11 Best St. Helena Wineries You Can’t Miss in Napa Valley

Some of my most memorable wine-tasting experiences have been at St. Helena wineries, and I find myself constantly drawn back to explore even more. That is why I am so excited to share with you my guide to the best wineries in St. Helena!

Often called the heart of Napa Valley, St. Helena is where Napa’s wine legacy began. As the historic birthplace of the region’s wine industry, the St. Helena AVA is home to some of the most iconic and renowned wineries in California.

With so many incredible options, there are over 170 wineries in St. Helena, narrowing down where to go can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time visiting.

That’s where I come in! After years of exploring Napa, I’ve curated a list of the best wineries in St. Helena to help you create the perfect wine tasting itinerary.

From the off-the-beaten-path gems like Seavey Vineyards to iconic staples like Charles Krug, Napa Valley’s first winery, or my personal favorite, Amizetta Vineyards. These wineries are sure to make your trip unforgettable!

11 Best Wineries in St. Helena

Let’s explore the best wineries to visit in St. Helena! To make planning easier, this guide is organized by AVA, grouping wineries located in the same area.

What’s AVA, you ask – it stands for American Viticultural Area. The AVA is a specific region where grapes grow with its unique soil, climate, and conditions that give wines their distinct flavors. Also, Napa Valley is known for a total of 16 sub-appellations.

On this list, I mention wineries from the Howell Mountain AVA, Spring Mountain AVA, and St. Helena AVA.

🍷 Wine Gal Tip: St. Helena has some of my favorite restaurants in Napa, make reservations for lunch between tastings or dinner after a day of wine tasting! Stay in St. Helena for a quiet, relaxing stay in the heart of wine country, just minutes from top Napa Valley wineries

Howell Mountain AVA 🍷

1. Amizetta Vineyards

The Highlights:

• Price $$ Tastings start at $100 per person
• Intimate wine tasting
• Gorgeous views from the top of Howell Mountain
• Small family-owned winery
• Incredible wine especially their reds
• Can accommodate groups of up to 12 people
• Sustainability

A must add to your Napa Valley itinerary is Amizetta Vineyards. Amizetta checks off all of the boxes for me when looking for an unbelievable wine tasting experience.

It is easily one of the most beautiful wineries on this list. Tucked into the foothills of Howell Mountain, it offers breathtaking panoramic views of rolling vineyards and Lake Hennessey.

This small, family-owned gem offers a warm, intimate wine tasting experience that makes you feel like part of the family. Our host was incredible, knowledgeable, personable, and genuinely interested in getting to know us.

And the wine here is one of the best we have ever had at a tasting, especially at this price point. Lots of bold, complex red wines, which I loved!

🍷 Wine Gal Tip: If you are looking for a second winery to book with Amizetta, I highly suggest Aonair or Seavey. They are both located on Howell Mountain.

Reservations are required in advance. Tastings are available 7 days a week from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm 📍1099 Greenfield Road, St. Helena, CA 94574

2. Seavey Vineyards

The Highlights:

• Price $$$ Tastings start at $125 per person
• Intimate wine tasting
• Tasty cheese board with tasting
• Small family-owned winery
• Incredible wine especially their flagship Cabernet Sauvignon
• Extensive wine library dating back to 1990
• Sustainability

Seavey Vineyards is a small production, family owned winery that will make you feel like you are wine tasting in Tuscany!

As you arrive, you’ll be greeted by an unassuming yet charming rustic stone tasting room, nestled among lush green rolling hills. The property is home to cattle, sheep, dogs, and Doodles, their adorable black and white cat.

The wines at Seavey are truly exquisite, but what sets them apart, they have never bought or sold a single grape. Every bottle is crafted exclusively from the grapes grown on their own land, making their wines even more special.

They also have an extensive wine library with vintages dating back to 1990, a rarity in Napa Valley. So they can really curate a unique and memorable tasting for you.

Reservations are required in advance Tastings are available 7 days a week from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm 📍1310 Conn Valley Rd, St Helena, CA 94574

3. Aonair Wine

The Highlights:

• Price $$ tastings start at $85 per person
• Big & bold red wines
• Private tasting
• ATV tour & tasting
• Family owned boutique winery
• Dog friendly

If you are looking for an off-the-beaten-path winery with exceptional wines, jaw-dropping views, and an ATV tour, look no further than Aonair Wine.

A wine tasting at Aonair offers such a memorable and special experience. For one, it’s a private tasting so it will feel very personal and exclusive. Also, you can tour the vineyards and the property on a short ATV tour ride.

