Saintsbury

loved every bit of my experience at saintsbury! we came on a rainy day but that didn’t hinder our wonderful experience! we were welcomed with a huge smile and escorted to the barn/​barrel room. the guy (didn’t catch his name) explained to us a bit about the barrels while walking in and showed us to our table. it was very intimate in there and warm. we were greeted and hosted by Hannah.(amazing & very knowledgeable) she went thru the flights in great detail and answered all my questions! she was the only one at the time I was there handling the tastings and did a great job at multi tasking with the other small groups there. I would highly recommend this winery and plan to visit in the spring/​summer! the lot is gorgeous! I did buy a bottle off the tasting menu and can’t wait to open it up and share it with friends! delicious:)

This was my first trip to Napa although I’ve been wine tasting elsewhere lots of times. Saintbury is reservation only but we were able to secure a last minute, same day reservation on the day after Christmas. Each person there was incredibly hospitable. They set up their winter tastings in one of the barrel rooms on a rustic picnic table to make it a little warmer for guests. The table setting was gorgeous. The wine (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) are probably average to above average but this was such a special way to taste wine, especially for my parents who had never been wine tasting before. I almost hate to rave about it so much because I don’t want to let the secret out. But this place does it right and deserves it.

Honestly, this place is how wine tasting should be. No ridiculously over-​the-​top building, not crowded by hundreds of tourists, no servers who know what’s on their cue card and not much else, and no commercialized vineyard there to only make money.
This place feels like you’re at a good friend’s house enjoying a few glasses of wine, only it’s a full vineyard making some of the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay you will ever taste. The staff is amazing; they are friendly, personable, and extremely knowledgeable. It really is an education if you go there as the staff can answer just about any question you might throw at them. The staff treat you like family or at the very least best friends. It’s the most enjoyable experience I have ever had at any winery before.
It’s a very laid back atmosphere in a very quaint setting. There is a small house they use as an office and a large barn that’s used to house the barrels. They have a large number of grapes around their property that are used in their wine, but they also use grapes from other vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, and Anderson valley. The tastings are usually done in a courtyard surrounded by trees and flowers. On those rare days that it rains or when there’s a large number of tastings going on at once, they also use the back of their barrel room for additional tastings and larger groups.
They specialize (and only serve) in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. If your initial reaction is that you’re not much a fan of those types of wine, you’re not alone. I felt the same. Trust me, however, they will quickly change your mind. They have some of the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay you will ever have. Heck, probably some of the best wine you will ever have. They are consistently rated at over 90 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine and you won’t find them in any grocery stores.
I’m almost hesitate to put anything on here because I feel like this is a hidden gem in Napa that I don’t really want a lot of people knowing about. After my second tasting here I had to join their membership, which includes 3, 6, or 12 bottles (depending on how much you’re willing to spend) of a combination of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (or just Pinot Noir, also your choice) shiped four times a year (March, May, September, and November), their newsletter (including Tasting notes and suggested pairings), complimentary VIP tastings four times a year for up to four people, access to limited production and library wines, member exclusive events and parties, and a 15% savings on all wine purchases.
You can get a tour very easily; you honestly just have to ask. I didn’t even have to and I got one. It’s not a massive winery so the tour doesn’t take long.
Shout out to Peter, who’s served me every time I’ve gone (four times and quickly climbing). He’s extremely knowledgeable about the wine and how it’s made and is an awesome guy to hang out with.
A few things to note:
Finding the place for the first time might be somewhat difficult as they don’t have any big flashy signs pointing you in the right direction, just a small «Saintsbury» sign at their entrance. Google Maps guides you well enough though.
They ONLY serve Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
You MUST make a reservation ahead of time.
Pets are allowed and encouraged if you have them.
Pros:
THE WINE
The service and staff
The quaint setting
The relaxed atmosphere
Cons:
I still have to drive an hour to get there from San Francisco. ;)

If you are looking for Pinot Noirs, make an appointment for tasting here. You will get personalized service and wonderful descriptions of the wine terroir. We — a party of 2 — tasted with another party of 2. If you buy the tasting fee of $ 30/​person is waived.
Their service is so good the wine delivery arrived home before I did. Be sure and tell them when to ship since it needs to be signed for.

I am hesitant to talk this place up as I don’t want it to lose it’s small winery charm. That being said, credit must be given where it’s due. One of the better tasting experiences I’ve ever had. Staff is so knowledgeable about their wine and the region. It’s a true education. The grounds feel like you’re sitting in someone’s backyard garden for a lovely picnic. Not really a view, per se, but you don’t need one. For a Pinot-​lover this place is a must. Book an appointment as they will likely not be able to fit you in.

Lovely time here on a rainy fall day. We were seated in the barn and were the only people tasting. The barn was cozy and decorated for fall — I loved it! Our guide Hannah was very knowledgeable of the wines she was pouring. We came for the Pinot noir but ended up leaving with a Chardonnay as well.
I was surprised that after purchasing 3 bottles of wine, our tasting was not comped. $ 60 in tasting fees (my husband and I both tasted) is quite a lot.
I would return and recommend to friends but be prepared that the fees are high compared to other small wineries in the area.

Out of all the wineries I have ever visited, Saintsbury will always hold a special place in my heart as my best wine tasting experience to date. I came here with two friends for our appointment and were treated like family. The tasting took place in an intimate garden next to a barn. Inside this barn is where the tour takes place. Each and every staff member made this an unforgettable experience and this is the first place I recommend for anyone to taste wine, especially if you love an exceptional Pinot Noir!

