Beringer winery is the oldest continually operating winery in Napa Valley. Tour the wine cellars and the historic Rhine House, explore the gardens, and taste Beringer wine at this grand estate.
You'll know you're close to the Beringer winery when you drive through the tree-lined stretch of Highway 29, at the north end of St. Helena.
German immigrants Jacob and Frederick Beringer established this winery in 1875. It has the distinction of being Napa Valley's oldest continually operating winery, earning it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
That's no easy feat.
Creative ingenuity helped Beringer Brothers survive Prohibition. Making sacramental wines during those years kept the winery in business.
At the end of Prohibition in 1934, the brothers welcomed visitors into the winery for tours, marking the beginning of wine tourism to Napa Valley.
Hollywood celebrities -- including actress Carole Lombard, comedians Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, boxer Rocky Marciano and singers Roy Rogers and Louis Armstrong -- brought attention to Beringer with their much-publicized visits to the winery in the late 1930s and 1940s.
Transforming the Rhine House into a visitor center in the 1950s, the Beringer winery now had a place that invited guests to explore the wine cellars, enjoy the architecture of this fine old mansion, and linger on the sprawling veranda while sampling wine. Napa Valley's wine tourism exploded in the late 1950s and Beringer was at the heart of it.
Upon arrival, you'll be welcomed to this grand estate and handed a map to help you explore its gorgeously landscaped grounds and historic buildings.
Play bocce ball on the property's own court, then stop in the gift shop for sandwiches and head to the picnic area for lunch. This historic estate is the ideal spot to relax, grab a sandwich and a glass of wine while spending a glorious afternoon.
Check Beringer's website for winery events throughout the year, such as vineyard tours with lunch, wine releases, and holiday celebrations. Many are exclusive to Club Members only. (But you'll want to join anyway to get the wine discounts.)
Just as Beringer produces a wide variety of wines, you have several wine tasting options here.
Take a self-guided Sip and Stroll tour and immerse yourself in the 146-year-old history, which includes a glass of wine for $20/person. Or explore the Old Winery and historic wine-aging tunnels on the Legacy Cave Tour and taste three wines for $35/person. Want a more relaxed setting? Step into the beautiful Rhine House and have a seat at your own table for a Veranda Tasting of current release reserve wines for $75/person.
Serious wine connoisseurs will want to taste the finest Beringer has to offer, including Private Reserve and single-vineyard wines. Wine tastings require reservations, which you can do on the Beringer website.
To give you a taste of what Beringer wine offers, here are a couple stellar reviews:
2000 Main Street, St. Helena, California 94515 * 707-963-7115 * www.beringer.com
Tours and tastings are offered daily. Get the latest schedule for all the happenings on the website.