Hagafen Cellars
4160 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558
Website: https://www.hagafen.com/
Hagafen Cellars is a small family owned winery located right off the Silverado trail between the Stags Leap and Oak Knoll districts. This winery could be easy to drive right by if you are not looking for it because the winery is pretty modest looking compared to many of the other prestigious places in Napa Valley. It looks like a refurbished farmhouse. Hagafen has been around since 1979 with the first vintage released in 1980. Owner Ernie Weir is both a grapegrower and winemaker for their two vineyards in the eastern benchland of Napa Valley. I’ve visited the winery a couple of times and one of the things that I really like is that they produce a wide variety of small lot wines. There is truly something for everyone. The varietals range from reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Zinfandel,Tempranillo, and Merlot, to whites that include Sauvignon Blanc, Roussanne, and Riesling. They also produce a sparkling brut wine and a few late harvest dessert options. All of the wines at Hagafen have been certified as kosher wines. The winery has won many awards internationally and their wines have been served at the White House on several occasions.
Hagafen Cellars Tasting Room
The tasting room is located in a small, stone-walled building off to the side of the main winery. It’s the size of a small cottage. Right outside of the tasting room is a colorful garden of bushes and flowers with a stone path leading to the entrance. The entire property is surrounded by vineyards. We parked our car beside the vines and moseyed on over to the tasting room. Between the tasting room and winery is a large covered patio. Guest are welcome to picnic on the patio.
The first time I visited Hagafen they were open to the public without reservations. They now require reservations for a tasting. On both occasions that I visited there was a tour that stopped in at the same time. I suspect that the need for reservations may be related to the fact that this is a common stop for tour groups. Inside, the tasting room is relaxed with a wood paneled bar and ceiling. It’s very casual with lots of wine competition medals hanging around the room. Cases of wine are stacked up along the walls. The space is comfortable for a few small groups of 2-4, but it gets crowded quickly if there is a tour group. On both occasions that I visited the staff was very friendly despite the crowd. I really appreciated getting to sample different selections of wine that you don’t usually see in Napa Valley. I enjoy their sweeter style wines. However, they have some great reds with a reasonable price tag, like the Oh! Bordeaux Red Blend and Don Ernesto’s Clarinet. There are some higher end and pricier reds on their menu too.
I’d recommend stopping in for a visit, but try to make a reservation for a time that may not be as popular with tour groups. I typically find that mornings right after the wineries open are quiet. It’s a great opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and sample some wines that may not be as familiar to you.Odds are you will find something you like with all of the selections available to try.
Hagafen Cellars Patio