Opus One

Opus One is classic Napa. Not classic in the sense that it’s been around forever, but classic in the sense that its columned, quasi-underground architecture, minimalist-style rooms, and precisely landscaped grounds speak to the moneyed, upper-class air that many have come to associate with Napa Valley wineries. The association is grounded somewhere in reality, at least for those wineries that have come to be owned by international, corporate conglomerates (which Opus One now half is) and continue to maintain open-to-the-public tasting rooms (which Opus still does. Kind of. In the off season).

This winery was originally a collaboration between two stalwarts of the wine world – California’s own Robert Mondavi, and France’s own Baron Phillippe de Rothschild. The two got together in the late 1970s to produce a high-end, luxurious Bordeaux blend with California fruit. When Mondavi sold his namesake winery to Constellation Brands in 2004, his share of Opus One went with it. Today, you can purchase a glass of the Opus for $30 at their elegant tasting room, ascend the stone stairs to sit on their rooftop patio, and gaze appreciatively at the rows of vines that adorn their expansive estate. Just be sure to make an appointment first.