Sipping a beautiful wine: lovely. Enjoying a bite of delicious food: A delight. Sipping a beautiful wine alongside a bite of delicious food and experiencing the perfect food and wine pairing? Transcendental.

There’s just something magical that happens when all the elements of a well-made wine mix with the flavors and textures of a creative dish. You are transported to tastebud nirvana. Now factor in the stunning backdrop of Napa Valley and you have yourself the ultimate Wine Country experience.

Tasting rooms abound in Napa Valley, but not all Napa wineries offer food and wine pairing experiences alongside wine tastings – especially ones that go beyond the usual wine and cheese – so we have curated a list of some of the most spectacular.

FOR BUBBLE LOVERS

Domaine Carneros

Mention Napa Valley sparkling wine, and the mind instantly goes to Domaine Carneros. Founded by the family behind French Champagne house Taittinger, this iconic Napa Valley winery is celebrated for its grower-producer méthode traditionelle sparkling wines and Pinot Noir, all sourced from six estate vineyards in the Carneros appellation.

Get ready to feel like you’ve stepped inside the Great Gatsby at Domaine Carneros’ Plat de Perles experience. Head to the Salon des Reves, their Art Deco lounge that’s dripping with emerald and gold decor, before coming full circle with a tasting of three sparkling wines paired with six oysters. If you’re really wanting to up the ante, you can also add fresh ceviche, Tsar Nicoulai caviar, or opt for an upgraded wine flight.

Tasting Fee: $80
Visit: 1240 Duhig Road, Napa, CA 94559
Contact: (800) 716-2788

FOR THE CABERNET SUPERFAN

Sequoia Grove Winery

This Rutherford winery is considered one of the pioneering Cabernet Sauvignon producers that helped put Napa Valley on the global wine map since its founding in 1979. Tucked among the majestic Sequoia trees, the winery is also celebrated for its efforts to preserve the long-term sustainability of Napa — from its partnership with Save the Redwoods to being one of the first five vineyards certified under the new Napa Green guidelines.

For $150 per person, Sequoia Grove Winery offers The Ultimate Wine & Food Experience: A Taste For Cabernet. This delicious Napa Valley pairing experience invites guests to sample Sequoia Grove’s single-vineyard and reserve wines paired with unexpected dishes created by host and winery Executive Chef Spencer Conaty to showcase the immense versatility of the Cabernet grape. 

Tasting Fee: $150
Visit: 8338 St. Helena Highway, Napa, CA 94558
Contact: (707) 339-5757

FOR THE FOOD & WINE NEWBIES

Judd’s Hill

A MicroCrush winery that has perfected the art of small-lot wines, Judd’s Hill is a true blue, family-owned winery. Run by the tight-knit Finkelstein family, sipping these limited production wines is an honor considering they only produce 3,000 cases a year. Nestled just off the Silverado Trail, Judd’s Hill is particularly known for its spice-forward Cabernet Sauvignon, their very first release upon opening in 1989.

Sign up for Wine & Food in Balance, a sensory foodie experience that’s sure to wow. A professional wine educator will be there with you every step of the way, helping you to learn the art of pairing of food and wine pairing. Seats are extremely limited in this intimate, gourmet workshop, but worth booking for an educational deep dive into wine pairing.

Tasting Fee: $75
Visit: 2332 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558
Contact: (707) 255-2332

FOR BACON ENTHUSIASTS

Priest Ranch Winery

This St. Helena winery invites guests to their Yountville tasting room for what they promise to be unexpected Wine Country experiences, both when it comes to what’s in each bottle, as well as each wine tasting. Priest Ranch’s unique lineup features everything from zippy Grenache Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc to still and sparkling rosés to hearty Cabernet Sauvignon and red blends.

Everything’s better with bacon, and wine is no exception. Reserve the winery’s Bacon & Wine Experience and dig into four thick cuts of rich pork belly expertly paired with four wines selected to bring out the best in the bacon – a simple, but delicious wine tasting challenge.

