When we imagine a luxurious wine tasting experience, many of us think of country chateaus in verdant and picturesque valleys, nestled amongst cypress groves, the vineyards stretching off into the sunlit horizon.
To be sure, many of the world’s most iconic wineries do offer this kind of painterly setting to their visitors. But the creation of good wine is not dependent on the size of the estate – many of the Napa Valley’s cult favorite vintages are cultivated and vinted by small but mighty operations, known as boutique wineries.
What is a boutique winery?
Like boutique shops, a winery described using this term offers a highly curated experience which promises a certain level of quality. These wineries are often very small, and produce limited runs of only a few styles made from grapes cultivated in vineyards spanning only a few acres.
Boutique wineries focus their efforts on producing unique, absolutely excellent vintages that give their patrons a view into the terroir and micro-traditions which the business pours into the making of each bottle.
Boutique vs. commercial wines
In contrast to the small operations of a boutique winery, commercial operations scale up their productions with a higher quantity and larger variety of wines produced throughout the year. Commercial wineries often have large vineyards from which they harvest their grapes, or source grapes from many vineyards which may or may not belong to the company which is manufacturing the final product.
Commercial wines are often cheaper than boutique bottles simply owing to the size and breadth of the business, but this does not mean that one is inherently better than the other. Delicious varieties can come from both types of wineries.
Where to find boutique wineries in the Napa Valley
The Napa Valley is one of California’s largest, and most famous, wine-growing regions, incorporating 16 unique appellations and 400 individual wineries within its area. From huge wine growing operations, to tiny mom-and-pop vineyards, wine lovers could spend a lifetime tasting their way through the hills, forests, and fields of this county and never get bored.
Wine tourists to the area should make sure to check off some of the famous wineries that put Napa on the global wine map. But between visiting the bigger cellars, here are a few boutique businesses we can’t recommend enough.
- Nichelini
Take an historic deep-dive with wines from Nichelini: one of the very first family wineries founded in the Napa Valley. Erected in 1884 by Anton Nichelini, the business is still owned and operated by the Nichelini family five generations later, with a great-great-great-great granddaughter overseeing production as head winemaker.
Nichelini offers a sweet, rustic experience in all seasons, with much of the original architecture in-tact on the property. Enjoy a bottle of their newest releases or time-tested favorites with a picnic and lawn games in the spring and summer, and a cozy couch in the fall and winter.
- Picayune
This tres belles winery is owned and operated by French native Claire Ducrocq Weinkauf, who combines the tradition and history of her homeland with the soils and materials of the Napa Valley to create something new and delicious.
Picayune’s tasting room is located in downtown Calistoga, nestled amongst small shops and restaurants so visitors can truly enjoy a boutique experience all around. Claire partners with other wine makers both local and abroad, bringing forth such delights as her Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs: a Pinot-based bubbly crafted from grapes grown in the heart of France’s Champagne appellation.
- Tank Garage
An experience like no other, Tank Garage is a recent addition to the Napa wine scene, serving eclectic new bottles out of their tasting space located in an ancient, defunct gas station. Offering punk-rock attitude and a 50’s greaser aesthetic, Tank Garage may surprise the skeptical among us with their attention to craft, and absolutely delicious selection of small-batch wines.
This is a must-stop on any wine tourist’s list, with something for everyone stocked in the vibrant cellars of this unique establishment. Make a reservation, order a flight, and buy a bottle or two to take home.
- Schramsberg
Lovers of all things bubbly will want to move into this cozy, family-owned winery that has dedicated its vineyards and cellars to producing a range of small-batch sparkling wines.
Founders Jack and Jamie Davies rescued an abandoned winery and vineyard back in 1965, pouring their love and hard work into the property to make it what it is today: one of the best and most unique boutique wineries in the Napa Valley.
Visitors to the small estate can enjoy a tour of the grounds as well as the winery’s expansive caves, and nibble on a selection of local cheeses alongside their glass of sparkling rose ́.
- Gamling & McDuck
Voted “Best Hidden Gem Winery” by their peers, Gamling & McDuck is one boutique winery that’s paving the new road for Napa wine culture with exactly two varietals of top-tier wines served in an art-forward environment.
Eclectic, irreverent, emotional, Gamling & McDuck’s Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc are for lovers of wine who want to experience the glass rather than analyze it. Although you could probably talk tannin levels and tasting notes too, if you like – they want you to do you while you sit in downtown Napa and swoon over their delicious, totally unique vintages.
Thirsty for more?
We’ve got a lot going in on in our cellars, including further guides to wine touring in Napa, talks with experts in the industry, as well as phenomenal, affordable wines to give you a taste of Napa from the comfort of your own home.
Fancy a vista with your wine tasting experience? Check out our list of Napa wineries with the best view.