Beringer Vineyards
2000 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574
Website: http://www.beringer.com
The Rhine House
Beringer Vineyards is the oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley. Brothers Jacob and Frederick Beringer purchased the property in 1875. The most iconic building on the property is the Rhine House. This 17-room mansion was Frederick Beringer’s residence and he built it in memory of his German home at Mainz-on-the-Rhine. The Hudson House, Jacob Beringer’s former residence, also resides on the property. This house was built in 1850 and was on the property when the Beringer brothers purchased it. The Hudson House originally stood in the location of the Rhine House but was moved to a different location when Frederick decided that the spot was the best location for his new home. The Hudson House now serves as a Culinary Arts Center, and the Rhine House is open to the public for viewing and Reserve tastings.
Courtyard at Beringer Vineyards
The Rhine House, beautiful grounds, and wine aging caves are all an impressive site to see. Beringer’s wine aging caves are dug into the hillside of Spring Mountain. Beringer offers daily historic tours of the property and wine aging caves, or visitors can walk through the property (except for the caves) at their own leisure and have a tasting at The Old Winery Tasting Room or a Reserve tasting inside the Rhine House. At night, the Rhine House looks majestic all lit up.
The Old Winery
Being one of the most historic wineries in Napa Valley, the winery does attract a lot of visitors. When I stopped in for a tasting at The Old Winery Tasting Room it was very busy and I had to wait a few minutes to get a place at the bar. The staff was courteous but did not offer up a lot of information about the wines like some of the less busy places in the valley. Many of the wines served in this tasting room are widely distributed outside of the winery. There is also a gift shop in The Old Winery Tasting Room where visitors can browse around while waiting for a spot at the tasting bar. Although the Reserve tasting in the Rhine House is a little more expensive, it is generally less crowded and you can sample some of Beringer’s premium wines. You may be able to find special deals on the Reserve tastings on http://www.winecountry.com/ or via the Winery Finder app.