USA TODAY 10Best
Castello di Amorosa has America's best tasting room
Best Tasting Room (2019)
The quality of a tasting room can make or break a wine tasting. A comfortable, elegant tasting room with a knowledgeable staff can elevate the entire experience. We asked a panel of wine industry experts to nominate the best tasting rooms across the United States, and our readers voted for their favorites.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Tasting Room are as follows:
- Iron Horse Vineyards - Sebastopol, Calif.
- Tank Garage Winery - Calistoga, Calif.
- Presqu'ile Winery - Santa Maria, Calif.
- Del Dotto Vineyards - Napa, Calif.
- Outland - Napa, Calif.
- HALL Rutherford - Rutherford, Calif.
- Long Shadows Vintners - Walla Walla, Wash.
- Louis M. Martini Winery - St Helena, Calif.
- Stoller Family Estate - Dayton, Ore.
- Castello di Amorosa - Calistoga, Calif.
Photo courtesy of Iron Horse Vineyards
No. 10:
At the family owned Iron Horse Vineyards, visitors enjoy spectacular views of Mt. St. Helena while sipping estate grown and bottled wines in the tasting room. Club members can also book a picnic table at the winery’s redwood gazebo.
Photo courtesy of Tank Garage Winery
No. 9:
The Lubrication Bar (a.k.a. tasting room) at Tank Garage Winery occupies a 1930s-era gas station in Calistoga. Visitors sip limited production one-off wines that change with the season during Tank Tastings. Dream Hour every Friday evening offers Tank wines by the glass; walk-ins are welcome.
Photo courtesy of Adrian Gregorutti / Presqu'ile Winery
No. 8:
Presqu'ile Winery’s lovely Santa Maria Valley tasting room (open year round, seven days per week) transitions seamlessly from indoors to outdoors, with stellar views over the surrounding acres of vineyards. The spacious outdoor patio area often hosts live music.
Photo courtesy of Del Dotto Vineyards
No. 7:
The historic Del Dotto Winery & Caves in Napa date back to 1885. Barrel tastings are hosted in these historic wine caves where the winery continues to age their reds for a more voluptuous and opulent flavor.
Photo courtesy of Emma K. Morris / Outland
No. 6:
The bright and airy Outland tasting room, located in the heart of Downtown Napa, showcases black and white photography from the vineyards and offers a casual and chic place to sample from Outland’s portfolio.
No. 5:
The Chandelier Room at HALL Rutherford provides a magical setting for their Appellation Exploration and Platinum tasting experiences. The winery is known to attract celebrities and other VIPs to its intimate tastings.
Photo courtesy of Long Shadows Vintners
No. 4:
Allen Shoup, the founder of Long Shadows Vintners, struck up a friendship with Dale Chihuly in the 1980s. Today, the Chihuly Tasting Room features work by the famous glass artist, including a custom chandelier and a custom-designed installation inspired by the fields of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Photo courtesy of Louis M. Martini Winery
No. 3:
The gem of the newly restored Louis M. Martini Winery is the Crown Bar, a tasting room featuring warm wood tones and a glass wall with views into the barrel cellar. Visitors can also taste outdoors in Martini Park or in the Heritage Lounge, designed for tasting small-lot wines.
Photo courtesy of Andrea Johnson / Stoller Family Estate
No. 2:
The eco-friendly tasting room at Stoller Family Estate has something for everyone — excellent Oregon wines, an expansive lawn for picnicking, Adirondack chairs, Frisbee golf and even a tire swing for the little ones. The views from the tasting room rank among the best in the Pacific Northwest, if not the country.
Photo courtesy of Castello di Amorosa
No. 1:
Wine tasting at Castello di Amorosa transports you to a European-style castle, where visitors sample wines at the main tasting bar, underground Knight’s Hall, Grand Barrel Room or the Royal Apartment tasting salon.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning wineries!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Dynie Sanderson
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has... Read More
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has been a food, wine and travel journalist and digital influencer living and indulging in life in the Napa Valley and around the world for over 25 years. She was founder, publisher and editor of GuestWest Magazine, Napa Valley’s first luxury lifestyle magazine; Food and Flavor Editor for Napa Valley Life Magazine and contributor to a variety of food and wine publications. Always seeking out the next wine region or food and wine festival to experience around the US and around the world to add to “Dynie’s Delicious Destinations.” Follow NapaFoodGal on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Dynie Sanderson
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has been a food, wine and travel journalist and digital influencer living and indulging in life in the Napa Valley and around the world for over 25 years. She was founder, publisher and editor of GuestWest Magazine, Napa Valley’s first luxury lifestyle magazine; Food and Flavor Editor for Napa Valley Life Magazine and contributor to a variety of food and wine publications. Always seeking out the next wine region or food and wine festival to experience around the US and around the world to add to “Dynie’s Delicious Destinations.” Follow NapaFoodGal on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Jill Barth
Jill Barth is a contributor for Forbes digital and... Read More
Jill Barth is a contributor for Forbes digital and USA Today 10Best. She’s also a Provence Wine Master Level through the Wine Scholar Guild, a Symposium for Professional Wine Writers Fellow and the founder and author of the award-winning blog, L'Occasion.
Jill Barth
Jill Barth is a contributor for Forbes digital and USA Today 10Best. She’s also a Provence Wine Master Level through the Wine Scholar Guild, a Symposium for Professional Wine Writers Fellow and the founder and author of the award-winning blog, L'Occasion.
