Nichelini Family Winery

This winery is on the higher elevation, unique set up. We are here on a Sunday afternoon and it is extremely relaxing. The staff here are all so interesting to talk to. Fun to talk about the ins and outs of wine making. Love their wine!

Highly suggest visiting the Nichelini Family Winery. It’s nestled in the St Helena hills and is the oldest family-owned winery in the Napa Valley! Take time out of your trip and make sure to visit the Nichelini Family Winery. There various wine experiences and activities to participate in. Wine purchases made on site can be shipped directly to your home. Make sure to add the Nichelini Family Winery to your Napa To-Do List!

Really enjoyed our time at Nichelini. The family history felt unmatched in Napa Valley. The house and grounds are quaint, have stayed true to their origins, while also welcoming new trends.

Delightful family-run winery. We discovered this places by chance, but I think it might have been fate. Our guide was welcoming, charming, engaging, and very helpful. The history and philosophy of the winery was fascinating. The survival of the property during the 2020 fires was a fascinating story by itself, but the family stories were also really interesting. The property is in a gorgeous shaded location filled with charm. We enjoyed 5 wines on our tasting and enjoyed them all! Thanks for a wonderful introduction to the Napa area!

We love this winery! I believe to be the last originally family owned winery and vineyard in the area. The wine is superb and matched by the staff. You need a reservation but it’s worth it and you don’t feel rushed. The wine club is affordable with great selections. Located In a beautiful area of Northern California. If you are near its worth it.

Historic winery! Family owned since its establishment in the 1890s. Its far from the other wineries but if you enjoy history and wants to relax and enjoy the view of the mountains you should definitely check this place out. They were devastated by the recent fires in the valley but that they still managed to survive and continue their family traditions. The hostess were nice and informative. I was too drunk to give a review about the taste of their wines.

On our first trip to Napa, we were quickly tired of all the corporate wineries that insist you book ages in advance and pay exorbitant fees just to taste their overpriced wine. When we read about Nichelini, the oldest family-owned winery in the Valley, it sounded more up our alley. Halfway on the drive out there (and it's a bit out there), we lost cell reception and started to wonder if we should just punt and accept that Napa just wasn't for us. Thankfully we kept on the road, and Nichelini absolutely blew us away. Nowhere else in the entire region did we find somewhere as inviting and cozy as at Nichelini. We loved hearing about their story (and perseverance during the fires) and most of all, sipping their wines on their rustic grounds next to the giant Roman wine press. Everything we tasted we loved (and took back plenty of bottles). The rest of Napa wasn't for us, but Nichelini truly took our hearts. A true gem off the beaten path. You won't regret stopping in!

Great people here and history. Our clients always have a good experience here, which is getting harder to come by in Napa Valley. The prices are very reasonable, $20 for a tasting and great wines around $20-$30 a bottle. Some very unique wine making antiques here, including one of two working roman presses left in the US. Pro tip; bring a picnic lunch.

Omg, this winery is one of my favorites! The atmosphere and vibe are just incredible. The staff are incredibly friendly and so nice. Both the exterior and interior are incredibly cozy. One of the best things about this place is being able to take your wine and stroll around, soaking in the beautiful nature (big trees, mountain view) and fresh air. I absolutely adore this place and can't wait to go back soon. (About price: We paid around $190. For wine test for 2 person/cheese set with crackers and 2 bottle of wine we got discount)

Really homey winery that's super out of the way. Great scenic drive on the way up. My boyfriend and I booked a wine tasting for $30 each. The staff were friendly and really knowledgeable. I could feel how passionate they were about winemaking and their products in general, which is awesome. I will say we felt like our server didn't speak to us as much because the table next to us was very talkative as former wine club members. We left with a few wines, but our favorite was actually their porchlight dessert wine, which is a port wine. It's quite sweet, but goes great with chocolate. We like sweet wines like moscato so the porchlight was a nice find. We also got their Zinfandel. They also waive the tasting fee with wine purchase. Prices are reasonable. They also have a bocce ball court, and you're welcome to take your wine and take a walk around. It's great to get out of the tourist bubble in Napa. I had a fun, relaxing time here trying new wines. Would recommend and come back!

This is my favorite Napa winery. The property and existing houses go back over a century, and the family bloodline still runs the business. They produce fewer wine cases and are only available to purchase at the location or website. Their primary revenue is quarterly pick up/delivery for club-free membership. Today's trip was elegant and romantic as they moved their wine tasting to the back outdoors. It is under shade, where I enjoy the cool breeze from the valley. My wine of choice is the Anton Reserve and their Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. My wife loves their Sauvignon Blac. The service is very passionate about sharing the history of their family. They are seasoned waiters who enjoy talking to people. One of the best parts of this outing is the drive- through the beautiful hills/mountains.

