Saddleback Cellars

This is the best hidden gem in the Napa Valley! They provide a comfortable and fun environment that is all about the wine. We LOVE Angie and how she makes you feel like family the moment you are given your first taste! Oh, and the wine is amazing to top it all off! The wines are not overpriced, but are of the same or higher quality than higher priced wineries. Go! You’ll be glad you did!

Great little winery! We did a tasting here for my son's 21st birthday. It's not fancy like some of the Napa wineries, but we got to sit right in the vineyard and the guide was fantastic, very personable and full of great stories and info. Plus the wine was awesome! My fave was the Triple T.

Love the vibe and the wines! Saddleback Cellars is probably the most underrated gem in Oakville. With Nils Venge, the 'King of Cab,' at the helm, you can always expect top-tier wines and a relaxed, welcoming experience. A must-visit for anyone looking for quality without the crowds

One of our very favorite experiences in Napa! Craig was such a pleasure. So knowledgeable, fun and just such a lovely man. He made our afternoon so pleasurable. Every wine was so fantastic! Boutique wines that are just a treat. So balanced, interesting and full of character. Our friend took us there as she is in the wine club. We highly recommend this winery. It is in the Oakville district of Napa. Put it on your list!

Loved this winery. Angie and the team are so knowledgeable and friendly. You will not find better wines for the value in the Oakville AVA. I’ve had other cabs and reds from neighbor wineries that are twice the price and not nearly as good as Saddleback. There is a lot of history at this winery. It’s not your typical fancy Napa tasting room. Nils Venge is a cowboy at heart. What they don’t spend in “grand facilities” is saved and passed on to the consumer in their prices. But don’t be fooled. There’s a reason they’ve been making wine successfully since the 1970’s.

This is the hidden gem you're looking for! I scoured websites looking for a smaller winery that offers a good wines at a reasonable tasting price, in nice environs. I happened across this recommendation on one page, checked it out online, and decided to give it a try. This was the highlight of our day in Napa. The tasting area is comfortable and relaxed, just a few feet away from the grape vines. The wines were overall very good, including our favorite of the day, and the gentleman taking us through them was friendly, very knowledgeable, and unpretentious, not to mention wearing a fabulous pink flamingo Hawaiian shirt! We enjoyed the information he imparted as much as we enjoyed the wines. For the combination of quality, price, and the experience, I cannot recommend this place enough.

Where do i begin? This place is AMAZING!!! This was my first wine tour to start off my first ever wine tasting and it was by far the best! The wine was hands down amazing obviously! But our wine expert Angie was so so knowledgeable and personable! She had us cracking up the whole time while still educating us on the process of everything and the back story to the wine. If you are considering adding this place to your list YOU WONT REGRET IT! Thank you saddleback for providing the best wine and the best people to make your experience 10/10!!

If you're looking for a true Napa experience and not some overblown celebrity fueled experience, drink your wine here. No zillion dollar architecture but knowledge, friendly staff and always excellent wine. Love that merlot and chardonnay by the way.

Nice view of the country with amazing wine! For a great price of $35 you can have an amazing tasting in a beautiful environment. Craig is an amazing story teller and just knows how to keep us interested in the background of all these wines. The Petit Sirah and Chloe's Blend are my personal favorite but everything is definitely worth tasting! Worth the drive and a good time with a party of people.

I cannot say enough good things about this winery. For purposes of brevity, I will settle for three. (1) The wines, themselves, are diverse and really good. The Three T's was not on the tasting menu, but Craig (more on him below) let us taste it and, really, it is incredible. We bought a few bottles. (2) The setting is perfect. Outside, rustic, adjacent to the vines. This is what Napa was twenty-five years ago. It is nice to find slivers of it thriving. (3) Craig is so knowledgeable, friendly, just makes you understand the product better.

Amazing little winery near the Sonoma region! I came with 5 friends and we all loved the ambiance and environment here -- it's really laidback and open, and Angie is super friendly (she came over to answer a lot of our questions, since none of us were wine connoisseurs) and guided us through the tasting. You can bring your own food/snacks which is so nice (and rare among the Napa/Sonoma wineries) and the outdoor seating is lush and cute. I loved the cozy interior too! These photos are from July - would love to come back again soon.

