Take Advantage of Springlike Napa Valley and Sonoma County Weather

By / Napa Valley, Places/Activities, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley, Wine

Expect sunny days and warm afternoons – perfect for outdoor wine tasting.

It’s the second week in February 2022, but it feels like springtime in the Napa Valley and Sonoma County. It would be nice if it were raining to ease the drought, but unfortunately that’s not the case.  Temperatures in the 70s are forecast into the middle of the month – perfect for outdoor wine tasting.

To help you decide where to take advantage of the springlike weather, below are three 30-second videos introducing a few winery favorites from Fodor’s Napa and Sonoma – something for every mood, taste, and budget. Snippets from each winery’s Fodor’s review are provided. These are all great places to sip wine and bask in the sun, though be nice and pray for rain afterward. A few are closed on Tuesday or Wednesday, but most pour daily. Make an appointment a day or two ahead; some places can accommodate same-day visitors (but still call ahead first).

Napa Valley

 

Napa

Robert Biale Vineyards (“Zinfandel from heritage vineyards holds the spotlight, with luscious Petite Sirahs in supporting roles.”)

Fontanella Family Winery (“Six miles from the downtown Napa whirl, husband-and-wife Jeff and Karen Fontanella’s hillside spread seems a world apart.”)

Yountville

Elyse Winery (“A country lane leads to this unassuming winery whose tastings have a casual backyard feel.”)

Oasis by Hoopes (“Vineyards surround the walk-through organic garden and corral for rescue animals.”)

Oakville

Nickel & Nickel (“For the splurge Terroir Tasting, hosts introduce eight single-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernets.”)

Rutherford

Frog’s Leap Winery (“The tour at eco-friendly Frog’s Leap is a fun way to begin your wine education.”)

St. Helena

Corison Winery (“Library tastings illustrate vintner Cathy Corison’s consistency as a winemaker.”)

Smith-Madrone Winery (“For a glimpse of the Napa Valley before things got precious, head up Spring Mountain to the vineyard Stu Smith purchased in the early 1970s.”)

Calistoga

Larkmead Vineyards (“Intuitive artistry informs everything that takes place on this 150-acre estate.”)

Vincent Arroyo Winery (“The presentation here is charmingly old school.”)

Sonoma Valley and Petaluma

Sonoma

Blue Farm Wines (“Hosts of private Chardonnay and Pinot Noir tastings at Anne Moller-Racke’s 13-acre estate explain her winegrowing philosophy.”)

The Donum Estate (“The white board-and-batten tasting room affords guests hilltop views, with large-scale museum-quality contemporary sculptures placed amid the vines.”)

Hamel Family Wines (“Guests on the broad stone terrace enjoy valley and Sonoma Mountain views.”)

Robledo Family Winery (“Lush Tempranillo, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon reds stand out among wines served on a covered patio jutting into a Pinot Noir vineyard.”)

Sangiacomo Family Wines (“The famed grape-growing family didn’t establish its own label until 2016, but its cool-climate wines are already earning critical plaudits.”)

Glen Ellen

Abbot’s Passage (“Sixth-generation vintner Katie Bundschu focuses on wines made from organic grapes grown in other family-owned vineyards.”)

Lasseter Family Winery (“Immaculately groomed grapevines dazzle the eye at John and Nancy Lasseter’s secluded winery.”)

Loxton Cellars (“Back when tasting rooms were low-tech and the winemaker often poured the wines, the experience at Loxton Cellars unfolded pretty much the same way it does today.”)

Kenwood

En Garde Winery (“Winemaker Csaba Szakál selects top Sonoma County vineyards for the Pinots and the Napa Valley’s Diamond Mountain, Mt. Veeder, and other high-elevation sites for the Cabernets.”)

Petaluma

McEvoy Ranch (“The Taste of the Season spread involves wine served with artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, olive oil, and other items.”)

Northern and Western Sonoma County

Healdsburg

ACORN Winery (“Bill and Betsy Nachbaur’s low-tech yet classy operation earns high praise for wines that include Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, and Dolcetto.”)

Capo Creek Ranch (“Dr. Mary Roy created a magical showcase for her mostly Rhône-style wines.”)

Limerick Lane Cellars (“Sip swoon-worthy Zinfandels . . . with vineyard and Mayacamas Mountains views.”)

Porter Creek Vineyards (“About as down-home as you can get, Porter Creek makes notably good wines from biodynamically grown grapes.”)

Tongue Dancer Wines (“Made from grapes from choice vineyard sites, these wines by James MacPhail impress—and sometimes stun.”)

Geyserville

CRUX Winery (“Crux validates the notion that superior fruit and an idiosyncratic perspective can trump high-tech equipment and a textbook approach.”)

Zialena Winery (“Zialena specializes in estate-grown Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon with a lush mouthfeel.”)

Windsor

Bricoleur Vineyards (“Hosts pour Cary Gott’s self-assured wines in settings with vineyard, garden, or Russian River Valley views.”)
 
Grand Cru Custom Crush (“Reserve a Vintners’ Selection of several wineries’ offerings or a private tasting with one of the labels—including Black Kite, Bucher, Flambeaux, and Secret Door—making wines here.”)
 

Sebastopol

Iron Horse Vineyards (“A casual rusticity prevails at the outdoor tasting area, which gazes out on acres of rolling vine-covered hills.”)
 
Lynmar Estate (“‘Elegant’ and ‘balanced’ describe Lynmar’s landscaping and contemporary architecture . . . and apply to the winemaking.”)
 

Santa Rosa

Belden Barns (“Experiencing the enthusiasm this winery’s owners generate supplies half the pleasure of a visit to Lauren & Nate Belden’s Sonoma Mountain vineyard.”)
 
Benovia Winery (“While tasting Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, views of the estate vineyard all the way to Mt. St. Helena draw the eye.”)

More Napa Valley Ideas and Itineraries

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