Off the beaten path is this beautiful winery with rich family history and great wines. We were greeted and educated by Morgan. I love that in the summer they close the house and move wine tasting out doors. You can bring your picnic basket and enjoy the picnic tables and bocce ball courts. And best of all you can buy a bottle or a glass of wine!

I used to live in Davis in the mid-1970's and this winery was always my first stop. Of course back then wine tasting was very informal. I loved this little place. They were so welcoming. It felt like stopping by a friend's house.

Established in 1890 by Anton Michelini, Nichelini Family Winery is the oldest family-owned winery in Napa Valley. The winery, restored homestead cabin, original Roman wine press and the main family house still stand today. Nichelini Family Winery specializes in small batches of world-class finely-crafted wine from estate vineyards. Their winemaker, Aimée Sunseri, is a fifth generation Nichelini, and is the winery's seventh family winemaker. In August 18 2020, Nichelini Family Winery was threatened by the Hennessy Fire (part of the LNU Lightning Complex fires). The Hennessey Fire was caused by lightning as thunderstorms moved through the Bay Area. The fire came within feet of Nichelini Family Winery's historic kiln-dried redwood building, but California Fire Crews managed to save it. Truly a miracle for Napa Valley's oldest family-owned winery that was in the middle of the fire's path.

Cute family owned winery with a ton of space to walk around and explore. We didn't need reservations to visit and enjoyed the cheese plate with our wine. The staff was friendly and didn't rush us out. Would recommend visiting this winery if you're looking for more of a laid back and relaxing wine tasting.

Beautiful small family winery. A great, personal experience in the tasting room. A beautiful drive up and we loved almost every wine. Would definitely return.

There's "off the beaten path" and "OFF THE BEATEN PATH" and Nichelini Family Winery most definitely is the latter. When I tell you it sits about 7 miles east of the Silverado Trail you'll likely do as my son did when I told him. Despite his familiarity with the area his head tilted like Scooby-Doo as he questioned my accuracy. "East?" he asked as though I'd lost my marbles. "East" I confirmed. You too probably never knew there was anything out this way but now you do. Nichelini Family Winery is pretty much unlike any other winery in Napa Valley. Situated at the far southern end of the Chiles Valley District, Nichelini is the oldest family-owned winery in Napa Valley. All their wine is made on site using only estate grown grapes (grapes grown on-site) and the tasting room is inside the one-time home of the Nichelini family which included 12 children. Between making wine and fathering children, the pater familia of the Nichelini family was clearly an active man. The place feels "country" in both location, staff, and interior/exterior design but I was charmed and had it not been raining I'd likely have enjoyed a perk St Helena is not known for: Nichelini enjoys a "grandfathered" status where bottles of wine are concerned. That means you can purchase a bottle of wine here and drink it out back where they have picnic tables and bocce courts, which strikes me as an ideal way to enjoy Nichelini. Tastings run $20 (5 tastes) and the fee is waived for each 2 bottles purchased. Become a wine club member and enjoy free tasting for yourself and 4 others (a pretty standard wine club perk). I wasn't blown away by anything I tried here - probably because 3 of the 5 tastings weren't "reds" - but still purchased a 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon ($55 pre-tax) after realizing that this is the only place you can get Nichelini wines. Adventure is sometimes its own reward but adventure with a bottle of wine at the end, enjoyed in summer from a picnic table in the seemingly hidden reaches of the Napa Valley? What are you waiting for?

We had an excellent experience at Nichelini Winery. The wine was great and reasonably priced. Bob was very friendly and entertaining. We love learning the history of wineries, and Nichelini has it. A phenomenal small winery along the 128.

A 17 minute drive east of highway 29 and definitely worth the drive! For your driving efforts you are rewarded with delicious wine, friendly & helpful staff (thanks Bob!), and a gorgeous outdoor picnic area. The winery persevered against the 2020 Hennessey fire (thank goodness!) It was so easy to reserve our tasting via email. For our party of 4, we shared 2 sets of wine tastings and ended up purchasing 2 bottles - 2018 cabernet sauvignon (full bodied) and 2019 caterina reserve (a slightly yummy buttery white). We enjoyed the cabernet after our tasting and soaked up the beautiful day. All covid safety procedures were in place (masks, hand sanitizers, clean bathrooms). Four and a half hours passed by so easilyn and no better way to spend a saturday. Thank you nichelini - we cant wait to visit again!

