Quiz time, Napa Valley fans! What winery is fun and festive, with a friendly, engaging staff and some really staggering wines that will make you “oooh!” and “ahhh!” your way though whatever tasting you choose? Yes, indeed, it’s Sequoia Grove, and if you haven’t been by there lately, the time has come!

Sequoia Grove has been known for its great Cabernet Sauvignon since the winery first started in 1978.  The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which comprises two-thirds of the winery’s fairly small production, is considered a standard bearer for great Napa Valley Cab year in and year out.  The winery also produces a couple of knock-out single vineyard Cabs, particularly the Stagecoach Vineyard Cab, which is currently available on the Reserve Tasting menu.

The tasting room is new and old all at once – it’s a recently renovated 150-year-old barn with large oak casks flanking the entrance.  Visitors can just drop in at Sequoia Grove (groups of six or more, please call ahead) and choose from two tastings, “Greatest Wines You’ll Have All Day” Tasting for $15, or “Greatest Reserve Wines You’ll Have All Day” Tasting for $20.
Opt for the $15 tasting if you’re interested in both whites and reds, as you’ll have a chance to taste some great tasting-room-only wines like the Glorious Gewurz, Chardonnay and the Rebellious Red.  

The $20 Reserve Tasting currently features a library-release Cab as well as two of the winery’s wonderful single vineyard Cabs.

What’s really cool at Sequoia Grove is the opportunity to enjoy a glass of a mind-blowing single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon for just $15 under magnificent Sequoia trees. Choose your table and get comfortable in the beautiful gardens outside the tasting room where you’ll enjoy the relaxing sound of the water fountains in the beautifully landscaped courtyard.

The Sequoia Grove estate vineyard is 24 acres in the heart of the Rutherford appellation. The property is planted to the five Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvginon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The state-of-the-art winery has Napa Valley’s first completely subterranean cellar that maintains a constant temperature of 58 degrees.

Visit Sequoia Grove at 8338 St. Helena Highway between Oakville and Rutherford. The tasting room is open daily from 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. (except major holidays).