The Oakville district is known for some of Napa Valley’s most famous Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Famous marks such as Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Bond, Rudd, and Opus One hearken from this district and make some of the world’s best wines. Of course, only some of these places offer wine tasting to the public, and those that do require advance reservations and charge steep tasting fees for the experience. The list below includes well-made wines from wineries that are easier to arrange a visit and gentler on the budget.
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| Oakville wineries described below |
Tucked away off Dwyer Road on the south end of Oakville you’ll find Paradigm’s winery operations. The modest sized winery has an intimate, stand-up tasting room with plenty of windows exposing the surrounding vineyards. You will need to make a reservation ahead of your visit, but the wines they make are worth the trip.
Miner Family Winery (Silverado Trail) www.minerwines.com
Perched a few dozen feet above the valley floor, and featuring a second-floor tasting room with a balcony, the Miner Family Winery tasting room may have the best vineyard view in Oakville. The two best times to enjoy the view are late February (for the Mustard) and mid November (for the fall color). Be sure to include the Oracle red wine in your tasting flight.
Plumpjack (Oakville Cross) www.plumpjackwinery.com
Plumpjack is a little harder to find, but worth the effort. The winery and tasting room is tucked back off the Oakville Cross at the end of a long driveway, so the buildings are not visible from the street. The tasting room and winery operations surround a sunny garden courtyard. Plumpjack and Cade wines are poured in the same tasting room.
Turnbull (Highway 29) www.turnbullwines.com
Turnbull is a very accessible winery right off the main highway that requires no appointment. There is a photo exhibition in the reserve tasting room and a restored Ford Model-A truck in the courtyard. The tasting room features attractively-priced wines and opens onto a nice garden courtyard to enjoy in nicer weather. Look for a pair of redwood-sided buildings right on the highway, but be aware that the Cakebread winery buildings look surprisingly similar (their neighbor to the north).
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