Home › Regions › California

Napa Valley: Articles on California's Napa Valley Wine Region

Saddleback Cellars

Locations

7802 Money Road
Oakville, CA, 94562
United States
38° 26' 59.7408" N, 122° 23' 8.9664" W
See map: Google Maps
7802 Money Road
Oakville, CA, 94562
United States
38° 26' 59.7408" N, 122° 23' 8.9664" W
See map: Google Maps
The Vibe: 

The first thought that comes to mind as you pull into the driveway of Saddleback Cellars may be “Hmm. Perhaps they’re not open.” The nondescript, rustic tasting room, tucked into one corner of their winery, is marked only by a small sign and an open door. Once inside though, a cozy wooden table and tasting counter, as well as a set of longhorns, come into view, and all doubts evaporate. The winemaker, Nils Venge, is something of a Napa Legend, having won the honor of producing Napa’s first 100 point Parker wine (the 1985 Groth Reserve) and today, he’s often seen hanging around the winery, happy to meet and greet visitors or help out on a bottling line.

Particularly good if you are seeking: 
  • Individuals, couples, very small groups
  • Running into a winemaker
  • Small group picnics (pick up fixings at nearby Oakville Grocery)
  • Pets
Not good for: 
  • Shoppers
  • Large groups
  • Events
  • Weddings
Known For: 
Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Marsanne
Pictures: 
Phone Number: 
1 707-944-1305
Website: 
http://www.saddlebackcellars.com

Napa Valley’s Top Ten "Best Kept Secret" Wineries

by Paula Barker

BEST OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH NAPA TASTING ROOMS

After having visited numerous renowned wineries, many of us are looking for the hidden gems within the Napa Valley. Good wines are certainly valued, but the entire experience a winery provides leaves guests wanting to return and telling their friends and family to visit. Each winery listed in this article has some special draw, whether it’s art, architecture, ambiance, gardens or compelling history.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars

Locations

5766 Silverado Trail
Napa, CA, 94558
United States
38° 24' 2.6424" N, 122° 19' 38.622" W
See map: Google Maps
5766 Silverado Trail
Napa, CA, 94558
United States
38° 24' 2.6424" N, 122° 19' 38.622" W
See map: Google Maps
The Vibe: 

For anyone who’s studied up on the key moments in Napa wine history, the Spurrier tasting of 1976 sits in high relief. The Paris tasting was a bona fide pitting of French against American wines, organized to showcase the superior quality of the French winemaking talent. To everyone’s surprise, the winner of the blind tasting was none other than the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars SLV Cabernet Sauvignon. While the winery has recently passed into new ownership (a joint venture between the Tuscan Antinori family and Ste Michelle Wine Estates), the SLV is still going strong; its current vintage is available in their tasting room as part of their Estate Tasting.

Finally, for those seeking a truly elegant wine country setting for an event or wedding, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is one of the few Napa venues set up to host weddings; they also offer cooking classes and wine and food pairing programs that feature both current releases and library wines (wonder if they have any of the 1973 SLV left?).

Particularly good if you are seeking: 
  • Napa wine history enthusiasts
  • SLV and Cask 23 enthusiasts
  • Small to medium sized groups
  • Weddings
  • Tours (by appt)
  • Cooking Classes and Food and Wine Pairing programs
Not good for: 
  • Picnics
  • Shoppers
  • Kids
Known For: 
SLV Cabernet Sauvignon, CASK 23 Cabernet Sauvignon, ARTEMIS Cabernet Sauvignon
Pictures: 
Phone Number: 
1 866-422-7523
Website: 
http://www.cask23.com

Regusci Winery

Locations

5584 Silverado Trail
Napa, CA, 94558
United States
38° 23' 28.0572" N, 122° 19' 9.0228" W
See map: Google Maps
5584 Silverado Trail
Napa, CA, 94558
United States
38° 23' 28.0572" N, 122° 19' 9.0228" W
See map: Google Maps
The Vibe: 

Napa history buffs will appreciate the status of Regusci Winery as a “ghost winery,” that is, one that has its roots in the early Napa winemaking of the 19th century. Originally built in 1878 by one Terrill Grigsby, the winery was purchased by the family of its current owners in 1932. It survived the difficult economic and anti-alcohol periods of the early 20th century as a ranch, growing crops such as corn and prunes and raising livestock in addition to grapes. Today, the son and grandson of the original Regusci owner have returned to full time wine production. The tasting room, housed next to the original three story stone building, enjoys a rich, recycled-wood-centric feel thanks to the several rough hewn display tables and barrel-stave tasting bar. Visitors can enjoy a pour of a rich cabernet, and then stroll among the olive and citrus trees, or sit at one of the convenient outdoor tables.

Particularly good if you are seeking: 
  • History Buffs
  • Architecture Buffs
  • Small to Medium Groups
  • Tours (by appt)
  • Picnics
Not good for: 
  • Weddings/Events
  • Shoppers
Known For: 
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Angelo’s Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon
Pictures: 
Patio at Regusci Winery
Phone Number: 
1 707-254-0403
Website: 
http://www.regusciwinery.com

Napa Wine Country - "The First Tourist"

by Tim Halloran
This is the first in a series of articles about the people, places and events that helped shape Napa and Sonoma as we know them today.

After watching the atmospheric rise of popularity and quality in California wines over the past thirty-odd years, it is not a stretch to assume that Napa Valley as a tourist destination is a relatively new phenomenon.
Syndicate content
view counter