Memorable wines, experiences found in Napa’s tasting rooms

By Eduardo Dingler

NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — Sixty-one wine-tasting rooms are listed on Downtown Napa’s website, and the claim is they offer some of Napa Valley’s finest wines, all within walking distance. The full list of names ranges from A (Ackerman Heritage House) to W (The Wine Thief). Beyond the downtown, though, are interesting stores, shops, wine-tasting rooms and bars throughout the Napa area. The website can be found here, and the full list is below.

Matt Stamp, a co-founder of Compline Wine Bar, which is located at 1300 First St. in downtown Napa —Tim Carl Photo

Inside these tasting rooms one can find large-format Champagne, adventurous natural wines, California power chardonnays, world-class music and wine, and a collection of small but mighty French, Italian and Spanish wines. Each one of the wine shops that populates the Napa Valley has a unique charm, history and approach for both loyal customers and curious visitors alike.

Here are my most celebrated spots to explore

Conveniently located at First Street near Main, Back Room Wines is deeply rooted in Napa with a diverse selection of wine, spirits and sake. Their strength lies in small-production wines, a thoughtful liquor program and a quaint but exciting sake set. They also feature excellent large-format selections. The team, led by Felicia and Prashant Patel along with Tomas and Martin, offers a deep insight into an inviting selection. I personally love their large-format Champagnes such as Caillez Lemaire Eclat Extra Brut ($175) because you don’t want to show up to a gathering without a chilled magnum of Champagne to awake the senses. Back Room Wines is located at 1000 Main St., Suite 120, 707-226-1378 or visit here. 

Prashant Patel is the owner of Back Room Wines, located at First Street and Main in downtown Napa — Tim Carl Photo

Bay Grape Napa, located at 2999 Solano Ave., offers an alternative from buzzing downtown Napa. The wine selection is edgy, fun and “in the know” with a solid Champagne set and some adventurous natural wines. Bay Grape is an excellent gathering spot, an ideal place for casual get-togethers that feels as comfortable as home. Send an invite to a few friends, grab a few chairs and let the conversations flow while the team selects bottles to explore. Some must-try bottles include 2022 Matthiasson Rose Napa Valley ($29) along with a variety of cheeses and snacks by the fire. Contact Bay Grape Napa, 707-699-2135 or here.

Cellar Collections is a well-kept secret, tucked away on Imola Avenue near Highway 29, where for more than two decades Steve Goldberg has been collecting an army of followers that spans across the United States and abroad. When you meet Goldberg, you can’t help but to feel like family. On occasions he and his wife, in-demand Chef Janice Goldberg, host tastings, and she delights attendees with her cuisine. The strength of his program is within Napa and Sonoma, but you will find some new gems. Standout selections I have tried from them recently include 2018 Eleven Eleven Chardonnay, Dutton Ranch, Russian River Valley ($48) an undeniably California power Chard with muscle and elegance. Visit Cellar Collections, 1852 W. Imola Ave., contact them at 707-251-9553 or here.

The wine selection at Bay Grape Napa, located at 2999 Solano Ave., is edgy, fun and in the know. — Tim Carl Photo

Although relatively new to the scene, Compline Wine Bar has quickly become a go-to spot for many locals, both because of its wine shop and also its restaurant. With their wide selection of international wines and excellent guidance by Matt Stamp and Ryan Stetins, it is hard to leave this state-of-the-art showroom without a few bottles. Recently the 2018 Patrice Rion "Les Cras" Chambolle-Musigny ($115) delivered all the charm and precision from this Burgundy site. Also, don’t miss out on their popular educational classes and special dinners. Compline is located at 1300 First St., Suite 319. Call 707-492-8150 or visit here.  

Newcomer and making a splash in the Napa Valley is Folklore Napa that combines music, wine, food and cocktails in a welcoming setting. Faith and Steve Ventrello are the ultimate hosts, delivering a fantastic collection of world-class music and wine. Don’t miss out on a glass of Sancerre or domestic tempranillo along with some light bites as you browse the extensive collection of vinyl records for sale. Visit Folklore Napa at 1326 Third St., call 707-812-5506 or visit here.

