdoor patio, great cocktails, bocce ball and the occasional outdoor live music set. The location is great too if you’re trying to hit Napa and Sonoma in the same visit.
