Shypoke

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 3/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $35-50

  • Main varietals: Charbono, Cab, Grenache, Zin, Petit Sirah

  • Tasting fee: Didn’t see official tasting fee, ours was waived with purchase!

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.2

Shypoke has been on my list for a long time after finding out the winemaker Peter Heitz at Turnbull has his own label. I was also intrigued with a unique varietal called Charbono which Peter uses to make a rosé, blend, and single varietal red. Peter hosts tastings himself in his patio in Calistoga and it’s a lovely setting! We loved the experience and ended up buying a few different bottles. Can’t wait to open them at home.

More about Law Estate: Website, Yelp , IG

Aonair

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 4/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $40-100

  • Main varietals: Bordeaux varietal red blend, Cab Franc, Can Sauv, Grenache blend

  • Tasting fee: No fee to taste

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.5

Boutique winery up on the mountains with the best vibe. Multiple people in the Napa wine industry recommended this place and I couldn’t agree more! One of the best stops in all of Napa. and you get to taste for FREE! But you definitely won’t be leaving without purchasing a few bottles 😂because all of their wines area AMAZING. Tasting room has a outdoor fireplace but the real gem is a hidden tasting area through the vineyards. They will take you on an ATV that leads to a patio with wine barrel chairs and amazing view of the lake Hennessey.

More about Aonair: Website, Yelp, IG

Black Cat Vineyard

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 4/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $55-95

  • Main varietals: Cab Franc, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon

  • Tasting fee: Mostly members only, waived with purchases

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.4

It used be to a lot harder to find Cab Francs in Napa and I came across Black Cat Vineyard while searching for small wineries with Cab Franc. It’s been on my list for so long because they are mostly members only and when I got the chance to visit, it was a no brainer to join the club. Winemaker Tracey hosts all visits, private tasting on the property overlooking one of her vineyards is beautiful. My favorite was of course the Cab Franc, it is my go-to wine all day every day. But all of her wines are really good, including the Syrah, which I’m usually not a huge fan of. Black Cat is definitely a hidden gem that you don’t want everyone to find but also want to tell everyone about.

More about Black Cat Vineyard: Website, Yelp

The Terraces

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 4/5

  • QPR: 4/5, average price $30-85

  • Main varietals: Refreshing whites (Chenin, Dry Riesling) and reds (Tempranillo, Cab, Cab Franc)

  • Tasting fee: No fee to taste but tour requires you to take home 3 bottles of your choice

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: 4.3

If you like unique tasting experience with a small family winery, Terraces has to be one of the top choices! But also for anyone visiting Napa. Winery is owned by husband and wife and tour/tasting is run by them and their assistant winemaker. Tour starts with a ride on a 4wd through their beautiful property and vineyards and it was so fun! I liked every single wine we tasted and taking home 3 bottles was not hard, we actually ended up buying more than 3.

More about Terraces: Website, Yelp, IG

The Spire Collection

TL;DR

  • Cute for pictures: 4/5

  • QPR: 4/5

  • Main varietals: They’ve got everything. Taste wines from more than 10 different wineries

  • Tasting fee: $60 to taste, waived with 3 bottle purchases

  • Average wine rating on Vivino: N/A

This tasting room has something for everyone. They own a portfolio of various wineries across multiple regions including Napa, Mendocino, Oregon, Australia, South Africa, and Italy. The best part is they customize your tasting so you can fully enjoy every single wine on the flight. Perfect for white wine lovers, Pinot lovers, Bordeaux blend lovers, for anyone who loves wine! We tasted whites from Oregon and Bordeaux style reds from Australia, Napa, and Italy but would love to go back to try different Pinots!

More about Spire Collection: Website, Yelp, IG