Heitz Wine Cellars Revisited

Heitz Wine Cellars is an iconic Napa Valley winery that all wine lovers should visit at least once if they are ever in the area.  It is not just a matter of paying homage to one of the great wineries of the world; Heitz has darned good wine and continues to offer complimentary tastings to everyone.  I hope you will purchase some wine when you visit them so they can continue to be one of the rare Napa Valley wineries that offers free tastings.  Heitz is open to the public with no appointment necessary. Be sure, however, to go to the tasting room at 436 St. Helena Highway South in St. Helena, also referred to as 436 Main St. It is just south of downtown St. Helena. Tastings are not available at the Heitz family residence which is on Taplin Road.  Our very helpful and pleasant host, Patty, informed us that some people end up at the wrong facility on Taplin Road because of incorrect maps or faulty GPS directions.

Heitz tasting room building

Heitz Wine Cellars was established in 1961 when Joe and Alice Heitz purchased their first eight acres. This winery continues to be maintained as the current visitor's center.  In 1964 they purchased the 180 acres on Taplin road where the historic 1898 cellar and family residence remain. But Joe Heitz involvement in wine goes back before that.  After working as a cellarman for wineries in the 1940s, he obtained his Bachelor's degree from UC Davis and was one among seven people in 1951 who obtained the first master's degree ever awarded by UCD in viticulture and enology.  That same year Joe went to work with the famous Andre Tchelistcheff at BV Vineyard as an assistant winemaker, staying there for ten years.  Joe was also instrumental in starting the Fresno State College Department of Enology.

Heitz entry sign

In 1956 the first wine under the Heitz label was issued from sourced fruit. Joe Heitz was the first winemaker to promote single vineyard wines in the U.S. In 1964 right after purchasing their new winery, Joe and Alice signed an exclusive agreement with the owners of Martha's Vineyard, 34 acres in Oakville that grow some of the greatest Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in the world.  In 1997 a gathering in France was hosted by Champagne Louis Roederer to honor Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon as one of "The World's Thirty Greatest Wines."  Wine Spectator also selected Martha's Vineyard Cabernet as one of the "Top 12 Wines of the Twentieth Century". Although Joe Heitz died in 2000, he was entered posthumously into the Vintners Hall of Fame at the Culinary Institute of American at Greystone in 2012. 

Front of Heitz tasting building

Joe's wife, Alice Heitz, continues to be involved with the winery and their two children, Kathleen Heitz Meyers and David Heitz, now run the family winery with both of them having been involved since the 1970s.  David is the current winemaker. His first production began with the 1974 Martha's Vineyard Cabernet. Kathleen Heitz Myers has been president of the winery since 1998 and third generation Harrison Heitz joined the family business in 2012. They maintain their production at around 40,000 cases of wine per year, making them a mid sized family owned and operated winery with a focus on offering consistently excellent premium wines using sustainable agriculture and organic farming.

Heitz outdoor patio

Joe Heitz was a colorful character and there are many stories about him.  One of the best known is when the famous wine critic, Robert Parker, claimed one of the Heitz wines was lacking in aroma.  After he heard about this, Joe Heitz sent Parker a box of handkerchiefs, implying that Parker must have had a cold when he tasted the wine.

Heitz fireplace

Our tasting began with the Heitz 2012 Sauvignon Blanc at $19.75.  This is 100% Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley grapes.  Pale straw in color, it had a very pleasant aroma of melon and orange blossoms.  On the palate I got mostly citrus, lime and tropical fruits.  This was a crisp, well balanced Sauvignon Blanc that was very pleasant to drink on its own.

Heitz front entrance

The second pour was the Heitz 2009 Zinfandel Ink Grade Vineyard at $25.  It was a medium red in color with mostly raspberry and some spice on the nose.  It was a medium bodied Zinfandel with a lot of fresh fruit, mostly raspberry, some pepper, a little vanilla, soft tannins and a medium length finish. It was easy to drink but was, for me, the least interesting of the Heitz wines we tasted.

