Napa Valley: What to Know Before You Go

Short answer: book your winery tasting appointments 2 to 4 weeks before arriving (90% of Napa Valley wineries require advance reservations by county permit law), never schedule more than 3 wineries in a single day, and remember that Uber works going out from Downtown Napa in the morning but often has zero cars available up in St. Helena or Calistoga in the late afternoon.

1. How Napa Valley Is Laid Out: 5 Towns Along a 30-Mile Corridor

Napa Valley is not a single city, as it is a 48-kilometre (30-mile) valley floor connected from south to north by Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail through five distinct towns:

• 1. Downtown Napa & Carneros (Mile 0, Southern Gateway): walkable riverfront city with Oxbow Market, the Wine Train and cool-climate Carneros sparkling wineries 10 minutes west.
• 2. Yountville (Mile 9, 15 Mins North): walkable Michelin-starred dining village (The French Laundry, Bouchon, Chandon).
• 3. Oakville & Rutherford (Miles 12 to 16): the heart of world-famous Cabernet Sauvignon (Opus One, Robert Mondavi, Inglenook, Stag's Leap).
• 4. St. Helena (Mile 19, 30 Mins North): historic Main Street, Beringer, CIA at Greystone and Hall Wines.
• 5. Calistoga (Mile 29, Northern Tip): Castello di Amorosa, Sterling Gondola and volcanic hot springs.

2. The 'Maximum 3 Wineries Per Day' Rule

Unlike casual stand-up bar tastings of the past, modern Napa tastings are seated 75-to-90-minute hosted experiences (check current tasting fees on the official winery websites, as fees are often waived if you buy two or three bottles). Schedule one tasting in the morning, a picnic or bistro lunch at midday, a second tasting after lunch, and a final tasting in the mid-afternoon, since almost all winery tasting rooms across the valley close in the late afternoon before dinner reservations begin in Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga and Downtown Napa. Pair your route with our top Napa Valley experiences and 3-day itinerary.