The establishment is located in Napa and has a warm family feel to the tasting experience. Founded in 1976, the name is inspired from sattleback mountains based in La. I truly enjoyed our tasting, the staff were kind, humorous and welcoming. Napa county is know. For their Cabs so drink up.

Saddleback Cellars is the hidden gem of Napa--no pretension, just seriously good wine. Craig, our host, was as generous with his pours as he was with his stories, taking us through 8-10 wines that each delivered in their own way. From crisp whites to bold reds, the tasting was a masterclass in balance and craftsmanship, all without the Napa price tag shock. The wines are fantastically priced, making it easy to leave with a bottle (or 12). If you like your wine with a side of charm and authenticity, this place is a no-brainer.

What can I say about this place. Pure unadulterated magic. Angie Angie Angie. You must get a raise. A bonus. Your own standup? SOMETHING. I brought my group of 12 the day after my husband and I got married in city hall. It's hard to find a spot for big groups but saddleback delivered. The second there were chirps of complaints about the cold, Angie had us boozing and laughing our way through, honestly, some fabulous reserves. We feel so lucky we got to spend an afternoon together. My husband and I will cherish these memories for years to come. Salmon.

This was the very first winery. I went to many years ago and I met the owner Nils. I prefer a boy lunch that day and I have great memories of this place so every time I come back to Napa, I enjoy stopping by and saying hello. Better wines have always been very consistent. He was the very first person to get 100 points here and this area of the world, still very low-key, still looking like a cowboy barn, but don't be surprised when you taste the wine because they are delicious

We went to this winery after a recommendation from a friend. We were the first ones there and wow! You know you're at a cool, laid back place when you get out of the car and Dolly Parton is playing! You sit literally among the vines and our wine educator was Angie. She was the BEST thing we experienced in Napa! Spoke with her co worker who didn't even reply to me when I spoke to him.....but Angie is everything! Don't think because the place has a laid back Vibe that their winemaking isn't serious....they are wonderful. My fav wines out of the 8 wineries we visited. Don't sleep on this place, just make sure you ask for Angie! Tell her that her "24" fanatic friend sent you!

Recommended by someone we met in our flight. We've been to all the main stream places over the last 15 years... if you've done the Napa right of passage and seen many of the well known sites, and you're looking for something off the beaten path, the wines are outstanding and the staff is super fun. We did a tasting with Angie this afternoon and we've never had a better experience! The wines change frequently and they don't distribute so you better grab what you like when you taste it! Ask for Angie, you won't be sorry! East Coasters: Bring her a Yingling and say hi from Randy & Aimee!

Amazing wine!! Angie took amazing care of us!! We will definitely be back soon. Such a hidden gem in Napa.

This place came highly recommended to us by someone at the Napa Valley Welcome center. it was accesible, and the service was impressive. WE loved the laidback atmosphere and the friendly reception by the staff. The ladies working there on Monday, July first, were friendly, and made our first time a blast. The pours were generous, and we learned a great deal about the different flavor, notes, and pairings. We were so glad to have been recommended this place!

Honestly ... as the Napa Valley Chauffeur I have never really had Saddleback cellars wine ... all I know it's a great breath of fresh air from the other commercial wineries that are being bought up by Constellation and Diagio ... Angie , is still a major reason why I suggest this often to clients on their first ventures to the Napa Valley ! Spirited , unique and genuine .... I have worked with her over the years and she nailed it today with my couples first trip to the Napa Valley ! There is a reason why this has such a high ranking as a small rustic Winery. Highly suggest going here and doing a tasting ... ask for Angie, or Tamra . Let them know that the Napa Valley Chauffeur referred you ! CHEERS !!!

Had the best tasting with Angie for my bachelorette! She was so fun and not only told us all about the wine, which was delicious but also took photos of our group and made the experience great.

Incredible. Amazing wines and an amazing Angie! Funny, informative and picturesque. Would definitely recommend as a place to stop and slow down and just enjoy phenomenal wine. A must stop!

