Memorial Day Weekend in Napa: Complete Wine Tasting Itinerary
A 3-day Memorial Day weekend itinerary through Napa Valley — day-by-day routes, winery picks, restaurant suggestions, and where to stay. Book now while you still can.
Memorial Day weekend is one of the best times to visit Napa Valley. The weather is warm but not scorching, the vines are green and growing, and you've got three full days to explore. It's also one of the busiest weekends of the year — which means you need to plan ahead.
Here's a three-day itinerary that moves through different parts of the valley each day, mixing legendary estates with hidden gems, and leaving room for long lunches and spontaneous detours.
Before You Go: Book Everything Now
This is the one weekend where "we'll figure it out when we get there" doesn't work. Wineries, restaurants, and hotels all fill up for Memorial Day. If you're reading this in April, you're in good shape — but don't wait until May.
- Wineries: Book tasting appointments now. Most require reservations, and the popular spots will be full by mid-May.
- Restaurants: Make dinner reservations for all three nights. Yountville and St. Helena restaurants book out weeks ahead.
- Hotels: See where to stay below. Downtown Napa and Yountville are ideal.
Use the trip planner to map your routes and see drive times between stops.
Day 1 (Saturday): Yountville → Oakville — The Iconic Stretch
Start your weekend in the heart of the valley. The stretch between Yountville and Oakville along Highway 29 is home to some of the most legendary names in wine — the kind of places you've seen on restaurant wine lists for years.
Morning — Yountville
Start at Bouchon Bakery for coffee and pastries (Thomas Keller's bakery, famous for a reason), then ease into your first tasting.
Stewart Cellars is a fantastic first stop — a gorgeous Yountville tasting room with a 4.9-star rating and an intimate, welcoming vibe. The wines are excellent and the setting is walkable from downtown Yountville. Cliff Lede Vineyards is another strong pick nearby, with a rock-and-roll aesthetic and estate Cabernets from the Stags Leap District.
Midday — Oakville
Drive ten minutes south on Highway 29 to Oakville, home to some of the most prestigious vineyards in the world.
Robert Mondavi Winery is the pilgrimage stop. Mondavi essentially created modern Napa Valley — opening this estate in 1966, championing California wine on the world stage, and proving that Napa could stand alongside Bordeaux. The Mission-style architecture is iconic, and the To Kalon vineyard behind it produces some of the most celebrated Cabernet in the valley.
Early Afternoon — Lunch
Oakville Grocery is a wine country institution — grab sandwiches and a bottle and have a picnic. Or head back to Yountville for a sit-down at Bottega (Michael Chiarello's Italian — lively and great for groups) or RH Yountville (stunning courtyard).
Afternoon — Third Tasting
Silver Oak is the Cabernet purist's dream — they make one wine, and they make it exceptionally well. The tasting room is modern and beautiful, and every pour is an education in what Napa Cabernet can be. If you can only do one "bucket list" winery this weekend, this might be it.
Dinner in Yountville
Yountville has more Michelin stars per capita than almost anywhere in the country. Bouchon (Thomas Keller's French bistro) is the classic move. RH Yountville has a stunning courtyard setting. Ad Hoc is great if you want Keller's cooking in a more casual format.
Day 2 (Sunday): St. Helena → Rutherford — Deep Into Cabernet Country
Head up-valley to St. Helena and the Rutherford corridor — the heart of Napa Cabernet country. The landscape changes here: bigger estates, more historic properties, and that distinctive Rutherford dust character in the wines.
Morning — St. Helena
Start in the town of St. Helena itself. Walk Main Street for coffee at Model Bakery (the English muffins are famous). The town has a small-town charm that's completely different from the Napa city vibe.
Cakebread Cellars is the quintessential Napa experience — a family winery that's been making world-class wine since 1973. The tasting experience is polished and personal, the Chardonnay and Cabernet are both outstanding, and the property is beautiful. This is the winery that turns casual wine drinkers into wine enthusiasts.
Midday — Rutherford
Continue south to Caymus Vineyards in Rutherford. The Wagner family has been farming here since 1906, and the Special Selection Cabernet is one of the most recognized Napa wines in the world. The tasting is focused and intimate — just the wines, no frills. Exactly how it should be at this level.
Lunch
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch in St. Helena is worth planning around — farm-to-table with estate olive oil and wine. Reservations recommended. Alternatively, Gott's Roadside (also in St. Helena) is the best casual lunch in the valley: burgers, ahi tuna, and milkshakes at picnic tables.
Afternoon — Something Different
Browse the Rutherford and St. Helena winery guides for more picks in the area. There are dozens of excellent options — from caves to gardens to mountainside estates — and part of the fun is discovering a place that wasn't on anyone's list.
Dinner
Press in St. Helena is the definitive Napa steakhouse — they have the best wine list in the valley, built for pairing with your own bottles. In downtown Napa, Angèle (French bistro on the river) and Torc (modern American) are both excellent.
Day 3 (Monday): Carneros → Sonoma Crossover — A Change of Pace
On your last day, head south to Carneros for something completely different. After two days of big Cabernets, the cooler climate, lighter wines, and more relaxed atmosphere are the perfect palate cleanser.
Morning — Carneros
Domaine Carneros opens at 10am, and morning on the terrace is magic — sparkling wine, views of the Carneros hills, no crowds yet. This is the California outpost of Champagne Taittinger, and everything about the experience feels like a proper occasion. It's the most elegant way to start a day in wine country.
From there, explore the Carneros region — the cool-climate Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are a refreshing contrast to the Cabernets you've been tasting all weekend.
Midday — Sonoma Crossover (Optional)
Carneros straddles the Napa-Sonoma border. If you drive west on Highway 121, you're in Sonoma County within minutes. The town of Sonoma has a beautiful historic plaza, excellent restaurants, and a completely different energy from Napa — more casual, more local, more "California small town." Browse Sonoma County wineries for nearby picks.
Afternoon
Head home with wine in the trunk and a mental list of the bottles you need to order. If you joined any wine clubs over the weekend (it happens to everyone), you'll be getting shipments for months.
Where to Stay
For a Memorial Day long weekend, downtown Napa or Yountville gives you the best access to this itinerary.
- Archer Hotel Napa — Downtown, rooftop bar, walkable to restaurants. Great for a weekend base.
- Hotel Yountville — Tuscan-inspired, walkable to Bouchon and Bottega. Perfect for Day 1 dinner plans.
- Bardessono — Yountville luxury with a top-tier spa. Book a post-weekend massage on Monday.
- Harvest Inn — St. Helena, right near Day 2's wineries. Gardens and a pool for mid-day breaks.
Book early — Memorial Day hotels sell out faster than winery appointments. Browse all Napa Valley accommodations for more options.
Make It Your Own
This itinerary is a framework, not a script. Swap wineries based on what appeals to you, skip a stop if lunch runs long, and don't stress about hitting every recommendation. The best wine country weekends are the ones where you leave room for the unexpected.
The trip planner can help you customize routes and timing. And if this is your first time visiting, the first-timer's guide covers all the basics — what to wear, how tastings work, and what to expect.
