Napa Valley's 100 Year Old Wineries
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A
very interesting and educational experience when visiting the Napa Valley
is to visit a few of the oldest wineries in the Valley. This wine trail
will take you to wineries established 100 years or more ago. They have
wonderful stories to tell visitors. Most have tours and memorabilia,
and some have library wines to taste . Take yourself back in time with
a visit to one of these remarkable wineries. The Inglenook winery, in
the photo on the left, is the most magnificent of the 100-year-old wineries. |
Visit a few of these 100 year old wineries
• Beaulieu Vineyards –Founded
in 1900
• Beringer – Famous
Rhine House completed in 1884
• Charles Krug – Founded
in 1861 by Charles Krug, owned by Peter Mondavi
• Chateau Montelena – Established
in 1882 by Alfred Tubbs.
• Inglenook – Chateau
dates back to 1879
• Nichelini – Founded
in 1890. The same family owns it today
• Schramsberg – Founded
in 1862, present owners purchased winery in 1968
• Trefethen
Family Vineyards – Winery
built in 1886, Trefethen begins in 1968
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A fabulous book on the Napa Valley by a famed American Photographer: Napa Valley: The Land, The Wine, The People
Winery Descriptions, Tasting Room Hours, Contact Information
Beaulieu Vineyards
Beaulieu was founded in 1900 by Frenchman
George de Latour. The winery has long been famous for fine reserve wines, particularly
its estate George de Latour Cabernet Sauvignon. BV, as it is commonly called,
established innovative winemaking techniques by its founder George de Latour
and its renowned winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff. When the heirs of George de
Latour sold the winery to the Hublein Corporation, it created quite a stir
in the Valley. Today, the winery continues the tradition of making high-end
wines. In addition to these wines, BV also produces several other wines from
vineyards in the Central Coast of California. In addition to a regular tasting
room, the winery has the George de Latour Private Reserve Room where for $25
you can taste five very special wines, including at least one of their older
wines (library wines). This winery is worth a visit because of its past history
and influence on the Napa Valley. Beaulieu Vineyards is located in the town
of Rutherford on the east side of Highway 29.(Coupon)
Book a tasting using VinoVisit
Tasting room open daily, 10am to 5pm
(707) 967-5200, Beaulieu
Vineyards
Beringer Vineyards
Beringer Vineyards was founded
in 1897; it is the oldest continuous winemaking facility in the Napa Valley.
The main building, now the reserve tasting room, is called the Rhine House.
It is a classic German style chateau. This is an impressive building and
very much worth a visit. Beringer makes many wines, with collections for
a wide pocketbook range. In addition to the regular tasting room, there is
also a tasting room in the Rhine House where you can taste the Reserve wines.
You might also consider the tour here. The Beringer winery is currently owned
by Treasury Wine Estates.The winery is located just as you leave St. Helena
to head north. The turnoff comes up quickly on the left as you begin to enter
a grove of beautiful trees lining either side of the highway.
Tasting room is open daily, 10am to 5pm
(707) 963-8989 ext.2222, Beringer
Vineyards
Charles Krug Winery
This famous winery was established by Charles Krug in 1861and subsequently
purchased by Ceasar Mondavi. It is probably more noted for the
family feud between brothers Peter and Robert Mondavi. Robert Mondavi went
on to open his own winery and become the most famous name in Napa Valley
history. Today Peter Mondavi, Jr., and his family run the Charles Krug Winery.
The winery is located at 2800 Main Street in St. Helena.
Tasting Room open daily 10:30am to 5:00pm
(707) 967-2229; Charles Krug
Chateau Montelena
The winery is located just off the beaten path in the town of Calistoga. It’s
a very beautiful and old winery, producing outstanding vintages. The chateau
was built in 1882. Get a look at the chateau from below by walking down from
the parking lot. You will also notice an interesting man-made lake and grounds
landscaped with a Chinese theme. Chateau Montelena brought worldwide attention
to its wines in 1976 at the now-famous Paris blind tasting of French and California
wines. The 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay was judged first above all of the
French White Burgundies. The winery today continues to make outstanding wines.
