Food,  Travel

7 Must-Visit Napa Wineries with a View

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When you think of visiting Napa Valley wineries, you probably imagine sipping a glass of cabernet in the middle of a rolling vineyard surrounded by sunflowers and butterflies on a warm summer day. 

And while that’s basically true for many of the winery experiences, there are over 400 wineries to choose from and it can be overwhelming to narrow down your selection. You’ll definitely want to book a few tastings that offer those iconic Napa Valley views for the best experience. 

When in Napa, right?!

Wineries with a view in Napa Valley

This post is all about the best Napa wineries with a view.

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Napa Wineries with a View

There are many amazing Napa wineries with a view, but here are some of my favorites!

And of course, you’ll want to indulge in an incredible meal after all that hard work sipping wine in beautiful Napa scenery… so be sure to check out my ultimate Napa Valley 4-Day Itinerary for great restaurant tips.

1. CASTELLO DI AMOROSO

Castle winery in Napa Valley

Yes, it’s true. There’s a castle winery in Napa Valley! And it’s gorgeous.

Castello di Amorosa is not only one of the most unique wineries around, but also has one of the most beautiful views that will transport you to a summer day in Tuscany. This was one of my favorite tastings we did, and definitely the most memorable!

Although it appears to be one of the oldest structures in the area, the castle is still relatively new. Construction lasted 15 years, starting in 1994 and ending in April, 2007.

However, it is about as authentic as they come. Dario Sattui, fourth generation winemaker from the well-known Sattui family, cared deeply about making this castle as authentic as possible replicating other Tuscan 14th century castles, and every detail speaks to the intentionality of its design. 

Tastings include a tour of the castle, even the torture chamber and the chapel. You can also wander around on your own before or after the tour, so make sure to head up to the upper deck where the __ are for amazing views. 

They also show you how they make the wines and store them in the bottom of the castle.

You can select 5 wines per person to taste when you get to the tasting room. There is an option to add handmade Belgian chocolates for $7 per person, which is an obvious no brainer… They were delicious and a perfect sweet addition to the tasting experience!

  • Location: Calistoga
  • Tasting Price: Starts at $60 per person
  • View: Best views are from the top of the castle overlooking the vineyards and the valley
  • Known For: Iconic castle architecture
  • My Experience: My friend and I did the Diamond Estate Tour & Reserve Wine Tasting ($70 per person) + the Belgian Chocolate upgrade ($7 per person). We arrived about 45 minutes early to explore the property and take photos which I highly recommend!

2. DUCKHORN

duckhorn winery napa
Duckhorn Napa winery

The Duckhorn winery is cozy, charming and a classic Napa Valley favorite. The Duckhorn name is well-known in the wine industry. I’ve been a fan of their wines for a while so I wanted to add this to the list mostly for the wine. 

But surprisingly, I found that this charming little spot was also one of my favorite views!

Sitting on the porch looking out on the vineyard, the garden, the bees buzzing around the flowers, and all of the nature surrounding this perfect little slice of Napa was just perfect. 

I went here on a girls trip with one of my besties for her birthday and we had the best time hanging out on the porch, chatting with the host, and then wandering around after the tasting. Definitely consider a tasting at Duckhorn when creating your wine tasting itinerary!

  • Location: St. Helena
  • Tasting Price: Starts at $60 per person
  • View: Ask for a table on the porch so you can soak in the surrounding gardens and vineyard.
  • Known For: Highly-rated wines and reputable Duckhorn name.
  • My Experience: We booked the Portfolio Tasting ($60 per person) and were seated outside on the porch overlooking the property. Surprisingly the white wines were our favorites, but everything was amazing! The guide was so friendly, knowledgable and easy to chat with!

3. CHATEAU MONTELENA

Okay technically, the best view here happens AFTER the tastings, but I had to include Chateau Montelena on this list because of the gorgeous Japanese gardens you’ll find on the property and the beautiful view of the chateau wrapped in ivy. 

If you want to splurge, their $700 per person Hillside Terrace Experience includes a tour, tasting and private lunch with a beautiful view!

If you’re a member you can actually reserve one of the pagodas out on the lake for your tasting and a picnic. But for the rest of us, we’ll enjoy our wines inside the Chateau, which is also beautiful, and then stroll around the lake after. 

There is so much to see here, and even the large hugging trees caught my attention on the way in. The exterior of the Chateau is stunning and a great photo opp. The entire property is charming and offers a magical view to take in at every corner.

  • Location: Calistoga
  • Tasting Price: Starts at $60 per person
  • View: Japanese garden
  • Known For: Historic chateau with a Japanese garden and lake.
  • My Experience: This was one of my favorite experiences of any trip I’ve taken to Napa! We booked the Taste of Montelena tasting at the communal bar ($60 per person). From the moment we arrived, the entire vibe of Chateau Montelena was charming and serene.