Heitz outdoor bench

Third up was the Heitz 2010 Grignolino at $19.  This varietal is pronounced "Green-oh-lean-oh." It is very rarely grown in California where there are less than 50 acres of it planted.  A red Italian grape that is grown mostly in the Piedmont area of Italy, the name Grignolino comes from the word "grignole" meaning many pips in the local Piedmnont dialect.  It is also referred to as "little strawberry."  This is a light colored red wine with a very fruity aroma and is sometimes made into a rose.  Some Grignolino vines came with the original eight acres that were purchased back in 1964. Heitz offers it in a red wine and as a rose, but we only tasted the red wine.  Although this was a lighter styled wine, it was very lively.  After the fruity, aromatic nose, I got some crisp acid with good slightly tart fruit, mostly strawberry, quite dry, with some nutmeg and cinnamon, providing an overall presentation that was really unique. Finish was medium plus in  length.  Although the wine was very nice on its own, I think it would pair with a wide variety of food, especially barbeque, tomato based dishes or anything spicey.  It is a very interesting wine for the price.

Heitz outdoor patio

Our fourth pour was the Heitz 2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at $45.  This 100% Cabernet was aged for one year in American oak and two years in French oak.  I got mostly cherry with toasty oak on the nose. On the palate it was red cherry, raspberry, vanilla, and cedar, well balanced, well structured, dry, with chewey tannins, good acid and a fairly long finish. This is a classic style Napa Valley Cab and quite good.

Heitz outdoor bench

Fifth in line was the Heitz 2002 Trailside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon at $85.  This is from Rutherford grapes and is 100% Cab.  Trailside Vineyard Cabs were introduced by Heitz in 1989 and have become their premium Cab that is second only to Martha's Vineyard.  I was amazed to find an older vintage wine like this at such a comparitively reasonable price, especially given how good it was.  This Cab saw one year in American oak and two and a half years in French oak.  The nose was amazingly complex with cedar, black currant, blackberry, black cherry, blueberry and an endless procession of interesting subtle aromas.  On the palate I got black currant, black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, cedar, baking spices and more, all beautifully balanced with great structure and a long finish.  This is an amazing Cab that is ready to drink now.  Outstanding!

Heitz back door to courtyard

Our last Cab was the Heitz 2002 Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon at $200.  This is from the famous Martha's Vineyard and is 100% Cab.  It was aged for one year in American oak and for 2 1/2 years in French oak.  I got an intense aroma of black cherry, black currant, herbs and mint.  On the palate it was full bodied, highly structured and very well balanced with a complex intermingling of flavors of cherry, blackberry, black currant, cedar, leather and dark chocolate.  With huge tannins that have softened and mellowed with time, I can only imagine what this powerful Cab might have tasted like when very young. It is obviously one of those Cabs that has needed time to develop.  Although very drinkable now, this should continue to develop into an even more complex and intricate wine.  Tasting the Martha's Vineyard Cab next to the Trailside Vineyard Cab of the same year, emphasized the differences between a great Rutherford Cab and a great Oakville Cab.  An amazing wine! 

Heitz old wine barrel

I've always liked the Heitz Ink Grade Port.  It is very reasonably priced at $35 for a full bottle or $25 for a half bottle.  They began producing it in 1994 and sometimes do a vintage version.  This one is nonvintage and comes from 2005, 2006 and 2007 harvests.  The varietals used in this Port are Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Sauzao, Tinta Cao, tinta Bairrada, Tinta Madeira, Tinta Amarela and Bastardo.  It is a deep, rich, well balanced Port and one of the very few from Napa Valley that I really like.  Highly recommended.

Heitz garden

Although Heitz is famous for their Cabernet Sauvignon, we recommend that you try their Port because it is so good and their Grignolino because it is such a rare varietal and it has such a unique taste.  I've consistently liked their Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc too.  Service has always been very good.  (My first visit was in 1973.)  This is a down to earth, unpretentious winery, with excellent wines, exactly the sort of winery I would expect from Joe Heitz.  It is one of those Napa Valley wineries that should be on any wine lovers short list of wineries not to be missed.  And be sure not to miss it by going to the wrong place on Taplin Road.

Heitz vineyard and palm trees

 

Heitz Wine Cellars

436 St Helena Hwy South

Saint Helena, CA 94574

Phone: 707-963-3542

From the Heitz website:

"Sales & Tasting Room Hours:          
We are open daily from 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. No appointment is necessary.
We are closed on Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day."

Heitz outdoor fountain

Darioush Winery Revisited

Darioush Winery is one of those wonderfully different and attractive wineries that is worth visiting even if you don't drink wine.  The buildings and grounds are modeled after Persepolis, the ancient capital of Persia 2,500 years ago, but with many interesting modern twists.  You have probably never seen anything like it.  Of course, Darioush also makes some really excellent wines.

