The town of Yountville has come a long way in the last 20 years. Even though there are only about 3,600 residents (one-third live in the Yountville Veterans Home), the number of top-quality wineries represented by their tasting rooms along Washington Street continues to grow. As a luxury destination for food, wine, and accommodations, Yountville surpasses any town in the Napa Valley. You must see and experience this wonderful town for yourself!
Tasting rooms continue to spring up as more wineries are anxious to put their delicious wines on display. There is no shortage of choices while in Yountville. Make a reservation well in advance if you visit on a weekend or holiday!
To get you started, here are five fantastic wine tasting venues to try in Yountville, listed in no particular order.
Pro Tip: Many of the Yountville hotels have agreements with tasting rooms. If you are staying in a Yountville hotel, ask the concierge if they offer any wine tasting deals with local tasting rooms. Some hotels will provide a ride to your destination. Or enjoy a pleasant walk if it is close by as so many are.
1. Domaine Chandon
Across St. Helena Highway, Domaine Chandon is a short drive through beautiful trees and attractive landscaping. A short stroll over a bridge from the parking lot brings you to a large trellis, heavy with the vines of last year’s flowers. The entrance to the building is grand, and even in winter, without all of the green leaves and hanging lilacs, the building is quite stunning. A perfect excuse to return in the spring or summer to see the colorful flowers and vines in full bloom.
Chandon is known for its production of excellent sparkling wines. They are also producers of still wines. Vineyards in Yountville, Los Carneros, and Mt. Veeder grow pinot noir, chardonnay, and pinot meunier grapes typically used in the production of sparkling wine.
Reserve a Chandon event space for an anniversary or birthday party, a team building session, or a small group gettogether. Beautiful patio spaces, outdoor seating options, and elegant table settings await. Guests rave about the charcuterie board and its presentation. Choose to enjoy a wine pairing when reserving; your food and wine are prepared and presented in fabulous surroundings. Domaine Chandon is a do-not-miss, unique, and unforgettable venue.
Pro Tip: Domaine Chandon welcomes guests who are 21 years of age or older.
2. Jessup Cellars
Exceptional wines are sometimes artfully combined to make them even better. The artists at Jessup Cellars take a great deal of pride in producing “The Art Of The Blend” wines. Tasting the different compositions is what Jessup Cellars is all about. Executive Winemaker Rob Lloyd skillfully crafts their blended wines. Their chardonnay and zinfandel stand out as some of their finest wines. All presented in a fun, relaxing atmosphere.
In addition to wine tasting, Jessup Cellars has an art gallery as part of the tasting room. Beautiful paintings are on display and can be purchased. Sitting down to taste all of the delicious wines surrounded by beautiful art is unique, relaxing, and enjoyable. Jessup Cellars added the space by buying an art gallery next door and opening the wall between them. The gallery features the works of regional and national artists. It hosts specialized interactive experiences — the Art House Sessions summer music series and the Art House Short Film Series are popular events.
A.J. Eisiminger is the V.P. of retail sales and operations for Jessup Cellars. He is also a certified sommelier. A.J.’s goal is to provide the very best customer experience, and Jessup Cellars received CellarPass’s “Friendliest & Most Knowledgeable Staff” award four years in a row. Recently, Jessup Cellars was named Yountville’s business of the year.
Pro Tip: Join Jessup Cellars Member Family Wine Club for access to all of their quality wines. Their thousands of wine club members buy most of the wine. The rest is sold in the tasting room and a few select restaurants. Don’t miss out!
3. RH Wine Vault
The RH Wine Vault is a curated collection of fine wines from Napa and Sonoma counties and other California locations. The historic 1904 building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The stone construction provides a beautiful backdrop for wine tasting, along with chandeliers and comfortable seating.
The RH Wine Vault is an excellent place to relax with a glass of wine before dinner. Next door is the RH restaurant, where you can enjoy a lovely brunch or dinner surrounded by live olive trees, chandeliers, and attentive wait staff. The atmosphere is inviting, and the well-thought-out decorations are a must-see. It is one of Yountville’s finest venues for wine tasting, as well as dining, and is not to be missed!
RH Wine Vault is a luxurious way to spend time in Yountville. Oddly enough, cheeseburgers are the most popular a la carte item that customers enjoy with their wine. There is a gallery behind the main building, where design help is available for your home. After all, RH is all about experiencing food, wine, art, and design. A unique venue and a must-see when in Yountville.
Pro Tip: Try pairing Pierre Sparr’s sparkling rose with the Shaved Vegetable Salad. Or choose the house-made burrata, add prosciutto, and pair with Perrier-Jouët. And don’t miss the house-made chocolate chip cookie salted with Maldon salt!
4. Hope & Grace Wines
Renowned winemaker Charles Hendricks brings artisanal wines to Yountville’s Hope & Grace tasting room. The winery focuses on single-vineyard limited production, a relatively small producer of 3,500 cases per year. The collection is lovingly named after Mr. Hendricks’s two daughters.
Hope & Grace is inside of a cluster of shops and businesses. Enjoy a tasting in the bright and airy tasting salon. Large windows and double doors look out onto the courtyard. Comfortable chairs and homey decorations provide a wonderful antique vibe. A wine and cheese tasting is available. Reservations are encouraged, but staff will seat you if space is open. Weekends can be pretty busy. Reserve your tasting during the week for a more personal experience.
The staff is friendly and talks about each wine during the tastings. Many people find that they like all of them and will join the establishment’s wine club, a sure way to keep enjoying the tremendous Hope & Grace wine collection at home.
Hope & Grace opened its tasting salon in 2006, intending to serve their customers wines from the finest grapes, aged in French oak barrels. With a warm and inviting atmosphere, guests experience firsthand the limited production, single-vineyard wines produced for this venue.
Pro Tip: Children are welcome to visit and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. The tasting room is also dog-friendly.
5. Priest Ranch
In 2021, Priest Ranch celebrated its 20th anniversary. Priest Ranch is a welcoming place to visit, with a wine tasting room filled with unique decorations, a cozy fireplace, a beautiful MVP room, and a large, glass wine vault by the front door. Visitors can park around the back or on the street in front.
Reservations are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome if seating is available. A lovely patio is open on the side of the building. Next door, another building will soon be a Priest Ranch restaurant. The owners plan to offer fun burgers, fries, and other snack menu items. Two buildings separated by a courtyard patio will significantly improve the Priest Ranch experience.
The winery works with hotels in Yountville to offer a 2-for-1 wine tasting, an excellent deal, and a chance to sample their wine in a cozy venue. For maximum enjoyment, try the bacon and wine pairing. Pumpkin spice bacon, Hawaiian pineapple, and tomato glaze are just a few of the bacon flavors you can expect. A charcuterie board with nuts, cheeses, and meats tops it all off. What better than bacon in one hand and a glass of wine in the other to bring a smile?
Pro Tip: Dogs are welcome to visit the front and back patio.
A Final Sip
Excellent Yountville and Napa Valley wines are available to taste and buy everywhere you turn. The wine tasting rooms in Yountville are exceptional. Like everyone else in Yountville, winemakers put their best foot forward to bring customers an experience they won’t forget. Yountville is an excellent base for exploring the Napa Valley. When in the Napa wine-growing region, choose to visit the wonderful town of Yountville for a luxurious vacation or a fun, relaxing weekend.
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