Venturing into the heart of Napa Valley, California is more than just a journey through world-class vineyards and cellars; it is also an invitation to explore the fascinating world of art that thrives within these wineries. From captivating garden installations to meticulously curated permanent collections and rotating exhibits, Napa Valley wineries attract artists and art enthusiasts from across the globe. Discover the magic of this enchanting combination at these five Napa Valley wineries, where art and wine blend seamlessly to create unforgettable experiences.

Hess Persson Estates

Originally crafted in 1993, “Surface Tension” by Andy Goldsworthy was masterfully reassembled on the Hess estate in 2009. Famed for his use of natural materials, Goldsworthy’s piece is intricately composed of elongated chestnut tree leaf stalks, moistened and fastened together with hawthorn thorns. Remarkably, no glue or hardware was employed to secure the installation to the walls or ceiling only the thorns keep it in place. During the expertly guided tour of the Hess Collection Art Museum, you’ll have the opportunity to marvel at this captivating artwork, along with other exceptional pieces from Donald Hess’ private collection, which he began collecting in 1966. Following the tour, a tasting of current releases awaits you, offering the perfect indulgence to complement your artistic journey.

Insider Tip: Even though you’ll have lots of art to explore at Hess, there will be wine tasting involved, so note that no one under the age of 21 is permitted.

4411 Redwood Road, Napa, CA 94558, (707) 255-1144

HALL Wines

Upon entering the tasting room at HALL, your senses are immediately captivated by Nick Cave’s awe-inspiring tapestry, “Garden Plot.” This elaborate welcome is a stunning blend of woven textiles, beads, sequins, and an assortment of found objects. HALL has established itself as a haven for exceptional art, and a journey beyond the lobby reveals even more artistic treasures. Be sure to venture to the fermentation tank room, where Graham Caldwell’s blown glass creation, “Red Rain,” graces the space (shown above), and Jim Campbell’s mesmerizing LED light display, “Exploded View,” enchants visitors. Moreover, the outdoor garden area showcases a diverse collection of intriguing sculptures, so don’t stay inside for too long.

Insider Tip: Representing the symbiotic relationship between art and wine, HALL’s Jack’s Masterpiece red blend is as deeply layered and unique as the artwork that adorns the label. Grab a bottle to take home, as it’s a great, cellar-worthy bottling for any of the art lovers you’re looking to impress.

401 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena, CA 94574, (707) 967-2626

Mumm Napa

Indulge in a glass of Napa Valley bubbly as you immerse yourself in the iconic landscape photography of Ansel Adams at Mumm Napa. Established in 1993, Mumm’s Fine Art Photography Gallery began showcasing Adams’ masterpieces through the generosity of his grandson, Matthew Adams, who loaned the collection to the winery. Renowned for his striking black and white images of America’s natural wonders, such as Yosemite, Ansel Adams’ work is celebrated not only for its artistic prowess but also for its environmentalist undertones. Experience the captivating allure of Adams’ photography amidst the sparkling ambience of Mumm Napa all year long.

Insider Tip: If you join their wine club, you’ll get access to the uber-popular Sparkling Pinot Noir (a great choice for sipping around Thanksgiving and the holidays!), among other special releases. Club membership also means you’ll receive complimentary tastings every month for four people (especially great if you’re local).

8445 Silverado Trail Napa, CA 94573, (707) 967-7700

Acumen Wine Gallery

If pink is your color, you’ll want to visit the current exhibit at the Acumen Wine Lounge in downtown Napa. “Pink! With Love, For Ukraine” features artists Kate Tova, Steve Javiel, Marc Foster, and Napa local Penelope Moore. These artists united to raise funds and awareness for Ukraine, with a portion of each piece sold going to World Central Kitchen, an organization that serves fresh meals to Ukrainian families fleeing and remaining in their home country. Sip on a glass of red while you take in all the pinks, from pieces of murals, paintings, graffiti, and sculptures. The Acumen Art Gallery is committed to supporting all its artists and takes great pride in featuring emerging and established artists. They even encourage artists to redesign the gallery space for each exhibit. If you want to add to your own collection, you’re in luck, all art displayed is available for purchase.

Insider Tip: Acumen Vineyard sits on the mountain slopes of Atlas Peak and is known for its mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. If Champagne is more your style, enjoy the Gallery Champagne tasting and walk around the gallery at your own pace, with a glass of bubbly of course.