Discovered this place through a tasting passport and had a great experience tasting the wines and learning about the family's history. It is amazing to see the burn scar on both sides of the property and know that this historical location was protected. Great, very engaging staff that made the experience worth the trek off the beaten path.

We are sooooo glad we spent our afternoon here. The rich history is fascinating and the modern wines totally deliver. We bought a mixed case of Zinfandel, Semillon, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 15 minute drive from Silverado Trail is best done at a safe pace for two reasons, it could be dangerous if one speeds, and the scenery is fabulous. We were really taken by how this 5th or 6th generation winery is so legit compared to some of the posturing done by other wineries. Also, great history lesson about land grants, and homesteading in California's early years and how that permanently contributed to California and the West.

My husband and I were celebrating our Anniversary and just wanted to have a unique wine tasting experience in the Napa Valley area. After hours of searching, we both agreed upon Nichelini's Winery. We arrived this past weekend and was greeted by our host Bob. Nichelini did not disappoint. Such rich family history to see and enjoy listening to. Survivor of last year's fire, we truly enjoyed their new signature wine, Engine 318, in honor of the fire crew that helped saved their family estate. Pleasant and relaxing experience. A true gem to this hidden spot. Take the drive and enjoy. Took a few bottles home and became a member. Look forward to returning soon.

Wow! What a cool winery in a beautiful setting! The service was excellent! The story of the vineyard and history is amazing. The wines are spectacular! We added to the experience with a lovely picnic on the grounds. Definitely worth a visit!

The oldest continuous producing winery in Napa! Doug a great grandson of the founders was so informative and friendly! I'm Treating my Family to an almost Christmas Wine tour this was our first stop the estate wines were unique and delicious! You know it's good when You join the wine club buy multiple bottles and buy a baseball HAT! We loved it, the History, the wine! Started in 1890's. Highly recommend! Thanks for a great start to our day, and experience! Andre/Executive Car Service Napa Valley

A wonderful spot to drive to, that rewards you with wine, the family that makes it, their history... I visited twice in a week to bring a friend up to make the same discovery I had. It is a worthy visit two times over.

Me and my partner never considered ourselves "wine tour" people, but on the way back from Lake Berryessa we just had to stop at this cute cottage to check out what it was about. We walked down the stone steps to the backyard garden on a spontaneous whim and was immediately met by a few members of the Nichelini family (all with colorfully different personalities) who took us on a friendly tasting of their different wines. We were total newbies but they were kind and informative. It was idyllic, friendly, and not intimidating - we couldn't help but buy a couple bottles of wines to take home. Nichelini's felt like a genuine, authentic piece of the old West. The setting was intimate, quiet, and gorgeous, with architecture from the late 1800s / early 1900s preserved. This is a genuine Californian small business with deep local roots, and reminded me of why I still willingly pay so much to live in the Bay Area.

Made a reservation ahead of time, when we got there the host was very confused about our group. They weren't very welcoming and made the beginning of the visit very awkward. After we finally got the wine we had a great afternoon picnicking. They make drinkable wine for affordable prices. It's a far drive just to warn you!

What a delightful visit I had to the winery today! I was lucky enough to get an appointment when Nichelini family friends were visiting and got to tag along with them when Fred gave a tour. The beautiful grounds look like they were transported from Italy. Winemaker Amy is 5th generation and she really turns out a fine product. The wines are smooth and balanced. The Zin is out of this world. I look forward to my next visit.

Today was our first time to visit this gorgeous family owned winery by luck. A nice lady at the tourists center mentioned this place to us and we drove there to be check it out. I am so glad we did it. This place will be our hang out place now. We loved this unique place and the people who run it. The road is so beautiful and nice too. When you get there is so unique and cozy. They have beautiful picnic area down there and it looks like you are visiting your family. Everyone is so nice and friendly and not like those commercialized winery. They are very generous and sweet. It was the day after Valentine's Day. They still brought us cute cupcakes to celebrate our first time visit there. If you are looking for a great wine and great price go visit there. We already bought 6 bottles and we can't wait to try them all.

What a perfect little place! Discovered this place thanks to a friend and fellow Yelper and we absolutely loved it. We have visited Nichelini's in the summer as well the winter and loved it both times. Their outdoor space in the summer is just lovely and makes for a perfect wine tasting experience. They are also the oldest continuously operating family owned winery in the Napa Valley. Generally not a Cab lover, but loved theirs and ended up buying some. Their Zin's are also really good. Looking forward to going back.