But hands down the best part of an Aonair tasting are the unbelievable views! Their terrace features panoramic views overlooking the valley. It is truly breathtaking.

It’s a small winery and is growing in popularity, so if you can get a reservation here BOOK IT!

🍷 Wine Gal Tip: If you’re lucky, request to get a peek into their secret bourbon room!

Tastings are by appointment only and are currently booked 4-6 weeks in advance. Open Monday-Saturday and closed on Sunday. 📍647 Greenfield Rd, St Helena, CA 94574

Spring Mountain AVA 🍷

4. Pride Mountain Vineyards

The Highlights:

• Price $ Tastings start at $50 per person
• BYO picnic available
• Wine Caves
• Gorgeous views of mountains & vineyards
• The Estate sits at the boundary between Napa Valley and Sonoma
• Family owned winery

Pride Mountain Vineyards is another must-visit in St. Helena! The scenic, winding 30-minute drive up Spring Mountain from Main Street is an adventure in itself, but once you reach the top, you’re rewarded with stunning panoramic views of Mount St. Helena and endless vineyard-covered hills.

The wine tour at Pride Mountain is something special. It’s not only informative but also includes a guided walk through their wine caves, which is such a cool experience!

After your tasting, grab a seat on one of their outdoor benches and soak in the sweeping views with a picnic. At Pride Mountain, it’s not just a unique experience, you’ll also taste quality wines. Especially if you love a big and bold red wine!

🍷 Wine Gal Tip: Pick up sandwiches & picnic supplies before you head up the mountain from Giugni’s Deli

Reservations are required and available by appointment Wednesday – Monday open from 10 am to 3:30 pm. 📍4026 Spring Mountain Rd, St Helena, CA 94574

5. Barnett Vineyards

The Highlights:

• Price: $$$ Tastings start at $125 per person
• Unbelievable views overlooking Napa Valley
• Known for their Cabernet Sauvignon Rattlesnake, also Merlot and Cabernet Franc
• Small family-owned winery
• Personalized tasting experience

Another one of my favorite wineries in St Helena is Barnett Vineyards. Nestled at 2,050 feet atop Spring Mountain, the winery offers one of Napa Valley’s most stunning views.

It is a scenic drive up the steep, winding road but the moment we stepped out of our car we were blown away by the unforgettable wine-tasting experience.

The seated tasting takes place on their intimate patio that overlooks one of the best views of Napa Valley. Their reds are outstanding, we especially loved their Merlot.

Reservations are required in advance. Tastings are available Monday-Sunday at 10am, 12pm, and 3pm.📍4070 Spring Mountain Rd, St. Helena, CA 94574

St. Helena AVA 🍷

6. AXR Napa Valley

The Highlights:

• Price: $$ Tastings start at $90
• Excellent wines – their flagship Cabernet Sauvignon
• Beautiful historic property surrounded by coastal redwood trees
• Personal and intimate wine tasting
• BONUS crispy kettle chips dusted with Cowgirl Creamery cheese

Tucked away on a historic property surrounded by a serene redwood grove, AXR offers a memorable wine-tasting experience. My husband and I recently celebrated our anniversary here, and it was hands-down one of the best wine tastings I’ve ever experienced.

Our wonderful host began with a tour of the property, taking us through the rustic barn, the magical fairy circle of redwoods, and finally to the cozy front house for our tasting. We even had the chance to meet one of the “Fab Four” owners.

She sat down with us to curate the perfect personalized tasting. Every wine we tried just got better and better, really showcasing the brilliance of winemaker Jean Hoefliger, a true Napa icon.

And as a yummy bonus, we snacked on their crispy kettle chips dusted with Cowgirl Creamery cheese, an insanely delicious pairing I never knew I needed!

AXR is a special place, I promise you will not regret a tasting here. We will 1000% be back! And another reason to visit, they have an adorable doodle that comes by for pets and to say hello.

🍷 Wine Gal Tip: Pair your wine-tasting at AXR with Ehlers Estate another fantastic winery that is located right across the street!

Reservations are required in advance by email. Tastings available from 10 am to 3:30 pm book your tasting with AXR here 📍3199 St. Helena Highway N., St. Helena, CA 94574 (off of Highway 29)

7. Louis M Martini

The Highlights:

• Price: $ Tastings start at $45
• Renowned for its Cabernet Sauvignon
• Wine & food pairing + cheese board available
• Underground Cellar experience
• Walk-ins are welcome

A winery that earns its crown logo is Louis M. Martini Winery, a Napa Valley staple since 1933. The wine tastings take place in a beautifully restored, modern tasting room with vaulted ceilings, or go outdoors under cabanas amidst lush greenery and striking architecture.