Tasting Fee: $85
Visit: 6490 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599
Contact: (707) 944-8200

FOR EARLY RISERS

Clif Family

709 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574, (707) 968-0625

In the spring of 2018, the family behind Clif Bar & Company purchased a 40-acre vineyard in Napa Valley’s Oak Knoll District. Ever since, they have been creating wines sourced from the best vineyards in Napa Valley and Mendocino appellations. The Clif Family‘s goal is to create unique regional wines and foods by using sustainable practices that create high-quality wines with low impact on the planet.

Reserve a table for their Rise and Wine Tasting. There’s no better way to start your day than at this brunch-inspired spread that offers seasonal bites from the Clif Family’s organic farm. Your tasting will be complete with some lighter style wines ideal for morning sipping. And, because all of the Clif Family’s wines are designed with food in mind, your taste buds will surely be in for a treat.

Tasting Fee: $65
Visit: 709 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574
Contact: (707) 968-0625

FOR A GARDEN-TO-GLASS EXPERIENCE

Round Pond Estate

875 Rutherford Road, Rutherford, CA 94573, (707) 302-2575

This premium Cabernet Sauvignon house in the heart of Napa Valley’s Rutherford district is run by the second generation of the founding MacDonnell family. Not only is the winery known for its meticulously crafted bottlings, Round Pond has also cultivated Spanish and Italian olive trees for the production of artisan oils using a state-of-the-art mill, as well as red wine vinegars, all of which can be tasted on site.

The Il Pranzo wine tasting is not to be missed. Start with a tour of the winery garden and olive grove and proceed to a thoughtful four-course tasting experience. Sip a selection of wines paired with courses prepared by Round Pond’s Estate Chef using seasonal ingredients from the garden you have just visited. Talk about a true garden-to-table experience.

Tasting Fee: $225
Visit: 875 Rutherford Road, Rutherford, CA 94573
Contact: (707) 302-2575

FOR ART & WINE LOVERS

Hess Persson Estates

Founded in 1978 by Donald Hess and perched high atop Mount Veeder, this well-known winery champions sustainable farming and winemaking practices, crafting exceptional wines from classic grapes like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Syrah, and others. Today, Hess Persson is also home to a private art collection, as well as a selection of unique and immersive wine tasting and tour experiences.  

Foodies who also appreciate good art will want to spring for the Tour of the Palate experience, which includes a tour of the three-level contemporary art museum followed by a seated tasting paired with three seasonal small dishes. 

Tasting Fee: $185
Visit: 4411 Redwood Road, Napa, CA 94558
Contact: (707) 255-1144 
Reservations: Required

FOR THE CHOCOHOLICS

Baldacci Family Vineyards

This family-owned, small-production winery sits in the heart of Napa Valley’s esteemed Stags Leap District, with vineyards in Calistoga and Los Carneros as well. Known for its wide range of different wine styles, Baldacci Family Vineyards offers an exciting portfolio of everything from single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon to traditional method sparkling wine, to classic Chardonnay, and even sweet and spicy late-harvest Gewürztraminer. 

Book the Wine & Chocolate Tasting, an homage to this time-honored pairing. The experience begins with a bubbly glass of Baldacci Brut Sparkling before settling in for the star of the show. Combine three limited production Baldacci wines, from Chardonnay to their Fraternity Red Blend, with three local Flourish chocolates. This is the perfect sweet treat to end a day of wine tasting in Napa. 

Tasting Fee: $65
Visit: 6236 Silverado Trail, Napa CA 94558
Contact: (707) 944-9261

FOR THE EVERYTHING’S BETTER WITH BUTTER CROWD

Handwritten Wines

Founded in 2009, Handwritten Wines compares each wine’s vintage to a person’s handwriting – no two are the same. Self-described as “A gathering point for a community of like-minded and passionate lovers of wine and the literary arts, fostering a culture of exploration and discussion,” this Yountville tasting room focuses on small-lot Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from vineyards in Napa Valley’s top appellations. 

There are few things in life better than the simple pleasure of bread with butter. Make that a Bouchon Bakery baguette and artisan butter, throw in some white truffle potato chips, La Quercia prosciutto, P’tit Basque cheese, and a lineup of four Napa Valley hillside and Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignons, and you have yourself a life-changing food and wine tasting. This is what guests can expect with Handwritten’s Bread and Butter Experience. 

Tasting Fee: $100
Visit: 6494 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599
Contact: (707) 944-8524