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Downtown Napa Valley's Best Tasting Rooms | Local Wally's Napa Tourist Guide (Copy)

Local Wally takes you on a Walking Wine Tasting adventure through Yountville, 2 for 1 tastings, FREE coupons, BEST restaurants.

Downtown Napa’s Best Tasting Rooms

Walk, Don’t Drive, to Napa’s Best Downtown Tasting Rooms

First, let me get this out of the way - a tasting room is not a winery. That might sound obvious but if you’re coming to Napa as a first timer you need to get OUT and visit actual wineries. That said, nearly every trip to Napa has a bit of “extra” time to sneak in another tasting and if you are here multiple days it’s nice to have a day where you don’t have to get into a car and don’t need a lot of plans.

For these times there’s Downtown Napa with tons of tasting rooms and plenty of shops and restaurants along the way. Walking to them is easy, a half mile walk along 1st Street will let you hit the top picks and end at Oxbow Public Market, a great place to grab some snacks or dinner. So put on your Sketchers and don’t forget your Priority Wine Pass because a lot of these stops will give you extra splashes or even two for one tastings just by flashing your wine pass.


Would You Stop to Pick Up a $100 Bill?

In case you missed it it’s now 2024 and a lot is different - everywhere. In Napa the biggest change is the skyrocketing price of wine tasting and the demise of the two for one coupons. Yes, Napa Valley has gone from a fun weekend trip to a luxury vacation. Luckily, the Priority Wine Pass has your back. There are still plenty of 2 for 1 deals and other discounts to keep you busy for a week, saving you on average a hundred bucks a day. You don’t have to buy one but who wouldn’t pick up a Franklin if you saw it just sitting there?

One pass per couple is all you need and with it you get free concierge service to help you pick wineries.

  • Andretti Winery: 2 for 1 discount for Napa Valley Tasting (1 offer per wine pass; max group of six) By Appointment only ($30 Savings)

    Bazan Cellars: 2 for 1 tasting on either the Tradition or Legend tasting (max 6 guests) ($40 Savings)

    Gustavo Wine: 2 for 1 tasting of our First Flight wines and 10% off wine purchases. ($47 Savings)

    Jaffe Family Wines: 2 for 1 tastings & an extra 10% off your first year of wine club membership ($125 Savings)

    JaM CELLARS: PWP members get a Backstage Pass at JaM Cellars where guests will be able to select the wine tasting of their choice. Your JaMbassasdor host will elevate your experience with a complimentary JaM Snack Trio and a couple of extra pours of curated wine selections from our current and vintage offerings from the vault!

    John Anthony Vineyards: Purchase a tastings and receive 2-3 premium pours for 2 guests ($40 Savings)

    Rebel Vintners: 10% off select wine purchases

    MaCo Vineyards: 2 for 1 on our Estate Flight and 10% off bottle purchase. ($60 Savings)

    Napa Valley Bike Tours: 20% off Bike Rentals and 10% off Bike Tours, for up to four guests.

    River Terrace Inn: Receive 15% off the best available room rate per night*

    Tarla: Complimentary chefs choice appetizer with purchase  ($12 Savings)

    Vinoce: 2 for 1 wine tasting and 10% off purchases ($50 Savings)

    WALT Wines Napa Oxbow: Priority Wine Pass member and one guest will receive Membership pricing ($20 off) on the Wine and Chocolate pairing experience, with prior reservation. ($40 Savings)

Can You Walk a Half Mile? For Wine? I Thought So!

25 or so tasting rooms spread out over downtown, the list below is in rough geographical order so whatever winery tasting room you start with the next one on the list is probably right down the street or very close. The list starts in the main downtown area and ends up at the Oxbow Public Market because after all this wine tasting might make you hungry, right? Turn off that GPS! Think of this as the Easter Egg hunt you loved as a kid, only this time instead of jelly beans the reward is a glass of wine.

Do you need reservations? Not always - if there’s room for you they’ll most likely seat you. But reservations are always welcomed and recommended.


ROBERT CRAIG WINERY

1553 2nd St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 252-2250

Enjoy a flight or glass on the patio and pretend this cottage is your home, or move inside to the salon for a relaxing visit where no one seems to be in a rush.