Beautiful location, fascinating history, wonderful hosts, and great wine. Nichelini is a delightful, refreshing experience. When you want something different from (and better than) the standard Napa Valley wine tasting, take the drive out to Nichelini.

This place is slightly off the beaten track but so sweet. It's a funky little place, reminds me of old Napa, a converted farmhouse is the tasting room and it's charming. Loved the petite sirah. They also sell petite sirah grapes to Clif family winery and that is also delicious. They are grandfathered in to let you picnic. Love this place.

This place is the worst place to go if you are non-Caucasian. Unfortunately, the experience here was nothing but saddening and discriminating. Our party of 7 called 2 hours before we got there to inform this winery of our arrival. That way, when we arrive, we're expected and attended accordingly. When we arrived, the guy that greeted us, Scott, was unpleasantly surprised by the size of our party (and probably by our ethnicity being Latino). We informed him that we did indeed called beforehand and he acted like he did not know anything (even though we're sure he was the one that we spoke to us on the phone. But, because we sounded Caucasian, he treated us kindly over the phone and not in person). He proceeded to sit us down and expected us to wait for his other guests to finish wine tasting (which would likely take forever). Then my friend asked if we can try some wine and he uncomfortably gave us all a glass of wine and merely explained the kind of wine we were tasting, unlike the lavish and detailed explanations he was giving to other wealthier looking guests. It was clear that he most likely assumed we wouldn't comprehend what he was talking about if he were to give us the same descriptions. After we realized what was taking place, we wanted to leave that area and instead enjoy ourselves on their benches to taste wine and play board games. As we were arriving to the outdoor benches, it was obvious that the benches had not been wiped down in weeks (spider webs, bird droppings, dust, etc). In the meantime, my fiancé happened to cut his finger trying to open the wine glass (his fault though, the wine glass was safe to open). When we went back to the entrance to ask to clean the benches and for a first aid kit to stop my fiancé's bleeding, Scott and the other lady at the counter (didn't catch her name, but remember her for later) clearly acknowledged our presence but completely ignored us and attentively helped the Caucasian, wealthier looking guests. Until finally I had to interrupt them to ask if I could borrow the first aid kit and to have someone wipe down the benches. Once my fiancé's cut was sealed, I turned back only to find them wiping down not our bench, but another bench that was hand selected for a group of 5 Caucasian guests who had literally just arrived! They immediately assisted them and saw us as an afterthought. Regardless of the audacity of their obvious discrimination, we continued with our day and enjoyed our day only due to our board game and friendship. We laughed and received many judge-mental looks from all parts but unfortunately we got used to it and didn't let it affect us. Hours later, we decided it was time to go. As we were leaving, Scott didn't bother talking to us about our experience and had an obvious, annoyed look on his face. The whole time there, we were just as mature and cooperative like all other guests. But when we announced our departure, the other lady at the counter sighed in a form of relief (as if she was happy that we were finally leaving) and in the most ignorant way ever yells, "hasta la vista! Adiós! Dios los bendiga!" with this incredibly distasteful laugh and heavy white accent (almost as if she was making fun of us, when none of us were even speaking in Spanish). Even though all she said was, "Bye! God bless you!", in Spanish, why was that even necessary? Why did she wait till that moment to say something as borderline racist as that was? Why couldn't she at least give us that kind of ignorant attention when we arrived, or needed assistance with the benches or first aid kit, or offered us wine and equal descriptions of the wine? I had never felt more discriminated. I wish we were treated differently so that I can share another experience, but we couldn't even enjoy the features of this winery because of how neglected we were. But hey, at least if you're wealthy and Caucasian, you'll love this place:) PS: Sad to say, but the only people there that welcomed us and treated us kindly were a few other guests that were there (also Caucasian). I think some of think took notice in the racism that was taking place. There are really nice people out there, regardless of their skin color or stature, but unfortunately the employees here like to select who they offer good service to.

Nichelini is a fabulous stop off the beaten path. This pre- prohibition era winery still has family members actively engaging with people. Everywhere there are touches of family history and wine history! The range of varietals is impressive. The Muscadelle, and Rosé are perfect for warm summer evening. The Roman Press White & Red are the perfect party wines - pleasing to all wine lovers. The Zinfandels are bold and luscious - and the Porchlight is a dessert wine that is not syrupy but packs a punch. If you are over the packed tasting rooms with people who only know as much about the wines as is mentioned on the tasting notes - this is a great stop.