June Rodil
Born in the Philippines and raised in Texas, June... Read More
Born in the Philippines and raised in Texas, June is one of 26 women in the Americas to earn a Master Sommelier credential. She joined Goodnight Hospitality as a partner in 2019 and will open three new concepts with the Houston-based company within the year. Most recently, June was VP of Operations for McGuire Moorman Hospitality, a hospitality group with 10 restaurants in Austin and one in Aspen. She remains a partner in June’s All Day, her namesake restaurant that was named one of Food & Wine magazine's Restaurants of the Year in 2017. She is known as a leader in the beverage community and her accolades include: Wine Enthusiast’s Sommelier of the Year 2018; Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 2016; Key Panelist at Women in Wine Leadership Symposium and numerous Food & Wine Festivals across the nation; Food & Wine magazine's Sommelier of the Year 2014, Star Chef's Rising Star Sommelier 2012, Wine & Spirits Best New Sommelier 2011 and TEXSOM Best Sommelier Winner 2009.
June Rodil
Born in the Philippines and raised in Texas, June is one of 26 women in the Americas to earn a Master Sommelier credential. She joined Goodnight Hospitality as a partner in 2019 and will open three new concepts with the Houston-based company within the year. Most recently, June was VP of Operations for McGuire Moorman Hospitality, a hospitality group with 10 restaurants in Austin and one in Aspen. She remains a partner in June’s All Day, her namesake restaurant that was named one of Food & Wine magazine's Restaurants of the Year in 2017. She is known as a leader in the beverage community and her accolades include: Wine Enthusiast’s Sommelier of the Year 2018; Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 2016; Key Panelist at Women in Wine Leadership Symposium and numerous Food & Wine Festivals across the nation; Food & Wine magazine's Sommelier of the Year 2014, Star Chef's Rising Star Sommelier 2012, Wine & Spirits Best New Sommelier 2011 and TEXSOM Best Sommelier Winner 2009.
Karen MacNeil
Karen MacNeil is the only American to have won... Read More
Karen MacNeil is the only American to have won nearly every major wine award given in the English Language. These include the James Beard award for Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year and the International Wine and Spirits award as the Global Wine Communicator of the Year. In a full-page profile on her, TIME Magazine called Karen, “America’s Missionary of the Vine.” In 2018, Karen was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in Wine.” Karen is the author of the award-winning book, THE WINE BIBLE, the single best selling wine book in the United States praised as “A masterpiece of wine writing.” THE WINE BIBLE has sold more than one million copies.
Karen MacNeil
Karen MacNeil is the only American to have won nearly every major wine award given in the English Language. These include the James Beard award for Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year and the International Wine and Spirits award as the Global Wine Communicator of the Year. In a full-page profile on her, TIME Magazine called Karen, “America’s Missionary of the Vine.” In 2018, Karen was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in Wine.” Karen is the author of the award-winning book, THE WINE BIBLE, the single best selling wine book in the United States praised as “A masterpiece of wine writing.” THE WINE BIBLE has sold more than one million copies.
Shana Clarke
Shana Clarke is wine, sake, and travel writer and... Read More
Shana Clarke is wine, sake, and travel writer and author. Her work has appeared in Saveur, Fortune, CNN Travel, NPR, Wine Enthusiast, Hemispheres, and Fast Company. She was shortlisted for the Louis Roederer 2020 International Wine Writers’ Awards and ranked one of the “Top 20 U.S. Wine Writers That Wineries Can Work With” by Beverage Trade Network in 2021. She holds a Level 3-Advanced Certificate from Wine & Spirit Education Trust and is a Certified Sake Sommelier. In addition, she is author of 150 Vineyards You Need To Visit Before You Die and the contributing author to the North America section of The Wine Lover’s Bucket List. Follow her on Instagram on @shanaspeakswine or view her work www.shanaspeakswine.com
Shana Clarke
Shana Clarke is wine, sake, and travel writer and author. Her work has appeared in Saveur, Fortune, CNN Travel, NPR, Wine Enthusiast, Hemispheres, and Fast Company. She was shortlisted for the Louis Roederer 2020 International Wine Writers’ Awards and ranked one of the “Top 20 U.S. Wine Writers That Wineries Can Work With” by Beverage Trade Network in 2021. She holds a Level 3-Advanced Certificate from Wine & Spirit Education Trust and is a Certified Sake Sommelier. In addition, she is author of 150 Vineyards You Need To Visit Before You Die and the contributing author to the North America section of The Wine Lover’s Bucket List. Follow her on Instagram on @shanaspeakswine or view her work www.shanaspeakswine.com
Ziggy Eschliman
Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal, Ziggy... Read More
Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal, Ziggy Eschliman is among America's most enthusiastic, authoritative and entertaining libation experts. Her internationally known company, ZigStyle, combines her artistry for wine country entertaining and gardening while integrating her expertise of wine & spirits, showcasing a unique lifestyle. For over 25 years Ziggy has set and reported trends in all things wine and spirits. Her radio shows are broadcast throughout wine country and are available online.
Ziggy Eschliman
Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal, Ziggy Eschliman is among America's most enthusiastic, authoritative and entertaining libation experts. Her internationally known company, ZigStyle, combines her artistry for wine country entertaining and gardening while integrating her expertise of wine & spirits, showcasing a unique lifestyle. For over 25 years Ziggy has set and reported trends in all things wine and spirits. Her radio shows are broadcast throughout wine country and are available online.
