Three Napa Wine Tastings - Luna, Prager, & Hess
A Suggested California Wine Country Wine Tasting Tour in Napa Valley
Feb 2, 2009
Thinking about spending an afternoon in Napa Valley on a wine tasting tour? With more than 80 Napa Valley wineries open to the public for wine tasting, deciding which to visit can prove challenging. Below, find descriptions of Napa wine tastings at three very different Napa wineries, none of which require advance reservations. By wine tasting at three unique Napa wineries, a person can get a feel for the wide variation in Napa Valley wineries in a single afternoon.
Luna Vineyards
Elegant and Italianate, Luna Vineyards’ ornate tasting room features luxurious décor, including handmade tile floors and leather couches. Step up to this Napa Valley winery’s lovely tasting bar to receive a menu of the day’s wine tasting options from the friendly, knowledgeable staff. A regular wine tasting costs $20 per person (or for a couple, if the wine tasters don’t mind splitting a glass). Cheese plates on the bar invite the wine tasting tourist to sample delicious bites in between tasting the wines.
Luna Vineyards’ tasting room is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Luna Vineyards (707-255-5862) is located at 2921 Silverado Trail in Napa.
Prager Winery & Port Works
After the chic interior of Luna, head over to Prager Winery & Port Works for an entirely different Napa Valley wine tasting experience. Tucked just off the beaten path, Prager Winery & Port Works features a small, rough-hewn wooden exterior, but don't be fooled or discouraged. Continue on through this popular Napa winery’s creaky door to enter into a dimly lit hallway adjacent to numerous stacked wine barrels. This hallway leads to the tiny, funky, cramped tasting room, where visitors pack in to sample five of the winery’s latest offerings for $10 — and take home the souvenir logo tasting glass with them.
Prager Winery & Port Works’ tasting room is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Prager Winery & Port Works (707-963-7678 or 800-969-7678) is located at 1281 Lewelling Lane in St. Helena.
The Hess Collection
Finish this Napa wine tasting tour at The Hess Collection. Visitors enter The Hess Collection’s visitor center via a stroll through a sculpture garden. This Napa winery’s helpful reception desk directs visitors to the wine tasting salon, the art collection, and the gift shop. A $10 tasting fee provides samples of four of The Hess Collection’s current releases. Visitors are invited to stroll through the intriguing multistory art collection before or after tasting the wine.
The Hess Collection is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Hess Collection (707-255-1144) is located at 4411 Redwood Road in Napa.
Experience Variety in Napa Valley Wine Tasting
One of the biggest challenges in planning a personal wine tasting tour in California wine country involves choosing which Napa Valley wineries to visit. Avoid the guesswork by choosing contrasting Napa wineries, such as the three described above, prior to traveling to Napa Valley. Luna Vineyards, Prager Winery & Port Works, and The Hess Collection all provide very different Napa Valley wine tasting experiences, making for a well-rounded and informative outing.
Be aware, also, that after three or four tastings — even shared couple’s tastings — most people will probably feel the alcohol, so be sure to either choose a designated driver, or else plan to spend the night in Napa Valley.
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