Tasting rooms and caves are great...but sometimes you want to visit a winery with an incredible view to feel like you have really escaped from the city, your job, reality, or a combination of all of the above! Lately during my trips to wine country, the wineries with the best views have been extremely appealing to me. My last post featured Artesa Winery, and tonight I am featuring two more great wineries above the hills. If you are looking for some of the best views and outdoor tastings in Napa Valley, Joseph Phelps Vineyards and Viader are high on my list. We recently went on our second visit to Joseph Phelps in St. Helena, and enjoyed the Terrace Tasting on the patio of the property. This tasting experience is a great one to share with friends, you could spend hours enjoying your six tastes and hanging out at this beautiful place. My favorite wine that we tasted during this experience was the 2008 Insignia, their flagship wine, which is a blend of their best red grapes. We were able to try two vintages of the Insignia, which was a real treat! It was amazing to see how much the wines developed over the years. Their Terrace Tastings are offered between 10:00am and 2:30pm on the weekends and they cost between $30 and $60 per person, depending on which wines you are interested in tasting. Joseph Phelps is by appointment only and they accept reservations up to a party of six.
Another winery with a gorgeous view is Viader, located near Howell Mountain. This winery had a gorgeous terrace with tables for a seated tasting while taking in the view. Their wine offerings included a Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc, and several delicious blends at this Argentinean inspired winery. The 2009 Viader, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, was delicious. It was so velvety, and it definitely was a stand-out wine! Viader's tastings are by appointment only and range from $45 to $65 for a tasting. They are open for tastings from 10:00am to 4:30pm. This is a great property to relax with your loved one and enjoy an intimate, yet casual tasting of great red wines with an incredible view.
Next time you are looking for a great view paired with delicious reds in Napa, head to Joseph Phelps Vineyards or Viader, and you will feel like you have gotten away from it all!
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