Napa Valley, California
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Napa WineWalksm |
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Napa Valley, California
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Napa WineWalksm |
Read the San Francisco Chronicle's article on the Napa WineWalk.
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The Napa Valley Book You're welcome to download our free Napa WineWalk Guide. It's in PDF format, so you can print it out or run it on your iPod or other handheld gadget. If you'd like more, we recommend our comprehensive guidebook to the entire Napa Valley. You can order it through your local bookseller, or find out more and buy it by clicking on the cover:  |
| The Napa Valley Book - Everything You Need to Know About California's Premium Wine Country |
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Download a free PDF version 
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Downtown Napa, the heart of Napa Valley's biggest town, has a large and concentrated collection of wine tasting locations. Currently there are 19 of them; and more are on the way. You can walk from one tasting room to another in minutes (sometimes it's right next door), and experience wines from more than 150 different wineries.
You'll notice that as you walk, you'll also pass many of Napa's finest restaurants. Do yourself a favor, and stop in during or after your walk for a thoroughly enjoyable meal, whether it be lunch, dinner or a midafternoon snack.
Most wines available for tasting on the Napa WineWalksm are from small, low-production wineries in the Napa Valley—many of them hard-to-find "cult" or "boutique" wines. Others are from elsewhere in California and throughout the world.
Some tasting rooms are operated by a single winery pouring its own wines. Others are a cooperative effort where wines from a number of different wineries are served. Still others are “wine bars”, not connected with any particular winery but pouring wines by the taste or the glass from as many as 40 different wineries from the Napa Valley and beyond.
Wine samples on the Napa WineWalksm can vary from an ounce to a full glass. There's a fee, of course, but the Napa WineWalksm is a rare opportunity to not just sample but purchase some of the finest wines in California and in the world. The wine shops and tasting bars will be happy to deliver your wine purchase to your hotel, or arrange for shipment to your home or office, assuming you live in a state where direct delivery is legal. (See www.freethegrapes.org for more information.)
Nowhere else can you try so many wines so conveniently. And nowhere else can you buy so many hard-to-find wines knowing with certainty that you'll like them—because you just tasted them. You'll save time, you'll save gas, you'll save the stress of driving and traffic. You can focus solely on enjoying yourself as you wander on foot through the food, wine and shopping delights of downtown Napa. And, why not spend the night at one of downtown Napa's new hotels, and do it all over again the next day?
Join us on the Napa WineWalksm.
Note: Many of these businesses accept the "Taste Napa Downtown" card which for one fee lets you taste wines at many different places. For more information, see the Napa Downtown website.
In most cases we've avoided specifying tasting fees, as those are subject to change, particularly as the cost of the wines poured changes. Where we have listed them, they're apt to change too, although probably less frequently.
Back Room Wines
1000 Main Street
Napa CA 94559
707.226.1378 877.322.2576
Dan Dawson operates a very popular and knowledgeable wine shop and tasting bar. Winetasting by the half-glass or glass, as well as artisan cheeses and charcuterie. Tasting flights of six wines are also available on scheduled evenings. Free wi-fi Internet access.
Nearby
Ristorante Allegria - Northern Italian (1026 First Street)
Bounty Hunter Rare Wine & Provisions
975 First Street
Napa CA 94559
707.226.3976 800.943.9463
Mark Pope focuses on rare, limited-production wines, primarily from California but including wines—and wine paraphernalia—from throughout the world. He's in the historic Semorile Building, constructed in 1888 and located between Main Street and the river.
Mark also offers a wine bar (more than 40 wines by the glass and 400 by the bottle) and bistro fare for tasting and fine snacking. Open late on Friday and Saturday nights, the Bounty Hunter has become a lively and popular hangout. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Ceja Vineyards Wine Tasting Salon
1248 First Street
Napa CA 94559
707.255.3954
Wine tasting salon, lounge and art gallery. Artisan cheeses, works by local artists. Sample a minimum of four wines from Ceja's own portfolio. Next to Ben and Jerry’s in the downtown Napa mall. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Nearby
Gillwoood's Cafe - Home-style cooking (1320 Napa Town Center)
Chateau Potelle
975 Washington Street
Napa CA 94559
707.255.9440
Tasting room coming soon
Copia - The American Center for Wine Food and the Arts
500 First Street
Napa CA 94558
Copia is now closed.
