Cardinale Estate

Truly amazing wine tasting experience at a beautiful winery. Chef Justin created several delicious dishes to pair with the wonderful bottles of Cabernet, and our host Jake was very knowledgeable and we learned so much from him. Can’t wait to come back once the renovations are completed!

A premier wine experience! Cardinale does one thing and they do it extremely well. Their cab blends are full bodied and built to last. The experience was one of the most refined I’ve ever had. No tour, no extra splashes, no special additions, just three vintages of their signature cab blend. The do pair it with an incredible array of cheeses, savory crackers, duck breast!, marinated mushrooms, and a savory “fig cookie.” We wish we hadn’t eaten lunch before hand. A special experience but not cheap. And the sell their wines in a 3-pack so expect to pay over $1000 to take some home. But, the tasting alone was worth the price of admission - once.

Loved this tasting event! We had a wonderful guide to show us through all the great wines they had. A lovely tasting room that I could live in. The patio was beautiful and you could sit there all day if you wanted. Will be back!

Small winery with POWERFUL wines. The 2014 Cabernet is spectacular! Leah was a gracious host and made our experience one to remember. The food pairing was nothing short of amazing. My wife and I will definitely be returning to Cardinale, and are a huge fan of their wines!!

Jake was absolutely amazing! Such a wonderful experience with wonderful first class wines!

It was a beautiful tasting room, with a million dollar view, and a weird tasting experience. The wine was okay, but at their price point in the immediate area, you can get far superior wines coupled with outstanding hospitality and class. The sales tactic felt very much like the "Emperor's New Clothes". Being a "boutique" winery, why would they force you to buy 3 bottles of the same exact wine at the minimum of around $250+ a bottle? Why can't you choose 3 different bottles? Why can't you just buy one if it's such a small production? It doesn't make any sense and seems suspicious. They are just trying to upsell their wines to people who don't know any better and are primed to buy wine. The wines were also not the focus of the tasting. We always appreciate hearing someone's life story, but our hostess, Anne, couldn't stop talking about herself and her resume. Whenever we could get a word in, we had to ask about the wines. She didn't even explain the food pairing and when we asked she said, "I want you to take your own journey." She also made us feel uncomfortable by telling belittling microaggressive jokes about Filipinos, which my husband and I are, along with both sets of parents who were also at the tasting. We were told, in a hushed tone, that we should buy a package of bottles otherwise we would have to pay for the wine tasting. Rude. I'd rather pay for the tasting instead of getting ripped off for 3 of the same prosaic bottles. We were complimentarily invited to the winery so she should have never condescendingly whispered that to us in the first place. So unproffesional. I wish we had not accepted the invitation and had spent our time any place else.

Snobs- Stopped by to enjoy a wine tour on our last day in Napa. The place was empty but we were informed by two associates that they were busy and wine tastings were by appointment only. The cost was $100 per person. They said they had a tasting scheduled for the time we were there and the only time they had open for a tasting was was 10;30 am the next day. We hung around outside and took some photos but never saw anyone show up. We went instead to Sterling winery at the top of a hill on a tram ride and had a fantastic tasting experience. Will never return to the snobs at Cardinale!!

Started our Napa trip here, with the best of the best. It was truly an experience! We learned about Napa, tried specially prepared treats to compliment the wine, etc. Bottles easily run anywhere from $100-$300, but it’s definitely worth getting one.

I had a fantastic experience visiting this winery with a group of friends. The house is located perched on top of a hill with vast views of the valley with vineyards and mountain tops in the distance. Our wine host Phil, was fantastic and was very friendly and educational. The wine tasting was excellent and I hope to visit again.

My husband and I booked the 90 minute Library Tasting experience at a cost of $150 per person. The high end tastings are expensive, yes, that's a given. When a bottle of wine retails for $350+, that's usually how it goes (or way more, actually). In order to KNOW, you either buy a bottle or attend a tasting. If this is not your thing, then don't. Easy. In the past, some have blown me away (Continuum, Diamond Creek, Hourglass), and others have not. Spoiler alert, I do not think this wine is worth the cost and now I know. I tasted the 2011,12, 13, and 14. Liked 2012 the best. All were well balanced, but a little one dimensional I thought. Not enough spice for me. The tasting itself was pleasant. It did not include a walkthrough of the premises, just self contained in one room. The building is beautiful with views for days and the wine served paired nicely with several bites. I'm just not running back there and definitively not craving it.

