Most winery picnic areas are beautiful and serene but if you looking for a fantastic view of the Napa Valley, we have four recommendations.
Diamond Oaks Winery
This is off the beaten path but the word is out and it has become a popular picnic spot among wine groups. The Diamond Oaks Wineryis located about a mile up the Oakville Grade. As you approach the Oakville Grocery you can spot the signs for the Oakville Grade. This picnic area also has a Bocce court. The best views are at the very end of the picnic area and often visitors don’t even see this area because it is a little lower than the main picnic area. This area affords a beautiful view of the Napa Valley. Best picnic wines here: The Chardonnay from Carneros with very little oak and the Carneros Pinot Noir.
Rutherford Hill Winery
The Rutherford Hill winery is located on the Silverado Trail on the opposite side of the Valley from Diamond Oaks. This winery has more picnic space than any other winery in the Valley. Many are hidden and secluded among olive trees. Hunt around for the ones that provide the best views of the Napa Valley. The winery also provides tours of the caves that are quite interesting to explore. Best picnic wine here: Rutherford Hill Rosé.
William Hill Winery
The William Hill Estate Winery is a Gallo Family-owned winery and affords spectacular views of the Silverado Bench and the Mayacamus Mountians. This place is about as quiet as it can get. Not many visitors venture off to the Atlas Peak area off the Silverado Trail. The winery has a very nice tour and tasting for $40 a person or you can just taste for $10 and picnic and enjoy the views. Best picnic wine here: Napa Valley Chardonnay.
Robert Sinskey
The Robert Sinskey winery may not have as nice a view as the three wineries above but it still affords a very beautiful view of vineyards across the Silverado Trail and on the hillside property of the winery. The setting is very serene and hospitality is terrific. This winery is also very “green” and you can get a look at the organic vegetable garden and the set of solar panels on the roof. You can enjoy food and wine pairings in the tasting room or just pack your lunch and sit back and relax among the various views of the vineyards. Best picnic wine here: A half bottle of Pinot Blanc.
Use the Trip-Planner to obtain a free map and set of directions to any of these wineries.
My husband and I recently took a fantastic wine tour with Holme Grown Brand tours in Napa. The driver was so knowledgable and friendly and took us to a beautiful picnic site. He had a beautiful lunch prepared for us with crystal and china. I believe it was on Howell Mountain at a spot that he has exclusive access to through the owners (Rutherford Grove Winery). We highly reccommend it. He also drove a beautiful Mercedes SUV.
At Robert Sinskey Winery you have to be a wine club member to us the picnic tables.
The winery recently made this change. It seems that not all picnickers are cooperative and follow the guest rules of the winery.
Does anyone have an updated contact number for Diamond Oaks Vineyard? I’ve found three different phone numbers online and all of them have been disconnected. I’d like to confirm that they allow picnic guests at the vineyard.
Diamond Oaks disconnected numbers as of 04/26/10:
(707) 948-3000–Listed on their website
(707) 948-3010–Listed on Yelp.com
(707) 948-3002–Listed on napavalley.com
The winery closed its doors late last year. The winery sold and the new owner has not decided when to reopen.