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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Eduardo Dingler is a Napa Valley-based wine writer, wine judge and sake aficionado. Follow Eduardo’s sake journey @sakedrinker.
Napa tasting rooms list from Downtown Napa
Ackerman Heritage House
Acumen Peakeasy Champagne Room
Acumen Wine
Alpha Omega Collective
Amuse Bouche Wines
Arch & Tower: Robert Mondavi Tasting Room
Azur Tasting Lounge
Back Room Wines
Bar Lucia
Bazan Cellars
Be Bubbly
Benevolent Neglect
Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin’ BBQ
Brown Estate
Cadet Wine & Beer Bar
Carpe Diem Wine Bar Compline Wine
Chateau Buena Vista
Feast It Forward Studio
First & Franklin Marketplace
Ellman Family Vineyards
The Fink
Gambling & McDuck
Gentleman Farmer Wines Bungalow
The Grand Reserve at the Meritage
Grape Culture
Gustavo Wine
Housley Napa Valley
JaM Cellars
John Anthony Vineyards
Kerr Cellars Tasting Lounge
Krupp Brothers Wine
Levendi Wine
MaCo Tasting Room
Maison Fayard
Mark Herold Wines
Mayacamas Vineyards
Mia Carta
Napa General Store
NapaRio
Napastäk
Napa Valley Distillery
Napa Yard
New Frontier Wine Co.
No Love Lost Wine Co.
Outer Space Wines
Ox and the Fox Wine Bar
Oxbow Cheese & Wine Merchant
Padis Jewelry & Tasting Room
Quilt & Co. Tasting Room
Rebel Vintners
Robert Craig Winery
Roots Run Deep Winery – Educated Guess
Shadowbox Cellars
T-Vine Winery
Vermeil Wines
Vin En Noir Wine Lounge
Vineyard 29 Tasting Room
Vintner’s Collective
WALT Napa Oxbow
Wine Girl Napa Valley
The Wine Thief
Eduardo's story listing top tasting rooms is a winner for visitors and locals. The list of over 60 spots is a keeper!