Winery Recommendations

ONLY wineries with positive experiences are showcased on TWE.  We have visited 3-4 times more than those listed below.  We prefer not to publish negative reviews on our website.  

Wineries listed below provided staff with a positive Total Wine Experience...

Wineries are listed in alphabetical order and reviews are constantly added and updated.

If you are interested in obtaining further details about a location (listed or not) please go to our Contact Us page. Please tell the wineries you read a positive review on TotalWineExperience.com

ARIZONA

• Granite Creek Vineyards - This central Arizona winery is a great day trip from Phoenix.  Call ahead and order lunch to picnic under the large trees.
  

CALIFORNIA

• Alpha Omega - Rutherford - This winery is fairly new to Highway 29 in Napa Valley.   The patio has very comfortable seating and the large stand-up bar inside provides a lot of tasting room.  The staff is very friendly.  You must consider buying their ERA proprietary red!
  
• B. Cellars  - Oakville - The food pairing/tasting is amazing!  The chef is onsite and creates a changing menu on the fly.  Ask for the cave tour too.
  
• CADE or cade Winery, Napa, CA  - This winery experience comes highly recommended by 3 separate TWE contributors.  The drive to the northeast portion of the Napa Valley is quite nice.  Couples should take their time to drive the winding Howell Mountain Road to the vineyard.  The cave and wine-making facilities are available for tasting and tours.  Call Plump Jack Napa Valley for CADE tour information at 707-945-1220.
  
• Castello di Amorosa - Napa Valley - If you have just a weekend to play tourist in the Napa Valley area, this is a must stop tour for your group. The food and wine pairing tour combined with the staff service was fantastic. Old world castle charm...
  
• Chamisal - San Louis Obisbo - The staff is very welcoming and they offer a great value tasting.  Take a drive and see this central coast winery.  This is a TWE favorite for Central California.
  
• Chateau Montelena - Calistoga - This is where it all began for Napa Valley! The property is huge and beautiful. The staff was very kind, and the current wines were good. Do yourself a favor and make the drive to this property. Watch the movie Bottle Shock for some Hollywood history.
  
• Chimney Rock - Napa Valley - Located on Silverado trail, Chimney Rock...rocks! The staff made us laugh the entire visit.  
  
• Cliff Lede - Napa Valley - Country cottage, gardens, and local art combined with great service and wine.
  
• Darioush - Napa Valley - Let's call the style of this winery "Persian Metro." The entrance captures the guest with tall, Persian columns among the fountains and grass. The interior then exudes a "metro" style (stainless steel track lighting, granite and glass countertops) with "house" music playing in the background. The friendly staff actively engage with the customers as they explain the wines currently in season. This winery is highly recommended. Go, relax, shop and enjoy the wine experience.
  
• Demetria - Los Olivos - This vineyard offers a large tasting area and small gift area for shopping.
  
• Domaine Carneros - Carneros - This is our favorite sparkling wine maker in the valley. The member's area and service is some of the best we have ever experienced. Schedule a tour of the facility with the staff.
  
• Duckhorn - Napa Valley - A sit down, serve-you-at-your-table wine tasting experience. Quaint, building that is quite relaxing, and the food sample pairings were divine.
• Fantesca, St. Helena - This elegant, mountainside winery is for the particular wine enthusiast, because their winemaker is Heidi Barrett.  Tastings are by appointment only. 
• Franciscan, Oakville Estates - This winery is highly recommend for the customer service and wines. Our staff entered the tasting room with 5 minutes to closing, and we were treated with patience and grace. The large outdoor patio has tables with umbrellas and comfortable seating.
  
• Heitz Cellars - Napa Valley - Friendly staff and free wine tasting...need we say more?  Did I mention free?
  
• Honig Vineyard and Winery - Rutherford - This winery experience is like going to your favorite neighborhood coffee shop, yet tucked among the vineyards.  Honig has fun, experienced staff who make you feel welcome.  Enjoy sitting on their patio under the canopy of trees and taste their wines.  This winery takes great pride in its organic, green footprint!    Appointment only.
  