A shop on Silverado Trail at the south end of town offers a number of highly desirable labels, mostly California and Pacific Northwest producers complemented by an excellent cigar selection. Napa Valley Wine & Cigar is worth visiting because you never know what you’ll find. Owners Randy and Carrie Bowman also sell dessert wines, Champagne and large-format bottles. A major score is this iconic Italian gem, 2015 Giuseppe Quintarelli Valpolicella Classico Superiore Veneto IGT ($105.99), which is a standard-bearer for the region. The store is located at 161 Silverado Trail, call 707-253-8696 or visit here.

Michael Meyer is the wine department manager at Oxbow Cheese & Wine Merchant inside the Oxbow Market —Tim Carl Photo

Making it a one-stop shop for wine and accompaniments, Oxbow Cheese & Wine Merchant is a quaint shop inside the Oxbow Market with a rotating small but mighty selection of French, Italian and Spanish wines mainly and even a couple of sake selections. Stop by and leave it in the hands of Michael Meyer, the wine department manager, to choose an outstanding bottle. Last time he recommended the 2014 Mallett Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Yountville ($77), which was the star of dinner with graceful aging and complexity. It is hard to find wines like this at this price. Oxbow Cheese & Wine Merchant is located at the Oxbow Public Market, 610 First St. in Napa. Call 707-257-5200 or visit here.

Dan Dawson’s Outer Space Wines is located at 974 Franklin St., between First and Second — Tim Carl Photo

It's also hard to find another wine shop and wine bar like Dan Dawson’s Outer Space Wines, where the owner — a longtime Napa resident and Napa Valley Features contributor — curates a list of exciting new releases and flights of wine with a welcoming atmosphere, ideal for a daytime stop. One of Dawson’s current wine picks that stood out is the 2021 J.L. Chave Selection Saint-Joseph Blanc "Circa" ($39), which highlights the attributes of well-crafted northern Rhône expressions. Dawson’s shop is at 974 Franklin St., between First and Second. Call the wine hotline, 707-657-7401 or visit here.

If today’s story captured your interest, explore these related articles:

• ACME Fine Wines starts a new chapter on Hunt Avenue

• Gary’s Top 10 Napa Valley Wines of 2023

• Howell Mountain AVA celebrates 40 years

• 2024 food and wine trends

• Is China's influence on Napa Valley in decline?

Eduardo Dingler is a Napa Valley-based wine writer, wine judge and sake aficionado. Follow Eduardo’s sake journey @sakedrinker.

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Napa tasting rooms list from Downtown Napa

1. Ackerman Heritage House

2. Acumen Peakeasy Champagne Room

3. Acumen Wine

4. Alpha Omega Collective

5. Amuse Bouche Wines

6. Arch & Tower: Robert Mondavi Tasting Room

7. Azur Tasting Lounge

8. Back Room Wines

9. Bar Lucia

10. Bazan Cellars

11. Be Bubbly

12. Benevolent Neglect

13. Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin’ BBQ

14. Brown Estate

15. Cadet Wine & Beer Bar

16. Carpe Diem Wine Bar Compline Wine

17. Chateau Buena Vista

18. Feast It Forward Studio

19. First & Franklin Marketplace

20. Ellman Family Vineyards

21. The Fink

22. Gambling & McDuck

23. Gentleman Farmer Wines Bungalow

24. The Grand Reserve at the Meritage

25. Grape Culture

26. Gustavo Wine

27. Housley Napa Valley

28. JaM Cellars

29. John Anthony Vineyards

30. Kerr Cellars Tasting Lounge

31. Krupp Brothers Wine

32. Levendi Wine

33. MaCo Tasting Room

34. Maison Fayard

35. Mark Herold Wines

36. Mayacamas Vineyards

37. Mia Carta

38. Napa General Store

39. NapaRio

40. Napastäk

41. Napa Valley Distillery

42. Napa Yard

43. New Frontier Wine Co.

44. No Love Lost Wine Co.

45. Outer Space Wines

46. Ox and the Fox Wine Bar

47. Oxbow Cheese & Wine Merchant

48. Padis Jewelry & Tasting Room

49. Quilt & Co. Tasting Room

50. Rebel Vintners

51. Robert Craig Winery

52. Roots Run Deep Winery – Educated Guess

53. Shadowbox Cellars

54. T-Vine Winery

55. Vermeil Wines

56. Vin En Noir Wine Lounge

57. Vineyard 29 Tasting Room

58. Vintner’s Collective

59. WALT Napa Oxbow

60. Wine Girl Napa Valley

61. The Wine Thief