This is the best hidden gem in the Napa Valley! They provide a comfortable and fun environment that is all about the wine. We LOVE Angie and how she makes you feel like family the moment you are given your first taste! Oh, and the wine is delicious to top it all off! The wines are not overpriced, but are of the same or higher quality than higher priced wineries. Go! You'll be glad you did!

Chill and causal vibe. Friendly hosts. Picnics are welcome. They will cater the tasting to your red or white preference.

Love, love, love it here. My husband and I were looking for a new winery to go to where we could sit and relax with our daughter. A lot of the wineries who used to allow children changed to no children. It kind of sucked because we didn't want to stay away from Napa just because we had a child. Saddleback has always been welcoming and warm when we have brought our daughter. The first two times we went with our daughter was when I was pregnant. Luck for my husband to have his personal DD. When you get to Saddleback, you see tables and benches outside. It's such an unassuming place that we love. The staff here is so friendly and they remember you. Their wine is awesome too. After our first visit, we became members. I hadn't had any of the wine at this point but my husband was in love. I can't praise Saddleback enough!

When I arrived in Napa last Saturday I arrived a couple of hours early and being informed I had some reservations spread out over the next couple of days....but I had time and wanted to squeeze another tasting in. On recommendations I made some calls.... Holy Crap, everything was booked solid! Paul, a wonderful man from Hall recommended Saddleback so I called. Of the six or seven reasons to love this winery at least five of them are Angie! When she answered the phone she was amazing. "Don't worry honey, we will fit you in". When we arrived we asked about food, she sent us to a deli a mile away and we appreciated the great recommendation. You can sit right outside a couple feet from the beautiful vines. Angie poured and pampered, if she has a moment she will sit down and visit. We did have a reservation at Foley near by but she just kept pouring and pouring, oh you have to try this!!! If you liked that you will love this.... When we left we had some bottles and we also had the happiest memories!! I would whole heartily recommend that if you have never been to Napa/Saint Helena that you should start with Angie.....I mean Saddleback. You will have the warmest most comfortable weekend as a result!!

This place had over 20 varietals... the wine maker has done an exceptional job at blending .... Angie poured these awesome wines for us and was so informative as well as funny! She had the best personality! we wanted to buy a bottle and just stay and hang out with her!!! experience is just as important as the quality of wine!

Great tasting experience. Craig was a superb host and we really enjoyed our visit. Very unpretentious and welcoming. Can't wait to be back.

STOP SCROLLING! I was going to write a long review on how wonderful Saddleback wines are, how friendly and welcoming Angie is, and how lovely it is to taste outside amongst the vines, but looking at the reviews, they all say the same thing! You can scroll down, but all the reviews are the same! If you're on yelp reading reviews on wineries, you're probably not a wine expert (that's OK!), you probably don't want to spend a fortune (you shouldn't!), but you want to have a great Napa experience (You can!). I finished #1 in my sommelier class. Trust me...It's an unpretentious California wine-tasting experience that wine experts and newcomers love for good reason.

Ambience = A Wine = A Wine Educator Angie =A++++++ I will be back and have bought a membership due to this fine lady. Thank you for the great service. Can't wait to be back

I had a merlot from saddleback once upon a time and decided to swing by for a tasting on my birthday. We were greeted and served by Craig, who was AWESOME. Sat 5 ft away from vines and learned a lot about saddleback , surrounding vineyards, history and tasted they yummy wines. 10/10 recommend going to a tasting here and hanging out with Craig

We planned a last minute trip to Napa and we're able to snag a reservation at Saddleback on a Saturday which was awesome. If you like an unpretentious, friendly and relaxing wine tasting experience, Saddleback is the place! We were seated at a picnic table alongside the vineyard which was just beautiful on a sunny autumn day. Our wine expert, Angie, was amazing and added so much personality and laughter to our tasting experience, it made our experience even more wonderful. We really enjoyed all of the wines, with a few standouts that we just loved and had to take home. Plenty of social distancing, staff wore masks, gloves and actively sanitized between seatings. Such a lovely and relaxing experience, we can't wait to go back!

