Total Trail Miles: 32.9
Many Napa wineries are located on estates that showcase the valley's intrinsic beauty. The water views trail highlights wineries with views of lakes and reservoirs.
Start the trail high above the valley floor on Howell Mountain at an estate named after its remote location. Outpost crafts high quality wine from organically grown fruit and pours it to taste on a terrace overlooking vineyards, a reservoir, the valley floor and Spring Mountain to the west. Hard to beat!
Work your way back down Howell Mountain Road until it ends at Deer Park and the entry gate to Viader. The tasting room is perched on the edge of a wooded knoll and features an outdoor deck at the rear of the winery. If the body of water looks familiar, it should, you just caught a glimpse a few miles up while drinking that wonderful Outpost Grenache. Viader pours Bordeaux blends with an emphasis on Cabernet Franc in an idyllic setting close to the vineyard and in our opinion, offers one of the better experiences in the valley.
Keep heading down the mountain and take a left at the Silverado Trail until you reach Highway 128 ten miles down. Make a left and travel east until you reach the boat docks. From this point forward, follow the directions sent upon securing a reservation at Chappellet and work your way up the hill toward the winery 1200 feet above the valley floor. Chappellet is known for exceptional wine expressing the unique quality of its Pritchard Hill vineyards and fantastic views of Lake Hennessey.
Final stop, Kuleto Estate. Descend Pritchard Hill and make a right at Highway 128, head east another five miles and check in with the tasting room at the gate. The Kuleto Estate sits at the end of a four-mile meandering road on the crest of a mountain and was designed to recall the essence of an Italian villa. Multi directional views are highlighted by a spectacular vista of Lake Hennessey to the West.
Dine at Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford 800-348-5406
Winery Option: Burgess Cellars
View from the deck at Viader | Howell Mountain AVA
