The Best Kid-Friendly Wineries in Napa Valley

Wine tasting is decidedly a very adult thing to do in that, well, legally you have to be an adult to do it. However, despite the age requirement, there are a few Napa Valley wineries that understand some families enjoy traveling together in Wine Country and therefore happily accommodate children.

In fact, some Napa wineries go out of their way to ensure that, if parents want to bring their kids, the younger set will actually have as much fun as the adults. Many wineries even allow kids to accompany adults on the more adventurous tours and tastings (so those under age aren’t just stuck in a wine cellar for an hour).

Read on for some of the best family-friendly wineries in Napa where you and your kids will have a great time, and you can spend all of that babysitter money you’ll save on a case of wine to take home and enjoy later.

Beringer Vineyards

Courtesy of Beringer Vineyards

Adults love visiting Beringer because it’s the oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley; kids love it because they can explore the 17-room mansion that is the centerpiece of the property, play bocce ball, and enjoy a picnic lunch in the garden. Children of all ages are also welcome on the 30-minute Legacy Cave Tour that takes visitors through the Old Winery and historic tunnels that were dug into the hillside by Chinese laborers who had just finished constructing the transcontinental railroad. Wine tasting and a chance for kids to learn a little history — can’t go wrong with that.

2000 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574, (707) 257-5771

Frog’s Leap Winery

Courtesy of Facebook: Frog’s Leap Winery

Kids (and dogs on leashes) will love exploring this working farm where they’ll get to meet chickens, try to spot frogs in the fish pond, and roam gorgeous gardens that serve as both scenery and habitat. The Garden/Cellar Tasting is the best option for people with children as it’s the most casual tasting available: you can either stroll through the gardens while you taste or hang out in the Barrel Cellar while the non-wine tasters sip on juice boxes and color.

8815 Conn Creek Road, Rutherford, CA 94573, (707) 963-4704

Honig Vineyard and Winery

Courtesy of Honig Vineyard and Winery

Kids are welcome on the Eco Tour + Tasting Experience at Honig, which includes a guided tour in a six-person cart (perfect for tired little feet) where you’ll all learn about the things that Honig does to take care of the environment, including how the Honig bees help, before finishing with a tasting. The winery is so kid-friendly, in fact, that during the tasting, kids can enjoy juice and snacks, play with toys and puzzles, color in coloring books, or even grab some sidewalk chalk and make art for everyone to enjoy.

850 Rutherford Road, Rutherford, CA 94573, (707) 963-5618

Inglenook

Courtesy of Inglenook

Children 12 and over are allowed to join the Inglenook Experience Tour and Tasting, which includes a walking tour of the chateau, vineyards, and infinity caves, and finishes with a seated wine and cheese tasting in a private room, but for a truly family-friendly experience, skip that in favor of a more casual experience at The Bistro. There, you can dine outside in the courtyard and enjoy wines by the glass or bottle, as well as soft drinks, coffee, bistro bites, cheese, and charcuterie. While the adults sip and chat, the kids can borrow wooden sailboats to sail in the courtyard fountain, a la the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, which the Inglenook gardens were inspired by.

1991 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford, CA 94573, (707) 968-1161

Castello di Amorosa

Courtesy of Castello di Amorosa

What kid (or grownup for that matter) doesn’t love a castle? Castello di Amorosa is an authentically-styled 13th century Tuscan castle winery that has 107 rooms, five towers, a moat with a drawbridge, courtyards, beautifully vaulted wine cellars, and even a torture chamber. Of course, that’s not all on display, but you will see a lot of the wine cellars and caves on the guided tour that allows children (over five), who get a cup of grape juice during the wine tasting portion. If you don’t think your kids are up for an hour-long walking tour followed by 45 minutes of wine tasting, or if they’re five or under, skip that part and explore the property (where you may spot sheep, emus, and peacocks) and the two main levels on your own. All “well-behaved and well-supervised” kids are allowed on the grounds for a general admission price of $20 (also includes grape juice). There are even coloring books and a kids’ table provided in the Knight’s Hall tasting room so your little ones can stay entertained while you taste.

4045 St. Helena Highway, Calistoga, CA 94515, (707) 967-6272

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Author

Daisy Barringer

Daisy Barringer is a freelance writer who grew up in San Francisco and now lives there with her 150-pound Saint Bernard, Monkey. When she’s not writing about food and drink, travel, and other ways to have the most fun, she’s out and about actually having the most fun (otherwise known as “research”). Follow her adventures on Instagram @daisysf.