There are some Napa wineries that stand out for their grand, beautiful, or unique architecture style. IntoWine.com has scoured Napa to find the wineries that are worth checking out if only for the architecture. The list below is in no particular order.
Domaine Carneros (French) Napa - If you think you might not make it to a true French chateau before you die, the grand estate at Domaine Carneros is the next best thing. From their sparkling wines to their landscaped gardens, sweeping views, and French parent company, this estate exudes French charm from a quiet corner of the Napa Valley. And they know how to work it. As you park your car, you can only look up and admire the flights of stairs that you have to ascend to reach their main terrace. Read more...
Monticello (Jeffersonian) Napa - Thomas Jefferson had an amazing wine cellar. But he lived in Virginia. If you want to honor his taste for the finer things in life, you can book a ticket for a six hour eastward flight, or you can go to Monticello Vineyards. The founder and owner of this mid sized Napa winery, Jay Corley, admires the aesthetic of our founding father, and has embodied his admiration in the winery and adjacent building located just off the Silverado Trail. Read more...
Darioush (Persian) Napa - While wineries modeled after French chateau and Italian villas may seem like a dime a dozen in California wine country, those emulating the beauty and grandeur of a Persian palace are rather rare. Since opening its travertine-tile-clad tasting room in 2004, Darioush has been on that short list. Read more...
Chimney Rock (Cape Dutch/South African) Napa - The Cape Dutch architecture of Chimney Rock, modeled after a winery in South Africa, is unique along the Silverado Trail. The facility sits on the site of a former golf course, and visitors can view a bunch of basalt outcroppings known as the Stag’s Leap Palisades from just outside its front door. Read more...
Groth (Tuscan) Oakville - The recently renovated winery at Groth Vineyards is a Spanish-architecture-buff’s dream, with salmon-stucco walls, an ornate tiled roof, and gleaming floors, accented by a sizable fireplace, lengthy wooden table, and colorful vineyard paintings in the indoor guest area. Read more...
Del Dotto Estate Winery (Greco-Roman) St. Helena - For anyone who’s visited the famed cathedrals and castles of Europe, the experience at Del Dotto will be familiar – a saturation of the senses. Located on Hwy 29, this newly erected “cathedral” to wine exudes a no-expense-was-spared aura of artistry. Read more...