The Best Wineries To Visit In Northern California

Designed by the well-known architect Michael Graves, Clos Pegase winery has a postmodern design that merges modern and ancient architecture in a celebration of luxurious Napa Valley lifestyle. Viewed as one of the true architectural landmarks of the Napa Valley, Clos Pegase gives visitors the opportunity to experience it firsthand with a variety of tour and tasting options, including the Cave Tour, which culminates in a seated tasting of current and library wines in underground caves. Clos Pegase also features a variety of sculptures, fountains and other pieces of art on display from renowned artists so visitors not only get to learn more and experience wine, but they also get exposed to beautiful modern art.

Swanson Vineyardshas a one-of-a-kind tasting experience that feels like an intimate gathering in a 19th-century Parisian salon. The Swanson Salon experience is lead by a skilled salonniere, featuring caviar, artisan cheeses and bonbons paired with Swanson wines, and they lead an entertaining tasting at the small country winery in Rutherford. The whimsical Swanson Salon has touches from some of the world’s finest talents, including interior designer Thomas Britt, renowned California painter Ira Yeager and chocolatier Katrina Markoff of Vosge Haut Chocolate.

One of California’s top sparkling wine houses, Mumm Napa has a little-known fine art photography gallery that is open to the public. The gallery has two exhibits, an ongoing Ansel Adams exhibit with 30 original Adams prints, including some of his most famous works, as well as a rotating exhibit.

Benziger Family Winery

Benziger Family Winery is a leader in biodynamic, organic and certified-sustainable farming and is dedicated to crafting authentic wines that are true to the grape variety, vintage and vineyard. They believe that natural and carefully cultivated farming yields wines with more flavors, aromas and site-specific character. The Partners Wine Tour provides a behind-the-scenes look at Benziger’s biodynamic estate vineyard and wine caves, finishing with an exclusive wine tasting.

Benziger Family Winery, 1883 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen, CA, USA +1 888 490 2739

Imagery Estate Winery is all about breaking away from the conventional and experimenting with new varieties, exploring little-known grape regions. The winery is best known for its one-of-a-kind artwork on its wine labels. Imagery Estate Winery throws a fabulous Fête en Blanc for wine club members and the public. Taking place on June 4, 2016, attendees are encouraged to don their brightest whites and head to the lawn at Imagery for a soiree, while winemaker Joe Benziger pours newly released wines and a live band plays.

One of the most historic wineries in Napa Valley, Charles Krug was established in 1861 and has been a leader in quality wine-making ever since. In addition to producing a fabulous portfolio of Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style wines, Charles Krug Winery is committed to protecting the environment, and as such, has 400 acres of valley floor vineyards that are Napa Green certified. Visitors at Charles Krug have the opportunity to taste in the winery’s award-winning Redwood Cellar. Built in 1872, the Redwood Cellar Tasting Room is a warm, inviting space that blends heritage and contemporary design. This room is a National Historical Landmark and features redwood from the family’s original wine tanks, stone and open beam construction.

The winery’s tasting room, Velo Vino, has a unique, laid-back atmosphere and a number of fantastic tasting options that will suit any visitor. Founded by Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford, the founders of Clif Bar & Company, the intent for the winery was to bring together their passion for food, family and adventure. Today, Clif Family Winery is focused on making high-quality wines that sustain the natural resources of the local community and bring awareness of organic and sustainable farming to others. When visiting Clif Family Winery, the guests can stop at the winery’s Bruschetteria food truck. Inspired by northern-Italian cuisine, Executive Chef John McConnell serves up a delicious, seasonal menu of bruschetta, spiedini, porchetta, farm fresh salads and more from the truck daily.

In the heart of Carneros is Cuvaison Estate Wines, a certified sustainable winery producing distinct Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines for over 30 years. Dedicated to a philosophy of producing vineyard-driven wines, Cuvaison employs block-by-block farming methods and a half-crafted vineyard-to-bottle wine-making approach. The resulting wines are balanced and complex, showing distinctive characteristics of this cool climate estate. Boasting stunning, modern architecture, the Cuvaison tasting room is surrounded by waves of vineyards where visitors can choose between indoor and outdoor seating.

Truchard Winery

Truchard Winery is a small family-owned winery in the Carneros region of Napa Valley known for its 400 contiguous acres of vineyards as well as various types of soil. There is southern and western exposure that allows the grapes to capture the afternoon sun, which produces optimum ripening for grape varieties like Syrah, Roussanne, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. Truchard provides an intimate experience where guests usually get to have a tasting experience with members of the family and hear about the history of the place.

Truchard Winery, 3234 Old Sonoma Road, Napa, CA, USA + 1 707 253 7153

Lula Cellars is a premium, small-production winery located in the ‘Deep End’ of Mendocino County’s famed Anderson Valley. Winemaker Jeff Hansen, a thirty-year wine industry veteran, produces high quality, eminently drinkable wines and offers them at reasonable prices by selling directly to consumers. A little off the beaten track, Lula Cellars is a gem for the locals who know about it and enjoy the pet-friendly tasting room as well as the low-key sleepy atmosphere that allows them to disconnect from reality for a few hours.