1315 First Street, Napa, CA 94559, (707) 492-8336

Cliff Lede Vineyards

Cliff Lede Vineyards offers a unique wine tasting experience in their Backstage Tasting Lounge. Vineyard owner Cliff Lede, inspired by his love for classic rock and great wine, has brought a fresh take to the standard Napa Valley tasting room. The lounge is a comfortable, relaxed space that features a rotating art collection with pieces created by the rock and roll community. You’ll find art by former singer-songwriter, Grace Slick, Elton John’s collaborator, Bernie Taupin, and even a few pieces by John Lennon. Along with sculptures, paintings, and photography, the Backstage Lounge has a host of music memorabilia, even a signed electric guitar from the band Fleetwood Mac. With a curated playlist of classic rock, unique art, and great wines, this is not your average tasting room.

Insider Tip: Cliff Lede named each block of his vineyard after one of his favorite songs or albums, better known as the “Rock Blocks.” Try the small-lot Rock Block series, which is a “mash-up” of two or more blocks. These wines are known for their innovative names like “Roundabout Midnight,” a combination of Yes’ “Roundabout” and Eric Clapton’s “After Midnight.”

1473 Yountville Cross Road, Yountville, CA 94559, (707) 944-8642

Artesa Vineyards & Winery

Artesa Winery in Napa Valley’s Los Carneros region offers a memorable experience for both wine and art aficionados. Showcasing a curated collection of contemporary sculptures and paintings throughout the property, the winery invites visitors to appreciate these artistic gems in the elegant tasting room or outside on the patio overlooking the Carneros appellation. A true testament to its artistic dedication, Artesa’s architecture, designed by renowned Spanish architect Domingo Triay, masterfully blends modern aesthetics with a profound appreciation for the natural environment, inviting reflection on the harmony between nature, art, and wine.

Insider Tip: Variety is the spice of life at Artesa, which crafts a wide range of wines in various styles. That said, if your group has different taste preferences, you’ll all find something to love here. Think Albariño to Sauvignon Blanc, sparkling wine to Pinot Noir, and even full-bodied wines like Cabernet. The winery also recently released their first late disgorged sparkling wine, which is always fun.

1345 Henry Road, Napa, CA 94559, (707) 224-1668

CAMi Art + Wine

Artist and founder of CAMi, Laurie M. Shelton’s cow paintings have become highly sought after, from St. Helena to Paris. After the loss of her husband, Shelton started to paint cows and make wine to deal with her grief. Shelton is also credited with painting the much beloved “I (heart) Calistoga” sign located next to her gallery. See these colorful cows at CAMi’s downtown Calistoga tasting room, which is covered in art all curated by Shelton. For larger parties or an intimate special event, reserve a private tasting to have the gallery and its rotating collection of artworks to yourself.

Insider Tip: For a great Napa Valley art and wine pairing, enjoy the deep, intense flavors of CAMi’s Merlot while gazing at the cows.

1333B Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga, CA 94515, (707) 709-6889

More than just revered for its world-class wines, Napa Valley is legendary for its warm hospitality. This authentic, welcoming atmosphere always comes from the true passion for wine of the people behind the estates; no one exemplifies this more than Susan and Duane Hoff, founders of Fantesca Estate & Winery.

Love and Wine

Susan and Duane met in college, when Susan was working for her small family business, Sound of Music. The small electronic chain quickly grew and Duane soon joined the family business, which became known as Best Buy. The duo continued to grow with the company and held executive positions at the Minneapolis-based operation. By 2004, The Hoffs were ready for a new chapter; they fell in love with a 53-acre estate in the Spring Mountain AVA of Napa, which they purchased and named Fantesca Estate & Winery.

The Making of a Superstar Team

The Hoffs realized they had something special in their Spring Mountain estate and knew they needed a highly skilled winemaker to bring out the full potential of this Napa Valley site. They tapped famed winemaker Heidi Barrett to join Fantesca in 2008. Barrett, who came to the estate after her tenure at Screaming Eagle, brings her deft touch to the estate cabernet sauvignon and the All Great Things Red Blend, as well as Fantesca’s Russian River Sonoma Chardonnay.

Fantesca continued to build its superstar team when former sommelier and wine expert DLynn Proctor joined as Winery Director in 2018. One of the stars of the wine documentary SOMM, which follows aspiring professionals on their journeys to become Master Sommeliers, Proctor was also a finalist in The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Société Mondiale du Vin “Best Sommelier in America Competition.”