This is one of the beat wine tasting experiences in Napa. The knowledge of the staff is incredible and the View from the balcony is amazing If you have time set this one on your schedule

Top notch wine tasting experience with ultra high end wines. The physical location is both beautiful and relaxing, with an upscale casual vibe and extremely well made wines. Our host was super knowledgeable, and walked us through a bunch of wines - plus a few extra surprises! Great views and very instagrammable.

It was a beautiful tasting room, with a million dollar view, and a weird tasting experience. We always appreciate hearing someone's life story, but the hostess couldn't stop talking about herself and her resume. Whenever we could get a word in, we had to ask about the wines. The wines were not the focus of this tasting. She didn't even explain the food pairing and said for us to "take our own journey". She also made us feel uncomfortable by telling inappropriate belittling jokes about Filipinos, which my husband and I are, along with both sets of parents who were also at the tasting. The sales tactic felt very much like the "Emperor's New Clothes". The wine was good, but at that price point in the immediate area, you can get better wines coupled with outstanding hospitality and class.

My husband has been talking about wanting to come here for quite some time, and he was finally able to get us an appointment. We were greeted by Alex who started us with their sauvignon blanc while we waited on the back terrace with the most gorgeous view of the valley. We then were brought inside for our tasting which was paired with delicious food bites, their Zinfandel, Merlot and 2013 cardinale and 2007 cardinale. Everything from food to the wine was delicious and Alex was a gracious and knowledgeable host. I don't understand any of the negative reviews on here, many places in the valley require an appointment, and they were far from snooty as some put it. My husband and I enjoyed this tasting and look forward to returning to do the library tasting with Alex. That is one thing I enjoyed too, the person that hosts you becomes your point of contact for the future. Thank you for an amazing experience, we'll be sure to return. I highly recommend them, just be sure to make an appointment.

This is what I think of when I think of Napa wineries, pretentious, mediocre, expensive and overrated. I just don't know how anyone could spend $325/bottle on the Cab here and say it was not only worth it but it was a wine that was worth that money. I'd love to see a blind tasting where they have a Cardinale cab along with other wines that are $50 or less and see if people can pick out the one that is $325, I highly doubt anyone could. My main issue with the wine here is it doesn't taste like much, there's no depth, it lingers on the front of the palate for a second and then it's gone, that's it. They'd say that's because it's young but I don't buy that, there's no tannins or anything, it will taste similar if you age it for 20 years. It's a great property and great view, but I think they're contributing to the idea of 'tasting experience' instead of making good wine. So they get people from all over to come and pay money to taste a really expensive bottle of wine and then they don't buy, but they 'experienced' it. Our group tasted 4 wines and they were all average at best. The lady (forget her name) who was our tasting host was very nice, could have spent more time on the wine and how it was grown, vine age, stock, etc, instead of talking about herself but she was very nice so I don't want to be too harsh. I just wouldn't waste time or money here, wine is just not worth anywhere near what they charge. I know they make like 100 cases and that's it, but small production doesn't mean it's good, you could make Miller High Life in a small quantity but it'd still be Miller High Life, doesn't mean it's amazing and should be expensive.

Started off our wine trip with what is now one of my favorites to visit. This place is not that big and is very intimate. I can see why a reservation is required even though someone might perceive the place as "dead" or say nobody's around. Our hostess, Ann, is quite the storyteller and has a good amount of history of the wines and the background of Cardinale. She also taught us wine rookies a few tricks for how to get a better experience in the art of smelling wine. The pairing was unbelievable. They had fancy duck meat, cheeses, and an oxtail (I really wish I took notes to give a better description). The wines we had were the 2007 and 2013 Cardinale along with their reserve merlot and a restricted cab. Ann took the time to explain the pairings and gave us the freedom to have our own experience while still telling us what we should be smelling and tasting. I liked this winery so much that I became a member. Can't wait to go back and bring a friend or two.

Had a wonderful time tasting last Thursday. Spent 2 hours discussing wine and the overall feeling of the future of Napa Valley, the wine, or lack of for 2020. Felt like family. By the way....the wine is EXCELLENT!!!!