We booked the Crown Collection Experience, their culinary wine & food pairing. All of the bites were delicious, and they paired wonderfully with each exquisite wine.

However, they are definitely just bites and I wouldn’t recommend it as your only plan for lunch.

Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are recommended in advance. Tastings are available 7 days a week from 10:30 am – 4:30 pm. 📍254 St Helena Hwy, St Helena, CA 94574

8. Clif Family Winery

The Highlights:

• Price: $ Tastings start at $50
• Onsite food truck + food & wine pairings
• Can accommodate large groups
• Organic farm & committed to sustainability
• Sweeping views of the vineyards & rolling hills
• Kid & dog friendly

Clif Family Winery (yes, the same family behind Clif Bars!) is a great laid back stop in St. Helena, especially around lunchtime.

Grab a glass of wine and enjoy some delicious food from their Bruschetteria Food Truck, or treat yourself to one of their perfectly paired food and wine tastings. Everything from the food to wine is organic and sourced straight from their Clif Family Farm, which makes it even better.

I also recommend Clif Family Winery as a more affordable option (by Napa’s standards). Their tastings come with small bites, and the food truck is a tasty alternative to the pricier pairings you’ll find at other wineries.

Reservations are required for the Enoteca experiences, but I suggest booking in advance for the Tasting Room as well. 📍Tasting Room & Food Truck: 709 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574 📍Enoteca: 1334 Vidovich Avenue, St. Helena, CA 94574

• Food Truck Open: Wednesday
11:30am – 6:30pm & Thursday – Sunday
11:30am – 4pm
• Enoteca: Open 7 Days a Week by Appointment 10am – 5pm
• The Tasting Room: (Walkins welcome) Wednesday 10am – 7pm & Thursday – Tuesday
10am – 5pm

Map of Best St. Helena Wineries

More St. Helena Wineries To Add To Your Itinerary

• Duckhorn Vineyards – If you looking for a great Merlot. I also just love Duckhorn wines!
• VGS Chateau Potelle Winery – We really enjoyed our experience here. The staff was extremely accommodating, wonderful wine, and the food pairing is amazing!
• V. Sattui Winery – I don’t love their wine, but they have an awesome artisan deli that has everything you need for a yummy picnic. Purcahse lunch and enjoy it on one of their picnic benches.
• Rombauer Vineyards– A great wine tasting for an affordable price, also perfect if you prefer white wine. They are known for their Chardonnay.

Planning Your St. Helena Itinerary Tips

When planning your wine tastings, location is key. The wineries listed here are either located on the valley floor or nestled along Spring and Howell Mountain.

To maximize your time, book tastings at nearby wineries. Avoid scheduling one on Spring Mountain (e.g., Pride) and another on Howell Mountain (e.g., Aonair) on the same day, as it’s a 30-minute drive up and down the mountains.

Also, don’t rely on Uber or Lyft for mountain wineries, drivers often won’t make the trip up, and many wineries strongly advise against it. A safe and relieable way to get there and back is to hire a driver.

Lastly, I suggest 2 to 3 wineries a day, but if you prefer a more relaxed experience, stick to 2 and make reservations for lunch in downtown St Helena.

Shipping Wine Home From Napa

After tasting so many fantastic wines on your Napa trip, I’m sure you’ll want to bring a few bottles home to enjoy later.

Here are a couple of tips to get your wine home safely:

The easiest way is to ship it directly through the winery you purchased it from.

But if you’ve collected a bottle or two from several wineries, another option is to use a wine shipping store, there are plenty throughout the valley.

A more affordable choice is flying with your wine. You can buy wine shipping supplies (or ask a winery if they have extras) and check your wine as an additional bag.

If you’re flying with Alaska Airlines, they offer a Wine Flies Free program. And if you’re flying Southwest, you can check two bags for free, perfect for using one as a case of wine!

The Wrap Up: St Helena’s Best Wineries

Don’t overthink your itinerary! You will have a wonderful time at any one of these wineries in St. Helena (and of course others that are not on this list).

After you book your wine tastings, next is checking out the food scene in St Helena. Trust me, you will not go hungry here; there are so many incredible restaurants. You will be in heaven!

Book your hotel in St. Helena if you want a quiet and relaxing stay in the heart of wine country. It’s also a great central location, you will be minutes from numerous wineries in Napa Valley.

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