The Estate

On the Spring Mountain estate resides an elegant winery, tasting deck, olive trees, and a honey bee hive, where the winery produces small batches of jams and honey as gifts during the holiday season. In addition, a spectacular mountainside cave, believed to be an abandoned silver mine, creates a naturally temperature-regulated resting home for aging wines and hosting playful barrel sample tastings.

Fantesca’s 10-acre Spring Mountain vineyard is home to cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. Various blocks of different expositions and soil types give their estate wines a beautiful complexity and elegance. Originally planted in the 1860s as part of Caroline Bale’s dowry to Charles Krug, the site is that of Napa royalty.

The Wines

When thinking about which wines to produce, the Hoffs knew they wanted to stay very focused on a limited selection to craft the highest-caliber wines. From the Fantesca vineyard comes two of Fantesca’s signature wines: the Spring Mountain cabernet sauvignon and the All Great Things Red Blend. In Russian River Valley, the focus turns to elegant chardonnay and King Richard’s Reserve, a compelling pinot noir.

Events

As Fantesca continued to grow and garner accolades, the Hoffs felt strongly about creating special tasting experiences for their collectors; today, events are central to Fantesca’s ethos. Over the next few months, several unique events give visitors the opportunity to intimately explore the wines beyond the tasting room.

9 Stars Culinary Experience

Wednesday, November 13 – Saturday, November 16, 2019

An extraordinary gastronomic experience, 9 Stars gives guests a memorable tour of three of the Hoff’s favorite Three Michelin-starred restaurants. The first evening, participants will enjoy an 11-course tasting menu at Sonoma’s much-buzzed about SingleThread, helmed by acclaimed chef Kyle Connaughton, followed by an evening stay and breakfast the following morning at the SingleThread Inn. That day, Susan and Duane Hoff, along with vineyard owner Pam Bacigalupi, will provide a tour of Bacigalupi Vineyard, and the subsequent tasting at Fantesca Estate and Winery will bring the vineyard experience full-circle. After, the group will settle into their accommodations at Meadowood Napa Valley. Dinner that evening will be at the revered The Restaurant at Meadowood with chef Christopher Kostow, along with sommelier-guided pairings. The next day, a private jet will escort diners to New York City, where a completely different vibe awaits. After a night’s rest at the The Pierre and a day of free time to explore the city, the event will culminate at Le Bernardin for the final, memorable Michelin-starred dinner.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Thursday, February 20 – Sunday, February 23, 2020

There’s no other celebration like Mardi Gras; for Susan and Duane Hoff, who were were honored as King and Queen of the Krewe of Mid-City in 2017, the fête holds special meaning. The Fantesca couple will host guests for four days during the beloved celebration, starting with dinner at famed restaurant R’evolution. The following evening’s Bal Masque is one of the most elegant affairs of the weekend; party-goers will dine and dance at this formal event. The celebration culminates with the big parade, where revelers will ride the Fantesca float during the procession.

Kentucky Derby in Louisville, KY

Friday, May 1 – Saturday, May 2, 2020

The thrill of the races can get anyone’s heart pounding and the Hoffs bring the magic up close with their Kentucky Derby experience. The VIP suite is located right on Millionaires’ Row, offering optimal views of the action. In-suite hospitality, VIP Fast Track passes, and gift bags will complete this exciting viewing party.

For more information on all events, visit their website or email Mandi Ackerman at mandi@fantesca.com.

With 500 options in Napa Valley, many wineries find creative ways to stand out and lure in visitors. Some will invite you into their wine caves, for instance, while others might offer a cheese pairing, or even a multi-course wine and food experience. Pine Ridge Vineyards does all three.

Tucked away from the Silverado Trail in Napa Valley’s famous Stags Leap District — most known for putting Napa Valley wine on the world map in the 1976 Judgment of Paris — Pine Ridge Vineyards welcomes guests on two of the most informative and memorable wine tasting experiences in all of Northern California’s Wine Country. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience both of their elevated offerings: the Wine Tasting and Cave Tour (complete with a cheese pairing) and Savor Pine Ridge, which pairs five wines with gourmet bites. Both are fantastic and priced at a great value, so read on to decide which one is right for you.

The Tours

These Pine Ridge experiences begin with a welcome splash of wine and a tour of the estate vineyard, cellar, and caves. The Wine Tasting and Cave Tour is the most extensive, roughly 90 minutes and includes a barrel sample. The Savor tour is an abridged version, as there’s a greater focus on the food and wine pairing to come.