Tastings start at $35 pp

One Word Description: Relaxed

GAMLING AND MCDUCK

1420 2nd St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 312-2574

Fun and a bit irreverent which is nice because lets not forget that wine tasting is supposed to be fun, even with wines this seriously good. Super fun!

Tastings start at $35 pp

One Word Description: Wacky

OUTLAND WINERY

920 Franklin St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 227-1277

You’re sure to find something you love since Outland pours from 3 wineries - POE, Forlorn Hope & Farella. They even allow walk-ins Thurs-Sun so walk in!

Tastings $40 pp

One Word Description: Modern


Roots Run Deep

1607 1st St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 945-1045

Want to bring home some Napa wine without breaking the bank? Then come here where exceptional wines start at $20 - a bottle, not a glass!

Tastings start at $40 pp

One Word Description: Value

JaM Cellars

1460 1st St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 265-7577

You’ve seen their Butter chardonnay at Trader Joe’s but have you tried their Butter Bubbles or Sugar Sweet White? Live music Thurs and Fri nights.

Tastings start at $25, music $20 pp.

One Word Description: Scrumdelicious

Priority Wine Pass Deal: PWP members get a Backstage Pass at JaM Cellars where guests will be able to select the wine tasting of their choice. Your JaMbassasdor host will elevate your experience with a complimentary JaM Snack Trio and a couple of extra pours of curated wine selections from our current and vintage offerings from the vault!

JOHN ANTHONY TASTING LOUNGE

1440 1st St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 265-7711

Classy and even luxurious tasting room that allows walk-ins when available and is open until 10PM Sun-Wed and until midnight Thur - Sat.

Tastings start at $30

One Word Description: Tasteful

Priority Wine Pass Deal: Purchase a tasting and receive 2-3 premium pours ($40 value)


Prime Cellars

974 Franklin St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 257-7477

A fun and casual tasting room shared with Trahan Winery, stop in and do both. Kids welcome in the lounge area while parents sip in back. Bring the dog, too.

Tastings $25, waived with 2 bottle purchase. Weekends only.

One Word Description: Easy

Photo: Tommy Justice

Acumen

1315 1st St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 492-8336

A Hip and trendy winery founded by the billionaire owner of Zoom, crazy, right? Walk-ins and reservations for flights, bottle service of their Sparkling Wines. Groups up to 9.

Tastings start at $60 pp.

One Word Description: Lifestyle

Photo: John G Lewis

Vineyard 29

1300 1st St Suite 305, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 967-5405

Makers of a 100 point cabernet sauvignon (that’s good!), make yourself comfortable into their modern glamorous tasting room for a flight, a glass, or bottle.

Tasting Fee: $40

One Word Description: Fancy


ALPHA OMEGA COLLECTIVE

1245 1st St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 294-6960

Showcasing A/O as well as two of their sister wineries from San Lius Opisbo and Spain, indulge in an exceptional wine + food pairing experience.

Tastings from $50 to $100 pp

One Word Description: De-lish-ous

Shadowbox Cellars

1201 1st St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 738-0386

Enjoy an elevated experience inside led by a vintner or winemaker or hang out street side for a self guided tasting flight of acid-driven, food friendly wines.

Tastings range from $40 to $60

One Word Description: Enlightening

Brown Downtown

1005 Coombs St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 963-2435

With just three tasting slots a day, Brown Downtown is able to provide consistently high hospitality that equals their wines.

Tastings $50, waived with $200 wine purchase.

One Word Description: Exclusive


Mia Carta Tasting Room

1209 1st St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 346-2244

Micro wineries here, 9 to be precise, allowing you to taste from one or across the entire collection. Chat with the vintners over flights, glasses, or bottles.

Tasting from $30 to $55 pp

One Word Description: Adventurous

Vermeil Winery

1018 1st St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 254-9881

Former NFL coach Dick Vermeil turns to wine and offers flight, glass, or bottle, one of the few tasting rooms open late, Sun-Thurs until 10PM, Fri - Sat until 11PM.