• Joullian - Carmel Valley, CA - When in Carmel or anywhere on the Monterey Peninsula, stop by for the friendly service at Joullian Vineyards.
  
• Keenan - The drive up the hill to the Napa/Sonoma county line is fantastic.  It's rich with woods and wines.
  
• Loius M. Martini - Napa Valley - This winery has a very friendly staff and wines at all price points. Easily located off of Highway 29. Be sure to ask to tour the cellar with the old wood casks.
  
• Long Meadow Ranch - "LMR" for those in the know!  They offer organic wine, olive oil, beef,  & the honey is amazing.  Visit their tasting room and organic market on Hwy 29.
• Luna - Napa Valley - The interior of this winery tasting room is reminiscent of a plush cigar club (without the smoke) as it is highly adorned with deep, dark woods and large rich leather seating. It's a man's paradise, and it should be noted that they may have the best bathrooms in Napa!
  
• Mumm Napa - Napa Valley - Great retail shopping area. Weekends are very busy, but the staff is worth the wait.
  
• Nichelini - This is the oldest family-owned winery in all of Napa Valley!  You must take the drive and visit the 4-5 generations of Nichelinis who will most likely be there serving their great wines.
  
• Peju - Napa Valley - This is a wonderful vineyard with kind staff. Be sure to wear a light coat indoors for the tasting area is suspended above their tanks. They have educational wine photo panels to teach you the wine making process. The exit lobby has beautiful stained glass for photos.
  
• Prager Winery & Portworks  Napa, CA is like coming home... This extremely casual winery is THE place for port-style wines.
  
• Pride - Sonoma County - Great, romantic drive (maybe the best). The curves are a fun way to spend the day. Try any of their wines. Ask about the tile strip that separates Sonoma and Napa Counties. Walk up the hill, taste the grapes, and enjoy the views. Appointment only.
  
• Rombauer Vinyards - Napa Valley - This winery is ALWAYS busy...that's because the service is great and the wines are good. We've even had complimentary valet parking at the top of the hill!
  
• Silver Oak  - Napa Valley - What can we say... It's Silver Oak!  The new tasting room now completed, and the wines are as good as ever.  Napa and Alexander Valley Cabs are both available at the Napa location.
  
• Silverado - Napa Valley - Beautiful location, views, and friendly staff.   The tasting room and patio create great photos of your trip.
  
• Stag's Leap Cellars - This Napa Valley Silverado Trail winery greets guests with a large tasting room ample for your group. The staff is very kind and willing to share winery history and vineyard specifics to educate the budding oenofile. This winery help put Napa on the map in the 1976 challenge with France!
  
• Sterling Vinyards - Napa Valley - This vineyard offers one of the most unique attractions for visitors - a skyway tram ride to its tasting room and tour. It boasts a self-guided walking tour with wine stops along the way. Be sure to take your camera for the breathtaking views.
  
• Tudal Family Winery - This St. Helena winery is very "farm-charming." Tudal is reminiscent of early Napa (before commercial wineries). Friend staff allow on-site picnics and welcomes guests to pick from the 12 remaining gardens of vegetables. Tudal accomodates single and group tours by appointment.
  
• Twomey - Napa Valley - Very friendly staff with a great Merlot. Ask to walk the vineyards and snap some tourist photos.
  
• V. Sattui - Napa Valley - Be sure to enjoy a picnic at V. Sattui winery.
  
• Wooden Valley - Fairfield, CA - East of Napa, this family-owned winery and vineyards can provide you with several good varietals in a rather large tasting room.  If your in the Napa area, take a short drive to the seriously up-ad-coming Suisan Valley and enjoy this winery.
  
• ZD Wines - Napa Valley - This winery is recommended for the great staff and good wines along Silverado Trail. 
  

WISCONSIN

• Wollershiem Winery, Prairie du Sac, WI
  This experience comes with the great rolling hills drive of Wisconsin.  Plan to attend the tour of the vineyards during the warm seasons.   Great old buildings and family story about the winery.