5 Napa, Sonoma, Bay Area wineries worth an all-day visit

From sparkling wine caves to horseback rides, retro picnics and vinyasa in the vineyards, these wineries offer experiences so epic, you'll want to stay the entire day.

There was a time when winery visits consisted of sipping a flight in a crowded tasting room, then scurrying off to the next three or four wineries for a repeat experience. But these days, many wineries offer an entire array of temptations – from bocce courts and cabanas to food trucks, jeep tours, cave experiences and more – all designed to pair nicely with that bubbly, crisp sauv blanc or hearty zin, and encourage people to relax and spend the entire day at one winery.

More and more vineyards now invite families to visit, touting their kid and dog-friendly grounds, complete with ice cream, wood-fired pizza and chicken feeding activities.

Whether it’s doing vinyasa in the vines, sipping chardonnay atop the dusty seat of an all-terrain vehicle or riding horseback on secluded mountain trails, these experiences can all be found at wineries in Napa Valley, Sonoma, Livermore and the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Bricoleur Vineyards

Tucked away on the outskirts of suburban Windsor, this winery is a stunning oasis of culinary magic and small production wines, all housed in a converted horse stable. The exquisite property is encircled by well-tended rose and herb gardens, two ponds, olive groves and, of course, acres of chardonnay and pinot noir vines.

Heavyweight restaurateur Charlie Palmer serves as the winery’s culinary advisor, while executive chef Thomas Bellec and chef de cuisine Todd Knoll execute an impressive food program out of the winery’s professional kitchen. The results range from the Rooted food and wine pairing ($125) to the Atelier Bricoleur ($700), an exclusive four-hour, multi-course, chef’s table dinner.

Unsurprisingly, the winery’s Essentials Picnic ($75) prepared by the winery’s culinary team is no PB&J affair. Guests enjoy a glass of bubbly before toting their alfresco fare — seasonal dishes made with ingredients grown on the property — via retro red wagon out to the winery grounds. Picnic on the Pavilion lawn, by the pond or at a picnic table tucked in the rose or culinary gardens as you sip your Flying by the Seat of our Pants Sauvignon Blanc. (Picnicking with kids? Non-alcoholic bevvies are available too.)

“We curate memorable experiences for our guests — we like them to feel part of our family,” says wellness concierge Deacon Carpenter, who teaches a golden hour yoga class ($25) on Friday evenings. It concludes with a glass of post-shavasana wine, of course.

Chenoweth Vineyards

Exploring this winery is like discovering a secret. Co-owner and winemaker Amy Chenoweth concurs: “It’s like being the recipient of a speakeasy password,”

For decades, her husband Charlie has been the go-to guy in West Sonoma, known for his vineyard and farm management practices and his prized grapes, used by such brands as Patz & Hall and Kosta Browne. Today, the family’s estate-only wine production is still kept small, and it’s arguably some of the best in the region.

Pinot noir and chardonnay from their high elevation Russian River Estate vineyards can be experienced up close and personal by hopping into one of the winery’s UTV — think ATV with room for more passengers — for an estate tour ($125) with a family member as a guide.

Boots and jeans are strongly recommended attire for this reservation-only vineyard adventure. You’ll make a stop at the Chenoweths’ Wine Shack, nestled in a redwood grove, for a glass of their coveted wines — the pinot noir rosé, perhaps? — then ascend rugged dirt roads to eventually alight atop the Chenoweth Ranch and Treehouse Vineyards.

Cooper Garrod Vineyards

Charming and rustic don’t adequately describe this hilltop winery that boasts family roots that date back as far as 1893. A rambling, pale green structure dubbed the Fruit House has served as Cooper Garrod’s tasting room since 1994, but the building’s raison d’être in the 1920s involved storage — of prunes and apricots from the farm’s orchard.

This region was once known as the Valley of Heart’s Delight, famous for its lush orchards. Today, Santa Clara Valley is better known for its tech companies, of course. But that bucolic past lives on in the hills of Saratoga and the lore of the Garrod Farms, where the one-time Cutting Shed is now an outdoor tasting room for Bill and Doris Cooper’s winery.

