Cabernet Season - the Best of Napa!
During the summer, you’ll find the roads across Napa Valley jammed packed with cars and many of the best Napa Valley Wineries and tasting rooms overcrowded and sometimes even impossible to get into. It gets better in fall, but with the busy harvest season in full swing, it’s still a busy time in the valley.
Winter, though – affectionately known as Cabernet Season in Napa Valley, offers an entirely different experience. It’s the perfect time of year to kick back and enjoy a delicious glass of wine or two at the best Napa Valley Wineries, but more than that, it’s also a fantastic time of year to enjoy the rest this amazing destination has to offer.
From great food to fantastic shopping and more, there are various wonderful things to do in Napa Valley. Wine tasting is truly just the beginning. The temperatures are mild, time slows down, and the laid-back Napa Valley vibe returns life to normal here, offering an intimate wine-focused experience you can’t find throughout the rest of the year.
Visiting Napa Valley also allows you to stay at yet another Select Registry Bed and Breakfast, where you’ll experience an authentic taste of the casual yet elevated ambiance this wine-forward destination is known for. Select Registry’s Napa Valley Bed and Breakfast is ideally situated for you to enjoy the best of Napa Valley.
It won’t take long to see why this property is true to the Select Registry brand and is rated as one of the best places to stay in Napa Valley. It’s not just because it’s the only Select Registry property in the area, either. This Inn is located near the heart of historic downtown Napa, where this famed wine region was born,
From here, it’s easy to access each of Napa Valley’s charming towns, not to mention the neighboring Sonoma wine region. Add a warm welcome, upscale accommodations, and an unparalleled guest experience to this exquisite location, and you have the recipe for an unforgettable wine-country getaway this winter.
Best Napa Valley Wineries This Winter
Cabernet Sauvignon reigns supreme down here at leading Napa Valley Wineries, and this robust grape accounts for approximately 40% of the grapevines around valley vineyards. And Cabernet Season, when time slows down, offers valley residents and visitors the perfect opportunity to slow down and enjoy the fruits of their collective labors over the growing and harvest seasons.
Winter is also the time of year when leading Napa Valley wineries offer romantic experiences with firelight, cozy candlelit rooms, and warm, inviting spaces – perfect for chilly winter afternoons. Cabernet sauvignon just so happens to be the ideal winter wine, offering a full-bodied tasting experience with luscious dark fruits and balanced tannins.
If you’re looking for some of the best Napa Valley wineries to start your tasting journey this winter, you’ve come to the right place. Though there are plenty of big-name wineries worthy of a stop, we’ve also taken the time to list some smaller Napa Valley wineries you may not have heard of yet, but which offer exceptional wine-tasting experiences.
- We love a tasting experience that offers variety, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at Pine Ridge Vineyards. This vineyard is one of the leading Napa Valley Wineries to enjoy during Cabernet Season, thanks to their Appellation Collection of Cabs – which just so happens to represent Cabernet from each of the different area appellations! We also recommend their Cellar 47 Wine Cave Experience.
- Enjoy the world-class Cabernets at Beaulieu Vineyards, which has been shaping and reshaping the winemaking world in Napa Valley for over a century. For a truly elevated experience, consider their high-end Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Caymus Vineyards is relatively well-known among Napa Valley Wineries, and they produce a delicious and revered Cabernet. They are also the only winery to have made the “Wine of the Year” in two different years for their sensational Cabernet.
- Compare a premium Napa Valley Cabernet with one from Sonoma’s Alexander Valley at Silver Oak Cellars. This is also a great place to learn about – and taste- the influence of American oak on the resulting wines.
- Cliff Lede Vineyards is another of the notable Napa Valley wineries producing an exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. They offer a range of limited-production wines – one of the many reasons they rank as one of our favorites – but their Premium Cabernet Sauvignons are some of the best.
- Don’t miss a stop at one of the earliest Napa Valley Wineries, Stag’s Leap Winery. It was first established in 1893 and continues to produce one of the leading Cabernets. It’s a great first stop, with plenty of delicious and approachable wines.
- You’ll find a delicious range of highly sought-after and respected wines at Round Pond Estates. They are well known for their premium cabernet sauvignon, and the tastings paired with small bites take place on a second-story deck overlooking their vineyards. You should also try their delicious olive oils and vinegars, another Napa Valley staple!
- HALL Napa Valley is one of the leading Napa Valley Wineries – and one you should absolutely have on your list. Their Cabernet Sauvignons are award-winning, and they offer a range of fantastic tasting room experiences. If you love art as much as you do wine, don’t miss their St. Helena tasting room, which offers a range of contemporary art to enjoy.
- For a stunning view to pair with your delicious glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, head to Spring Mountain Vineyard. Wine Spectator describes this as one of the most beautiful Napa Valley wineries, with views of seasonal rose gardens, antique olive trees, and a garden greenhouse. They offer four tasting options; the most special is the Elivette Tasting with older vintages to compare and contrast.
- Artesa Vineyards is one of the Napa Valley wineries that stands out with its ultra-modern design built into a hillside. It’s not just about the beauty of their location, though – they also offer exceptional wine, including Cabernet Sauvignon. They offer four distinct tasting experiences, all with incredible vistas, service, and beautiful estate wines.
6 More Things to do in Napa Valley
While visiting these top-rated best Napa Valley Wineries should be at the top of your list of things to do in Napa Valley this winter, it’s certainly not the only way to enjoy cellar season in this stunning wine-lovers destination. The mild weather means you can enjoy the rest of this incredible area with ease.
From unforgettable food experiences to fun tours and great shopping, there are plenty of things to do in Napa Valley in the winter. We’ve compiled a list of a few of our favorites below.
- Hop aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train for a fun and delicious wine-forward experience.
- Visit one of the many spas and treat yourself to an afternoon of pampering between visits to the top Napa Valley wineries. The popular mud baths in Calistoga are a fantastic choice, as are the hot springs around the valley!
- Enjoy the festive holidays in Yountville, and do some holiday shopping while you’re there. It’s one of the most charming towns in the valley during the holiday season.
- Another great place to do some shopping is the boutiques of downtown Napa.
- Food is just as big as wine in Napa Valley, and wintertime is the perfect time to enjoy a Michelin-starred restaurant. Try famed places like French Laundry, La Toque, or The Restaurant at Meadowood.
- Other great food-related experiences include grabbing a bite to eat, shopping at the Oxbow Pubilc Market, taking a class, or watching a demonstration at the CIA at Copia in Napa.
Between all of these visits to the top Napa Valley wineries and the rest of the fun things to do in Napa Valley, don’t forget to give yourself plenty of time to relax and unwind. Only one place offers you the Select Registry brand of quality assurance, and that is our California Bed and Breakfast in Napa. It’s time you experienced the intimate beauty of Cabernet Season – book your getaway today!
Best Places to Stay in Napa Valley
Churchill Manor
Churchill Manor, a historic and romantic Napa California bed and breakfast inn, is the perfect retreat for visits to the Napa Valley wine country. From our location, the Napa Valley wine regions of Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, Saint Helena, and Calistoga are just minutes away.
Downtown restaurants, wine tasting salons, outdoor activities, and massage and spa services are within an easy walk. Built in 1889 by Napa County’s elite, the mansion offers a charming 19th-century ambiance for your next vacation to the Napa Valley. Our location also makes an ideal setting for a wine country wedding.