Folio Enoteca & Winery
610 First Street #10
Napa CA 94559
707.256.3700
Located inside the Oxbow Public Market, Folio offers a microwinery, wine tasting room and shop, and a café. Folio was founded by Michael Mondavi and his family. Michael was formerly head of Robery Mondavi Winery in Oakville. Folio has a number of wine labels and imports others, so you can try a variety of Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots, Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Noirs, Syrahs and Chardonnays by the taste, the glass or the bottle. Tasting flights are also available. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
At the end of the Oxbow Market's hall, on the left side, you'll see the entrance to Oxbow Wine Merchant.
GustavoThrace Tasting Room at McKinstry
1021 McKinstry
Napa CA 94559
707.257.6796
A shared tasting room pouring GustavoThrace wines, and selling other wines as well. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Note: Until May 2008, the tasting room is known as Napa Wine Merchants, and is located at 1146 First Street, corner of Coombs.
Nearby
Taylor's Automatic Refresher, with its "mother" hamburger joint in St. Helena, and a sister burger joint at the Ferry Building in San Francisco.
JV Wine & Spirits
301 First Street
Napa CA 94559
707.253.2624
The First Street bridge between downtown Napa and JV Wine & Spirits will be closed until approximately the end of 2009. The best alternative is to use the Third Street bridge.
The place where Napans go for good prices on wine and spirits with the largest wine selection in the Napa Valley with over 1200 different wines. If that's not enough for you, try one of the more than 115 different micro and imported beers.
Wine tasting every day from 1-6 p.m. with a rotation of 40 different boutique wineries. There's a $5 tasting fee, but it's refundable with your purchase of wine. Friday evening offers winemaker tastings at a charge of $2.00 per person, also refundable with purchase. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
You can also order many of their wines online at www.jvwine.com
Mason Cellars Oxbow Tasting Room
714 First Street
Napa CA 94559
707.255.0658
Tasting room near the Oxbow Market and Copia. Mason's wines are made in Oakville and they specialize in Sauvignon Blanc, but also offer Cabernet Sauvignon. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Napa General Store
540 Main Street
Napa CA 94559
707.259.0762
A specialty market and cafe open for breakfast and lunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can choose from a daily tasting selection of a dozen or more reds and whites by the glass, most from Northern California vineyards. Wine tasting and shopping 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Nearby
The new Riverfront complex on the river
Napa Mill, originally a flour mill and a feed and grain business, but is now:
Angèle Restaurant (540 Main Street) French country
Celadon (500 Main Street, Suite G) global comfort food
Napa River Inn (500 Main Street)
Silo's Jazz Club (530 Main Street) featuring Cabaret singer Wesla Whitfield
Sweetie Pies (520 Main Street) bakery
Vintage Sweet Shoppe (530 Main Street)
Napa Valley Wine Train
1275 McKinstry
Napa CA 94559
707.253.2111. 800.427.4124 Fax: 707.253.9264
While it's not actually a part of the Napa WineWalk (since it spends all of its time away from downtown Napa), the Napa Valley Wine Train is such a unique experience that it should be mentioned here.
The Wine Train is a 36-mile, three-hour fixed-price brunch, lunch or dinner excursion that travels year round through the heart of the Napa Valley. Meticulously restored 1917 Pullman dining car, damask linens, bone china, silver flatware, lead crystalware. Lounge and wine tasting cars are resplendent in polished mahogany, brass and etched glass. Wine Emporium stocks over 200 Napa Valley wines for purchase or shipping. Special "Winemaker Dinner" trips. There's also a less expensive "open-air" car—the "Silverado", and a more expensive vista dome car.
You can take the brunch, lunch or dinner runs all the way to St. Helena and back to Napa, or you can enjoy the special luncheons that include a tour of Grgich-Hills Winery in Rutherford or Domaine Chandon Winery in Yountville.
