Merryvale Vineyards is one of the more popular wine tasting stops in the Napa Valley. Merryvale is located just as you enter the town of St. Helena driving north on Highway 29. It is right next store to the landmark Tra Vigne restaurant.
We like this winery for several reasons. We had a memorable evening at Merryvale several years ago at our nephew’s wedding rehearsal dinner. The dinner was held in Merryvale’s great Cask Room. It was one of those evenings that place an indelible mark in one’s memory bank.
The Merryvale staff is extremely knowledgeable and very accommodating. A comfortable atmosphere pervades the tasting room. Merryvale has wine education seminars monthly and holds a barrel tasting every 2nd Saturday and Sunday of the month. No appointment is needed for the barrel tasting and the fee is $7. We happened to hit the right Saturday on our visit and joined the barrel tasting. It turned out to be one big party. It was fun but best of all very educational comparing vintages and varietals.
The Merryvale wines are all excellent. Tasters get a choice of what class of wines to taste and fees vary accordingly. The tasting room is spacious and with doorways that open into the Cask Room, the barrel room, and winemaking facilities. There is also a good selection of merchandise for sale if that is an attraction. The tasting room is open from 10:00 to 6:30 pm daily.
Whenever we are in the Valley and near Merryvale we make it point to drop in and pick up a bottle of their fabulous dessert wine, Antigua, Muscat de Frontignan. You can find most of their wines in retail wine shops but usually not this one.
The Good: Good wine information, wine events, the Cask Room
The Bad: Can be very busy with visitors. Traffic in St. Helena is very congested.