Best Off-the-Beaten Path Tasting Rooms

After having visited numerous renowned wineries, many of us are looking for the hidden gems within the Napa Valley. Good wines are certainly valued, but the entire experience a winery provides leaves guests wanting to return and telling their friends and family to visit. To this end, we’re starting a series on best off-the-beaten-path wineries. Criteria for inclusion are that the winery is:

• Not readily found or can be easily missed when driving the usual routes
• Small or medium-sized in terms of wine production or size
• Unique in some way
• Open to the public, no appointments necessary

1. The Winery: Artesia Vineyards and Winery
Unique Point: Bold architecture and stunning views
Signature Wine/Varietal: Pinot Noir
Winery Tasting and Other Fees:$10-$15
The Experience
By far, the most extraordinary approach to any out-of-the-way tasting room is that of Artesa Vineyards & Winery. Take Highway 121 to Old Sonoma Road in Napa, and you will drive country roads lined with fields of wildflowers until you finally see signs into the entrance of the winery. The entrance itself is unique - it keeps going. And going. ​

The winery structure is built into the side of the hill and has been compared to a modern art museum. Interiors are reminiscent of the 1960s, with bold colors and graphic paintings hung throughout. Outside, the pristine pool requires true reflection.

Artesa’s collection comprises pinot blanc, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, albarino, pinot noir, merlot, syrah, cabernet franc,cabernet sauvignon, tempranillo and sparkling wines. Their Estate Pinot Noir is classic for the grape, while their upper tier Limited Release Carneros Pinot Noir is bigger and inkier.
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Enhance your visit by upgrading from the $10 basic tasting to a Reserve and Limited Release Wine Flight for $15 or a glass of Grand Reserve Sparkling Wine for $10. Or book a Vino con Queso pairing on a Saturday or Sunday at 11:30 a.m. and enjoy artisan cheeses paired with reserve wines. Or skip the enhancements - a basic tasting in this beautiful is all you need for an experience that is truly off the beaten path. 

Stay tuned for more in this series...