For centuries, wine caves have provided a naturally cool and humid environment in which to store and age wine.  Initially the domain of winemakers and cellar workers, the cave has found new appeal as wineries and visitors alike seek new experiences. Both Napa and Sonoma counties offer a number of cave tours and tastings that are not only unique, but fun and informative.

On the striking HALL property, the winery offers two exclusive, private tasting experiences for a very limited number of guests per day. Reservations are required and it should be noted that while all guests are able to view the cave, tasting experiences in the cave cannot be guaranteed. Visit the website for information.

Jarvis Estate is the country’s first winery built entirely underground. Visitors touring the 45,000-square-foot cave are offered an intimate glimpse into the meticulous steps involved in producing the winery’s world-class wines and are invited into the Cuve Gallery with its collection of massive oak vessels, assembled in the cave by French coopers. The tour concludes with an intimate, seated experience in the Tasting Chamber where visitors sample six Jarvis Estate and Reserve Collection wines.

Located in the heart of the iconic Stags Leap District, Pine Ridge Vineyards offers intimate cave tastings accompanied by stunning views of the Napa Valley from the property. Both the 90-minute Cellar 47 Tour and Tasting as well as the 60-minute Cabernet Cave Tasting are exceptional ways to indulge in these incredible wines from one of the Napa Valley’s acclaimed growing regions.

A number of the fun tasting experiences at Pope Valley Vineyards include a tour of the winery’s hand dug cave, the Third Generation Flight and the 1987 Reserve Flight among them. The unique cave dates back to 1897 and is a must see but please note, cave tours are weather permitting.

Alexander Valley Vineyards makes it easy to visit as no advance reservations or appointments are required, and walk-ins are welcome for groups numbering fewer than ten. The winery’s half-acre cave was constructed in 1997 when winery production began to boom and above ground sites proved unsatisfactory. On one of two daily Cave Tours (noon and 2:30 pm, complimentary), guests can learn about the barrel aging program and various barrel flavor profiles. Please note, space is limited for the cave tours.

Bella Vineyards offers a 90-minute Cave Tour and Immersive Winey Experience that commences on the crush pad, leads through the winemaking and fermentation process, and ultimately reaches the wine beautiful wine cave. Here, visitors sample small-lot Zins from among the towering wine barrels as well as gain access to club-only and library wines.

Founded in 1857, Buena Vista is California’s first premium winery with a long and storied history. Today, the winery is a designated California Historic Landmark. Visitors have an opportunity to explore the winery on the Barrel Tasting and Winery Tour which begins with a stroll through the lovely grounds followed by a trip through the Champagne Cellar and finally, into the cave to sample wine thieved directly from a barrel.

Kenwood’s Deerfield Ranch has created a unique experience by placing its tasting room squarely inside the 23,000-square-foot wine cave. Located in the heart of the production facility, visitors to the tasting room walk past the crush pad and fermenting tanks to reach the beautiful redwood doors that open into the cave. The Grand Room features overstuffed couches and chairs, making it an inviting spot to comfortably lounge while tasting the award-winning wines.

Six generations of Bundschus have farmed GunBun’s Rhinefarm estate vineyard for more than 160 years and the winery is steeped in history, including the cave, which has been a part of the landscape for as long as anyone can remember. Visitors have an opportunity to visit the cave for tours and tastings, offered every day of the week. Additionally, the cave is available for private events to celebrate special occasions, as well as for corporate events.

Carved deep into a steep hillside near the winery, a half-mile of tunnels have been carved through five-million-year-old volcanic lava flows. The VIP room awaits sits 175 feet below a Syrah Vineyard as you are seated for a beautiful wine tasting led by one of the experienced wine educators. Learn about the 1,850-acre Kunde Estate while exploring the current vintages.  An exclusive selection of library wines will be presented along with a charcuterie plate sourced from our favorite local food purveyors.  Available January-March.

The gravity-flow production facility sit inside the cave walls with an entrance/exit on both sides of the hill. “It was here, in creating our 17,000 square foot underground cellar, that we discovered the long ago history of this land in the form of our sandpiper’s fossilized footsteps. It was an electrifying
find,” says Tom Porter. The sandpiper from long ago now leaves its tracks on every label of Porter Family Vineyards wine. The fossil is estimated to be about 5 million years old!