Join Us for a Barrel of Good Times, The Best Barrel Tasting Experiences in Wine Country
Experience wines straight from the barrel...
Visiting wine country without experiencing the tantalizing rich aromas of oak barrels at a winery is like going to Paris without snapping a photo of the Eiffel tower, trying escargots, sipping Champagne at a sidewalk bistro or buying a statement handbag (you know the one) - you'd be missing out on the total destination experience, right?
The same holds true for experiencing wine country and never experiencing first-hand the ultimate in unique experiences- the barrel tasting. Barrel tastings are where you truly get to be one of the first to sample wines, long before they go into a bottle, or served at some of the best restaurants around the globe.
One is not necessarily like the other. Barrel tastings can vary from winery to winery, so it is important to read the experience descriptions. Some are offered in very posh luxury tasting rooms where the wines are thieved from barrels are pre-poured into decanters where the tasting commences at a seated table. While others may begin with a walking tour of the estate grounds and then into the aging caves where the wonderful musty aroma earth, wine and oak barrels fills the air while you meander and taste wines thieved right from the barrel and poured into you glass. If you are lucky, the winery you choose will have historic hand hewn caves etched with the carvings of pickaxes used to dig them and a healthy layer of dust covered cobwebs that all well aged cellars develop over time.
Best Barrel Tastings
Barrel tastings give you a great glimpse into how wines mature over months and years in a barrel.
Buena Vista Winery
Sonoma
Lasseter Family Winery
Glen Ellen
Greenhill Winery & Vineyards
Middleburg
St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery
Rutherford
Pence Vineyards & Winery
Buellton
Testarossa Winery
Los Gatos
Boxwood Estate Winery
Middleburg
Messina Hof Hill Country Winery
Fredericksburg
Raymond Vineyards
St. Helena
Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate
Healdsburg
Local Insider's Tip
Wine caves are naturally a consistent cool 55 degrees making most barrel tasting or cave tour experiences ideal for escaping the heat of summer. If you plan on visiting wine country during a heat wave, treat yourself by booking one of these experiences.
Featured Restaurants
We've curated a list of wine country dining hot spots you'll want to check out.
Cook St. Helena
St. Helena
Boon Fly Café
Napa
Monti's
Santa Rosa
Rocker Oysterfellers
Valley Ford
Spoonbar - h2hotel
Healdsburg
Tuscarora Mill
Leesburg
Oyster Loft
Pismo Beach
Caruso's - Rosewood Miramar Beach
Montecito
Featured Upcoming Events
CellarPass - Pass the Buck Program
Napa & Sonoma County Wildfires Animal Relief Fund
San Francisco, CA
Thursday, October 1, 2020, 8:00 AM
Black Cars Transportation
NAPA VALLEY WINE TOURS & WINE TASTING
San Francisco, CA
Sunday, November 1, 2020, 9:00 AM
Alpha Omega
Join Alpha Omega Instagram/Facebook Live at 5 #FinalFinalFridays @AOwinery
St. Helena, CA
Friday, November 6, 2020, 5:00 PM
Messina Hof Estate Winery and Resort
United States Marine Corps Ball
Bryan, TX
Tuesday, November 10, 2020, 6:00 PM
1850 Wine Cellars
Cellar Society Release Nov. 14
Sutter Creek, CA
Saturday, November 14, 2020, 11:00 AM
Notre Vue Estate Winery & Vineyards
Sparkling GSM Release Tasting
Windsor, CA
Saturday, November 14, 2020, 11:00 AM
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