Darioush front entrance

Darioush was founded in 1997 by Darioush Khaledi who came to the U.S. in the late 1970s from the Shiraz region of Iran where his father had made wine as a hobby.  A winery called Altamura had previously been on the same estate. The Darioush visitors center opened to the public in August of 2004 after five years had been spent gathering exotic material and building the lavish 22,000 square foot winery modeled after Persepolis, the great capital of ancient Persia  (Achaemenid Empire) from 550 to 350 BC. Persepolis

One of the Darioush fountains and ponds

The architects, Ardeshir and Roshan Nozari, combined modern lines with historical references.  It has 16 freestanding 18 feet high columns outside the entrance of the building. Yellow travertine stone was quarried from near Persepolis and cut in Turkey and Italy before being sent to Napa to cover the entire building. Other attractions include a 250 seat amphitheatre for events and performances, six different fountains, a rolling wall of water in the tasting room and some lovely gardens.  Even the restrooms are amazing.

Statues inside Darioush tasting room

Darioush is located on the Silverado Trail in Napa and is very easy to identify by its unique architecture. It is open to the public for tastings without an appointment and ample parking is provided.  Steve Devitt is their winemaker. Our last visit to Darioush was in March of 2011 so we were long overdue for a revisit.

Darioush vineyard

Last time we visited we really liked all the Darioush wines but were especially fond of the Darioush 2008 Shiraz and the Darioush 2007 Merlot.  Unfortunately neither of those varietals were available for tasting this time, but if you have an opportunity to try their Merlot or Shiraz (Sirah), I highly recommend you do. I made a note during our last visit that Darioush wines seemed to lean toward being rather full bodied, lush and ripe.  I also thought of them more in terms of their reds than whites, but this visit demonstrated to me that they make equally delicious white wines. Service was helpful and friendly both times we visited.  We extend our thanks this time to our host, Alex.  He is probably the same Alex at Darioush whom we thanked two and a half years ago, but I always remember wines more distinctly than faces.

Darioush main building

Our tasting began with the Darioush 2012 Signature Sauvignon Blanc at $45. The Sauvignon Blanc grapes came from Sage Vineyard up on Mount Veeder and were blended with 5% Semillon to add some roundness.  The wine was aged for six months sur lies in French oak with 20% of the oak being new oak.  A mere 380 cases were produced.  It had a very good aroma of pear, melon and citrus with some minerality. On the palate I got melon, pear, cantaloupe, tropical fruits and citrus with some minerality and a long finish.  It had a lot of lush ripe fresh fruit, balanced with good acidity to make a Sauvignon Blanc that was very pleasant and perfectly enjoyable by itself although it will pair well with many dishes. We both really liked this Sauvignon Blanc.

Darioush tasting bar

The second pour was the Darioush 2012 Signature Viognier at $41. It was whole cluster pressed and saw 7 months of sur lie aging with 85% of it in neutral oak, 10% in stainless steel and 5% in Acacia barrels.  2712 cases were produced.  Not much Viognier is grown in Napa Valley.  Most in California seems to be grown in the Central Valley and Paso Robles.  Our host, Alex, informed us that there are only about 108 acres of Viognier planted in all of Napa Valley. This one is a real gem.  It had plenty of that great Viognier floral aroma.  I got honeysuckle, plumeria, ginger, orange blossoms, melon and a host of other floral notes.  You could almost dab some on your neck and use it as a perfume. On the palate it had a lot of lush, intense fruit, multi layered and beautifully balanced.  I got juicy ripe white peach, ripe cantaloupe, apricot, nectarine, (both "ripe" of course) and some honey with a long, sumptuous finish.  I cannot recall tasting a Napa Valley Viognier I have liked better, and we had to purchase some. 

Darioush garden with pomegranit

Our third pour was the Darioush 2011 Russian River Pinot Noir at $65.  This is the seventh vintage for this Pinot.  I was unable to locate any production notes for the 2011, but it obviously has seen some French oak. It had a good pronounced cherry and vanilla aroma.  On the palate I got black cherry, vanilla, some blueberry and cinnamon with well integrated tannins and a long, lingering finish that coats the mouth. I got more dark fruit than red and no strawberry. This is not one of those delicate, light and fruity style Pinots that emphasizes freshness over substance and structure.  I really enjoyed it. This Pinot is in such high demand that you will have to obtain it at the winery because Darioush wine club members purchase most of it.