I am hesitant to write this review because I don't want this place to become too popular. We like to have more boutique experiences and you'll certainly get that at Cardinale. We have visited with Phil the last two times that we've been and have had a great time tasting delicious wine and the food pairings they made to go along with the wine. No cave or winery tour necessary, just getting info about the wine and enjoying. As far as the wine goes, this is some of the best Cab we've had. They have wine at all price points and obviously the more expensive wine is higher quality. Those from out of town are calling it over priced, but that's because you haven't had the wine available all over the valley at a lower price point that isn't great. Great wine, great hospitality, great experience.

Set upon a quest to plan the day's most exquisite wine tasting experience for my honey, my concierge at the hotel directed me to Cardinale for an "experience of a lifetime," and boy can I tell you, he was 100% on point. Cardinale is an ultra-boutique winery, and they do tours/tastings only by appointment. This to me is a relief because the last thing I want to do is try and battle the drunk college students while I'm trying to enjoy a classy glass of Cab. Located off Winery Row in the Napa Valley, it's easy to miss, due to it being elevated on its own hill, a pedestal, if you will, to denote its supreme gloriousness and superiority. We were taken to the patio for a seated pairing with Jose, the wonderfully precise and descriptive tasting room attendant. Seated by ourselves on the wraparound patio, overlooking the vineyards and accompanied by literally some of California's best wines, this is paradise. Jose walked us through the history of Cardinale, the brands they carry, the history behind the food pairings, and the regions which are included in each individual wine. My favorite was the 2006 La Jota Cabernet, which was interestingly enough pressed from grapes on the hills of Howell Mountain, the same hills where I went to college. Amazingly complex flavors, literally the perfect red wine. Unfortunately this bottle is going to run you from $275+ depending on if you're a wine club member or not. In addition to La Jota, we sampled Mt Brave, grown on the opposing hills, with more direct sunlight, it greatly changes the flavors and textures of the grapes. At the end, Jose brought out what he called "The complete symphony", inferring that the other wines were merely string sections, or percussion. This wine was the flagship for Cardinale, and was drinkable, but in my opinion couldn't hold a candle to La Jota. Seated pairing menu was also perfect, olives, a bevy of cheeses, duck pate, fruit, grape seed crisps, and preserves. In its entirety, our seated pairing at Cardinale was the best of the best. Its exclusivity and class was second to none in my experience thus far, and brought my appreciation for Napa Valley just that much higher. For the average consumer, this is not going to be a reasonable experience, as the cost just for the tasting would preclude many people. That said, if you can afford it, and a personal, intimate experience with an absolutely delicious set of wines is what you're after, Cardinale is not to be missed.

Jose helped us and gave us a patio tasting. The view from the balcony is wonderful, the time Jose took with us was very appreciated as he was knowledgeable and gave us his undivided attention. The wines were superb and the property was not crowded. If you have a chance I definitely recommend touring this facility to do the tasting.

Wonderful tasting experience, $75 each. One white and 5 red. Manager called and confirmed our appointment for 10:30am. Everything was set up perfectly. The 2014 Cabernet did. It disappoint. I ended up finish around 12 pours...no waste because it's a 275 bottle lol. The view from the deck is breathtaking....

Though this review is of somewhat limited use as I came as a guest for the annual release party, I can at least comment on the sheer excellence of the wines. The 2009 Cardinale is truly outstanding and the single appellation Lokoya wines offer glimpses into the unique characteristics of the grapes in each region that contribute in varying degrees to the flagship Cardinale. Even the 2011 Intrada Sauvignon Blanc astounded with its unique grounded flavor profile amongst others' iterations. I had a chance to meet Anne, the Hospitality Director, and she is as affable and gracious as they come. The rest of the staff pouring the wines are just as enjoyable to chat with. As some may know, the price point of these wines is...prohibitive, to say the least. However, they're absolutely worth trying and would justify the steep tasting fee.

so we decided to go "off plan" and swing on in here for a tasting. the place was beautiful atop a hilltop. we apparantly had missed the last tasting but the lady was kind enough to squeeze us in. We noticed them clearing a table and my travel mate asked if they did food pairings. They do but the kitchen was already closed for the day. So we opted to actually make an appointment to come back for a tasting and pairing. well...we actually never made it back...the week got so busy and other things got planned.. maybe next time i am very intrigued

Our experience at Cardinale was fairy tale. We were greeted like family and treated like royalty. From the beginning to the end Leah was amazing. She was information, accommodating, and such a sweet young lady. Reservations are not only respectful but required. We are happy to be new members to Cardinale. My only hope is next time I get to meet Chris C.

