Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a Napa Valley regular, Beau Wine Tours seeks out the most unforgettable experiences for your excursion. Our extensive knowledge of the area allows us to customize a Napa Valley group wine tour that represents the heart and soul of this world-renowned wine region.
Below you’ll find a few of our favorites—not only for their lauded wine programs and beautiful estates, but for the ways they exemplify the quest for excellence that has come to define Napa Valley. These wineries take their stewardship of the land seriously, as they all believe in investing in a long, glorious future of winemaking.
Join us today on a virtual tour of these Napa Valley wineries. We can’t wait to guide you through this remarkable region –unique to California, unique to the world.
Duckhorn Vineyards
1000 Lodi Ln
St Helena, CA 94574
(866) 367-9945
(888) 354-8885 (reservations)
For 40 years, Duckhorn Vineyards has produced some of the finest wine available in Napa Valley, starting with their famous luxury Merlot. Their portfolio has expanded over time to include other varietals like Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc and Duckhorn Estate Chardonnay. With extraordinary vineyards to draw from—including the renowned Three Palms Vineyard, reputedly among the finest sources of “New-World” Merlot—Duckhorn’s winemaker Renée Ary works with a viticultural team to create the finest possible bottlings from more than 600 acres of vines.
It wasn’t until 2001 that Duckhorn opened its doors to visitors at their Estate House and Tasting Room in St. Helena, at the site where founders Dan and Margaret Duckhorn purchased their first ten acres of land in Napa Valley. Today, visitors take in the incredible beauty of Marlee’s Vineyard and the estate gardens as they enjoy a variety of tasting experiences. Visitors can start with five current-release Duckhorn wines in the “Portfolio Tasting” (and may add a charcuterie plate to pair with the flight); “Elevated Tasting Experiences” are also available for those who want access to more limited bottlings. The “Estate Tasting” takes place in a private salon, with sips from four limited-production wines as well as Duckhorn’s exclusive red blend, The Discussion–all paired with cheeses. Tastings tailored to your Napa Valley wine tour are also available by contacting our Napa Valley wine tour concierge.
Markham Vineyards
2812 St Helena Hwy N
St Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-5292
Markham Vineyards is a winery with one foot rooted firmly in tradition and one in the future, where sustainability will allow the region to produce world-class wines for generations to come. The winery itself is built on the same grounds as Bordeaux ex-pat Jean Laurent’s wooden winery founded in 1874. Laurent’s business was so successful, he added a stone cellar only five years later; a century or so after that, Bruce Markham preserved that same cellar and built a cutting-edge winemaking facility around it.
Today, Markham Vineyards is known both for its embrace of innovative technology as well as its efforts towards conservation and environmental-friendliness. Markham’s vineyards are certified by Fish Friendly Farming, and both the vineyards and winery are certified by Napa Green, securing Markham’s role as a leader in protecting Napa Valley’s future – and the future of its wines!
The Markham team considers itself a family. This inclusiveness extends to guests. The hospitality at Markham Vineyards will make an unforgettable addition to your Napa Valley group wine tour. The Visitors’ Center is open daily, and includes access to the Markham Gallery, where a changing roster of impressive contemporary artists is on view.
But of course, the primary draw is the wine itself. With an extensive range of varietals from a number of different regions–350 acres in Napa Valley alone–everyone will find a new favorite from Markham’s line-up. Premier wines include the vineyard designates, like the famous Altruist Cabernet and Yountville Estate Merlot. The Heritage Selection wines are limited-production bottlings created as a tribute to the winery’s original founder, Jean Laurent, and include Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Rosé of Pinot Noir, and others.
Flora Springs (The Estate)
1978 West Zinfandel Ln
St Helena, CA 94574
(707) 963-5711
The winery estate now called Flora Springs is a perfect example of the resilience of Napa Valley, which started earning its reputation as a wine region since the first vines were planted here well over a century ago. Since then, the industry suffered Prohibition, rebuilt itself in the mid-1900s, and arrived on the world scene with the Judgment of Paris in 1976. Flora Springs sits on a vineyard originally planted by the Rennie Brothers in the 1880s, which was sadly destroyed by fire in 1900.