So beautiful. Quiet and serene. We visited April 27, 2021. The wine is delicious! The employee that helped us was disinterested and showed no pride in the wines and seemed bothered. Unfortunately this has been a repeated experience for us. It is ashame because otherwise the place is wonderful. It is hard to bring guests when the employees seem so annoyed.

If you're going to be in the area, definitely stop here. This is a wonderful place to taste wine -- gorgeous, relaxed setting, with good wines. That said, would I seek them out, outside the setting? No. They are good wines, but not amazing wines. And they are priced like they should be amazing. For $20, you can hang out and taste some perfectly lovely wines on a gorgeous shaded patio. Tip: If you're in the market for expensive white wine -- this is never me, but it might be you -- their white wines are pretty exceptional.

A beautiful, friendly winery in the mountains west of Lake Berryessa. The family has been making wine for generations. The grounds are gorgeous and the wine is delicious. The family encourages you to bring a picnic, but a glass of wine, and enjoy!

Very friendly folks. We spent the afternoon with live music played by one of the family members wife. Had a great relaxing afternoon. Their 2015 sparkling wine was really good.

My current ideal Napa/Sonoma Winery. Family owned...survived prohibition, fires, earthquakes. This place reminds me of what visiting Napa was like 15-20 years ago. Very small, out of the way, no crowds, no busses. A relatively small selection of highly drinkable, unpretentious small batch wines, including a sparkling composed of mostly Pinot Grigio. Pack a picnic and enjoy the hillside tables. Make an appointment to be sure they're open when you plan to visit.

Super cute little Winery! We were on our Harley and decided to stop! Jannette was working and she's really sweet! They have a nice picnic area outback and said we could bring food and picnic if we liked! We bought a bottle of their red blend it was 80% Zinfandel 20% petite sirah...really delish! Only thing is there isn't much parking at least not that we could find! We will definitely be going back!

This was the first place I ever went wine tasting and it was such a cool experience. If you want to escape the more crowded, commercial-like wineries, then you should stop here as it is a way more intimate experience. This is one of the oldest wineries in California. We were lucky to do a tasting with the granddaughter of the man who founded the winery. She gave us a nice little history of the winery and allowed us to try about 5-6 different wines for free without an appointment. As others have noted, the climate is different from other vineyards, which results in slightly different wines. We really liked the Chardonnay, so my aunt bought a bottle at the end. Finally, in addition to the tasting, they have a nice little picnic area, which we took advantage of after the tour. I'd say the major downside is this winery is very much out of the way when compared to other wineries. The drive is super curvy, but has great views of the river and woods. If you have the time and don't mind a long scenic drive, then you should stop here.

Love this Family Winery!!! One of my favorite! So glad we discovered her. Great service. Warm atmosphere. Family members are very welcoming.

Thank you so much for the tour, all the information and the great wine. You don't find genuine stuff like this every day...

So sad to learn of Doug's passing. He was the best employee and one of the reasons we joined. He will be sincerely missed. Cheers to Doug! RIP.

Someone at another winery recommended this place so we took the journey out to Nichelini and I'm so glad we did! This winery is OLD with the original buildings and wine press. It's pretty awesome. We tasted outside under some trees and were greeted by Stickers the wine cat. The wine was really good. We purchased a bottle of primativo. The winemaker was very nice and didn't rush us though the tasting at all. He told us all about the wine and the history of the property. Cool place. I would definitely like to visit again.

My last stop on a recent trip to Napa reminded me why this place is so great. After visiting some larger, fancy wineries and enjoying the spectacle, it was a pleasant contrast to have a nice, down to earth visit in a place where the the love of wine and winemaking is the thing that impressed me first and foremost. Of course the fascinating history and excellent wines didn't hurt either.

We went to Nichelini for a tasting and took along deli items from the Calistoga CalMart for a picnic to compliment the tasting. After tasting a few fabulous wines, we grabbed one of their cab Rose's to have with our meal. While eating, our pourer kept bringing over other wines to try. They went the extra mile to make us feel welcome, the wine was fantastic, and we couldn't ask for a better afternoon. We will revisit again and again even though we couldn't resist joining their wine club.

