Napa Valley Wine Tasting: Land Of The Free!

The majority of visitors to Northern California’s Napa Valley wine region expect wine tastings to be free, but most Napa Valley wineries have been raising their tasting fees consistently over the last decade. Free tastings in Napa Valley are becoming few and far between. On average, you can expect to pay between $5 and $25 per tasting. Tasting with food pairings, with cave tours, or with barrel tasting can cost as much as $80 per person.

With more visitors each year than Disneyland, perhaps Napa Valley wineries simply grew tired of providing more than 8 million complimentary tastings annually. In the last year alone, the appointment-only Caymus Vineyards tasting room went from free to $25 per person, while the renowned Napa Valley winery, deli and picnic stop, V. Sattui, began charging $5 per person. Rombauer Vineyards has also raised their tasting fee from complimentary to $10 per person.

There are still a few strategies the informed wine lover can use to lessen the blow of winery tasting fees. The majority of wineries are willing to waive tasting fees with a bottle purchase (bottles generally range in price from $20 to $200). Often you can avoid winery tasting fees by joining a wine club, but this too can be costly depending on the distribution program of that particular wine club.

Fear not—you can still find free, quality wine tastings in the world-renowned Napa Valley region:

• Frog’s Leap Winery offers a complimentary winery tour and tasting that is head-and-shoulders above the majority of fee-based Napa Valley tasting rooms. They are located at 8815 Conn Creek Road in Rutherford, California. Appointments are required and they are closed on Sundays. Call (707) 963-4704 to make your appointment.

• Frank Family Winery offers quality complimentary wine tasting with an option to purchase reserve tasting for only $10 per person. A personal favorite is their cognac champagne. They are located at 1091 Larkmead Lane in Calistoga, California. Call (800) 574-9463 for more information.

• Heitz Wine Cellars continues to provide delicious and free-of-charge wine tasting in a low-frills, yet comfortable environment. They are located at 436 Saint Helena Highway in St. Helena, California. You can call them at (707) 963 3542, but no appointment is required.

• Sutter Home Winery also offers complimentary wine tasting in their visitor center. Reserve tastings are also available for a fee. Sutter Home Winery is located at 277 Saint Helena Highway in St. Helena, California. They can be reached at (707) 963-3104.