Though the original property, one of the area’s infamous “ghost wineries,” and the vines were restored, Prohibition prevented any winemaking until 1933, when famed winemaking pioneer Louis M. Martini built his home on the site. Flora Springs wasn’t made a proper winey again until 1977, when adult siblings John and Julie Komes acquired the land and named it for their mother, Flora.
Since then, the winery has achieved fame not only for its wines—many garnering 90+ scores from famous wine critics—and sustainable farming practices in some of Napa Valley’s most sought after vineyards, but also for the beauty of the winery estate and the hospitality enjoyed by visitors. A variety of tastings and tours are available, each highlighting a different aspect of Flora Springs and its diverse collection of wines. Whether you want to try wines from different appellations, or sample flagships like the Trilogy and Rutherford Hill Cabernets, there’s a wine tasting perfect for your Napa Valley wine tour!
Round Pond Estate
875 Rutherford Rd
Rutherford, CA 94573
(888) 302-2575
Winemaking requires an intimate relationship with the land, but Round Pond takes it to a whole new level. A combination winery, garden, and olive mill, Round Pond offers visitors not only fine wines, but artisanal products like olive oils, vinegars and vinaigrettes, and syrups. Food & Wine has rated Round Pond among the best winery restaurants in the country!
The family-owned and -operated winery’s philosophy embraces both the old and the new: employees hand-select or sort fruit and produce from sustainable vineyards and orchards, and then craft them into fine wines, oils, and more in state-of-the-art facilities. Even better, these gorgeous spaces are open to visitors. Founder Bob MacDowell named “Round Pond” for the childhood memories he spent at a New York lake of the same name. This demonstrates his hopes that guests would find the same relaxation and serenity at his property. Take a sensory journey through the gardens, where farmers planted fruits and vegetables specially to pair with wines from Round Pond.
The main event at Round Pond is the tasting. You could opt for the four-hour Garden-to-Table Brunch or a quick stop at the winery’s gorgeous tasting salon, the Zinc Bar. Or perhaps you could peruse their complete list of offerings to find the best fit for your Napa Valley group wine tour. Maybe even plan for a visit to the Olive Mill, where you’ll taste oils made on site! And while the winery and tasting experiences have earned a number of accolades all their own, Round Pond’s small-lot wine program has won over critics and wine-lovers alike! Check out a complete list of their Napa Valley wines to see what all the fuss is about.
Artesa Winery
1345 Henry Rd
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 224-1668
At Artesa – Catalan for “handcrafted” – the philosophy is a simple: to be true to the place where the grapes grow. Artesa takes the relationship between wine and the land to new levels from the winemaking techniques of winemaker Ana Diogo-Draper to the architecture behind the winery and hospitality spaces.
Artesa began when the famous Spanish winemaking family Codorníu Raventós acquired land in Carneros. The family’s experience with viticulture and enology goes back as far as 1551. Today, the winery takes an approach that combines knowledge with veneration for its Napa Valley vineyards’ unique character. Diogo-Draper leads a winemaking team that uses modern techniques and minimal intervention to allow the fruit to shine. And shine it does; from the estate’s lighter wines like Pinot Noir and Sparkling selections, to the deep, vibrant reds Napa Valley is famous for, Artesa crafts a wine for every palate.
Barcelona architect Domingo Triay designed Artesa Winery to blend into the 350-acre estate. The utilization of natural features helps keep the winery and barrel storage cool. Several tasting experiences are available to Napa Valley group wine tours. For example, taste from a flight of current releases or from exclusive wine and food pairings.
Napa Valley is the perfect place for wine tasting and tours. Guests frequently enjoy fine wines while experiencing the region’s rich heritage. Let Beau Wine Tours plan your Napa Valley wine tour today and join us in celebrating the bounty of Napa Valley!
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