Beringer Winery

Please see our updated 2014 review here: Beringer Revisited

Beringer is a winery that has something for everybody, and you will surely enjoy your visit. They make world class Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons but also excellent Port style wine.  Be sure to sample the premium wines in their Rhine House, though, if you are serious about wine.

We have been to Beringer many times over the past forty years.  It has a beautiful grounds and interesting buildings that visiting friends and relatives love to see.  (Yes, it can be busy and touristy during peak times.) They offer tastings of their inexpensive line of wines, but these are completely different than the reserve wines, which are in a another building called the Rhine House.  Reserve wines are now served ($25) on the first floor instead of the second, however. This review is of Beringer's reserve wines and not their other inexpensive line of wines, which are fine for the money.  Beringer also has an incredible wine library of old and rare releases.

First, let me say that Beringer has always had really good service and our host, Ed, was one of the best ever.  Courteous, informative, knowledgeable, and friendly, he was the epitome of the ideal wine host. Some wineries seem to forget how important this is, but not Beringer.

Our tasting began with a Beringer Sauvignon Blanc ($30), the Beringer 2005 Merlot ($50) and then the Beringer 2006 Cabernet Franc ($50).  All three were good, and we bought several bottles of Sauvignon Blanc. But the Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons were the main reason we visited, so we did a vertical tasting of the 2005, 2006 and 2007.  The Beringer 2005 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($115) was rated 93 by The Wine Advocate and it is easy to see why.  It is incredibly well balanced with nice fruit and a generous touch of chocolate on the palate.  The Beringer 2006 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($115) was rated 92 but was definitely not as good as the 2005. The real knockout, however, was the Beringer 2007 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($89). Robert Parker rated it a 95.  With a cherry aroma, it was very well balanced with cherry and a touch of chocolate on the palate, nice soft tannin and a good finish. Simply put, this is a great Cab!!!  It is easily worth the $89 and you can buy it for even less if you are a wine club member. Increasingly, 2007 appears to be an especially good year for Napa Cabs. 

At the end we shared a sip of the sweet dessert wine, a Beringer 2006 Nightingale, which was very pleasant at only $40 a bottle.  It is made with Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. While we were waiting for our wine orders to be filled, we were offered a glass of their Beringer 1987 Port (style) Cabernet Sauvignon ($60) from their wine library. I think this is the best California port style wine I've ever tasted.  It is even be better than some Portuguese Vintage Ports I've had that were many times the price.  It is amazing that a winery can offer such great Reserve Cabs and then follow up with a wonderful Port.  We strongly recommend that you visit Beringer and try their reserve wines, especially the 2007 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

Beringer Winery

2000 Main St

St Helena, CA 94574

(707) 967-4412

Visited 5/7/2011