Olabisi Wines/Trahan Winery
974 Franklin Street
Napa CA 94559
707.257.7477
www.olabisiwines.com www.trahanwinery.com
Tasting room just off First Street at the former location of Back Room Wines. Small family wineries offering Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Nearby
Annette's Chocolates (1321 First Street)
Goodman Library (1219 First Street), built in 1901 and now home to the Napa County Historical Society
Hispanic Americans of Napa County mural
Tuscany - California/Italian (1005 First Street)
Oxbow Public Market
644 First Street
Napa CA 94559
707.226.5587
Little sister of the market at the Ferry Building in San Francisco, and home to a variety of shops and restaurants. Includes:
Folio Enoteca & Winery
Oxbow Wine Merchant and Bar
Rôtisario rotisserie foods
Pica Pica Maize Kitchen Venezuelan street food
Hog Island Oyster Company
Oxbow Wine Merchant and Wine Bar
610 First Street
Napa CA 94559
707.226.5587
Offers tasting from 15-20 wines by the 2 oz. taste, the 5 oz. glass, a 375ml carafe, and the full bottle. Tasting flights as well. Ask them about their Wine Profile that will help you zero in on the types of wines you like best. Carries smaller production wines from around the world, as well as everyday, high-quality labels. You can also sit on the outside deck overlooking the river while you enjoy your wine or a pint of draft beer. Speaking of draft, you can even have a glass of draft wine. Along with your beverage, you can have a variety of charcuterie, cheeses, and other light dishes. You'll also find a huge selection of wines to take, or have shipped, home. The owners also operate the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant in San Francisco. In the same large room is also the Oxbow Cheese Merchant.
Robert Craig Winery
880 Vallejo Street
Napa CA 94559
707.252.2250
Tasting by appointment only.
Although his Cabernet Sauvignons are made on Howell Mountain and come from vineyards in such varied locations as Coombsville, Mt. Veeder, Howell Mountain and Spring Mountain, Robert Craig has opened a convenient tasting room just minutes from downtown Napa. Also features Chardonnay and Zinfandel. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Rocca Family Vineyards
1130 Main Street
Napa CA 94559
707.257.8467
Although their vineyards are in Yountville and Coombsville, Rocca offers tasting and sales at their location in downtown Napa. By the taste, glass or bottle. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah. They're currently closed Sundays but open afternoons other days. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Nearby
Cole's Chop House (1122 Main Street), a magnet for carnivores and martini fans
Napa Valley Opera House (1040 Main Street)
Napa River mural on the corner of First and Main
Stonehedge Winery
1004 Clinton Street
Napa CA 94559
707.256.4444
The winery is upvalley in St. Helena but the tasting room is in Napa. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Nearby
Uva Trattoria Italiana for Northern Italian dining just a few doors down the street (1040 Clinton Street)
Taste at Oxbow
708 First Street (at McKinstry Street)
Napa CA 94559
707.265.9600
Wine tasting from both Mahoney Vineyards and Waterstone Winery, gourmet food snacks and retail items. Enjoy a glass, or try a taste of five wines for one fee. Waterstone produces Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Mahoney's Carneros vineyards produce traditional Italian wines such as Vermentino and Montepulciano, and the Spanish Tempranillo, as well as Syrah, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Trahan Winery
See Olabisi Wines/Trahan Winery
Uncorked
605 First Street (across from the Oxbow Market)
Napa CA 94559
707.927.5864
Features Ahnfeldt and Carducci wines.
Vintner's Collective
1245 Main Street
Napa CA 94559
707.255.7150
A co-op tasting room representing a number of Napa Valley boutique wineries. This is the only place in the valley you can sample these excellent wines. Wines are available from more than 15 wineries. Vintner's Collective is located across the street from Stonehedge in the historic Pfeiffer Building, the oldest stone building in Napa. Over the years it's been a brewery, a saloon and brothel, a laundry, and a delicatessen. Now it's got great wines.
Nearby
Azzurro Pizzeria e Enoteca (1260 Main Street)
Annaliên Restaurant (1142 Main Street) with a Vietnamese menu
Ubuntu Restaurant (1140 Main Street), a vegetarian restaurant that the New York Times considers one of the top 10 new restaurants in the United States.
Wineries of Napa Valley
1285 Napa Town Center
Napa CA 94559
707.253.9450 800.328.7815
Open daily with sales, tasting and concierge services located very close to the Visitors Center in downtown Napa. Wines from a number of small wineries. Free Internet wi-fi when you purchase a glass of wine. If the weather's good, as it usually is, you'll see tables on the sidewalk in front of the tasting room where you can sit while you enjoy your tasting. [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
Nearby
Napa Valley Visitors Center (1310 Napa Town Center)
Independence Day Parade mural at Randolph and Clay
Piccolino's Italian Cafe (1385 Napa Town Center)
X Winery/Amicus Cellars
1405 Second Street
Napa CA 94559
707.204.9522
Tasting home of X Winery and Amicus Cellars wines. X Winery has facilities in St. Helena, Napa, and American Canyon and produces Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel. Amicus has vineyards throughout the valley and focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon [Accepts "Taste Napa Downtown" card]
ZuZu
829 Main Street
Napa CA 94559
707.224.8555
ZuZu is a very popular restaurant serving Spanish/Californian tapas, but it's also an excellent place to sample wines to go with those tapas, as it offers more than 25 wines by the glass. Limited-release, off-the-beaten path wines from California, Spain, Italy, Portugal, South America and New Zealand are featured.