Saddleback is a hidden gem! Nils is a mad scientist when it comes to making wines and everything he makes is perfection. The saddleback crew is one of a kind! Angie is hands down the best host, she truly makes the saddleback tasting experience one for the books. She not only is knowledgeable on all things Napa, but can help guide you to some great wine!

My favorite place in Napa! Very quaint and beautiful spot to taste and bring lunch. The wines are spectacular and the staff amazing. Thanks for a good experience as always!!

Had a great experience here with a group of 10. Very casual and relaxed, which was a nice break from others. Nice variety of wines. Our host was great - super friendly, took pictures, etc. would recommend for a casual stop.

This winery is reminiscent of the wine country decades ago -- a casual ambience but with premium quality wine set against, and open to, the raw natural beauty of Napa Valley. But what really distinguishes this winery from most others is the staff and the extremely welcoming, friendly and fun atmosphere they create for guests. It is one thing to drink great wine (which Saddleback has in spades); it is quite another to have an amazingly fun time with the servers and staff and learn so much about wine and wine-making in the process. The "best of the best" in staffing at Saddleback goes out to Angie, who will make not only your experience at Saddleback but the entire wine country. Angie is wine knowledge and fun incarnate, and she's so good at what she does because she truly enjoys what she does and people generally. She's a natural, which is a perfect fit for this most natural and traditional of Napa Valley wineries, taking you back decades to the way Napa Valley presented itself to the world before money and commercialization genericized this most special part of the world and the wine industry in general. Enjoy... you won't be disappointed! And if you like Saddleback and wine as much as this author, you will join the wonderful Posse wine club where members get free tastings, special discounts and special events for a modest annual purchasing commitment. Elizabeth manages the Posse, and she too distinguishes herself as not only a consummate professional but as down-to-earth, friendly and fun as the winery itself. 5-stars on every level!

Make Saddleback your last tasting of the day. Better yet after lunch. Angie makes the entire tasting experience come alive as she bounces from one guest to another getting to know us. After conversing with our party of 6 she got to know us and provided tastings we each liked. Then let us explore side tastes. Instead of a sterilized chair at the bar we were outside among the grape vines and fresh air laughing at Angie's jokes and quick wit! We all had so much fun being with her and enjoying the wine, the barrel ride and the cool sweat shirts we skipped the last other 2 Vinards planned for that day.

We love saddleback !!! What a fun place with DELICIOUS wins!!! Our hostess Angie was awesome!!!! We're excited to go back!!!!

Had the best experience here. It's laid back and Angie, who I met many years ago when I was a member at the winery she worked at then is at saddleback now. It was the best to see a familiar and friendly face while enjoying good wines.

Been a member for only three months now, and after my first visit on New Years Eve since the Covid lockdown, I decided to sign up. Been considering a new wine membership for a while, and after exploring two others that day I decided on Saddleback. Aside from the yummy wines and the diversity of varietals in big Cab Napa, Angie, my host, was a huge contributing factor on this decision to sign up. With so much knowledge about the wines being poured, and the region as a Napa native, she adds her genuine flair, candid banter, and all around generosity and humor to make each wine tasting an unforgettable experience. Been back three times since joining and already looking forward to the next!!!!

We had a wine tasting yesterday at Saddleback. We were 20 minutes late, they said that's ok, they've been waiting for us. We have been to Saddleback several times and it is always a great experience. Angie was our pourer. She is very friendly and knowledgeable! The wines are very good. They have a good variety of wines at very reasonable prices. Until next time......

We had the best wine and time here! Angie, was so welcoming, knowledgeable and helpful. From the Chardonnay, Malbec to Zin, it was all superb! We will be back, love this winery!!

We absolutely loved our time at Saddleback, and Angie made the whole thing even more amazing! She sat with us the whole time, took photos for us, and continually made us laugh. And the wine was incredible! Definitely visit if you're coming to Napa.

Angie is the best host ever! Best wine ever! Thank you so Much for the best experience!!!!

