Napa Valley proved in a 1976 blind tasting (the "Judgment of Paris") that California wine could compete directly with Bordeaux, and the valley has spent the decades since building on that reputation, over 400 wineries across a strip of land barely 30 miles long.
Tasting Strategically
Book tastings in advance rather than walking in, most of Napa's better wineries now require reservations, and this also naturally paces your day, since driving between more than three or four wineries in a day is neither safe nor enjoyable.
Mix a well-known name (Robert Mondavi, Beringer) with a smaller, appointment-only producer for a fuller picture of the valley, the smaller wineries often provide more personal, less rehearsed tastings.
Napa vs. Sonoma
Napa proper is more polished and geared toward wine tourism, with correspondingly higher tasting fees and a more built-up main strip along Highway 29, better if a refined experience matters more than saving money.
Neighbouring Sonoma County is larger, more rural, and generally less expensive, with a comparable range of quality wineries and a stronger emphasis on farm-to-table dining alongside the wine.
Recommended Stay · Napa Valley · Rutherford
Auberge du Soleil
Terracotta-roofed cottages set into an olive grove hillside with sweeping vineyard views across the valley floor, the restaurant's terrace is considered one of the best sunset dinner spots in Napa.