Nearby
Veterans Park with its amphitheater overlooking the river
Downtown Joe's (902 Main Street), the only brew pub in the city of Napa
Napa Fermentation Supplies
575 Third St, Bldg A
Napa CA 94559
707.255.6372
Located at the Napa Valley Expo fairgrounds. A very popular place for locals—professional and amateur—to get the equipment and supplies they need to make their own wine, beer and olive oil.
Napa Valley Wine Train
1275 McKinstry
Napa CA 94559
707.253.2111. 800.427.4124 Fax: 707.253.9264
Directions: From Soscol Avenue turn east on First Street and take the first left onto McKinstry Street. Take the second left into the parking lot of the McKinstry Street Depot.
The Napa Valley Wine Train—gourmet dining on the rails through the heart of the wine country. (Photo courtesy of Napa Valley Wine Train.)
A 36-mile, three-hour fixed-price brunch, lunch or dinner excursion that travels year round through the heart of the Napa Valley. Meticulously restored 1917 Pullman dining car, damask linens, bone china, silver flatware, lead crystalware. Lounge and wine tasting cars are resplendent in polished mahogany, brass and etched glass. Wine Emporium stocks over 200 Napa Valley wines for purchase or shipping. Special "Winemaker Dinner" trips. There's also a less expensive "open-air" car—the "Silverado", and a more expensive vista dome car.
You can take the brunch, lunch or dinner runs all the way to St. Helena and back to Napa, or you can enjoy the special luncheons that include a tour of Grgich-Hills Winery in Rutherford or Domaine Chandon Winery in Yountville.
The Wine Train is fun. If you like trains, great food, great service and/or a great view, take a trip. The whole thing is done with superb flair. If you think you'll be hungry early on, make sure you get the first seating. The second seating doesn't happen until one and half hours later when the train starts its return trip from St. Helena—although you'll have hors d'oeuvres and beverages on the trip upvalley.
And that's the Napa WineWalksm. We hope you enjoyed it. We also hope you tasted moderately, so you could fully enjoy each wine.
But wait, there's more...
No matter how you choose to experience the walk, it makes sense to have a room at one of the hotels, inns or B&Bs in the downtown area. With a convenient location like that, you can can have a great meal at one of the downtown restaurants, walk back to your room, have a good night's sleep, and do it all again tomorrow, trying some of the wines you missed today.
Thanks for joining us on the Napa WineWalksm
Avia Hotel
1400 First Street
Napa CA 94559
141 rooms
Coming summer 2009
Napa River Inn
500 Main Street
Napa CA 94559
707.251.8500
58 guest rooms and one very luxurious suite
Just a couple of minutes walk from downtown. Rooms right on the Napa River. Restaurants and spa on site as well as shops. In the former Hatt Building, and part of the Napa Mill complex. Pet-friendly.
Napa Valley Hotel and Suites
853 Coombs Street
Napa CA 94559
707.226.1871
www.napavalleyhotelandsuites.com
45 rooms
Located in the heart of downtown Napa, a short walk from restaurants, shops and wine tasting.
River Terrace Inn
1600 Soscol Avenue
Napa CA 94559
866.627.2386
106 guest rooms including 28 suites
An "upscale boutique hotel" on the Napa River. Complimentary high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi access, wine bar with tapas, pool, and all suites have whirlpool/hot tubs. A stop on the Downtown Trolley route and a close walk to the Wine Train station.
Westin Verasa Napa
1141 First Street
Napa CA 94559
800.509.8090
160 rooms
Luxury condo-hotel on the Napa River. 10,000 square feet of conference space. La Toque restaurant fronting on Soscol Avenue.
Bed and Breakfast Inns
Copyright © 2005, 2008, 2009 Mick Winter
Napa WineWalksm is a service mark of Mick Winter