We couldn't wait to get off the hellish HWY 29 and start tasting. This is the first winery on the east side of the highway so..in we went. The setting of the winery is simply beautiful. Inside is a marble explosion all over the walls, the floors, the counters. The winetender met us at the tasting bar and she was friendly enough, but not much of a personality to make me excited to start tasting. She presents us with the list of wines. Their bottles start at $225. I could not hold back my shock. I knew immediately we wouldn't even need to bother tasting this shit, because I cannot afford $225.. or $660..or any other P-Diddy priced bottle on their list. So, we stood there, in silence..staring at the wine list. I was afraid to even ask the cost of the tasting, but someone had to and lil miss personality behind the bar wasn't a wealth of info so..I asked. She said $50 FIFTY fuckin dollars for a tasting in NAPA?! Are you out of your fucking mind!? We politely declined and left without remorse.

Cardinale produces two of my all-time favorite cabs and the property is absolutely beautiful. Yes, these are high-end wines. Yes, that means they are high-priced. Yes, they do tastings by appointment only - to help make it clear that they produce high-end, high-priced wines. Thankfully, this keeps out the people who do 10 tastings in a day and end up getting sick next to their limos on the side of the highway. Make friends with Ross if you have the opportunity - he will make sure that you have a great experience. Jose gives a particularly enjoyable tasting experience if you have the opportunity to be paired with him. The views from their patio are absolutely stunning, some of the best in my opinion. Always a lovely experience, and I always learn something new during their tastings. Oh, and get to enjoy some incredible wine too.

Fabulous, well-crafted wines presented in a pristine, beautiful, serene setting. At present, the tasting room pours La Jota and Cardinale - high end red wines from Jess Jackson's ever expanding California portfolio. What's not to like about sipping $150 dollar wine, overlooking the southern end of the valley (To-Kalon vineyard)? We tasted the 2000 and 2003 Cardinale, which was enough to convince me to buy some for the shop.

The epitome of what Napa should strive NOT to be! This winery contains snooty, snobbish pourers who will berrate you if you don't love their wine. Then, they will expect you to fork out $75 for a poorly emulated, bordeaux style blend. Don't even bother stopping at Cardinale. Head down to Cakebread, V.Sattui and Charles Krug to see what Napa wine is really about. These guys are the worst.

After hearing my husband rave about how Cardinale was by far his favorite winery I was excited to visit them. However, it was beyond a horrible experience. We came as guests of a high ranking employee of the company expecting high level hospitality which they are known for. We were only offered 2 quick pours and a see ya later from staff. It left us extremely disappointed which should have been the highlight of Napa. I would love to have the opportunity to have the real Cardinale experience... that is is the staff feels if they have enough time to make us feel welcomed and not rush us out the door. Thankfully Freemark Abbey saved the day and ended up being the highlight of our trip.

Nice place. Very good wine made by Chris Carpenter. Just don't buy the wine there. They rip you off. From what I can tell the markup was 80% above market rate. They were asking $400 for a bottle of 2007 Cab and $250 for a 2012 Cab. I can buy those wines for far less.

Napa can offer many things. Cardinale delivers on the wine and experience aspects: stunning view of the valley from the tasting room balcony and wonderfully vinified wines, though be prepared to pay a healthy entry fee. They produce only a Cabernet-based meritage but you'll get to taste a few vintages. And the wines have been improving each vintage since Chris Carpenter became the winemaker in 2001 -- the '02 absolutely rocks. When you're done tasting, I'd recommend a quick ride south on Hghwy 29 to Mustard's Grill, or up the road to Oakville Grocery for a more casual meal from the high-end deli.