To get to the winery, don’t turn right at the stoplight at Highway 29 and
Calistoga. Continue straight ahead for two miles. Turn right on Tubbs Lane. The
winery is located at 1429 Tubbs Lane.
Tasting Room open daily 10am to 4pm
(707) 942-5105, email: customer-service@montelena.com, Chateau
Montelena
Inglenook Estate
Francis Ford Coppola, of “The Godfather” movie fame, purchased
this winery in 1975. In 2011 Francis Ford Coppola purchased back the Trademark
name of Inglenook and changed the winery name from Rubicon back to its original
name, Inglenook. The Chateau is perhaps the most beautiful structure in the
Napa Valley. Tasting and tours are given daily. Inglenook is located in Rutherford
on Highway 29.
Tasting room open daily, 10am to 5pm
(707) 968-1100, email: Submit email through their Web site, Inglenook
Estate
Nichelini Winery
The Nichelini Family has had 121 consecutive harvests and is the oldest
continuous family-owned winery in the Napa Valley. This is a small-production
winery, only 4000 cases per year. The winery is off the beaten path, some 15
minutes from the valley floor atop Sage Canyon Drive. If you head up there
be sure to pack a picnic lunch, weather permitting, and perhaps if you have
time you might want to play a game of Bocce on the Nichelini court. As long
as you are up this far, you can also visit Rustin Winery and Somerston Winery
which are both nearby.
Tasting Room is open on Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 5 pm and by appointment
during the week. Nichelini
Schramsberg Vineyards
No Sparkling Wine tour of California wineries would be complete without a stop
at Schramsberg. The original winery, complete with miles of wine tunnels
and the beautiful Victorian home, was constructed in the late 1800’s.
Jack Davis and his wife Jamie purchased the historic property in 1965 and
set their minds on making the finest sparkling wine in the Napa Valley. Today
Schramsberg is known worldwide for its quality sparkling wine. The best way
to discover Schramsberg is to take the tour and tasting. Be sure to call
days before you trip to reserve your spot on one of the tours. This is a
very popular destination in the Napa Valley. The caves are very interesting
and so is the traditional method of hand riddling done by one person at Schramsberg.
Each day, Schramsberg’s
riddler turns an unbelievable 35,000 bottles of aging sparkling wine. (Book
a Cave Tour & Tasting)
Tasting and Tours seven days a week, by appointment only.
Phone: (707) 942-2414, e-mail: info1@schramsberg.com, Schramsberg
Trefethen Family Vineyards
The original winery built in 1886 was known as Eshcol and continued to make
wines until 1940. At that time the winery closed and it was not until 1968
that the Trefethen Family purchased the winery and brought it back to life.
The oringal winery facility is still used today. The lower portion is used
to age wine and houses the estate tasting room. This is the closest winery
to the town of Napa and is an easy one to visit. The winery is located at 1160
Oak Knoll Ave. Trefethen
Tasting Room is open daily 10am to 4:30pm. (866) 895-7696 Trefethen
Tips for your Napa Valley Wine Tour
You are encouraged to have a designated driver. Consider hiring
a limousine or van service.
First time to a winery in Napa? Find out what happens in a typical tasting
room.
Are you wondering about how to taste wine? Wine
Tasting Techniques
Almost wineries in the Napa Valley charge a tasting fee. Expect
to pay $10 or more to taste. Two people can always elect to share
a tasting.
Plan a picnic lunch. This is one of
wine country's greatest pleasures.
If you cannot picnic, enjoy a delicious lunch at one of Napa Valley's
many fine restaurants.
We list premium lodging and budget
lodging.
Pace yourself and make a day of wine tasting. Don't forget your
camera.
Visiting three wineries in one day is enough to you keep you busy
and content with the slow and easy pace of wine country.
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on Wine Country Getaways.
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