Before you go wine-tasting, decide why you're going.
- Do you want to learn more about wines and how they're made? Take one of our recommended winery tours.
- Do you want to visit specific wineries? Search out their website, check their hours and find out if they require reservations (many do).
- Or do you just want to have a nice day and drink a little wine along the way? See Casual Wine-Tasting below.
- Do you want to buy or sample a specific type of wine? See our tips below for targeting specific wineries.
Casual Wine-Tasting
The easy approach is to drive along Highway 29 stop at a few places, perhaps those whose name you've heard, or ones that looks nice. Using this strategy, you'll probably have a nice time, but this random walk is unlikely to lead you to the best that Napa Valley has to offer, the special places among the hundreds of wineries you pass along the way. We've taken the help of a professional Wine County tour guide to compile a list of truly special, beautiful, educational and fun Napa Valley wineries. Click on over to it and in a few minutes, you can put together a wine-tasting trip that you'll never forget.Targeting Specific Wineries
If you want to sample specific types of wines such as chardonnay or pinot noir, you'd might as well taste the best. A one-month, paid subscription to Wine Spectator will give you access to an excellent search tool that can help you zero in on places to visit. The specific vintages listed may be out of stock, but if a winery shows up often, they probably know how to make that type well.After you've picked a winery, be sure to check its wine tasting policies and hours. Don't be shy to call for an appointment if it's required. Often, it's not the winery being snooty, but rather a result of laws enacted to quell the crowds that threaten to overrun the area.
Wine Tasting Tips
Most Napa Valley wineries charge a tasting fee (up to $20 per person or more). You may get a souvenir glass and will have an opportunity to taste three to six wines, getting a small amount of each. If you're traveling with someone who doesn't mind sharing your glass, buy one wine tasting and you both can sip from the same glass.Professionals never swallow when wine tasting. There's a reason for that - they don't want to get intoxicated. Our simple rule for casual wine tasting is never go to more than three wineries in a day. Stop at more, and not only are you likely to get a little tipsy (dangerous for driving), but even if you don't, all the wines start to taste alike, and you may buy something you'll later regret.