I stopped here because I used to serve a Saintsbury Pinot Noir at the restaurant I used to work. I called ahead and made an 11:30 appointment for a tour and tasting.
They started me with the tasting, but I never ended up getting the tour. I think that’s because my server took a group of 4 with him at 11:30, all of whom were together, so he was probably vying for a private experience. Not a big deal, and I’m sure I could have gotten a private tour myself afterward if I had asked, but with over 500 vineyards in the area, I had no time to waste.
For $ 30, I sampled 6 different wines. They sat me down at a table in the courtyard and went back and forth to and from their office to grab the wines to serve me. It was obvious this was because they kept them all in the wine fridge, including the reds. Having the wine served at the proper temperature was a nice touch. Kudos to them.
Aside from my non-​tour snafu, I didn’t particularly care that the guy serving my wine was also simultaneously playing fetch with a slime-​ridden tennis ball with his dog, and not because I didn’t have his undivided attention, but more from a health standpoint.
Somewhat off the beaten path, it’s not intuitive that you are where you’re supposed to be when you arrive. There’s a small sign off the road (see picture), but nothing before their driveway or any sign anywhere on their main office building.
Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays only.

Pinot Noir is not my favorite varietal but nonetheless, the experience at Saintbury was enjoyable. This winery only produces high quality Pinot and Chardoney. If you are not a fan of these varietals, you may wish to go elsewhere. However, the relaxed nature of the vineyard is so appealing. You see dogs chasing a ball, the employees filling the oak barrels from the fermenting stations, all the while sitting on a patio tasting their wines. It’s very authentic and so much different than the big tasting rooms .It’s for those reasons I recommend this boutique winery even when I’m not a fan of Pinot Noir.

We had a wonderful tasting along side their beautiful gardens! They took great care of our group and the wine was amazing! I would strongly recommend this winery to others!

I’m generally not a lover of Chardonnay but loved theirs! Beautiful garden and super friendly staff.

«This is my happy place» is how I described Saintsbury to my husband as we tasted yummy pinots on a beautiful afternoon in the garden. From the quaint and relaxing grounds to the passionate and gracious employees, Saintsbury stands apart from the many Napa Valley wineries and has become my new go to place.

Loveeeeed doing the tasting in the outside garden courtyard. It was so peaceful and relaxing and the service was lovely. I was a HUGE fan of their Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay. Wow!

Great Pinot noir! Awesome workers! 1hour tour you taste around 6 – 8 kinds wines ($ 30 per person).

I really love Saintsbury. This was my first time visiting but I’ll definitely be back for sure. I brought my family here with my dogs and they let my dogs roam free without leashes and were incredibly nice when they were yappy.
Besidee that, their wine is fabulous. My usual preferences are malbec, chianti, tempranillo but not pinot. But their pinot noir is great. I love the slight hint of vanilla from the French oak and the velvety smoothness. Low tannin, fruity, spicy. The chardonnay was also wonderful, very crisp and honey like.
I think the membership is very much worth joining and definitely visit if you’re in the area. Wonderful service, wine, and atmosphere. Love them!

Absolutely magnificent pinot noir and a lovely chardonnay, even to an «anything but chardonnay «person.
Galen was a superb host… knowledgeable and entertaining. The grounds are nice and it is such a treat to have a seated tasting. Spent an hour and a half, and only left because we had another appointment to get to.

One of the best tasting experiences I’ve had.
Their tasting room is in a lovely garden overlooking their vineyard on one side and the barrels of wine on the other.
They have two cute dogs that are very sweet and friendly walking around the premises.
They specialize in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. My favorite variation of their Pinot is the Stanly Ranch version. An amazing Pinot to say the least. So good I had to pick up half a case when I was there.
I love how the sommelier takes the time to talk about the different variations in their wine and they way the grapes are grown in the different regions. This results in a different taste of the Pinots.
I will definitely be back.

Pinot heaven!
If you love Pinot Noir and find yourself in Napa, you definitely should be in Carneros and you should definitely plan a visit to Saintsbury. First of all the owners of this winery are pioneers in bringing Pinot Noir to this region. Their focus on this varietal shows in the fine wines they produce. The tasting is by appointment and the tasting «room» is actually in a garden setting. Very enjoyable.

Everything in the other reviews is right on. Originally we had another winery selected to visit while in Napa. Luckily, they had to cancel for a private event and we found Saintsbury online.
The whole experience is perfect — from sitting outside in the beautiful garden to tasting some really great wine with a friendly, knowledgeable hostess to enjoying the company of the friendly doggies. The pinots are fantastic.
I would definitely go back to Saintsbury without question. Thanks to everyone there for a great experience!

As good as it gets! I made a reservation at Saintsbury after reading the great reviews on Unilocal.We were taken to the barn for our tasting because it was chilly outside. There were a few tables outside which would be a great place to sit on a nice and warm day.
I’m a big Pinot fan so was looking forward to tasting their wine. Galen helped us with our tasting. He was super nice and gave us a lot of background on their wine as well as grapes and growing them. We were able to taste maybe 7 wines, 2 of which were white. My favorite part was being able to taste the different Pinots side by side. You can definitely taste the difference! I had 2 favorites and we purchased a couple of bottles to take home.
Side note: I love the bread sticks that they gave us to munch on. Super good!