9 Best Wineries to Visit in Yountville

Best known for its Michelin Star power in iconic establishments like The French Laundry and delectable bakeries like Bouchon Bakery, the tiny town of Yountville has also developed into a mecca for top-notch boutique wineries, many of which are within walking distance from the town’s best restaurants and hotels. Pairing wine with everything from art and music to home décor and bacon, these are the top nine wineries to visit in Yountville on your next Napa Valley trip.

Rock n’ Wine

Cliff Lede Vineyards

Courtesy of Cliff Lede

Rock n’ Roll fans can’t skip Cliff Lede Vineyards, where even the vineyard blocks have music-themed names like Abbey Road and Dark Side of the Moon. The winery has a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces to taste, but the best spot is in the Backstage Tasting Lounge, which doubles as a rock art exhibit. Tastings here give you access to some of Cliff Lede’s most limited-production wines, which you can sip while admiring portraits of some of classic rock’s most iconic artists.

Insider Tip: You can actually live like a rockstar via a stay at Cliff Lede’s luxury hilltop hotel, Poetry Inn—but it’ll cost you a pretty penny.

1473 Yountville Cross Road, Yountville, CA 94599, (707) 944-8642

Bubbles Everyday

Domaine Chandon

Courtesy of Domaine Chandon

One of Wine Country’s most classic sparkling wine houses, French company Domaine Chandon has been making California bubbly for more than 35 years. Saddle up at the bar for a flight of sparkling and still wines—and maybe even a sparkling cocktail—or relax on the patio and pair your tasting with small bites on Fridays and Saturdays. If you’re visiting on Sunday, book the Brunch in Bloom tasting, a bubbly breakfast experience that won’t leave you hungry.

Insider Tip: Chandon knows how to say, “TGIF!” with a Friday Happy Hour from 3-5 PM, featuring wines by the glass, oysters, and a DIY cocktail bar.

1 California Drive, Yountville, CA 94599, (888) 242-6366

Haute Couture

JCB Tasting Salon

Courtesy of JCB Tasting Salon

There’s no place in Napa Valley quite like the JCB Tasting Salon. The brainchild of wine fashionista Jean Charles Boisset (proprietor of other wineries like Raymond Vineyards and Buena Vista Winery), this little slice of luxury is dripping in gold, leopard print, and crystal. Taste a wide selection of fine wines, from champagne to cabernet sauvignon, while you browse luxury jewelry, perfumes, and a massive Baccarat crystal collection. It’s all for sale, if you feel like splurging.

Insider Tip: Private tastings can be booked in Salon Privé. Located behind JCB Collection, it’s painted completely white with roses and doves hanging from the ceiling.

505 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599, (707) 934-8237

One of a Kind

Priest Ranch

Bacon and Wine Experience, Courtesy of Priest Ranch

They had us at bacon tasting. Yes, you read that right, Priest Ranch’s bacon and wine experience pairs five wines with five types of bacon. They also pour their unique varietals, like a grenache blanc and sparkling rosé of syrah (you won’t find these at many other tasting rooms in Napa Valley), with a chocolate or cheese pairing.

Insider Tip: Priest Ranch is working on a major reno of their Yountville digs. It will open this year, the perfect excuse to plan a visit.

6490 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599, (707) 944-8200

Feels Like Home

Silver Trident Winery

Dining room tasting space, Courtesy of Silver Trident Winery

Silver Trident is one part wine tasting room, one part Ralph Lauren Home showroom. This means that everything from the couch you sit on to the candles at your table are for sale. Designed like the quaintest of Wine Country homes, with cozy spaces in which to sip, including a living room, dining room, and library, Silver Trident’s food and wine pairing features delightful canapés, like a savory shortbread cookie made from aged gouda.

Insider Tip: Apollo’s Folly, Silver Trident’s Rosé of Pinot Noir is so good, you’ll want to sip it year-round. It also sells like hot cakes, so if they have it, grab it.

6495 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599, (707) 945-0311

Culture Trip

Jessup Cellars

Courtesy of Jessup Cellars

Sip wine inside an actual art gallery at Jessup Cellars, curated with rotating exhibits from local and nationwide artists. Choose between a classic bar flight or an educational deep dive into their wines—a wide range of reds, including a tawny port—with a cheese pairing, which can also be enjoyed on the outdoor patio.

Insider Tip: Check the winery event calendar before you go. You may be able to catch live music in the summer, or a short film with wine pairing in the spring.

6740 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599, (707) 944-8523

Vino & Views

Goosecross Cellars

Tasting room, Courtesy of Goosecross Cellars

Goosecross is owned by Christi Coors Ficeli (of the famed Coors family), but don’t be fooled; the quality of their wine is primo compared to the beer you drank in college. Small but mighty, Goosecross offers a diverse portfolio of wines and truly excels at crafting perfectly-balanced reds worthy of a celebratory dinner. Soak in stunning views of Goosecross’ estate vineyards and the Mayacamas Mountains from their secluded, never overcrowded tasting room or outdoor terrace.

Insider Tip: The friendly staff is usually more than happy to give you a peek inside the tiny cellar, where there’s a good chance you’ll bump into the winemaker, Bill Nancarrow.

1119 State Lane, Yountville, CA 94599, (707) 944-1986

Wine & Design

Ma(i)sonry Wine Vault at Restoration Hardware

Courtesy of RH Yountville

RH Yountville, the restaurant, design gallery, and wine tasting concept from Restoration Hardware, is the hot, new place to play in Yountville. The Wine Vault at RH resides in a historic, 1904 stone building, but on a nice day, you’ll want to lounge outside in one of the luxury cabanas. The inside, commandeered by an enormous crystal chandelier, is perfect for rainy days or evenings. Choose from three tasting flights curated with boutique producers that you can’t easily find elsewhere.

Insider Tip: The Wine Vault stays open until 10 PM, later than any tasting room around, making it a great after-dinner spot.

6725 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599, (707) 339-4654

Mad Scientist

Paraduxx

Courtesy of Paraduxx

If you’re a fan of Duckhorn wine (and who isn’t?), you’ll love Paraduxx, created by the Duckhorn family as a creative outlet for their winemakers to craft innovative Napa Valley blends. While not technically in Yountville proper, the tasting room is only three miles away, where you’ll find a contemporary building and courtyard looking out at their estate vineyards. Offering a variety of tasting options, The Blend Experience is the most unique, providing the chance to learn first-hand what goes into making the Paraduxx blends by crafting your own.

Insider Tip: Most of their wines can only be purchased through the winery, so come prepared to bring a few bottles home with you.

7257 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558, (707) 945-0890

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Author

Jess Lander

Jess Lander is a freelance wine, food and travel writer based in Napa Valley and exploring all things California wine country. Follow her on Instagram at @willwrite4wine to get Napa and Sonoma #travelinspo.