Discover the Hidden Gems and Overrated Wineries in Napa Valley - Insider Guide (Part 2)

Welcome to part 2 of our insider guide to the best and worst Napa wineries. In this video, we'll continue our journey to uncover the hidden gems and overrated wineries in Napa Valley. From wineries with great wines but lackluster facilities to beautiful wineries where the tasting experience falls short, we'll share our opinions and recommendations. As wine enthusiasts ourselves, we understand the importance of finding the perfect winery for your next wine tasting adventure. Don't forget to check out part 1 if you haven't already, where we reveal our top picks for the best wineries in Napa Valley. Please click on the burger in the lower right corner of the video to join our community of wine lovers and stay tuned for more insider guides to the world's best food and wine experiences.
Music: Keep You Near, by Sum Wave, and Rue De l'Abreuvoir, by Tomas Skyldeberg, all licensed to us courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

[@paleo704]

Great video

[@steveandyoung]

Thank you very much. We enjoyed making it.

[@redvelvetvixen9972]

Love it 😊

[@steveandyoung]

Thank you. We're back there right now, enjoying the wineries.

[@stephen-ti3sg]

So you went to three wineries that I agree can be missed. I'll take your word on Cuvaison. That being said, if you want some lesser known but spectacular wineries in Napa, here's a list for you.
1. Tench Family . It's right beside Screaming Eagle. Appt. needed awesome wines and their grapes are sourced by many outstanding vintners, like Russell Bevan.
2. Amici Cellars. Just a couple of minutes drive from Chateau Montelena . They get all their grapes from the best vineyards in Napa. Outstanding wines and a beautiful setting. Pricey but just excellent wines for true wine lovers .
3. Tres Sabores. Affordable fun wines on the eastern slope of the mountains, garden setting and great wine dogs.
4. Pina: It's on the Silverado trail and they make outstanding single vineyard Cabernets.
5. Lang & Reed: St. Helena . You sit on the patio and drink delicious affordable wines. Their Cab Francs are a favorite and right across the street is a great restaurant, Goose and the Gander, which used to be the Martini House. Try the pork chop.

[@steveandyoung]

Thank you. We'll try it for the next trip up there.

[@paulkozar7454]

I thought the wines at the Castle were amazing, but we had the reserve limited production Cabs.

[@steveandyoung]

We never tried their reserves. Maybe on another trip up there. . .

[@andrewschliewe6392]

I would disagree with Castello di Amorosa, I found their reserve cab wines on par with the best. I would agree with that their chardonnays are not that great. But their single vineyard cabs and pinot noir are also outstanding

[@steveandyoung]

I just think that there's so much better cabs in Napa, but if you like them, there's nothing wrong with that!

[@donfreeman3530]

I work in the industry and need to make some corrections to the narrative here. During Covid, ALL wineries were required to be by reservation only. It was the law. Since then, things have eased up a little, but by far the majority are by reservation only. And that is going to stay! V. Sattui is available for walk-in, but none of the rest of them in this video are. So book well in advance. Another point, you cant just go into wineries and walk around. Most will not let you in for that purpose. Some of the grounds are open, but not at most wineries. They dont want you wandering around the property without a reservation! And as far as buying 1 tasting and 4 or 5 other people go in with you...definitely NOT allowed. Most wineries will allow a designated driver in, sometimes for free, and sometimes for a nominal fee. Dont expect to just walk in and not taste or pay.

[@steveandyoung]

We did go into many wineries with a group of 4, two of whom were teetotallers. But again, this was in 2019, pre-COVID, so the rules probably changed after 2020.

[@timramsay7322]

@@steveandyoung The tastings are way too much,I guess if you have people coming in from sourthern california or back east or even over seas and they are willing to pay that. You have become very greedy no reason tastings should be over $25. We have stopped going there. QWake up there is a limit.

[@steveandyoung]

@@timramsay7322 If you are a member of their wine clubs, they usually don't charge for tastings. But, if you are not, they will charge you. Some charge as much as a hundred or more for a tasting. So, in context, these prices are market prices. In any event, nobody is forced to do a tasting. This is essentially a leisure event, and if it is worth it to you, then you pay. If not, you don't do tastings.

[@andrewschliewe6392]

I also read that many of the local town passed ordinance because locals were complaining about the traffic on the st helena highway.

[@donfreeman3530]

@@andrewschliewe6392 I have not heard that.