Have you ever heard of a place with endless vineyards, hot air balloons and tons of grapes that sell for some of the highest prices in California? Surely you have never heard of such a place!

NOT.

Napa oh, Napa. The crown jewel of California wine country. A little bit North of Napa is Calistoga, home of Chateau Montelena from Bottleshock, Chris Pine playing Bo Barrett is on my list of top 10 favorite casting decisions. Napa is the birthplace of California Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Think BIG, BOLD and OAKY. Napa, California has over 400 wineries and counting. But with so many choices, how do choose?! While I have not been to all 400 wineries (that would be concerning), I do have a few favorites and classics that are a must see! Taste a little, explore a little and eat a lot. Enjoy!

Ashes & Diamonds

If you follow me on Instagram you know about my love affair with Ashes & Diamonds. We are talking LOVE AFFAIR. With an art deco, Palm Springs-esque tasting room right off St Helena highway. Yellow doors, incredible natural light and an open air winery that you can walk through. They have homemade foccacia bread served with salted butter and a tasting menu that navigates you through the different varietals that they have at the winery. The A&D Cabernet Franc is my favorite. Cab Franc is a spicy, flirty and smooth parent varietal of Cabernet Sauvignon. Reserve a tasting and consider joining the wine club! They have incredible events that take place at the tasting room that you won’t want to miss.

P.S. I am a SUCKER for good glassware. A&D wine glasses have been some of the most impressive in Napa! Make sure to take a second and admire the little things!

Restoration Hardware – Wine Vault

Yountville, I love you. Yountville is quite possibly one of my favorite areas in the Napa Valley. With some of Northern California’s most impeccable culinary scenes, the tasting rooms step up to the plate. My favorite tasting room/wine bar in Napa is the Restoration Hardware Wine Vault. As an interior design and furniture company, RH has revolutionized “good taste” and developed a such a pristine vision on what beauty is. The wine vault that is in a historic ma(i)sonry building and right next door to the RH restaurant that embodies luxury and elegance. With a wine menu consisting of a variety of winemakers and vineyards around the area, this tasting room represents many different facets of the wine culture in the area. The variety allows for the wine taster to explore their palette. Make a reservation and ENJOY!

The Hess Collection Winery

Oh, an art museum AND tasting room? What more could you want. Housed in a modern and reconstructed barn, the Hess Collection wines are from elevated vineyards on Mount Vedeer in the Napa Valley. When founding the winery, Donald Hess curated his own art collection and showcases it to the visitors trying the historic and iconic California wines. Reserve your tasting and be sure to see all three floors of the collection. His eclectic art and traditional winemaking processes mark one of my favorite wineries in Northern California.

What are your favorite tasting rooms in Napa? Comment them below!