Arkenstone Vineyards

The experience here is one of the best in the valley. Patrick is such a wonderful host. The view on Howell Mountain is incredible. The mini tour down into the caves was great. And the wine is just over the top. Patrick’s hospitality is just over the top and he really cares for his guests. Make sure to make an appointment when in Napa. It is a must stop!

It’s very rare to find a business that cares so much about quality. Arkenstone’s owners go out of their way, both physically and financially, to make the best wine that they can. I think that’s the best compliment that I can give this
The hospitality here is second to none. Patrick provides some of the best customer service I’ve ever received at any establishment. And he knows more about wine than most vineyard managers! Immediately after arriving we felt right at home. He also gives good beer recommendations too. ;]
I highly recommend this place. Just make sure you make an appointment first!

Love Arkenstone! Stopped by Friday to exchange bottles received as wine club member. Owner Susan gave us a wonderful private tour. What an amazing set up they have at Arkenstone!

Amazing!
Amazing!
Brilliant, high end production design. Amazing storage cave which accommodates several producers. Phenomenal backstory on private owners and the reluctance to produce, then commitment to finest quality wines.
Views, setting, facility, caves are amazing.
The wines will blow you away with at least 2 90pt + Parker rated wines.
The Sauvignon Blanc is deadly delicious and the Estate Cabs are incomparable.
Patrick, our tour guide, was friendly & passionate.
Captivating experience and the highlight of our five day Napa tour.

Our tour was exceptional. My fiancé and I were in awe at their production facility. To see what a family can do with a dream is pretty astounding. Wines are of a high caliber, the owners themselves were a delight.

Easily the most deserving 5 star review I’ve given (which could say a lot or a little). In a 1 oz pour, lovely setting, fabulous tour, delicious wines, and really great people. Also, the tour and tasting are free, though it is by appointment only. I didn’t feel any pressure to buy, though my group bought some anyways because the wines were wonderful and it always is good to support great small (family) businesses. Also, it’s organic and sustainably kept. Woohoo!
The full 5 oz review follows.
The visit began with four of us arriving almost 20 minutes late due to unexpected traffic in St. Helena and a stop at another winery which lasted a tad longer than expected. There was also next to no cell coverage on the windy road we took up, so we weren’t able to call. Despite all this, Jake was very friendly and gracious to us in our lateness.
We parked and Jake met us outside. Jake is one of the sons of the couple who began the winery, and he is the current sales guru/​tour and tasting leader from what I understand. He moved there when he was 10 or 11 I believe, so he’s grown up with this particular property, as well as wine, and was very knowledgeable without being pretentious or arrogant.
Anyway, we were greeted outside and then led into the tasting room which is beautiful and very modern. From what I understand his mom designed the whole thing and has great taste. Large windows overlook a small patio and vineyard, and in the distance you can see the hills/​mountains on the other side of the valley.
We were set to taste two wines, the Loupe and the Coliseum. Since there were only four of us there (out of seven), Jake also pulled out the Oblivion for us to taste. All were delicious. They are noted for their Sauvignon Blanc, which was sadly in the archives (or something) at the time because almost all the cases were bought up already.
Anyways, onto the wines, they were all wonderful. We tried a Loupe, which was a rose with nice acidity and a refreshing quality, and very good for warm weather drinking. The Coliseum is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and was absolutely fantastic. It was both tannic and acidic, with a mineral quality that added a unique touch. I’m not a Cab fan, but this has converted me. Well, to this winery’s Cabs at least. The Oblivion was also wonderful, similar to the Coliseum but a bit fruitier. I believe it’s a Cab blend, but I could be wrong. It’s gotten 97 points from Wine Spectator, which could be useful or something to ignore.
Anyways, in the middle of the tasting the other three members of our party (the non-​wine drinkers) showed up and Jake was still gracious and served them the Loupe and the Coliseum. During this time we got to hear the story of how Arkenstone came to be, how they’ve been stewards of the land, the building process, the planting history and current status, as well as how they came to have the wines they have. It really was fascinating.
After the tasting, we walked down past one of the vineyards and entered the cave they built underneath the property. In there we got to walk through where they keep the barrels and fermentation vats. Jake was extremely knowledgeable about the process and was able to walk us through the process, as well as explain why they chose to do what they did.
After the tour and tasting (which were both free) we headed back to the tasting room where we had the opportunity to fill out an order sheet for any wines we were interested in. The wines are pricier (the Loupe was $ 26, the Coliseum was $ 84, and the Oblivion is around $ 120) but I think it;s worth the occasional splurge. I bought a bottle of the Coliseum to open in 5 – 6 years.
I didn’t feel pressure to buy, nor did I ever feel like Jake was condescending or bothered by our questions. It was nice to learn more from someone who is passionate about wine and knowledgeable. I took a class in college about wine making, so I’m a bit familiar with the terms and process (I’d put myself on the low end of being an intermediate wine lover), and it was really awesome to see the process and learn so much more about it.
Long story short, this is my new pinnacle of 5 star experiences, it was that good. If you’re making a trip through California Wine Country, I definitely recommend this, and I’m excited to return!