Napa & Sonoma Wineries — The Complete Visitor's Guide
Trefethen Family Vineyards
Explore Wineries
Browse All Wineries →Hand-picked selections — from iconic estates to tucked-away gems worth the drive.
VerifiedSt. Francis Winery
$$$Experience award-winning wines and breathtaking views at St. Francis Winery.
VerifiedTank Garage Winery
$$A punk rock winery crafting unique, one-time-only blends in a vintage garage setting.
VerifiedCaymus Vineyards
$$$$Caymus Vineyards: A family legacy of exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon.
VerifiedTrefethen Family Vineyards
$$$Crafting distinguished estate-grown wines in Napa Valley for over fifty years.
VerifiedDavis Estates
$$$$A family-owned winery dedicated to crafting premier Napa Valley wines.
VerifiedBaldacci Family Vineyards
$$$Boutique family Cabernet from Stags Leap.
VerifiedHalleck Vineyard Estate Winery & Wine Tasting Room
$$Experience award-winning Pinot Noir in a stunning Sebastopol setting.
VerifiedNickel & Nickel
$$$$Experience the pure expressions of Napa Valley at Nickel & Nickel Winery.
VerifiedJames Cole Winery
$$Experience luxury redefined at James Cole Winery, where every guest is treated like family.
The Lay of the Land
Napa and Sonoma sit side by side, separated by the Mayacamas Mountains, but they couldn't feel more different. Napa is a single, focused valley — thirty miles of Cabernet royalty, where every other driveway leads to a world-class tasting room. Sonoma sprawls across 1,768 square miles of wildly varied terrain, from the fog-cooled Russian River to the sun-baked slopes of Dry Creek. Together, they make up the most storied wine region in the New World — and every corner of it is worth exploring.
Explore the interactive map →Wine Country, Region by Region
Every valley, hillside, and back road has its own personality — shaped by soil, sun, and decades of winemaking tradition.
Napa Valley
All Napa regions →
St. Helena
St. Helena is Napa Valley's wine history in concentrated form — home to the oldest continuously operating winery (Beringer, 1876) and California's first tasting room (Charles Krug, 1861). Main Street's walkable mix of tasting rooms, restaurants, and the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone makes it the cultural heart of upper Napa.
Rutherford
Rutherford is the birthplace of the 'Rutherford Dust' concept — a distinctively earthy, cocoa-like tannin quality in Cabernet Sauvignon coined by legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff. Home to some of Napa's most historically significant estates including Inglenook (1881) and Beaulieu Vineyard (1900).
Sonoma County
All Sonoma regions →Russian River Valley
Russian River Valley is one of California's premier cool-climate wine regions, best known for world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Pacific fog rolls through a gap in the coastal mountains each morning, creating ideal conditions for these varieties. Beyond wine, the region offers redwood forests, river recreation, and small-town charm.
Sonoma Valley
Sonoma Valley is the birthplace of California's commercial wine industry, dating to the 1850s. Flanked by the Mayacamas and Sonoma mountain ranges, it produces diverse wines across approximately 14,000 vineyard acres. The historic town of Sonoma and Jack London's home in Glen Ellen add cultural depth beyond wine.
Plan Your Wine Country Trip
HotelAuberge du Soleil
$$$$Luxury hotel in Napa Valley with stunning views and exceptional on-site dining.
Your Guide to Wine Country
All guides →Whether it's a first sip or a fiftieth visit — the right guide makes all the difference.
Wine Country Planning Guide
Everything needed for an unforgettable visit — the best wineries by region, insider tasting tips, seasonal advice, and how to make the most of every stop. Delivered to your inbox instantly.
First Time in Napa Valley
First time visiting Napa Valley wine country? Welcome! Wine tasting is more approachable than you might think. The wineries below are perfect for beginners — they're walk-in friendly, affordably priced, and highly rated by other visitors.
Dog-Friendly Wineries
Browse the full set on napasonomaguide.com.
Budget Tastings
Wine tasting doesn't have to be expensive. These wineries in Napa Valley offer tastings for $40 or less — making them perfect for visitors who want to taste widely without splurging at every stop.
Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is the king of Napa Valley, producing some of the most acclaimed wines in the world. The region's combination of warm days, cool nights, and diverse soils creates Cabs of extraordinary depth, with flavors ranging from dark cassis and black cherry to cedar, tobacco, and chocolate.
From the Blog
Read all posts →Stories, seasonal guides, and insider knowledge from wine country.
The Complete Guide to Dog-Friendly Wineries
Everything you need to know about bringing your dog to wine country — which wineries welcome pups, what to expect, and tips for a great day with your four-legged friend.
Best Napa Wineries to Visit in Summer
The best Napa Valley wineries for summer visits — cave tastings that beat the heat, shaded patios, early morning experiences, and refreshing sparkling wines for hot days.
Napa Valley in Spring: The Best Season You're Not Planning For
Why spring is the smartest time to visit Napa Valley — mustard season, barrel tastings, fewer crowds, and perfect weather. Everything you need to plan a spring wine country trip.