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Best Napa Valley Wineries for a Picnic
Photo courtesy of Bob McClenahan Photography
Some of the best moments in Napa Valley happen away from crowded tasting bars. Picture a bottle of wine, a picnic spread, vineyard views, and nowhere else you need to be for the next couple of hours. Whether you’re sharing a romantic picnic, catching up with friends, or simply looking for a more relaxed way to experience Wine Country, a winery picnic is one of the best ways to savor the destination.
Not every winery does picnics the same way. Some invite guests to bring their own lunch, others offer chef-prepared picnics or on-site delis, and a few have restrictions on outside food. A little planning goes a long way. Then all that’s left to do is uncork a bottle, find a shady spot, and let the afternoon unfold.
Best Napa Valley Wineries for a Picnic
Frank Family Vineyards
Trade the afternoon sun for a shady spot beneath Frank Family’s century-old elm trees. Bring your own picnic and reserve the Picnic & Bottle Service experience. Pair lunch with a bottle of the winery’s Blanc de Blancs or Brut Rosé while you enjoy 90 minutes beneath one of Napa Valley’s most beautiful natural canopies.
Tamber Bey
Known for their unique combination of wine and horses, Tamber Bey offers the option to add a picnic lunch to any wine tasting (in advance). Catered by Sam’s General Store, your yummy addition will feature a salad or sandwich, plus chips, a cookie, and a glass of wine. Did we mention it comes with views of the 22-acre horse farm and their friendly, equine residents?
Pine Ridge Vineyards
Situated along the Silverado Trail, Pine Ridge Vineyards invites guests to bring their own picnic when reserving its Garden Bottle Service experience. Pair your lunch with a bottle of wine, including the acclaimed Circle Hill Cabernet, then relax on the garden terrace. The cherry on top? Sweeping vineyard views.
Benessere Vineyards
The Italian-inspired Benessere Vineyards welcomes picnickers to pair their provisions alongside small-production wines like Sangiovese and Pinot Grigio. What’s the catch? You’ll need to book their Bei Vini or Grandi Rossi tasting for access to their truly gorgeous picnic grounds, sandwiched between walnut trees and lush vineyards.
Pope Valley Winery
Founded in 1897, Pope Valley Winery is a family-owned winery situated in their very own Zinfandel grape vines. Choose from experiences like the Burgundy Winery Indoor Tasting, which takes place in their historic wine cave. Then, continue your afternoon on the patio, where bottle service and a BYO picnic can be enjoyed for $20 per guest, while a game of bocce ball is on the house.
Tres Sabores
Tres Sabores winery is family owned, women-led, and proud of their green growing initiatives. Sign up for their signature wine tasting experience, which includes a tasting of five current release wines, and add on the Eco-Elevated Picnic. The grounds are just as impressive as their picnic offerings, where organic vineyards grow alongside pomegranate, Meyer lemon, and olive trees.
Rutherford Hill
Trade the tasting bar for a hillside picnic at Rutherford Hill. Perched high above the valley floor, guests are welcome to bring their own lunch to enjoy in the winery’s Upper Picnic Grove with a qualifying bottle purchase. Trust us, the vineyard views are worth the climb. Before you leave, don’t miss the chance to explore one of Napa Valley’s longest wine cave systems.
Honig Vineyards & Winery
A true family affair, Honig Vineyards & Winery is dedicated to sustainable winemaking practices and memorable guest experiences. Known for their classic Sauvignon Blanc, learn more about their eco-practices on the Eco Tour Vineyard Experience before breaking out your picnic in their designated picnic grounds.
V.Sattui Winery
Skip packing lunch and let V. Sattui do the work. Build your perfect picnic at the winery’s famous artisan deli, stocked with fresh sandwiches, salads, cheeses, charcuterie, and weekend barbecue. Then grab a bottle of wine and claim a spot on the sprawling picnic grounds, where shaded tables make it easy to settle in for the afternoon.
Conclusion
Whether you want to DIY your picnic experience or let the winery handle a few of the details, there’s something for every kind of picnicker in Napa Valley. From private tables beneath century-old elm trees to artisan deli spreads enjoyed in the shade, there’s no shortage of ways to savor an afternoon outdoors. All that’s left to do is pick your favorite spot, uncork a bottle, and enjoy one of Napa Valley’s simplest pleasures.
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