Top Silverado Trail Wineries in the Napa Valley

Clos Pegase

On the east side of the Napa Valley is the Silverado Trail. This road is much less traveled and is the preferred route for the Napa natives. The road is lined with vineyards and offers the wine taster a fabulous selection of wineries.If you did not pack a picnic lunch, you can stop at the Soda Canyon Store, on the left, just before you get to the wineries (4006 Silverado Trail). There are several wineries on this trail with good picnic facilities

Additional Wineries to Consider on the Silverado Trail

• Judd's Hill - First winery on Silverado Trail, great Cab
• ZD Wines - Organically farmed, delicious Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
• Casa Nuestra - Small family winery, unique blends

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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Winery Descriptions, Driving Directions, Tasting Room Hours

Clos du Val
The first winery on the tour as you are traveling north is Clos du Val. It is a beautiful winery located in the Stags Leap Appellation. They make a variety of wines, but their specialty is Cabernet Sauvignon, releasing several different bottlings of Cabernets each year. The Cabernets rank among the best in the Napa Valley. Don’t pass up the other wines; try the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Clos du Val is the only winery that makes a Zinfandel from grapes grown in the Stags Leap AVA. The wine tasting room staff is top notch, taking time and effort to make your visit informative and enjoyable. There are a few picnic tables here where you can relax and enjoy the vineyards.

Tasting room open daily 10 am to 5, (800) 993-9463
E-mail: cdv@closduval.com, Clos du Val

Chimney Rock Winery
Just a short distance from Stags Leap is Chimney Rock Winery. Turn into the driveway on the east side of the Silverado Trail. As you make your way down the driveway, you will be treated to a fantastic view of the winery ahead, set against a gorgeous hillside of vineyards. The winery’s architecture is extraordinary and its white façade stands out among the vineyards. This is a limited production winery, featuring high-end wines produced from vineyards located in the Stags Leap AVA. The tasting fee is $6 and you get to keep the glass. Their Cabernet Franc, a varietal that is seldom bottled, is a delicious wine. Most of the wines at Chimney Rock are found in exclusive restaurants and high-end wine shops.

Tasting room open daily 10 am to 5, (800) 257 2641
E-mail: club@chimneyrock.com, Chimney Rock Winery

Stags Leap Wine Cellars
This small winery rocked the wine world in 1976 at the now-famous Paris blind wine tasting. Its 1973 Cabernet was selected over other Bordeaux Grand Cru wines as the best of the tasting. It was at this point that Napa Valley and California gained fame and fortune as a world-class wine producing region. The winery, still run by its original founder, Warren Winiarski, continues to produce fine quality Cabernets. For a bit of important history in Napa Valley wine, stop by this winery and enjoy the fine Cabernets and the other good wine varietals. Stags Leap Wine Cellars is just north of Chimney Rock on the east side of the Silverado Trail. It is easy to miss, so watch carefully.

Tasting room open daily 10 am to 4:30, (866) 422 7523
E-mail: retail@cask23.com, Stags Leap Wine Cellars

Pine Ridge Winery
Pine Ridge is one of the elite wineries of the Napa Valley, making some of the best Cabernets from the Stags Leap AVA. The winery also owns prime vineyards in other areas of the Napa Valley. This is a tranquil and pretty setting for a picnic lunch. You might also want to take the wine tour and have a chance to admire the caves stocked with over 4000 barrels of aging wine. You need to call ahead to reserve a spot on the tour. There is also a demonstration vineyard on the grounds providing visitors with insights into the vineyard management. The winery is located on the west side of the Silverado Trail about a mile south of the Yountville Cross Rd and almost directly across from Stags Leap Wine Cellars.

Tasting room open daily 10:30 am to 4:30, (800) 575-9777
E-mail: info@pineridgewine.com, Pine Ridge Winery

Robert Sinskey Vineyards
This fabulous winery sits up against a hillside vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon. The picnic area boasts an eye-catching view of the valley, making it a great choice for your picnic lunch. Try a glass of their delightful Pinot Blanc with your pinic. The Pinot Blanc is sold in the half bottle. The winery owns vineyards in both the Staggs Leap appellation and the Carneros region. Our favorite wine is the Vintage Reserve, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. They also produce a very delightful Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Tasting is $10. If you have six or more in your party, you must call ahead to make an appointment. The Robert Sinskey Vineyards is just a short distance south of Yountville Cross Road and is on the east side of the Silverado Trail.

Tasting room open daily 10:00 am to 4:30, (800) 869-2030
E-mail: info@robertsinskey.com, Robert Sinskey Vineyards

Plumpjack Winery
Plumpjack is a boutique winery nestled in the Oakville vineyards. You will love the view of the vineyards as you turn off the Silverado Trail onto Oakville Crossroad. Drive about half a mile among the vineyards and turn right into the winery entrance. This is the same company that runs the famous Plumpjack Restaurants located in San Francisco and Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe. Since the wine production is small, the wines are sold mainly at the winery and to high-end restaurants. Their best wines are the Cabernets. You may have heard of Gavin Newsom, the Mayor of San Francisco. The Mayor is one of the partners in the Plumpjack Winery.