I've driven past here many, many times and never stopped. It wasn't until I had a bottle of La Jota that I was motivated to come here. The prices are well...over the top. $350.00 for a bottle of Cabernet is priced way too high. Some may pay that price...I will not! I trust that in time the prices will adjust to what the market will bear. That said, I'm a member of La Jota now (Far more reasonable in price) and I look forward to a long and tasty relationship!

What an exquisite experience and such a nice surprise to have our wine guide be someone we had met at Maisonry previously! We thoroughly enjoyed the tasting and ended up buying a bottle of the Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy during an upcoming special occasion. You definitely need an advanced appointment and be prepared to pay $75/person...totally worth it though for the quality of wine and charcuterie/cheese plate they give you to enjoy with your wine.

Beautiful wines, beautiful wine tasting room ！ Thanks Anne for the hospitality and wonderful testing. Never disappointed with their wines since our first bottle for over 10 Years ago! This~ is a must visit wine tasting winery in Napa ！

Stuffy,pretentious and non deserving. Here's a little hint for the staff trying to sell their wine. Try treating your guests with respect and courtesy, it would do wonders for your marketing, especially with those who are in the trade industry!!

I'll give this place an extra star for the cool staff. They saw my sloppy wife's wine stained t-shirt and gave her some wine remover. Real good service eventhough they look like they did some time in San Quintin. As said, the views are great although I wish the balcony would wrap around the building at the top of the hill. Cool, big-ass black and white photos of vineyards on the walls inside the tasting room. As for the wine, $10 bucks lets you sample 4 wines - 2 merlots, a Cab and something else. They all taste a little watery.

My second time visiting the winery and can't wait to go back. Amazing wines and exceptional hospitality by Liah.

Overpriced wines, but if you are in a mood for spoiling-- go buy a bottle and enjoy. Can also be held onto for several years as a delayed gratification!

We came here on a private tour and I can not say enough about the experience at the winery with Ross and Chris.

We had a tasting hosted by Bradley with Cardinale yesterday. It was like tasting with a sommelier! Bradley was so knowledgeable about the wines, area and history. The tasting he arranged was elegant. Anyone looking for a sit-down experience with high-end wines should make a reservation here. The grounds and view are beautiful. They offer both indoor and patio seating. Thank you Bradley for a wonderful experience!!

Fantastic wines! The property and private tasting room are gorgeous and very nicely appointed. During your visit you will learn not only about the wines and and winery, but also the geographical history of the Napa Valley region. This was by far my best experience in any of my trips to Napa/Sonoma.

OMG! I just tasted the best wine I have ever had! Their Lokoya cab is fat but smooth and is the nicest wine I have tasted. I have tried the 93 Caymus which was the best wine in the world in 97 and this wine is better in my opinion. I have had Heidi Barrett wines, Hourglass, Larkmead's 100 point wine and this Lokoya is better than these wines. It is a bargain for the $50 wine tasting by Jonathan and his professionalism made the tasting even better. Cardinale also allows you to buy their 100 point Parker wines one by one which is unlike other wineries that ask you to buy $1000 starter kit before buying their 100 point bottle. I would ask for Jonathan as he is personable and loves helping educate wine lovers about his wines. I would be extra nice to Jonathan as he may open a different wine that is not on the list. I intend to bring my customers here when they visit me and also get them a bottle as a gift to bring home. It ain't cheap at $350/bottle for the Lokoya and $300 for the Merlot but I think its worth it and I typically would never pay that much for wine unless I though it was a good value which I believe this is.

What a joke! Ok the tasting cost 10 bucks, no biggie. You get four wines and three were fair/good but way overpriced for my taste. Then, the cab franc--awful! I told them i didn't like it and she says she'll be right back. She comes back with a salted lime, tells me to bite it (which like a fool i do ) and then taste the franc. yeah it tasted a little better but that's NOT how you should have to taste wine! What an experience!

WOW....that is one of the only things to say after tasting the vertical of wines offered at this incredible spot in Oakville. You drive up this little hill and can catch a whole view of the valley floor. But this is not the most impressive thing at all. You do a tasting of Kendall Jacksons flagship wine. When i was there it was 98-2001. Despite the horrible conotations that go with the 98 vintage of California, this one is a super star. After doing the Cardinale tasting you move over to Atalon, which is a little more affordable, but equally impressive. The two times I have visted the wine maker was in present and had a chance to chat him up. A great experince.