Napa is a red wine lovers paradise so it's a bit challenging to find a winery that not only does a selection of whites (beyond Chardonnay) but also does them extremely well. Saddleback is that winery. We were absolutely blown away with their selection and quality of whites - especially the vermentino - that we sent a case home. Angie is an amazing hostess and I'd go there again just to enjoy her spirit. Very reasonably priced for Napa. Raving fan here.

Had a wonderful Sunday afternoon at Saddleback recently! Angie poured for us while we enjoyed the sun and great vineyard views from the outdoor patio. You're in for a treat if Angie is helping you out. She knows a lot about the wines and keeps the mood light and engaging. Even though there were many groups tasting that day, our group never had an empty glass and we were well looked after. The wines here span quite a variety and there was something for everyone in our group. Bring sandwiches or nibbles from Oakville Grocery down the road to enjoy on the patio. They are totally fine with folks bringing outside food. We had such a nice time that one of my friends even joined the wine club! Hope to see you again soon, Angie!

OMG!! If you go, ask for Angie, you are guaranteed an amazingly hilarious experience, plus their wines are awesome!! The setting is beautiful, the casual atmosphere is refreshing and it was just what the doctor ordered, loved it!

A great tasting is the combination of incredible wine and incredible experience. Saddleback has great wine and now with the addition of Angie a hands down awesome experience. Angie is full or knowledge, experience and fun...what a plus to wonderful wine. Don't be shy, check out this special unpretentious place with a special focus on great wine.

Once again, Saddleback reigns supreme over all tasting experiences in Napa Valley. Not only is the wine some of the best we've had, but the warm welcoming reception my family gets every time we visit feels like coming home. At the center of this homecoming has been and continues to be their incredible staff member, Angie. Angie has continued to go out of her way to make sure my whole family (kids included) feel welcomed and appreciated. Don't ask me how, but she somehow makes Nil's incredible wine taste even better! We make sure to visit when we know she is working, and almost always leave with 6+ more bottles then we intended to! Saddleback wouldn't be the same without her. If you haven't experienced Saddleback Cellars, you are missing out. And if you're lucky enough to have Angie as your host, I promise you'll be hooked and leave as one of their wine club posse members, something I guarantee you won't regret!

What a hidden treasure! We spent the afternoon with Angie and could not have been happier. Angie is a pro and super fun to learn from from about all of the great wines that Saddleback produces. We loved the Sangiovese the most and my friend even got to 'stir the yeast'. I HIGHLY recommend making SVC a stop when you are in wine country. Thank you, Angie!!!

Had an amazing experience with Angie today. The wines are exceptional. The winery is unassuming and relaxed.

We tried several wineries while in the Napa area on vacation; this, by far, was the best time. Wines were great, price point was fair and Angie, our host, was so much fun. I would return, just for her vivacious spirit and attentiveness

Saddleback has amazing wine and is such a relaxing environment. You get the quintessential Napa wine drinking without the pretentiousness you will find at some places with the same dirt and grapes. Ask for Angie- you will not regret if. She will make sure you have a fun and memorable experience!

I came here with a couple friends for a last minute appointment. We had Angie as our host today and she was great! She really knew her stuff and made sure to give us a rundown on each wine she poured! I'm normally a zin and pinot noir person but the dry rosè, 2019 Sauv blanc, pinot blanc, chloe's blanc and the late harvest Trousseau great! If you like dessert wines, the late harvest Trousseau is amazing. I don't normally like the super sweet dessert wines but that has to be my favorite next to the 2019 Vermentino white wine. I would definitely recommend this place if you want a relaxing, and chill place to taste!

Top of the shelf wine-Some of the best Cabernets in Napa and you get to enjoy them in an unpretentious beautiful setting! Angie kicks it up a notch with her local knowledge, wine expertise and wonderful enthusiastic personality! She makes the visit to Saddleback an unforgettable visit! A definite must to experiencing authentic Napa Valley!

Had an amazing afternoon here. Great wines, really friendly staff and the cutest dog!

5 stars. so cute and laid back. angie, who was running our tasting, was an absolute riot. loved the cab and will be back with more sf ppl!! don't think twice about going here