After drinking a bottle of Nichelini Zin at a restaurant recently, a bottle that was probably one of my top ten favorite bottles of wine ever, my mom and I were excited to visit Nichelini and sample their other wines. The tasting was an entirely disappointing experience. While the grounds and old buildings are beautiful, the winery doesn't seem to get much traffic so the wines we tasted seemed like they had been sitting out for at least a day (bottom of the bottle and tasted funky). The woman running the tasting room also seemed incredibly spaced out and lacked much knowledge of the wine. And, they didn't have the Zin we'd been craving. My mom later read that the wines at Nichelini are famously inconsistent, and after experiencing both the great bottle and the junk at the tasting room, I wouldn't argue with that.

I am absolutely in love with this cute little winery! the staff is so friendly. We went there had a picnic and bought a few bottles. I love their muscadelle! it is perfect for a hot summer evening. We brought my brother who was visiting from TN, this was our first stop. Then we went to St Helena for some more wine tasting, as beautiful as St Helena is, I think Nichelinis was our favorite! The staff is just so friendly they make you feel at home!

We just happened upon this place while taking a scenic drive. I'm so happy we stopped. The woman working there was really fun and knowledgable and two of the family members were there as well. The wines were really good and different. We particularly liked the Sav Vert and the Primitivo (which we bought). The Cab Port was also really tasty if you are into unique ports. The place was really cute, old, rustic looking. If you are out this way, I suggest you stop in!

This place was recommended to us by the family we were staying with at Napa. We visited during the July 4th weekend. We are super glad we stopped here for a tasting. This is a family run winery and thus everyone we met were very warm and welcoming. we tasted some great wines and answered a lot of our questions as well. We loved the wines we tasted and end up buying 2 bottles as well. Definitely a winery to visit when you are in Napa!!

Loved our visit here. Our hot-air balloon pilot recommended this place, so we called, and they graciously fit us in for a tasting and mini-tour the same (Monday) afternoon. And we joined the wine club! The wines were wonderful, and our pourer Leanne was delightful. We came home with four bottles--two Old Vine Zins and two Roman Press Reds. Next visit will be better planned so we can bring a picnic lunch and enjoy their picturesque picnic area while we sip our wine!

We have been stopping by here for almost 25 years. It's been great to see the changes, both in the wines and the overall ambience. Taste, picnic, play a round of bocce ball.

We've been going to Nichelini for a couple of years now. It is our favorite place in the Napa Valley region. It is not too far off the beaten path and well worth the 20 minute drive from the Silverado Trail. Despite the experience that Katie T had, there has not been a time when the wine didn't taste perfect. At least one of the family members is there during the tasting days (Weekends or by appointment on the week days) and at no time was anyone ever there that didn't have knowledge about wine & wine-making. Our particular favorite wines from Nichelini are the Savignon Vert - a particularly refreshing varietal of white wine and the Primitivo, a great Zin-like red wine. If you like port, then try the Cabernet Port style wine - robust and full. Nichelini is more an experience than just a place. With the family in tow, you can pack up a picnic lunch, grab a bottle of your favorite Nichelini wine and enjoy the calm surroundings. There is also a bocci ball court to add a little excitement to the afternoon. If you are looking for something different in a winery experince, you have to check out Nichelini.

Really nice place to visit.... It is a little bit off from where the Napa central wineries are. But it's a nice drive to get there. Wine tasting for free as well...It's really cute, I like the picnic tables area as well.

After tasting a few Nichelini wines at another winery, we decided to make this winery one of our stops on our next trip to Napa. I like the historical feel of the place, it's most definitely not a commercial winery. The tasting room inside is small and quaint, during the summer months they move the tasting outside in the shady courtyard... The wines are worth the drive and the staff is very friendly and accommodating.

This place is worth getting lost to find. A really cute little winery way off the main Napa drag. The vintners (some of whom I think are still part of the original family who started the winery in the late 1800s) are hanging around working and are happy to talk about the wines. The tasting room isn't particularly fancy, but the grounds and the history are really enjoyable to see and read about.

I probably shouldn't be rating a winery considering I don't drink. But for that mom and pop shop feel with some history, you really need to give this place some respect. They have the only original 14 feet by 14 feet homestead in existence in the Valley and one of the very very few wineries that was pre-prohibition. Ask for Doug Patterson. He'll teach you everything you want to know. Being a huge science geek, I was actually eating up all his tidbits on the topography and soil science he was spitting my way. I was hypnotized by the history and science. They have picnic tables down below, bocci ball court, and picnic tables. I saw deer on their property and plenty of birds. This is a great pit stop to get out of the sun, learn something new, and hang out with friends.