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Artesa Vineyards

1345 Henry Road (Dealy Lane turnoff from Old Sonoma Road), Napa; (707) 224-1668 or artesawinery.com; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, last tasting at 4:30 p.m.; reservations required for groups of eight or more.

Excellent views of the bay and the Carneros hills.  Owned by the Raventos family of Spain, whose winemaking history dates to the mid-sixteenth century, the winery takes its name from the Catalan word for "handcrafted." Today, Artesa focuses on producing small, ultra-premium lots of the varietals for which the Carneros and the Napa Valley are best known - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.  

Baldacci Family Vineyards

6236 Silverado Trail, Napa; (707) 944-9261 or baldaccivineyards.com; by appointment, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.

Baldacci Family Vineyards includes 17 acres of Estate Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines, an onsite winemaking facility and a unique system of wine caves beneath a volcanic knoll. The expert vineyard management team carefully nurtures the vine growth, ensuring that the grapes reach their maximum potential to create concentrated flavors and excellent tannic structure.

Bouchaine Vineyards

1075 Buchli Station Road (near Las Amigas Road), Napa; (800) 654-9463 or bouchaine.com; 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. daily; reservations required for groups of eight or more.

Bouchaine specializes in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  It’s located on one of the oldest winemaking properties in California.  Their “Table for Two” special is very romantic! For $95.00 you’ll get a Table for Two basket designed for two adults to share. You indicate your lunch and wine selections from their list and have your concierge reserve your table for the following day. It’s available daily, but 24-hour advance reservation/cancellation required.

Chimney Rock Winery

5350 Silverado Trail, Napa; (800) 257-2641 or chimneyrock.com; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

Chimney Rock is located right in the heart of the famous Stags Leap winemaking district.  You’ll want to try their Cabernet Sauvignon and Elevage meritage blend.

Clos du Val

1221 Duhig Road, Napa; (707) 942-2455 or cuvaison.com; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

Bring your lunch and enjoy a picnic in the Clos du Val Olive Grove.  Tables are limited, so reservations are recommended on weekends and for groups of 8 or more. The fee to reserve picnic tables is $10 per person.  You can also play the French version of bocce ball.  It’s called pétanque and the Clos du Val courts are open to anyone.

Cuvaison

1221 Duhig Road, Napa; (707) 942-2455 or cuvaison.com; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

Appointments are required for the Cuvaison South Napa Valley tasting room.  Fridays through Mondays they offer vineyard walks and tastings.  They have a good range of wines to try: pinot noir, chardonnay, syrah and cabernet sauvignon.

Darioush Winery

4240 Silverado Trail, Napa; (707) 257-2345 or darioush.com; 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

Darioush has one of the most attractive tasting rooms in Napa Valley.  It’s easy to get to, located right on the Silverado Trail. They have a great concierge service.  Whether it’s a hard-to-get dining reservation, or insider recommendations of favorites for hotel stays, spa visits, golf outings and shopping excursions in Napa Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area, the Darioush Concierge is at your service! You can connect with the Darioush Concierge at: 707 257 2345 ext 130

Domaine Carneros

1240 Duhig Road (off Highway 121), Napa; (800) 716-2788 or domainecarneros.com; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.

One of the few wineries where you can relax and enjoy table service in the elegant salon or on the terrace overlooking exquisite views of the endless vineyard covered hills of romantic Napa Valley. Wines may be tasted in flights, by the glass or by the bottle. Caviar and artisan cheese plates matched to their wines are also available.

The Hess Collection

4411 Redwood Road, Napa; (707) 255-1144 or hesscollection.com; 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily; museum hours: 10 a.m.-5:15 p.m. daily (self-guided iPod audio tours available).

The Hess Collection boasts arguably the best contemporary art collection in Napa.  You can enjoy a guided tour of the art museum on the property and a wine tasting with paired food choices.  The winery is best known for its flagship Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines.

Mason Cellars

714 First St. (at McKinstry), Napa; (707) 255-0658 or masoncellars.com; 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Thursday-Monday; reservations requested for groups of eight or more.

