3 Historic Napa Valley Wineries Day Trip

Larkmead, Stony Hill, and Louis M. Martini celebrate the past with an eye to the future.

An excursion to three historic wineries – Larkmead, Stony Hill, and Louis M. Martini – inspired this northern Napa Valley day trip. The Larkmead Vineyards story dates back to the 19th century, Stony Hill Vineyard’s to the decade after Prohibition, and Louis M. Martini Winery’s to the one before it. Each winery played a role in creating the Wine Country as we know it today, but with new initiatives, all are positioning themselves for the future. 

Pre-trip To-do list

1) You’ll need an appointment to visit the first two stops, Larkmead in southern Calistoga and Stony Hill on St. Helena’s Spring Mountain; especially in summer, it’s wise to book a day or more ahead. It’s okay to drop in at Louis M. Martini Winery, also in St. Helena, though a reservation is advisable.

2) Make a reservation for dinner, though except on summer and holiday weekends, you’ll likely be able to find a table at one of the north valley’s top restaurants. For lunch, you probably won’t need to book a table, but it never hurts.

Getting Going

 9 am

Cafe Sarafornia

Lunch won’t be until 1:45 pm, so fortify yourself with a substantial breakfast at your lodging or head to Calistoga’s Cafe Sarafornia. The café is a locals’ favorite for eggs and other mainstays, plus lighter fare. See the Calistoga Restaurants Cheat Sheet for other suggestions, among them Sam’s Social Club.

Two Morning Tastings

10 am

Larkmead Vineyards

Aesthetics, history, and collector-quality Cabernet Sauvignon are this southern Calistoga winery’s draws.

Larkmead Vineyards, whose tastings are geared toward collectors of its renowned Cabernets, lists its founding date as 1895. That was the year the second of this property’s three owners in the past century and a half took possession. A visit here revolves around aesthetics as well as history. 

Why go: rich history; paintings by winery owner Kate Solari Baker; genteel hospitality; Cabernets made with finesse.

Read the full Larkmead Vineyards review here.

12 noon

Stony Hill Vineyard

Chardonnay with a valley-view chaser.

Oaks, Douglas firs, and other trees line the narrow road north of downtown St. Helena that winds west from Highway 29 through parts of two state parks up to Stony Hill Vineyard. Fred and Eleanor McCrea, who purchased this former goat farm on the eastern slope of Spring Mountain during World War II, first planted grapes here in 1948. 

Mineral-driven, sommelier-beloved Chardonnay sealed the winery’s reputation. In good weather, a tasting on a stone terrace with views east across the Napa Valley to Howell Mountain follows the brief tour. 

Tip: Syrah is among the reds made here over the years, with Cabernet Sauvignon a 21st-century addition that the current owners are further emphasizing.

Why go: ageworthy whites; Spring Mountain setting.

Read the full Stony Hill Vineyard review here.

Lunch Downtown

1:45 pm

Have lunch in downtown St. Helena at one of several excellent restaurants, among them Cook St. Helena (rustic Italian, weekdays only) and Market (Tuesday–Saturday). Gott’s Roadside (burgers and more), Ray Ray’s Tacos (except Sundays), and the Clif Family Bruschetteria Food Truck (Wednesday–Sunday) serve spiffed-up comfort food. Take time before or after the afternoon tasting to browse the shops on Main Street’s 1200 and 1300 blocks.

Afternoon Tasting

3:30–4:00 pm

Louis M. Martini Winery

Sip Bordeaux-style wines in a splashy historic setting.

Having made a reservation for your preferred experience, proceed to Louis M. Martini Winery, just south of downtown. Unless you skipped lunch, you’ll probably want just a flight rather than the optional food pairing (which is very good).

Soaking up the history of this winery, whose Italian-born namesake emigrated to San Francisco and then returned to Italy to learn winemaking, is one of the pleasures of a visit here. Equally appealing are the wines, particularly the Cabernet Sauvignons from the Monte Rosso Vineyard atop Sonoma Mountain and bottlings of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and other Bordeaux varietals.

Tip: The winery is open until 6 pm daily, so you won’t feel rushed if you enjoy a long lunch.

Why go: outdoor tasting spaces; professional hospitality; winery’s place in Napa Valley history. 

Read the full Louis M. Martini Winery review here.

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Dinner Suggestions

Have dinner in Rutherford (Rutherford Grill or Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil), St. Helena (Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch (farm-to-table cuisine) or Gatehouse Restaurant, run by Culinary Institute of America students); or Calistoga (Evangeline, Lovina, or Solbar). 

For more Calistoga options, see the Calistoga Restaurants Cheat Sheet.   

Lodging Suggestions

If you need a place to stay, check out the Lodging Cheat Sheets for St. Helena and Calistoga. 

More Napa Valley Itineraries

Downtown Napa in a Day
48 Perfect Hours in Calistoga
10 Foolproof Napa Valley Cabernet Tasting Experiences
3 St. Helena Wineries with a Personal Touch
2 Splendid Days in Walkable Yountville

More About Napa Valley

Napa Valley Basics

This story originally appeared online in 2019; it was most recently updated in 2025.