What better way to make use of your Priority Wine Pass than by going on a mini wine-tasting road trip to some of Napa Valley’s quaintest vineyards?
Our Napa Picnic Day itinerary will take you to either three or four wineries, with special benefits for Priority Wine Pass members in the St. Helena-Rutherford area.
This full-day itinerary is one of our favorites because it’s perfect for bringing along your own picnic lunch to enjoy al fresco with beautiful vineyard views. It’s a great way to take in the Napa Valley landscape at your own pace, not to mention save on restaurant costs!
This itinerary works well for couples if you’re in search of a romantic Napa wine tasting plan, but all the wineries along the route are kid-friendly, so it could also work well for a fun family trip.
Napa Picnic Day Itinerary
Stop 1: AuburnJames Winery (Silverado Trail in St. Helena)
Our first stop is a personal favorite! The AuburnJames Winery is nestled along the Silverado Trail in St. Helena, between the Napa River and the Napa Valley Preserve.
The Silverado Trail once served as a wagon trail connecting the silver mines on Mount St. Helena to San Pablo Bay, the northern extension of the San Francisco Bay.
Though the silver mines shut down long ago, the Silverado Trail area has continued to thrive due to the presence of many prominent Napa Valley wineries along or near the road.
Founded in 2005 by proprietor Matthew Ospeck and winemaker Jim Frost, AuburnJames Winery produces small quantities of artisanal California wines, with most of the processing still done by hand to the highest of standards.
Through the years, AuburnJames has produced a number of award-winning wines, so you’re in for a real treat at your first Napa Picnic Day stop.
As Priority Wine Pass members, you’re entitled to 50% off a tasting for up to two people at AuburnJames ($40 savings).
You’ll need to make a reservation for your tasting by calling (707) 967-9100.
If you can’t reach AuburnJames by phone, you can try emailing their tasting cottage at 1001cottage@auburnjames.com, too.
In the email, let them know what date and time you would like a reservation for and that you are Priority Wine Pass member.
Stop 2: Pestoni Family Estate Winery (St. Helena)
This second stop is where we highly suggest you break out a tasty picnic lunch and a comfy blanket to picnic on.
The Pestoni Family Estate Winery in St. Helena is such a beautiful spot with lush vineyard views, so it’s the perfect open-air lunchtime setting.
For five generations, the Pestoni family has grown and produced single-vineyard, handmade wines, and they still uphold the high standards and practices of that proud winemaking tradition.
The Pestoni Family Estate Winery produces premium wines from some of Napa’s most celebrated appellations.
Every step of the process, from fermentation to bottling, is still performed by hand to express the unique personalities of each estate vineyard while preserving the family’s heritage.
After your picnic lunch, you can explore the winery’s gorgeous grounds and gardens or even play corn hole (also kid friendly)!
Priority Wine Pass members receive a complimentary upgrade from the Heritage Tasting to a Legacy Tasting at the Pestoni Family Estate Winery, for up to two people per pass ($30 savings).
To make a reservation, call (707) 963-0544.
Stop 3: Frog’s Leap (Rutherford)
After your lunch stop, you’re in for another treat at the beautiful Frog’s Leap winery — we personally love strolling around this Rutherford winery! It’s especially beautiful in the fall when the leaves start to turn all sorts of colors.
Frog’s Leap is in its fourth decade of winemaking and has been farming organically since 1988. At Frog’s Leap, they adhere strictly to the belief that “the greatest wines are those that most truly reflect their soil, climate, and circumstance.”
This belief that the terroir is what truly makes great wines is especially reflected in their estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon. But you don’t want to miss out on their other varietals, either, such as the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, to name just two of the many.
Priority Wine Pass members and up to one guest receive an “extra splash” at Frog’s Leap ($10 value). This stop is kid friendly as well!
For reservations, call (707) 963-470.
Optional Stop 4: Beaulieu Vineyard (Rutherford)
After the first three stops, feel free to call it a day. But, if you would like one more stop, we recommend finishing at Beaulieu Vineyard in Rutherford.
Here, the focus is all on Cabernet, and you can relish a tasting of some of the finest Cabernets Napa has to offer on the cozy Beaulieu Vineyard tasting patio.
In fact, Beaulieu Vineyard is the maker of one of Napa Valley’s first “cult” Cabernets, the Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
Over the 70+ years since the wine’s first recognition, this Private Reserve Cabernet has become one of the most collected American wines and is a benchmark by which other Napa Valley Cabernets are often measured.
Priority Wine Pass members get 20% off the Cab Collector experience at Beaulieu Vineyard ($30 savings).
Call (707) 257-5749 to make a reservation or book online with the code found in the Priority Wine Pass order email.
Priority Wine Pass Can Help Plan Your Perfect Wine Tasting Itinerary
Visiting the three or four wineries above is a great way to get up to $110 in savings using your Priority Wine Pass, plus save on lunch by bringing your own picnic to enjoy in a gorgeous open-air setting.
We’re sure you’ll love our Napa Day Picnic itinerary, but if there’s a different winery or area you had in mind that’s not listed above, we can help you plan a day around it to make the most of your Priority Wine Pass.
We can also help you plan transportation for you and your guests (we have a private driver service in Napa) if you want to leave your car at home for a more carefree day of wine tasting and picnicking. Or, if you’re staying in Napa, we have found top-notch designated drivers and we can check if they are available for you—think of us as your personal Napa wine tasting concierge!
We hope you’ve been inspired by this article to plan a budget-friendly Napa Picnic Day or other Napa Valley wine tasting tour using your Priority Wine Pass.