4. DOMAINE CARNEROS

Domaine Carneros Napa winery view

Hands down, Domaine Carneros is the closest you can get to experiencing the French countryside in California. If I’m wrong, then show me and I’ll definitely be adding that place to my wish list!

The Chateau is perched on tif you top of a hill that overlooks the vineyard and rolling hills in the distance. Most of the tasting tables are outside so you’re almost guaranteed to experience the view if you book a tasting. 

I could sit here and sip wine all day! 

I’ve now visited twice and I don’t think I can go to Napa without stopping in for bubbly at Domaine Carneros, especially in warm weather. 

If you’re looking for a special occasion spot in Napa Valley with a view, this is definitely the one! 

  • Location: Napa
  • Tasting Price: Starts at $45 per person
  • View: Overlooks the vineyards from the chateau at the top of the hill.
  • Known For: French style chateau and great views.
  • My Experience: I’ve visited Domaine Carneros twice, and both times the views were insane! Sitting out on the patio overlooking the vineyards and hills in the distance and sipping bubbly is THE best way to experience Napa in my opinion. DO NOT SKIP THIS ONE!

5. NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN

PRIORITY WINE PASS LOCATION! Save on this wine tasting with the Priority Wine Pass.

Napa Valley Wine Train

What better way to sip on wine and take in the incredible Napa Valley views than from the comfort of a classic train?!

Although this isn’t technically a winery, these full or half day tours from offers amazing views of the Napa Valley that you can take in from the train car, especially the Vista Dome train.

The full day tour also includes 2 hours of tastings at Charles Drug and V. Sattui wineries as well.

Especially if you want to avoid driving, the Napa Valley Wine Train is a great way to experience the beautiful views of Napa Valley while sipping on fabulous Napa wines!

  • Location: Departs downtown Napa
  • Tasting Price: Starts at $175 per person
  • View: View of the Napa Valley all the way from Downtown Napa to St Helena and back.
  • Known For: Classic train experience with views of the valley.

6. CAKEBREAD CELLARS

Another well-known and respected name in the industry is the Cakebread name. So of course, when I saw this tasting option I grabbed a time slot without hesitation.

The grounds were beautiful! During nice weather, they seat you outside overlooking the property with beautiful flowers and fountains. Then they take you on a walking tour of the property, so you’re pretty much surrounded by beautiful scenery the whole time.

Check out the row of white garden roses for a great photo spot.

Oh and I almost forgot to mention… the wines are incredible!

  • Location: Napa
  • Tasting Price: Starts at $50 per person
  • View: Overlooks the vineyards from the chateau at the top of the hill.
  • Known For: French style chateau and great views.
  • My Experience: We booked the $50 Cakebread Classic Tasting. During our reservation it was cold and drizzling in the morning, so they sat us inside which was also really fun. But then it cleared up and we did get to go outside for the tour and take lots of photos! The entire property is gorgeous with incredible views.

7. BERINGER

PRIORITY WINE PASS LOCATION! Save on this wine tasting with the Priority Wine Pass.

My favorite part about the views at Beringer Vineyard is that the view is always changing! 

Why? Because they have a walking wine tour and you go at your own pace. 

There are several different stops where you can grab your next pour, but the rest is up to you. Find a view you like? Hang out a bit longer. Enjoying the gardens or a particular fountain? Park yourself and soak in the view. 

I personally enjoyed the last wine stand on the list near the old iconic Beringer home. There was a cute little garden and sitting area near the house. 

  • Location: Napa
  • Tasting Price: Starts at $50 per person
  • View: Overlooks the vineyards from the chateau at the top of the hill.
  • Known For: French style chateau and great views.
  • My Experience: We booked the Sip & Stroll walking wine tour with a 2 for 1 discount through the Priority Wine Pass. It was nice to walk around and take this tour at our own pace. The gardens and the main house were beautiful!

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Save These Wineries with a View for Later!

Now that you’ve seen my favorite Napa wineries with a view, which ones will you be adding to your Napa itinerary?

You can’t go wrong with any these top picks!

Save this post for later by pinning below or sharing it at the top. 

Happy travels!

-Hannah

This post was all about the best Napa wineries with a view.

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Plate & Compass is a food and travel blog written by Hannah Falkosky. After quitting her job and spending 8 weeks in Europe on just a few thousand dollars, she found her love for budget travel and sharing tips to help others explore the world. She also spent 15 years working with award-winning chefs and developed a love for artful food and cocktails. Hannah is now based out of Los Angeles, and when she’s not traveling she makes it her mission to explore the best restaurants and cocktail bars while living life to the fullest.

5 Comments

  • Hannah

    I live in France, surrounded by vineyards and chateaux, and some of these really do look the part! Domaine Carneros with that hilltop location and vines all around could be here for sure! I wish we had done the wine train last time we were in Napa, it looks so fun!

    • Plate & Compass

      Lindsey, I totally get it! I love Sonoma too. Haven’t spent much time in Mendocino, but want to do that soon. The castle is fun! And if you like bubbly, Domaine Carneros is just a cool experience and view.