Oak Knoll District · Napa4.8 · 808
Monticello Vineyards
Jay Corley founded this family-owned estate in 1970 with vineyards across three Napa Valley appellations.
$$From $35
The Library
First-Time Visitor Guide to Napa Valley
First time visiting Napa Valley wine country? Welcome! Wine tasting is more approachable than you might think. The wineries below are perfect for beginners — they're walk-in friendly, affordably priced, and highly rated by other visitors.
Don't worry about knowing the "right" way to taste wine. These welcoming wineries have friendly staff who love introducing newcomers to wine country. Start here, and you'll quickly feel like a pro.
16 Wineries Found
Sorted by rating — verified wineries appear first.
Calistoga · Napa4.9 · 504
Girard Winery
Girard pours Rhône varieties alongside Napa classics at its Dunaweal Lane location in Calistoga.
Dog OKKid Friendly
$$From $50
St. Helena · Napa4.3 · 2,881
V. Sattui Winery
Dario Sattui re-opened his great-grandfather Vittorio's 1885 winery in 1976 with picnic grounds.
Dog OKKid FriendlyPicnic
$From $14
Downtown Napa · Napa4.8 · 397
JaM Cellars
John and Michele Truchard built a wine and music studio on First Street in downtown Napa.
Dog OK
$$From $45
Yountville · Napa4.8 · 309
Jessup Cellars
Jessup Cellars operates a rotating fine art gallery alongside its Yountville tasting room.
Dog OK
$$From $30
Downtown Napa · Napa4.8 · 262
Brown Downtown Napa
Brown Downtown opened in 2017 to pour Zinfandels from the family's Chiles Valley ranch.
$$Walk-in OK
Oak Knoll District · Napa4.9 · 168
Robert Biale Vineyards
Aldo Biale sold Zinfandel to neighbors in the 1940s; today his family farms old vines for Black Chicken Zinfandel.
$$From $50
Rutherford · Napa4.4 · 958
Mumm Napa
Mumm Napa pours only sparkling wines, made using méthode traditionnelle from its Napa Green certified facility.
$$From $48
Carneros (Napa) · Napa4.9 · 150
Truchard Vineyards
A working vineyard estate in Carneros where tastings include library wines from the cave.
$$$From $55
Carneros (Napa) · Napa4.7 · 250
Bouchaine Vineyards
Carneros' oldest continuously operating winery, founded in the 1880s, now owned by Gerret and Tatiana Copeland.
Dog OKKid Friendly
$$From $45
Downtown Napa · Napa4.7 · 230
St Clair Brown Winery & Brewery
Founded in 2010 by Elaine St. Clair and Laina Brown, this urban winery makes both wine and beer.
$From $25
St. Helena · Napa4.7 · 187
Markham Vineyards
Markham pours Merlot alongside Cabernet—260 estate acres across multiple Napa AVAs.
Dog OKKid Friendly
$$$From $55
Oak Knoll District · Napa4.5 · 376
Black Stallion Estate Winery
The former equestrian center turned winery, named 2023 American Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast.
Dog OKKid FriendlyPicnic
$$From $40
Carneros (Napa) · Napa4.5 · 353
Madonna Estate Winery
The Bartolucci family has dry-farmed this Carneros vineyard organically since 1922.
Dog OKKid FriendlyPicnic
$$From $30
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HotelRutherford · Napa4.7 · 1,755
Auberge du Soleil
Auberge du Soleil terraces down a Rutherford hillside planted with heritage olive and oak trees.
Adults OnlyWine LoversRomantic Getaways
★★★★★
HotelCalistoga · Napa4.7 · 1,151
Solage, Auberge Collection
The 20,000-square-foot spa runs on Calistoga's geothermal water and books out weeks ahead.
Dog OK*Wine LoversLuxury Retreat
★★★★★
HotelSt. Helena · Napa4.7 · 504
Meadowood Napa Valley
A 250-acre estate on land first settled in 1961, with wood-lined cottages scattered across oak groves.
Kid FriendlyWine LoversLuxury Retreat
★★★★★
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