At the Mason Cellars Oxbow Tasting Room, you can readily sample the Mason collection of fine wines. Enjoy the warm, country casual atmosphere of their tasting room and view select paintings from local artists. Thursday to Monday you can drop in for a complimentary wine tasting of all their current releases.  They’re best known for their Sauvignon Blanc.

The Michael Mondavi Family Taste Gallery and Winery

1285 Dealy Lane (near Henry Road), Napa; (707) 256-2757 or foliowine.com; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

Their Taste Gallery is a comprehensive sensory experience that includes: amazing vineyard views from their porch, educational programs, and special events. Folio Winemakers’ Studio is a tranquil spot overlooking lush vineyards.  You can sample a very wide range of wines here.

Paraduxx

7257 Silverado Trail (near Yountville Cross), Napa; (707) 945-0890 or (866) 367-9943 or paraduxx.com; 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily; until 4 p.m. November-Memorial Day; reservations required for groups of six or more.

The architectural innovation of the Paraduxx estate is a unique ten-sided fermentation building, which houses a contemporary winemaking facility.  Their tastings are offered in a gorgeous, contemporary setting, and feature tableside service, modern stemless Riedel 'O' glassware, and cheese complements.  Try their Zinfandel – Cabernet blends.

Pine Ridge Winery

5901 Silverado Trail (1 mile south of Yountville Cross Road), Napa; (800) 575-9777 or pineridgewinery.com; 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily.

Pine Ridge has one of the most unique tours in Napa Valley.   You can also visit Pine Ridge for their Sunday culinary seminars focusing on recipes and food and wine pairings.  No visit is complete without seeing their spectacular Cabernet Caves, where dinners and special events are held.  Pine Ridge is known for their Cabernets, Meritage and Chardonnay wines.

Quixote Winery

6126 Silverado Trail, Napa; (707) 944-2659 or quixotewinery.com; by appointment only, Tuesday-Sunday at 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4 p.m.

Humor and whimsy characterize the architecture and design of the Quixote vineyard. There are no straight lines and the roofs are planted with grass and trees! Color is everywhere.  Quixote Winery devotes itself exclusively to making small quantities of Petite Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon under the Quixote and Panza labels. All fruit is sourced from their 27-acre, organically-farmed Stags’ Leap Ranch estate vineyard.

Robert Sinskey Vineyards

6320 Silverado Trail (just south of Yountville Cross Road), Napa; (800) 869-2030 or robertsinskey.com; 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily.

“RSV” was recently named Sunset magazine’s tasting room of the year and the Wine Spectator featured it as a must visit winery in Napa Valley.  Try the “Farm to Table” Tour, as RSV has a special focus on food and wine.  The Sinskey Pinot Noirs and Cabernets are world renown.

Silenus Vintners

5225 Solano Ave. (at Darms Lane), Napa; (707) 299-3930 or silenusvintners.com; by appointment, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.

18 boutique wineries call Silenus Vintners home:  it is a wine co-op tasting room and custom crush facility.  The Wine Spectator said of Silenus, "If you're searching for a hidden gem, there's no need to drive all over the valley..."  If the weather is nice, you can enjoy their  patio with fountain, wonderfully landscaped grounds, a lawn area, picnic tables, stage, and bocce ball court.  Try to arrange your tasting with their tasting room manager, Scott Turnnidge.

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars

5766 Silverado Trail (north of Oak Knoll), Napa; (866) 422-7523 or cask23.com; 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily; reservations required for groups of six or more.

A wonderful time can be had with the Stag’s Leap estate and wine cave tour, especially at the end when you can sample their internationally famous Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon.  The art  at Stag’s Leap is also impressive – the architecture, sculpture and paintings will keep you highly engaged.

Trefethen Vineyards

1160 Oak Knoll Ave., Napa; (707) 255-7700 or (866) 895-7696 or trefethen.com; 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily.

Trefethen may be the only winery offering a twilight tasting.  It’s exclusive – it begins after the winery closes.  You’ll start at a reception with artisan cheese and charcuterie.  The main event is the tasting, which will feature small lot trials and library vintages.  Trefethen is known for the Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and Rieslings.