Napa Valley is one of the most breathtaking wine regions in the world. Our small but mighty home catches the sunshine all year round and delivers it right to the grapes, giving them ripe flavors that have brought wine lovers from all over the world.
There are so many options to choose from when planning your visit, and if you ask us, the best Napa Valley wineries are the ones that demonstrate exceptional artistry, flavorful wines, a commitment to sustainability, and a drive to uplift their community.
We just happen to know some of these outstanding winemakers and winery owners, so we’ve created a guide featuring our favorite picks.
Bouchaine Vineyards
If you love history, Bouchaine Vineyards has a lot in store for you. Bouchaine is the oldest continuously operating winery in Carneros, a region at the foot of the valley, bordering the San Francisco Bay. Bouchaine is known for making Burgundian-style wines—crisp whites and complex reds. Their wines have garnered a high number of scores and accolades.
Bouchaine Vineyards has a lot to offer visitors like musical tasting events featuring fine music on a beautiful concert piano, falconry experiences, chocolate cooking classes, stargazing, and Sunday morning dog walks through the vineyards. All of these events are paired with sustainably made wines and often, wine education.
Razi Winery
Razi Winery is a boutique winery along the Silverado Trail, offering an intimate experience. You’ll likely run into winery owner and architect Fred Razi, who lives on the property. Razi began the winery as a hobby in the late eighties, making non-commercial Chardonnay. Today, Razi has grown to include some out-of-this-world red wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and a blend of Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah. And he still makes his signature Chardonnay!
On the property, you’ll find the Razi home, a pool with a Buddha oven at one end, majestic trees, a barrel room, and a modern yet classic tasting room. Razi Winery also runs a custom crush facility, allowing local winemakers to share a space, reducing the overhead that is often the biggest obstacle to starting a winery.
Materra Cunat Family Vineyards
Materra Cunat Family Vineyards is a family-run winery showcasing a variety of grapes and sustainably-made wines. In 2007, Brian Cunat purchased the property in the Oak Knoll District in Napa Valley. With his family by his side and a team of winemakers and vineyard managers, he planted Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier.
Today, winemaker Chelsea Barrett brings her legendary artistry and generational expertise to oversee the making of these wines.
The winery was Napa Green certified in 2017, meeting over 100 criteria that permit a winery to conserve water, reduce waste, increase energy efficiency, reduce the winery’s overall carbon footprint, and care for all employees.
Silenus Vintners
Silenus Vintners is the shared home of a lovely collection of unique artisan winemakers where they harvest, produce, and showcase their specialty wines. Silenus is an excellent stop for visitors who want to experience the broad spectrum of styles that Napa Valley has to offer. Here you’ll find Classic Napa Cabernet, as well as crisp whites and even sweet wines.
Visiting Silenus Vintners is an opportunity to taste artisanal wines in a great shared room with views of the barrels, the vineyard, and the production area. It’s a true behind-the-scenes experience of Napa Valley, but it’s also a chance to get an up-close-and-personal look at what community means to us here.
Tips for visiting the best Napa Valley wineries
In the beautiful Napa Valley, these are just a few of our favorite stops. They’re the ones that can’t be missed, and that do an excellent job of creating wines with distinctive character, all the while prioritizing sustainability and community.
Because these wineries are so cherished in our community, their tasting rooms are often quite busy! Be sure to make reservations ahead of time and check their websites to learn about any policies the tasting room might operate under. And most importantly, enjoy your time at Bouchaine, Razi, Materra Cunat, and Silenus!