Tasting room open daily 10 am to 4 daily, (707) 948-1220
E-mail: winery@plumpjack.com, Plumpjack Winery

Rutherford Hill Winery
Rutherford Hill is a popular winery for tasting, touring, and a picnic lunch. The winery has regularly scheduled 30-minute tours, which include a visit to their amazing mile long cave system. There are three picnic areas to choose from. We like the picnic area hidden among olive trees. It is quiet and provides a good view of the Napa Valley below. Either a glass of Sauvignon Blanc or of the Gewürztraminer is a great choice to go with your lunch. As you are traveling north on the Silverado Trail, you find Rutherford Hill Road just a short distance from Rutherford Cross Road. It will be on the east side and a bit hidden from view. Travel up the hill past Auberge du Soleil to the winery.

Tasting room open daily 10 am to 5, (707) 963-1871
E-mail: info@rutherfordhill.com, Rutherford Hill Winery

Duckhorn Vineyards
Duckhorn winery is located on Lodi Lane just off the Silverado Trail. As you turn into the driveway, you will see the Victorian tasting room set back against beautifully manicured vineyards. The tasting room is relatively new and provides one of the most beautiful settings anywhere in the Napa Valley. As soon as you set foot into the winery, you get the sense that you are somewhere exquisite. The tasting area is beautifully decorated, matching the high quality of the wines produced by Duckhorn. A $10 tasting fee provides you with a taste of three wines. The Duckhorn Merlot is one of the best.

Tasting room open 10 am to 4 daily, (888) 354-8885
E-mail: welcome@duckhorn.com, Duckhorn Vineyards

Rombauer Vineyards
This winery is owned by Koerner and Joan Rombauer. If the name Rombauer rings a bell, you probably have the classic cookbook on your shelf, “The Joy of Cooking.” The book was written by the Rombauer’s great aunt Irma Rombauer. One could say that the winemaking Rombauers have taken a cue from their great aunt and put “The Joy of Wine” into this winery. Joy is evident in the tasting room atmosphere and the quality of the wines. The gardens are very beautiful and inviting. We highly recommend a tour of the caves if you have the time. The Rombauer entrance will be on the west side of the road about 3/4 mile south of Bale Lane. Watch closely for the sign because it is easy to miss.

Tasting room open daily 10 am to 5 daily, (707) 963-5170
E-mail: sheanar@rombauervineyards.com, Rombauer Vineyards

Dutch Henry Winery
The Dutch Henry Winery is a small, family-owned winery that produces 5000 cases of wine per year. With a small production, the winery can devote itself to producing small case lots of excellent varietals. There is no tasting room as such, but an area inside the winery is set aside for tasting. For $5, you get to taste some delicious wines. The Cabernet is outstanding. The atmosphere is low key here and quite a contrast from the other wineries on this tour. The winery is tucked away on the east side of the Silverado Trail. Watch for the sign to Dutch Henry Road and shortly there after is the winery entrance. Coming from the north, the winery is just south of the Cuvaison Winery.

Tasting room open daily, 10 am to 4, (888) 224 5879
E-mail: info@dutchhenry.com, Dutch Henry Winery

Cuvaison Winery
An atmosphere of warmth and friendliness mark this winery. The tasting room is small but comfortable. The staff is very accommodating and eager to talk about the Cuvaison wines. On occasion, you might even find winemaker Steven Rogstad serving wine to the many visitors who come to Cuvasion. The winery was first established in 1969 and is now owned by the Schmidheiny family of Switzerland. Since this family’s ownership they have increased their acres by purchasing prime acreage in the Carneros and Mt. Veeder appellations. Their specialty is Chardonnay, accounting for sixty percent of their wine production. The Pinot Noir is also an excellent wine, coming from the cooler growing Carneros region. Cuvaison wines are served by many of the finer restaurants around the world. The winery has a shaded picnic area. The winery is located 100 yards south from Dunaweal Lane on the east side of the Silverado Trail.

Tasting room open daily, 10 am to 5, (707) 942-3468
E-mail: info@cuvasion.com, Cuvaison Winery

Clos Pegase
This is a must stop. The wine is terrific here, but even better is the architecture of the winery and works of art displayed throughout the buildings and grounds. The winery is stunning, painted in pastel colors with lines and columns that blend in perfectly with the vineyards and surrounding countryside. As you walk the grounds you will find peace and tranquility and art everywhere. The wines are excellent and we especially like the Clos Pegeso, a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Syrah, and Merlot. Thirty minute tours are given at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. To get to this winery drive two miles south of Calistoga. Turn right on Dunaweal Lane.

Tasting room open daily 10:30 am to 5, (800) 366-8583
E-mail: cp@clospegase.com, Clos Pegase