Darioush fountains and other buildings

Fourth in line was the Darioush 2011 Duel at $55.  I could not locate production notes on the 2011, but Darioush describes their Duel as a "unique blend combines the deeply satisfying fruit and earthy minerality of Cabernet Sauvignon with the zesty spice and fresh berry fruits inherently found in Darioush Shiraz."  Our host informed us that it is 70% Syrah (Shiraz) and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.  It was a lovely deep purple in color.  Palate wise I got black cherry, blackberry, chocolate, coffee and spice with chewy tannins and a moderate plus length finish.  It's a good, big bodied wine but somehow the two varietals did not quite come together for me.  Indeed, for me it was more like a "duel" than a "dual" and I wondered aloud if that is why they came up with the name.  Try it for something different and see what you think. If you find out why it is called Duel instead of Dual, please email me. Until then I'll have to dispel fantasies of Cab and Syrah meeting for a shootout at high noon.  Who will win?  Cab is slow to ripen  but might be fast on the draw.

Darioush garden

The fifth pour was the Darioush 2010 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon at $95.  This 2010 was a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. It was a deep crimson purple, almost opaque with intense aromas of black currants, forest floor, cedar, chocolate and coffee.  I got deep rich, ripe black fruit on the palate, mostly black currant, blackberry, and black cherry along with chocolate, coffee, vanilla, mushroom and lavender.  This is a big, bold, rich, highly structured Cab that is very well balanced but still quite young.  Finish was moderate plus.  You can drink this Cab now, but it really should be cellared to allow it to develop to its full potential. BTW, this might be their Signature Cab but it is not their flagship Cab.  Their "crown jewel" is the Darioush II Cabernet Sauvignon at $225 a bottle. Perhaps we will be offered a taste at our third visit.

Darioush pillars

This concluded the Signature Flight, but we couldn't leave without trying the Darioush 2010 Captaz Malbec at $48.  Darioush makes this Malbec in Argentina from vines in the Andes that are at 3,800 feet.  My friend had recently been to Argentina and couldn't resist tasting it.  Darioush also makes a Signature Malbec that is from Napa Valley grapes, but we did not try that one. An intense dark purple in color, this Captaz Malbec had a lot of blackberry with some mushroom on the nose.  On the palate it was lush black cherry and blueberry with and some spice.  The balance was perfect, with well integrated tannins and a moderate plus finish.  Both of us really liked this Malbec and couldn't resist purchasing some.  Now I'm eager to try the Darioush Malbec from Napa Valley grapes, but that might have to wait until our next visit.  If you love Malbecs, you know where to visit.

Darioush vineyard

Darioush is a winery you will want to visit for both the excellent wines and the exotic setting.  Your tasting will come with pistachios which are addicting, but you have been forewarned. Dressing in your own ancient Persian clothing is entirely optional but it is mandatory that you visit the upscale restrooms, especially if one of the wineries down the street with their porta potty and great desert wine is your next stop.  Darioush is the only winery I have ever visited where I had to take a photo of the men's room and the photo doesn't do it justice. It really is a unique place.

Darioush Men's Room

Darioush Winery
4240 Silverado Trail
Napa, California 94558

Phone: 707-257-2345

Date of revisit: October 14, 2013

Their website indicates that Darioush "is open to the public for tasting from 10:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. daily excluding major holidays. Tours are available by appointment only."

Darioush currently offers three regular tasting options.  The Signature Flight at $40 includes five of their wines. The Library Offering at $20 includes the Darioush 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon.  2007 was an exceptionally good year for Napa Valley Cabs and their 2007 was rated 94 by Wine Spectator. The Amuse Flight is $18 and includes the Sauvignon Blanc and Capataz Malbec. They are open to the public without appointment for these tastings.

By prior appointment they also offer "Unique Experiences": http://www.darioush.com/unique-experiences.html which consists of three options.  "By Invitation Only" ($150) allows you to visit Darioush Khaledi's private cellar and taste exclusive wines accompanied by tastings created by their private chef.  "Fine Wines, Artisan Cheeses" ($75) offers a wine and cheese pairing.  And the "Host Guided Portfolio Tasting" which is only $40 provides tastings of their Signature wines.  Darioush is in the Napa Neighbor Program and they also waive one tasting fee for each three bottles of wine purchased.  Times and prices might change, so please call Darioush or visit their website for current prices, times and information about special tours and options. Visiting Darioush

