(Courtesy of Charles Krug)

Charles Krug

One of Napa Valley’s most iconic wineries, Charles Krug was the first to host public tastings in California back in 1882. Today, the winery operates eight separate vineyards, including the original Charles Krug estate, which was first planted in 1861. Under the ownership of the Mondavi family, who purchased the winery in 1943, Charles Krug has become a household name recognized for vintages like the full-bodied, crisp-finished Cold Springs Cabernet, the 2014 release of which has aromas of spice, black currant and cardamom. Tastings are available daily ($45, reservations strongly encouraged) in the elegant, restored tasting room and can be paired with small bites from the on-site Cucina de Rosa Salumeria or pizza from the outdoor wood-burning oven (open Thursday through Monday). // 2800 Main St (St. Helena), charleskrug.com

Freemark Abbey, shortly after its construction in 1898.(Courtesy of Freemark Abbey)

Freemark Abbey

Freemark Abbey lays claim to a lot of firsts in Napa Valley: It was the first female-owned and operated winery; the first California winery to compete in the prestigious Judgement of Paris; and one of the earliest vineyards to open a “sampling room” (as tasting rooms were then called) in 1949. The historic winery, constructed with stone from nearby Glass Mountain in 1898, still hosts tastings daily ($35, reservations needed) of the winery’s wide portfolio of reds and whites from vineyards in Rutherford and Spring Mountain, including the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon with its aromas of dark cherry, ripe Santa Rosa plum, and black currant. Two Birds/One Stone, a pan-Asian eatery heavily influenced by Wine Country’s farm-to-table delights, is tucked inside the restored winery, serving up creative lunch and dinner fare with dishes such as ginger pork meatball banh mi and crispy Sonoma duck leg with Peking glaze. // 3022 St. Helena Hwy N. (St. Helena), freemarkabbey.com

(Courtesy of Beringer Vineyards)

Beringer Vineyards

Beringer has the distinction of being the longest continually operated winery in the state of California. The Beringer brothers, immigrants from Mainz, Germany, purchased 215 acres of Napa Valley land in 1875 and, in the 143 years that have followed, Beringer has racked up more accolades than most wineries can ever hope to, including earning Wine Spectator’s #1 Wine of the Year for both a white and a red, the only winery every to do so. Beringer offers a variety of different tastings and tours daily including their most affordable options: the old winery tasting room ($25) and a 30-minute tour through the winery’s historic tunnels ($30). Keep an eye out for their 2013 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, which earned a near perfect score (97 out of 100) from Wine Advocate for its full body with notes of creme de cassis, graphite, and baking spices. // 2000 Main St (St. Helena), beringer.com

(Courtesy of Chateau Montelena)

Chateau Montelena

Once called the A.L. Tubbs Winery after its founder, Alfred Tubbs, the chateau was constructed in 1888 with stone walls three to 12 feet thick to protect aging wine barrels within from extreme temperatures. Put on hold through Prohibition in the 1920s, the winery resumed operations in 1933 and was soon after rechristened Chateau Montelena, a contraction of Mount St. Helena. Today the winery is under the ownership of the Barrett family, who updated the winery’s equipment and operations in the 1970s. Chateau Montelena specializes in both red and white wines but they are especially known for their unique “earthy-berry” cabernet sauvignons, such as the 2014 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, and their spicy, ripe berry zinfandels, such as the 2015 Calistoga Zinfandel. Tastings are offered daily from 9:30am to 4pm ($30, no reservation needed). // 1429 Tubbs Lane (Calistoga), montelena.com

(Courtesy of Beaulieu Vineyard)

Beaulieu Vineyard

“Beau lieu,” Rutherford’s “beautiful place,” was so named by French immigrant Georges de Latour’s wife, Fernande, when she first laid eyes on the four acres her husband purchased in 1900 to produce wines to rival those of his homeland. By providing sacramental wine to the Catholic Church, Beaulieu eked through Prohibition intact and went on to become one of the region’s most recognizable wineries thanks to the assistance of Russian viticulturalist André Tchelistcheff, affectionately called the Maestro, who worked at the vineyards from 1938 into the 1990s. Beaulieu’s portfolio is a detailed study in cabernet sauvignon, with more than a dozen different varieties including the 2014 BV Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford, with its flavors of blackberry, cassis, and black plum. Daily tastings (from 10am to 4pm) start at $30 per person; reservations are recommended. // 1960 St. Helena Hwy (Rutherford), bvwines.com