One Day: Saint Helena

There are three villages north of the City of Napa along the main highway:  Yountville, Saint Helena, and Calistoga.  Yountville built a highway bypass around the central part of town, and Calistoga’s center is found after turning right off the main highway at a stop sign.  Saint Helena’s central district lies right on the main highway, which is a mixed blessing.  Traffic can back up through town on busy weekends or during the afternoon rush hours, but this gives you an opportunity to get a closer look at the many storefronts as you inch through town.  And you might discover a new place for dinner here.  Saint Helena certainly has its share of historic wineries to visit too.

Saint Helena wineries described below

St. Clement Winery (Highway 29)  www.stclement.com

This beautifully maintained nineteenth-century farm house is the ideal setting for a winery, perched about 100 feet (30 meters) above the valley floor.  The surrounding patio makes the perfect setting to enjoy your wine under the shade of the sturdy old oaks looking out across the valley floor below.  There is a porch swing to enjoy on warm afternoons as you look out across the valley.

Corison Winery (Highway 29)  www.corison.com

This authentic winery offers a humble table or two inside their barrel room to present their wonderful wines.  Enjoy this winemaker’s rare winemaking style and the simple elegance of the operations room (ask to see it).  Come in the winter months to take in the smell of the wine aging in barrels.  Check out the slowly decaying wood tower outside that attracts even Hollywood producers.

Elhers Estate (Elhers Lane off Highway 29)  www.elhersestate.com

While most of the other winery stone buildings were completely renovated, the Elher’s building was restored, revealing much of its original wood piers (and adjustments made to them over the years).  Enjoy a flight of their wines at the tasting bar or at one of the many cozy setups mimicking a living room or dining room setting.  Profits from wine production help to benefit cardiovascular research.

Hall Wines (Highway 29)  www.hallwaines.com

This winery offers a number of options for tasting, including the walk-up counter with the glass teardrops dangling from the ceiling, one of two patios, and inside seminar rooms.  They also offer a broad selection of tasting and exploration options, allowing you to combine art, cheeses, or learning with your wine tasting.