Tastings $50 to $95 pp

One Word Description: Touchdown

Photo by Colleen Harmon

New Frontier Wine Lounge

1040 Main St #101, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 690-9923

Tucked into a turn of the century building New Frontier is redefining luxury Napa Wine Tasting with a collection of premier wines from around the world.

Tasting fees vary, up to $100 pp

One Word Description: Classy


Vintner’s Collective

1245 Main St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 255-7150

18 small wineries in a rustically tasteful setting, walk in for the bar or reserve a seated experience. Pop in for a quickie sip, or stay all afternoon.

Tasting flights from $50 to $125

One Word Description: Flexible

Housley Tasting Room

1038 Clinton St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 690-9192

More like a living room than a tasting room, affordable wines along with bags of homemade chips and popcorn, super laid back. No reservations needed.

Tastings $20, glasses of wine $8 - $12.

One Word Description: Affordable

Bazan Cellars

1300 Main Suites, 960 Clinton St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 927-5564

Open Thurs-Sun with live music every Sat from 6-9 in Spring and Summer, order food from the Napa Valley Bistro and you’re all set for the evening.

Tastings start at $55 pp

One Word Description: Tasty

Priority Wine Pass Deal: 2 for 1 tasting on either the Tradition or Legend tasting (max 6 guests)


ST CLAIR BROWN WINERY & BREWERY

816 Vallejo St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 255-5591

Mix it up with a winery that’s also a brewery in a lively urban farmyard setting. Small bites, casual, and lots of veggies everywhere.

Wine flights from $65, Beer flights $25

One Word Description: Urban

Mark Herold Wines

710 1st St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 256-3111

From a $28 sauvignon blanc to a $200 cab, Mark Herold makes and serves a variety of wines to suit any level and budget. Walk-in’s OK.

Tastings from $35 pp

One Word Description: Variety

FEAST IT FORWARD

1031 McKinstry St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 819-2403

Wines from 15 wineries, live music, cooking shows, grab some food from Oxbow Public Market and chill out!

Wines by the glass: menu

One Word Description: Fun!


Krupp Brothers Tasting Room

714 1st St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 266-1233

Their actual winery is like a Tuscan villa - highly recommended. But if short on time come here and relax with a flight or glass of their excellent wine. Open till 8.

Tastings start at $35 pp

One Word Description: Delightful

Gustavo Winery

1021 McKinstry St, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 257-6796

Why is the name Gustavo so familiar? Maybe you saw the movie Bottle Shock, the story of how Napa beat the French and Gustavo’s role in making the wine.

Tasting fees start at $47 pp

One Word Description: Incredible

Priority Wine Pass Deal: 2 for 1 tasting

WALT WINES

605 1st St, Napa, CA 94558 | (707) 933-4440

You know Hall Wines, right? Katheryn Hall’s parents were the Walts and this is her sister winery. Pinots and chardonnays in a boutique setting.

Tasting Fee $30, Food and Wine $80

One Word Description: Inviting

Priority Wine Pass Deal: Priority Wine Pass member and one guest will receive Membership pricing ($20 off) on the Wine and Chocolate pairing experience, with prior reservation.


All This Wine Tasting is Making Me Hungry!

Wait, don’t call that Uber quite yet! If you’ve ended up near the Oxbow Public Market then you should know that you are near some good eats, I mean really good eats, all within walking distance.

Hog Island Oysters (photo credit: Jennifer Park)

Hog Island Oysters

Shellfish seafood sure does sound good for dinner tonight and if you want a no compromise, no frills dinner then walk right into Oxbow Public Market and head to the back where you’ll find Hog Island Oysters. Raw oysters, cooked oysters, oyster po-boys, and some killer clam chowder and shellfish. For non-seafood diners there’s a gourmet grilled cheese that’s damn delicious.

Hog Island Oysters Menu


Gott’s Refresher in Napa (photo credit: LostboyzKING)

Gott’s Roadside

The original Gott’s in St. Helena was an old burger joint that was reborn as a foodie burger paradise. The downtown location might lack a bit of the original charm but the food is still incredibly good, from the traditional burger to my favorite, the rare ahi burger with ginger wasabi mayo. Fries, rings, tacos, salads, shakes, and yes, excellent wine and craft beer - this is Napa after all!

Gott’s Refresher Menu