Starting in front of the estate vineyard, we learned about the soils, how Pine Ridge Vineyards has vines planted on some of the steepest slopes in the valley, the grape growing process, and the history of the winery dating back to 1978. We weren’t empty handed either, soaking in this knowledge while sipping a delightful chardonnay; it was a perfect balance between light and crisp and elegant and rich.

One main theme that stood out to me throughout both tours was technology. Winemaker Michael Beaulac clearly cares about not just maintaining the wine quality but also improving it. He and his team are on top of the latest and greatest advancements in the industry and are even running their own experiments to benefit the region as a whole.

In the vineyard, for example, vineyard manager Gustavo Avina, who has been with Pine Ridge Vineyards since 2003, has installed innovative, vineyard climate stations. These enable him to remotely control things like irrigation right from his smartphone. In the cellar, Pine Ridge Vineyards has imported some very expensive concrete fermenters from Italy, which kind of look like Apollo spacecrafts. Beaulac mentioned he’s still experimenting with them, but that they should add an extra freshness to the wine. I could go on and on, but I don’t want to give it all away.

The tours finish 130 feet underground in the 32,000-sq. ft. cave, home to 3,000 barrels and composed of just over three-quarters of a mile of tunnels (that’s pretty big for a wine cave). I’ve personally lost count of the wine caves I’ve seen all over the world, everything from damp, hand-dug caves built centuries ago to perfectly manicured ones covered in marble. Because of this, I’m not easily moved by what a winery has underground, but Pine Ridge Vineyards’ cool cave truly stuck out for the experience offered within it.

This isn’t the standard cave walk through; we actually got to stay awhile, sit down, and taste the wines. The sound of working forklifts in the background wasn’t so much distracting, as a cool and authentic addition to the experience.

The Good Stuff

Pine Ridge Vineyards is the definition of a Napa Cab House. Yes, they produce some other wines, like chardonnay and rosé, but cabernet is undeniably their signature grape.

The winemaking team produces single-appellation cabs from the best producing regions (AVAs) around Napa Valley: Stags Leap, Rutherford, Oakville, and Howell Mountain. All of the wines provide a unique opportunity to sip your way through Napa Valley, identify the differences in the varying terroirs, and then determine which AVA you fancy the most. My favorite AVA has consistently been Rutherford, known for its unique “Rutherford Dust” soil, which was reaffirmed during my Pine Ridge Vineyards visit.

The wine and cheese pairing occurs at an intimate round table in the cave, set in front of a gorgeous Chihuly glass sculpture. At my seat, there were three wine glasses and a plate with a trio of cheeses, dried fruits, and house-made, savory biscotti. For this tasting, we tried the Rutherford, Oakville, and Stags Leap cabs, each matched with a cheese.

When I’ve done cheese pairings before, more often than not, it’s with local cheeses. I’m all for supporting the local farmers, but I also really appreciate that Pine Ridge Vineyards prioritizes quality and choosing the perfect match to showcase their wines. They’ve carefully selected dynamite cheeses (two hard, one soft) from France, Spain, and Holland, and they were so delicious that I actually wrote down their names so I could attempt to seek them out later.

The cheese pairing is truly delightful, but if you want the ultimate, VIP experience, book Savor. It takes place in a chic and cozy cave lounge called Cellar 47 — the kind of place you’d hope to hide out in during an apocalypse; think, chic, colorful furniture and rugs, with multiple nooks for lounging and sipping — and we got to sip the full gamut of wines. One-by-one, we tasted through five cabernets: the four single-appellation cabs, plus FORTIS, the winery’s flagship cabernet made with the best grapes from the best blocks (it’s big and bold like its name suggests). Priced at $225 a bottle, it’s a real treat to taste this. Each wine was paired with a substantial, gourmet bite prepared by winery chef Susan Lassalette. The menu stays consistent, only changing up when a new vintage is released.

Despite what you might expect for cabernet pairings, just one of the pairings was beef. Lassalette gets creative with unconventional pairings, proving that wine and food pairing rules are made to be broken. My favorite bite was the savory, Parmesan panna cotta, though I ultimately felt that the best pairing of the day was the Niman Ranch beef empanada with a spicy pimento dolce. As for the rest of the bites, I’ll let you find out for yourself.

Just when we thought we were finished with Savor, we were given a bonus surprise: a pair of custom made chocolates for dessert.

The Wine Tasting and Cave Tour ($75) is offered daily at 10 AM and 2 PM. Savor Pine Ridge ($125 per person) is offered daily at 11 AM and 1 PM. Both experiences last roughly 90 minutes.