Would add 5$ signs if I could. This is quite a pricey winery. The tasting is 50$/person and many of the wines start around 100 and shoot up from there. That being said, I really enjoyed the experience at this winery more than anything. Jonathan served us, and he is a very kind guy. On a slow Thursday we were sitting outside on the terrace overlooking the vineyards. Being ontop of the hill has its perks. They also offered a cheese, cracker, and munchies plate with their taste. Yes the tasting is expensive, but when you consider you are getting a food and wine pairing, along with a gorgeous view, it balances out. Jon scared me multiple times decanting a bottle of 07 Cab. I would never be as adventurous with a decanter, but he knows what hes doing. They have a couple different types and styles of wine from different appellation in the valley. I would probably stop by again, in a couple of years, when my wallet is much fatter

Loved this place! Gorgeous setting, beautiful tasting areas, friendly and personable staff, and amazing cafe on site. The wine was average (for Napa... So above average), but the experience was so lovely that I'd definitely go back. I'm sure they'll up their wine game in the next few years.

Absolutely one of the finest wineries to visit in Napa for a tasting... Our host Anne was fabulous... her presentation and stories made the tasting all the more enjoyable... The tasting room was very comfortable and the tasting table is just absolutely stunning.. impressive...they offer artisan cheeses, crackers dried fruit to pair with the wines... among our favorite wines was the Intrada sauvignon blanc... outstanding... truly a great place for those who appreciate fine wine...

Fantastic wine, view, and service! I love high elevation mountain fruit and this place was incredible. Kudos to the wine maker, Chris Jackson, and Jose was an excellent wine educator. Was truly one of my favorite tasting experiences in Napa. Don't forget to make a reservation!

Had such an amazing experience here! Enjoyed our private tasting and tour lead by Ross. The tasting room was preset with our wines and a small plate of food parings. The La Jota Cabernet Franc was one of a kind, and of course the Cardinal Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely worth the price. One of the best reds I've tasted. Can't forget the beautiful views everywhere you look!

I can't comment on the wines because I am far from a wine expert, but for the price they didn't tickle my fancy. The views were great and the exterior was pretty. But I felt for the calibur of wines that were supposedly being poured the service was very unprofessional.

I am sorry there was no one at the winery and they still wanted us to make a reservation. Sorry way too stuck up and not impressed at all.

My wife and I came here for tasting ...the host ,Alex was great..the view is was beautiful .the wines are awesome. Definitely would come back with some friends ..

I am sorry, but wine tasting for $50 per person is ridiculous ... and $300 per bottle of wine? Maybe, but for that I expect to be shoot into a different Universe, have a life altering experience ... Well it did not happen in Cardinale ... their wines are tasty, but I can find same or better quality throughout Napa valley for a quarter of the price or less ...

An amazing winery, well worth the stop. We stopped by with out an appointment and Laura was able to fit us in for a quick tasting and gave us a fantastic perspective about Mountain vines. Great Service!!!!

It is hard not to enjoy the excellent wines made by Cardinale and Mr. Carpenter. The experience of wine, food and the views however, tend to make for a good or bad experience. During our 4th visit to Cardinale on September 22, we were totally disapponted and disrespected. I to was used to great food pairing, and the other tables were served such delicacies. Our party, however, was shunted off to a side table and served Stale Crackers with the wine. We were also provided with a rent a consultant during our "experience". We were so excited before our trip because Ann was supposed to be the wine concierge. She was "busy". When I later wrote about our disappointing experience, I received an email from a corporate soul. He suggested I call, which I did and I left a message for a call back. Again, this did not occur. Something went wrong with our customer experience. The good news, there are plenty of high end great tasting wines in Napa to enjoy and establish a customer relationship.

This is skewed as we had a private tour from a friend but what great place. The wine is fantastic (we did the wine/food pairing). We had the Cardinale Cab as well as La Jota (?) Cab Franc and Merot. All very, very good. The views are some of the best I've seen in Napa.

After numerous trips to Napa, this remains our favorite winery. The presentation is classy, the setting is beautiful and the wines are fantastic. Furthermore, Anne is a terrific hostess. The tasting is pricy, but well worth it.