Domaine Carneros

Address:	1240 Duhig Rd, Napa, CA 94559, USA
Phone:	+1 707-257-0101
Site:	domainecarneros.com
Rating:	4.2
Working:	10AM–5:30PM 10AM–5:30PM 10AM–5:30PM 10AM–5:30PM 10AM–5:30PM 10AM–5:30PM 10AM–5:30PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 7

Adrian Ungureanu

This rating is NOT for the winery experience, since we were so rudely treated that we decided to just walk away... BUT, I think both potential visitors and management should be aware: our relatively large group (9 adults 3 kids) stopped by on 5/26 and were looking forward to the experience (seeing how this was one of the better rated wineries) ... however, we were "greeted" by a very dismissive, "cold" hostess whose answers never included more than two syllables [wish I remembered her name so I can include it here, but management should definitely check schedule for who was working that afternoon, around 3 pm] I dont know if it was the size of our group, the time of the day (although it didnt look busy), or the fact that we had kids on tow (4, 7 and 12) but it felt like her "job" was to get us out of there as soon as possible. No smile, not even a hint of trying to accommodate us, or to present the options we had... AND she wanted to make sure we knew that we were going to be charged an 18% gratuity fee since we were such a large group... even after we told her only a portion of us were interested in wine tasting! She said it didnt matter, since we all wanted to stay as a group, they were going to charge us the automated 18% gratuity anyway. WHAT??? Thats when we decided to go elsewhere. Oh, and upon our decision to leave, not even a hint of "sorry" from her. She just turned around and went about her business. If this was MY business, I would have fired her on the spot! Terrible service with a capital T!

Jason Karuza

Summary: Beautiful grounds, beautiful views, wonderful sparkling wines (not the sweet and flavored kinds, but more traditional), friendly and informative staff, but very high tasting prices. Lots of parking in the lower or upper lots. My wife, her parents, and I went here on a Sunday on our way out of Napa. My in-laws had been previously and had recommended that we check it out. When we arrived, the place was pretty full of happy patrons. We found a table near the railing of the outside tasting area so that we could take in the views of the valley while sipping our sparkling wines. After perusing the tasting options, three of us ended up trying of the three each (ranging from $20-$35 per tasting), and after tasting a couple of ours and a couple not on the tasting menu, the my father-in-law bought a bottle for us to share (of comparable price to the most expensive tasting) while enjoying some cheese, dried fruit, crackers, and pistachios that we purchased. Our server was very friendly, attentive, informative, generous with trying things that werent on the tasting menu, etc. A great guy for sure. The sparkling wines were all fantastic. We dont usually like the drier/less sweet sparkling wines, but these were very well balanced and easy to drink. Also, the keen eye will notice something unique about the way the bubbles flow... :-) Tasting here was wonderful, albeit very expensive. Wed likely come back again, though.

Amy Schroll

6/25/13 BEAUTIFUL BOTTLES OF BUBBLES "Heres champagne for our real friends, and real pain for our sham friends." Mardy Grothe My husband has dual citizenship with both the US and France. He is a member of the Les Faneurs group at the Basque Center in South San Francisco and we attend their banquets and events. His father is also a member of the men-only club, so we double-date with his parents when we go. The most recent trip brought the group (two large charter buses full) to Napa. Our first stop was for sparkling wine and hor doeuvres. We hadnt been here before but enjoyed a bottle that was gifted to us as a wedding present. On this day we had every option available to us. Servers walked around with their bottles and described each one. We also had some glasses of stilled wine but preferred the sparkling. Two table of food sat heaped with cheeses, meats, bread and crackers, and olives and fruit. Several tables were made available for sitting but several people were left standing or sitting on the steps by the grass (thats what we did) when they ran out of seats. The setting is beautiful. A nice warm day can be enjoyed outdoors under an umbrella, but seating is also available inside. A gift shop with wine-related items as well as lotions and even sun hats is also inside near the restrooms. Absolutely enjoyed our experience here - looking forward to the next visit!

Gabe Rodriguez

Sitting right in between Napa and Sonoma is the Carneros region. If you pass by this way, Domaine is the stop to take. You dont find many places specializing in sparkling wines, so this place is a treat. The estate is beautiful and sits atop a small hill overlooking vines. This isnt a tasting room pit stop---its a seated dining experience that feels a bit posh. You can expect tastings that are priced above average. I highly recommend the tour. Neil was our guide and the best Ive had in Napa. He was thorough in every way and kindly answered our questions. Wine tours usually end with the tasting, but this one had them throughout the tour (much preferred!). It was great enjoying the drinks while Neil detailed the painstaking methods it took to get them to our glasses. The sparkling wine you find here has a deep history that is reflected in its taste. The sparkling wine we had here (while expensive) was the best weve had in Napa. Will return!

Aretina Cash

Places like this give Napa a bad rep. Ever hear a person mention Napa being a stuffy or pretentious place? Places like Domaine Carneros are what gives this great destination the reputation for being snobby, cold, and pretentious. The only reason that they even got 2 stars (which is a rather generous review) is due to 1) the beautiful property and view and 2) the ONE sparkling wine that came close to living up to the hype of this place (the chardonnay). Neither of which make up for the piss poor attitude of the staff at this establishment. Additionally, this was the only establishment that we visited in which the server could not even be bothered to tell us anything about the wines he was serving (and no, he wasnt that busy). If you are looking for mediocre wine and piss poor service, this is your establishment. Otherwise, take your dollars elsewhere. Domaine Carneros doesnt deserve it.

David Meier

I understand the appeal of this place as the wines are very good and the staff members are extremely helpful, but it is very corporate and heavily traveled by tourists. The views from the patio are undeniably spectacular. However, we noticed that the more popular tourists wineries, that the tasting fees have gotten expensive and the old tradition of buying a bottle of wine as a courtesy, in lieu of a tasting fee seems to be gone from the larger producers. Of the 8 wineries we visited, DC & Chateau Montelena (dont waste your time), charged tasting fees in addition to the cost of the wine. In the former case we simply left without the wine, but at DC we went ahead a paid both the tasting fee and the price for the wine. Sonoma should take this kind of stuff as a marketing opportunity as Napa has certainly lost some of its charm as the tourist flock to the region. Its a real shame.

Catherine Bloom

Been here twice this year with family & friends, but cant recommend the sit-down meal. The winery is simply over-hyped. With the price Ive paid to eat here, I would have declined if I knew how loud the volume level was inside. I dont know if its people being loud because they are drunk, or just that theres too many people in a small room - but its impossible to have a conversation with anyone at the same table as you. And were talking about coffee table sizes here, so your dinner guests are very close to you. The food and wine are delicious, especially the sparkling white. Expect to pay around $30-45 for one glass of wine and a small cheese sampler. The cheeses were from Cowgirl Creamery both times I went. Would recommend if only the noise level were lower. The architecture and landscaping are stunning, by the way.