Despite a difficult year for the wine industry, 2024 still saw a number of new tasting rooms in Napa and Sonoma Counties. Among Napa Valley’s recent additions is Rutherford’s Bella Union winery, a remodeled Belle Epoque sanctuary situated on 120 acres. Cabernets and blends delight in its modern setting, and hospitality shines between pours. Within the city of Napa, two family-owned wineries joined forces for The River Club. You might feel lost pulling into its parking lot surrounded by industrial buildings, but the riverfront tasting room screams “hidden gem.” And it’s kid and dog friendly.
Not exactly new, Signorello has been serving estate-grown vintages on the Silverado Trail since 1977. The winery reopened last summer for tasting by appointment after years of closure due to the 2017 Atlas Fire. Another known entity, Louis M. Martini’s winery in St. Helena debuted a permanent art installation by Abraham Cruzvillegas, reflecting the transformative experience of winemaking through geometric patterns.
“Unconventional” is cool at two plaza-adjacent spots: Obsidian Base Camp by Sonoma Plaza sources grapes from a vineyard with volcanic soil, and Stressed Vines Cellars by Healdsburg Plaza likes its vines old and at high elevation for vibrant flavor.
For fans of all things sparkling, Healdsburg Bubble Bar will impress with European and Californian selections of Champagne, prosecco and brut. Sebastopol’s Kanzler Estate opened its tasting room last summer, nestled among vineyards of chardonnay and pinot noir (they also offer farm stays). And Freestone, a hamlet west of Sebastopol, gained its first tasting room last year with Black Kite Cellars’ Jasper House, which pours single-vineyard pinot noir and chardonnay in a charming, rustic tasting room.
