Things to Do

Hello friends and family:

We'll keep adding info to this page but for now we wanted to cover the most important topic for Napa: where to taste good wine. Below is Steve's guide to local wineries. There are tons of wineries in Napa (to state the obvious) but the below are ones that we love taking folks to and visiting.

Steve's Guide to Wedding Wineries:

Calistoga sits at the northern end of Napa Valley. The wineries around Calistoga tend to be smaller and less well-known than the big names in mid-Valley, but they are great places to visit. Most of these wineries are close to Calistoga. They are listed more or less from north to south. There are a lot of people visiting Napa Valley in August, so book your visits to the wineries as soon as you know your travel plans. Check tasting prices—they can be expensive. And check bottle prices on the web before you visit if you think you want to buy wine. Prices can be high! Two wineries a day is enough for most people. Don’t try to book four. There are a lot of tasting rooms in Calistoga, so you can easily taste wine even if you don’t visit any wineries.

Storybook Mountain Vineyards: A family owned and run winery that is best known for its Zinfandel. You will taste in their cave, among the oldest and largest hand dug caves in Napa Valley. Tell Rick and Colleen you are friends of Felicia and Steve.

Jericho Canyon Vineyard: Nestled in a canyon just north of Palisades Vineyard, this is a true family run operation. Great people, great friends. Ask to get a ride on their Polaris for a vineyard tour.

Chateau Montelena: A stone’s throw from Palisades Vineyard, this winery put Napa Valley on the map by winning the 1976 Judgement of Paris (Bottleshock was the movie) with their Chardonnay. It’s an historic site and a great visit. It gets very busy in the summer so make a reservation well in advance.

Vince Arroyo Winery: Virtually across the road from Palisades Vineyard, people love this winery. Very “down home.”

Rivers-Marie: This is the home winery of Thomas Rivers Brown, one of the big names in Napa Valley winemaking. While Thomas is known for his Cabernets, the Pinot Noirs they taste at the winery are probably the best you will taste locally.

Kelly Fleming Winery: Tucked into a canyon just south of our canyon, this is a charming small winery with great Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet. The Sauvignon Blanc is one of our “house” wines in the summer.

Fisher Vineyards: A beautiful new family-run winery just south of Calistoga (though the family has been making wine in Sonoma County since 1973). Beautiful modern facility, great people. Great wines.

Titus Vineyards: Excellent wines in a low-key modern tasting room with a great view of the vineyards along the Napa River.

Larkmead Vineyards: One of the oldest wineries in the north end of the valley, they make great wines in a beautiful setting. While not corporate, it is bigger than a family winery.

Schramsberg Vineyards: Schramsberg, one of the oldest wineries in Napa Valley, is a “champagne" house. Their sparkling wine is served at the White House. They have incredible old caves and their tour is one of the best in the Valley. Book way in advance.

Barnett Vineyards: On top of Spring Mountain above St. Helena, the views from Barnett are stunning. Great wines made by David Tate. Very friendly and down to earth.

Corison Winery: Cathy Corison is a great winemaker and Napa Valley visionary (and in Felicia’s (Scott’s mom’s) monthly wine tasting group). Pam Starr (of Crocker & Starr where Friday night’s party will be held) is too.

Joseph Phelps Vineyards: Large, famous, but a beautiful place to visit. Excellent wines and a great tasting staff. Book well in advance.

Viader Vineyards & Winery: Situated above the valley with great views, this is a family operation that has developed a great reputation for Cabernet.

Seavey Vineyard: A pretty drive and a beautiful location. The Seavey’s are kindred spirits who have taken a historic property and farmed it with care.It’s a very relaxing place to visit away from the crowds.

Tres Sabores: No one is nicer and more “authentic” than Julie Johnson and her staff. Julie is a leader in organic farming in the valley and a great friend of ours. She is passionate about her wine, her animals and her pomegranates.

Robert Biale Vineyard: Biale is a Zinfandel and Petite Sirah specialist and makes among the best wines from these grapes, including a terrific Petite Sirah from our own Palisades Vineyard. He is a good friend as well. If you go, make sure to tell them you’ve come from a wedding at our vineyard.