Tables, chairs and space heaters dot the terrace, where visitors can enjoy tasting flights, cheeses and charcuterie — perhaps after a guided, hour-long horseback ride ($81) through the Cooper-Garrod vineyards and the Open Space Preserves that overlook the valley.

What began with cabernet sauvignon plantings now includes seven varietals — viognier, chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot and more — and six Test Pilot blends. The Coopers call it an organic evolution fueled by shared cuttings offered by neighboring winemakers. But the property very much remains a working farm, complete with horse riding and vaulting lessons, horse day camps and more. For anyone looking for a relaxed, welcoming off-the-beaten-path wine tasting experience, this one fits the bill.

McGrail Vineyards

Lauded for its panoramic views and award-winning cabernet sauvignon, this Livermore Valley favorite doesn’t take itself too seriously — as evidenced by a recent Jelly Belly pairing and tasting. The winery exudes a fun and celebratory atmosphere, and its vast lawns play host to parties, tastings and live music shows throughout the season.

While the cab is exceptional, the winery’s menu also includes feasts, food trucks, bocce and yoga. Live music and fresh lobster rule on June 17, for example, at a family-style, alfresco feast ($175) on the winery’s Vineyard Patio. For those looking to unwind, a two-hour Vinyasa and Vino class ($32) on July 20 ends with a tasting of three McGrail wines and charcuterie. And white wine and seafood take center stage July 22 for Sip & Surf on the Hill ($50), a new Livermore Valley fest involving multiple wineries.

But locals know the biggest draw of the season is Forejour, a Foreigner and Journey tribute band which will play a Sunset Concert ($45) for crowds of fans on the McGrail Vineyard’s Front Lawn on Sept. 3. (This one sells out. Best get those arbor cabana reservations now.)

Schramsberg Vineyards

No vineyard experience list is complete without the inclusion of a winery dedicated to bubbly. Anyone who has experienced a Schramsberg sparkling wine — especially their Brut Rose — has not likely forgotten. But enjoying these superb sparkling wines, crafted by the French méthode champenoise technique, while touring ($85) the historic winery’s caves is truly unforgettable.

For next level wine lovers, a three-day wine harvest camp ($1,650) may prove irresistible, what with the combination of hands-on fun and immersive learning — and potent bragging rights. How many of your friends can say they harvested Napa Valley grapes and then made their own sparkling wine? The schedule includes tastings, food pairings, vineyard and cave tours, winemaking sessions and sabrage lessons, so you too can open a bottle of bubbly with a saber.

This immersive experience feels a bit indulgent, but then again, the very nature of sparkling wine feels indulgent and celebratory. Let’s just say for any sparkling wine lover, this excursion — whether to visit the caves or enjoy a camp experience — will not disappoint.

If You Go

Bricoleur Vineyards: Open by reservation only from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday at 7394 Starr Road in Windsor; www.bricoleurvineyards.com.

Chenoweth Vineyards: Vineyard tours and tastings are offered by appointment (call 707-331-2734 or email joinus@chenowethwines). 5550 Harrison Grade Road, Sebastopol;
www.chenowethwines.com

Cooper-Garrod Vineyards: Open from noon to 5 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends by reservation or walk-in. Horseback rides are by reservation only. 22645 Garrod Road, Saratoga; www.garrodfarms.com

McGrail Vineyards & Winery: Open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last tasting time available is 3:30 p.m.) for tastings on the patio, tasting room or lawn at 5600 Greenville Road in Livermore;
https://mcgrailvineyards.com/.

Schramsberg Vineyards: The Camp Schramsberg Harvest Camp for Sept. 10-12 has a waiting list — contact camp@schramsberg.com to add your name — but a few spaces remain for the Camp Davies Blending Camp, March 12-14, which focuses on red wine. Cave tours and tastings are offered daily by appointment at 1400 Schramsberg Road in Calistoga; www.schramsberg.com/.