Darioush statue

Darioush tasting bar

Darioush front entry gate

Darioush art work

The Pillars of Darioush

Darioush grapes

Darioush gift shop

Darioush outdoor tasting table

Darioush indoor modern tasting table

Darioush skylight

Darioush modern indoor tasting table

Darioush ampitheater

Darioush vineyard



Water wall in tasting room

Artesa Vineyards and Winery Revisited

Artesa Vineyards and Winery, often referred to as "The Jewel of Carneros", is a very unique winery that should not to be missed.  Overlooking a 350 acre estate in Napa's Carneros AVA, the winery was built over a two year period beginning in 1991 when thirty million dollars was spent to create one of the loveliest and most interesting modern buildings in California. It is a superb work of art designed by the famous Spanish architect Domingo Triay.  Built into a hillside with gorgeous panoramic views, it is one of my favorite modern structures, fascinating both inside and out. For me, it is as interesting as a work by Frank Lloyd Wright. It also has amazing views of San Francisco Bay and Carneros.  On clear days the San Francisco skyline can even be seen. The beautiful grounds include lovely walkways, numerous sculptures, cascading water, several ponds with fountains, and a spectacular stairway that leads up over their barrel room taking you from the parking lot to the main building. They also have art work on display inside, sponsor an artist in residence, Gordon Huether, and make wine that is artistically crafted.

One of the fountains and ponds at Artesa

The winery is owned by the Raventos family of Spain, a family who has been involved in winemaking since 1551. The winery was initially known as "Codorniu Napa" and produced only sparkling wines until 1999 when they changed the name to Artesa Winery and began producing still wines.  "Artesa" is a Catalan word for "handcrafted" and Artesa's 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon was named one of Wine Spectator's top thirty wines in the world in 2002.  Artesa produces some excellent wines that tend to be rather subtle, elegant and very well balanced.  They do not seem to be into producing overly done wines, those big, bold, over the top wines that can be overly extracted, or overly ripe, or overly tannic, or overly oaked that can sometimes impress initially but are often one dimensional.  This seems to be reflected especially in their Pinot Noirs which are lighter in style, emphasizing freshness, fruit and finesse.

Artesa winery building

We had been to Artesa several years ago and tried the regular tasting so I was looking forward to returning and sampling some of their reserve wines.  We had a friendly, welcoming experience both times.  Much thanks this time to Andrea for providing such a pleasant and informative experience.

One of many gorgeous views from Artesa

Our first pour was the Artesa 2012 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc at $26. This is 95% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Semillon.  25% of it saw five months new French oak.  Only 950 cases were produced. Very light straw in color.  Great aroma of melon, white peach and minerality.  On the palate I got melon, white peach, and pear with some pineapple, all very well balanced with a clean medium length finish.  I especially liked how well this interesting Sauvignon Blanc came together. Although it had plenty of fruit, it remained dry and crisp with just enough roundness from the Semillon. This was great to drink on it its own but would pair very nicely with a variety of dishes. It is one of the nicest Napa Valley Sauvignon Blancs I've tasted recently.

Artesa patio with views

Second up was the Artesa Limited Release 2011 Carneros Pinot Noir at $50. The grapes came from the Artesa Estate Vineyard (91%) and the Sangiacomo Vineyard (9%). All of it was aged for nine months in French oak with half of it in new French oak.  Only 531 cases were produced. On the very pleasant nose I got mostly red cherry with some spicy oak.  On the palate I got mostly red cherry with some strawberry and spices followed by a very refreshing, moderate plus length finish. The fresh fruit is balanced by some good acid and well integrated tannins. This is a lighter style, very dry, rather subtle Pinot with a lot more going on than most lighter style Pinots .  It is very drinkable now but should develop well over the next few years. 

One of three Artesa tasting bars

Our fourth pour was the Artesa Limited Release 2010 Tempranillo (Alexander Valley) at $40.  I was unable to find production notes on this wine.  It had a very nice aroma of red cherry and spices and had red currant, red plum and blueberry on the palate along with some cloves. This medium bodied Tempranillo finished nicely with a medium to long finish with hints of blueberry.  It is always nice to find California wineries that produce this lovely Spanish varietal. A very pleasant Tempranillo.

One of several ponds at Artesa

Fifth up was the Artesa Artisan Series 2010 Cabernet Franc (Alexander Valley) at $40.  This has 2% Cabernet Sauvignon added.  Whole berry fermented, it was aged for 18 months in French oak with 35% of it aged in new French oak.  Only 992 cases were produced.  I got blackberry, white pepper and cloves on the nose.  The palate for me was blackberry, cherry, and white pepper with some toastiness and a long finish where some chocolate also emerged.  It had well integrated tannins and good structure with a refreshing brightness.  A very nice Cab Franc.

