Enjoy a tasting of Cabernets in St. Helena. Napa Valley’s most famous wines are its Cabernet Sauvignons and Cabernet blends. Our generally warm, dry climate suits the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. St. Helena’a wineries have achieved world-class status for wines made from this popular variety. Cabernet Season is coming soon and you’ll need to know where to go to enjoy the most famous grape in the Valley!
Beringer Vineyard
2000 Main St, St. Helena CA 94574
Beringer is the oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley, with a winemaking tradition dating back more than 142 years. Beringer was also the first winery in the valley to offer public tours and remains at the top of the savvy Napa visitor’s list of places to tour and taste. Visit the iconic Rhine House mansion and enjoy the exquisite stained glass windows and historic architecture while tasting Reserve and Single Vineyard wines.
Can’t Miss Cab: 2014 Beringer Knights Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – aromas of crushed blackberry, plum, cassis and vanilla pop from the glass and lead to a plush, full-bodied mouthfeel with generous cherry pie, cinnamon spice, roasted coffee and graphite flavors. The wine is rich with deep, saturated color, a dense texture and smooth, polished tannins.
V. Sattui Winery
1111 White Lane, St. Helena CA 94574
Today, the majestic stone winery sits on a 38-acre organically-farmed vineyard estate and boasts a vast portfolio of 90+ point rated wines, each sold only sold at the winery. V. Sattui is famous for its bustling Italian marketplace, featuring more than 200 cheeses, house-cured salumi, and locally baked breads. Their wines are sustainably farmed and sourced mostly from their own vineyard estates, yielding a wide range of terroir and varietals that produce a long portfolio of award-winning wines.
Can’t Miss Cab: 2011 Vittorio’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon- the distinguished and outspoken 2011 vintage offers black fruit skin and dried fig, moist from the Pacific dew that blankets the vineyard every morning. Wet, luscious and regal, this powerful estate cabernet sauvignon is proud to be young, and drinks like a true benchmark of Napa Valley.
Charles Krug
2800 Main Street, St. Helena CA 94574
The oldest winery in Napa Valley, founded in 1861, is also home to California’s first tasting room. Opened for public tastings in 1882 by Charles Krug, their tasting room has evolved into a world-class hospitality center, renowned for its exceptional wines, stunning design, and storied heritage. Named one of the “Top 10 California Tasting Experiences” by Food & Wine Magazine and winner of the 2015 Architecture and Landscape Award for Best of Wine Tourism, this is a must-see destination for anyone interested in the legacy of Napa Valley winemaking.
Can’t Miss Cab: 2015 Napa Valley Cabernet – ripe black cherry, blackberry and black currant flavors precede hints of dried blueberry and cocoa in their estate-grown and bottled Cabernet Sauvignon from the Yountville vineyards. The sturdy structure and lots of black fruits lend definition to the long finish.
Trinchero Napa Valley
3070 St. Helena Hwy, St. Helena CA 94574
Wines bearing the Trinchero Napa Valley label are luxury, single-vineyard wines from their Napa Valley estate vineyards. They source their grapes from over 200 acres of estate vineyards in prime Napa Valley appellations, including St. Helena, Mount Veeder, Rutherford and Atlas Peak. The Trinchero family has been making wine in the Napa Valley since 1948, and Trinchero Napa Valley serves to honor the legacy of founder Mario Trinchero.
Can’t Miss Cab: BRV Cabernet Sauvignon – presents licorice, plum and hints of cigar box on the nose, followed by abundant flavors of blueberry, blackberry and violet. This wine reflects the intensity of its mountain origins and will age beautifully, with firm tannins and powerful structure
Long Meadow Ranch
738 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574
First settled in the late 1800s and abandoned during Prohibition, Long Meadow Ranch was revitalized in 1989 by proprietors Ted, Laddie and Chris Hall, who set out to produce world-class wine using sustainable, organic farming practices. Focused on Bordelais-style wines, Long Meadow Ranch Winery continues a proud legacy of crafting elegant, food-friendly wines and handcrafted extra virgin olive oils utilizing “full-circle farming” methods.
Can’t Miss Cab: 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon- “The complexity of the varietal character ranges from green peppercorn to fir balsam to sweet fennel seed. Beautiful oak notes of cedar, vanilla bean and unsweetened chocolate. The balanced acidity and pleasing, soft tannins lend persistence and mouthwatering qualities. You may enjoy this wine tonight or cellar it or both.” – Ashley Heisey, winemaker
Markham Vineyards
2812 St Helena Hwy, St Helena, CA 94574
Don’t miss visiting one of the oldest, continuously working wineries in the Napa Valley during your wine country adventure – Markham Vineyards! Stop by anytime 10am-5pm without an appointment to taste their wines and see the historic stone cellar. The very heart of their present-day winery, which was built in 1879 by Bordeaux immigrant, Jean Laurent. The rough-hewn stone from Glass Mountain has stood the test of time. The winery was purchased by Bruce Markham in 1978 and a new, modern winemaking facility, art gallery, and visitor center were all constructed around the original stone cellar.
Can’t Miss Cab: 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon – Classic Cabernet never goes out of style. Markham’s 2014 is loaded with floral boysenberry jam,caramel and graphite aromas, but also shows haunting complexity with coffee and hints of bay leaf. The ripe berry fruit has richness on the palate and is layered with dark chocolate and vanilla oak flavors. A silky texture belies a brightness that the grippy tannins show on the finish.