Napa Wineries with Picnic Areas: What you need to know
What is it about Napa Valley wineries that makes you want to settle in for an afternoon picnic. Is it the setting, the wine, or wine country itself?
The challenge is finding a winery in Napa that has a picnic area available to the public. So we did the research and here’s what we found.
A few Napa Valley wineries have picnic tables set up for customers to use, while others have lawn areas where you can throw a picnic blanket wherever you want.
Most of these wineries want you to become a customer in some way first. You may need to make a reservation for a tasting or table, purchase a bottle of wine, or both. And why wouldn’t you? Also, even when you bring your own (BYO) picnic, bringing your own outside alcohol is rude so just don’t.
Other wineries have policies to only let their wine club members picnic on their properties. I will not mention those here. For the wineries listed below, call ahead to check for any policy changes or updates.
12 Napa Valley Wineries with Picnic Spots
1. Amizetta Vineyards
Reserve a tour and a tasting, then enjoy their picnic area (bring your own) overlooking the mountain with a view of the lake. A bit of a drive, but the views are worth it (and so is the wine).
1099 Greenfield Road, St. Helena, Califoria
Reservations 707-963-1460 | www.amizetta.com
Bennet Lane Winery
2. Bennett Lane
Take tour or book a tasting, or purchase a bottle to gain access to their picnic area. Located at the North end of the Napa Valley, with views of the Mayacamas Mountains.
3340 CA-128, Calistoga, California
707-942-6684 | Bennett Lane
3. Buehler Vineyards
Book a tour and arrange to picnic afterward (BYO). Beautifully located high in the hills east of St. Helena. The winery is the Buehler family home, so all tours and tasting are done by appointment only.
820 Greenfield Rd, St Helena, CA
Reservations 707-963-2155 | Buehler Vineyards
Charles Krug Winery
4. Charles Krug Winery
Buy a bottle to reserve a picnic table (first come, first served) or a spot on the lawn at Napa Valley’s oldest winery. During the week bring your own picnic, but on weekends their deli is open. Conveniently located on St. Helena’s Main Street.
2800 Main St, St. Helena, California
Reservations 707-967-2229 | Charles Krug
5. Clos du Val
At Clos du Val, you can reserve a picnic table in advance, either in the olive grove, or on the main lawn with a vineyard view. Bring a picnic lunch, buy a bottle of Clos du Val wine, and spend the afternoon.
5330 Silverado Trl, Napa, California
Reservations 707-259-2200 | www.closduval.com
6. Nichelini Winery
Buy a bottle or reserve a wine tasting and you can use their picnic areas below the winery. BYO picnic. Wine cellar is open to all winery guests. Check out the bocce court, and the original 1886 Homestead cabin, the last in Napa County. This family owned winery is isted on the National Register of Historic Places.
2950 Sage Canyon Rd, St Helena, California
Reservations 707-963-0717 | www.nicheliniwinery.com
7. Pope Valley Winery
Reserve a wine tasting or reserve a picnic table and they’ll give you 10% off a bottle of wine to enjoy with your BYO picnic. If you’re game, you can play a round of bocce and cornhole while you’re there.
6613 Pope Valley Rd, Pope Valley, California
Reservations 707-965-1246 | www.popevalleywinery.com
8. Napa Cellars
Reserve a wine tasting and purchase wine, then you can BYO picnic on the lawn or picnic tables. Napa Cellars is well-located in the middle of the valley with stellar views of the coastal mountains.
7481 St. Helena Highway South, Oakville, California
Reservations 800-535-6400 | www.napacellars.com
View of the valley from Rombauer Vineyards
9. Rombauer Vineyards
Picnic tables are available to Tasting Room visitors (reservations required) on a first-come, first-served basis.
3522 Silverado Trail North, St. Helena, California
Reservations 866-280-2582 | www.rombauer.com
10. Rutherford Hill
Rutherford’s picnic area offers great views of Napa Valley from above. Best when you’re going with a small group of friends, because the table reservation (with stemless glassware) will cost you $75 per picnic table of 8 (available seasonally). This fee is waived with equal or greater valued wine purchase or for wine club members.
200 Rutherford Hill Rd, Rutherford, California
Reservations 707-963-1871 | www.rutherfordhill.com
V.-Sattui
11. V. Sattui Winery
This busy winery has a large picnic area with many tables and a pretty lawn for those with picnic blankets. No outside food, but you can purchase lunch supplies at their deli and marketplace. On the weekends they serve a big BBQ.
1111 White Ln, St Helena, California
Reservations 707-963-7774 | vsattuiwinery.com
6 Places to pick up Napa Valley Picnic Supplies
If you’re heading out to one of the above BYO places for your Napa Valley picnic, stop at one of these six places first for sandwiches and supplies.
Fivetown Grocery
1. Fivetown Grocery
An upscale Napa market, Fivetown features local, farm-fresh ingredients and products made from scratch. Signature sandwiches include House Made Pastrami on Marble Rye and Smoked Rosemary Turkey Breast on freshly baked Ciabatta bread. Find it four miles from downtown Napa in The Village at Vista Collina Resort.
850 Bordeaux Way, Napa, California
707-251-3060 | meritagecollection.com/vista-collina/dining/fivetown-grocery
SAVVY TIP: The large manicured lawn near Fivetown makes a pretty good picnic spot. Special occasion? Reserve a curated lawn picnic in advance via their butler service. Chef Vincent Lesage will create a gourmet picnic basket with your personally selected food items, a blanket, lawn games and wine service.
2. Model Bakery
At the popular food mecca Owbow Market, Modal is a great place to pick up artisan breads, baked goods and classic French pastries. They’ll also make you some amazing sandwiches.
644 First Street, Building B, Napa, California
707-259-1169 | www.themodelbakery.com
3. Cal-Mart Deli
Old-school full-service supermarket where you can pick up sandwiches, grilled paninis, and grocery items. you can also check out their Hot Food Bar to see what’s cooking, from roasted salmon to baby back ribs to mac-and-cheese (a local fave).
1491 Lincoln Ave, Calistoga, California
707-942-9686 | www.calmartnv.com
4. Oakville Grocery
Popular historic grocery (recently sold to Jean-Charles Boisset) with sandwiches, products from local farmers and artisans, wine and picnic supplies.
7856 St. Helena Highway (H29), Oakville, California
707-944-8802 | www.oakvillegrocery.com
Soda Canyon Store
5. Soda Canyon Store
Along with deli sandwiches, wine and groceries, this place has an espresso bar and its own picnic area.
4006 Silverado Trail, Napa, California
707-252-5445 | sodacanyonstore.com
6. Sunshine Foods
A specialty market with a deli and hot foods bar, specialty foods and groceries.
1115 Main St, St Helena, California
707-996-3411 | www.sunshinefoodsmarket.com