Stairs at Artesa from parking lot to winery

Sixth in line was the Artesa Artisan Series 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) at $46.  This had 8% Petit Verdot and 2% Merlot.  Medium purple in color with a pink rim.  I got a moderate nose of black currants with some chocolate and cedar.  On the palate I got black currant, cherry, cedar, caramel and toastiness, all well balanced,  followed by a medium length finish.  This is not one of those overly ripe Napa Valley Cabs, although it has plenty of fruit. It is a medium bodied Cab and very easy to drink.

Part of the Artesa tasting room area

This was followed by the Artesa 2010 Morisoli-Borges Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) at $85.  I could not locate any production notes on this wine.  Morisoli-Borges, though, is a very famous vineyard in Rutherford that is known for great Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. In addition to using their own estate grapes, Artesa sources grapes from other vineyards and they were either wise enough or fortunate enough to obtain some Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Morisoli-Borges. This had a very good nose of black currants, blackberry and toast.  It was lush, smooth and very well balanced on the palate with cassis, blackberry, toasted oak, and forest floor. Well integrated tannins with very good structure and a very long, classy finish. Very drinkable now but should age nicely.  This is an awesome Cabernet!  At $85 it is well worth the price and then some.  I always thought of Artesa wines primarily in terms of Pinot Noir and Spanish varietals.  Obviously they are also making some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley.  Of course we had to purchase some of this great Cab.

View from Artesa's parking lot

Prior to leaving we were offered a taste of their sparkling wine the Codorniu Napa Grand Reserve that retails at $42.  This is a nonvintage Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend that was well balanced, crisp and dry with many layers of fruit.  I did not get much yeast, but it was a very drinkable and pleasant sparkling wine.  I'd like to sit down with a bottle of it and have more time to carefully taste it.

Room at Artesa next to tasting room

When you arrive at Artesa you will need to walk from the parking lot, up the outdoor steps and across the courtyard to the main building where you may pay for your tasting at the front desk when you enter. There is a small tasting bar by the front door and two other larger ones farther inside near the gift shop.  You may stay at the bar to taste or elect to take your tastings out on the patio to enjoy the weather and scenery.  Service is not provided on the patio, however, so you will need to return to the tasting bar for each pour.  You may also purchase a bottle of wine and sit on the patio to drink it or do the same with a glass of their sparkling wine, the sparkling wine being the only one which may be purchased by the glass. 

Artesa gift shop

Artesa is very popular, especially during the summer or on weekends and holidays, and particularly after 1 PM. We were informed that there is often a quiet period at Artesa from noon to 1PM when visitors go to lunch. As with all popular Napa Valley wineries, the quietest times are usually weekdays before 1PM, especially Tuesday through Thursday. 

Some of the art on display in Artesa's tasting room

Artesa has an extensive list of tasting and tour options in addition to the basic ones listed below.  These include: The Estate Reserve Experience, Wine and Cheese Pairing, Chocolate Indulgence, International Tapas and Wine Pairing, Vines and Wines Vineyard Tours, Food and Wine Pairing, Tapas and Wine Pairing and The Ultimate Tasting.  Please see their web page listed below for details.  We have not tried any of these but we both really enjoyed the Limited Release/Reserve Tasting and it is only $5 more than the Classic Tasting.  If you like sparkling wine, I'd recommend opting for a glass of that, too. We really enjoy visiting Artesa and highly recommend a visit to this very special winery.

Another pond with fountains at Artesa

Artesa Vineyards and Winery

1345 Henry Rd
Napa, CA 94558

Phone: (707)224-1668

Date of revisit: October 9, 2013

Art in Artesa tasting room

The information below is from Artesa's webpage as of October 9, 2013. Please call or check their website for current information which is subject to change. Artesa tastings and tours

"Tasting Room hours 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily. Last pour at 4:30 PM"
"Tastings
Artesa offers a Classic Tasting of four wines for $15 and a Limited Release/Reserve Tasting of 5 wines for $20. Or you can enjoy a flute of our Grand Reserve Sparkling Wine for $12. If your preference is méthode champenoise we offer a glass of our Grand Reserve sparkling wine ($10).

Winery Tours
Guided tours of our wine making facility are available daily at 11AM and 2PM. The cost is $20 per person and includes a tasting of three wines at the end of the tour. Joining the public tour is first come, first serve so you do not need reservations to book one of these tours. It is a good idea, however, to arrive at Artesa 10-15 minutes prior to the tour start time to ensure there is space available.

Groups
Groups of 8 or more require advanced reservations and must be privately hosted. Please call (707) 254-2126"

Artesa entry sign