When Hans Fahden purchased this property in the mountains four miles above Calistoga in 1912, the countryside was rough, wild, largely untouched and far removed from the more urbane portions of the Napa Valley. To some extent the same could be said of the mountaintop property today, if you overlook the fact that it is now a spectacular winery with an event facility for picnics and small conferences featuring Monet-like gardens, koi ponds and a volcanic cave that is four million years old, give or take a couple of years.

Hans Fahden Winery as it exists today was founded in 1986 by Antone and Lyall Fahden, making them the third generation of Fahdens to occupy the land purchased by their grandfather. The restoration of the land has been a full time endeavor for them, as they have cleared brush, built roads, planted vineyards, carved out that wine cave, created a brace of tranquil ponds and planted an abundance of exotic plants and flowers.

Today the winery produces nearly 2000 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon a year. The koi swim in the ponds and the garden has become a popular and much sought after location for weddings. But it is still first and foremost a winery. Proof can be found in their estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, available for tasting by appointment. True, it is a bit of a drive up the hill from the flat land of the Napa Valley, but is it worth it? Take the drive and see for yourself. We sincerely doubt that you will be disappointed.

To the south of Calistoga between Route 29 and the Silverado Trail there sits an important piece of Napa Valley history. Frank Family Vineyards is the original winery and family home of California sparkling wine pioneer Hans Kornell. Today people still refer to it as Kornell, sometimes as Larkmead Winery, other times as Frank-Rombauer.

The proper name is now Frank Family Vineyards but all you really need to know is that few places in the Napa Valley produce such a wealth of outstanding wines. The fact that they do it in a beautiful setting where they have unique tours and historic buildings is almost a bonus. A bonus well worth the drive from anywhere, and if it's a nice day and you pack a picnic lunch to enjoy with one (or more, we are serious about the selection) of their wines in their picnic area surrounded by vines, visited by the occasional winery cat, it may well be one of the great memories of your visit.

Robert Sinskey Vineyards

There is admittedly a bit of the fairy tale to the history of this winery. Robert Sinskey's dream was of spending his retirement years using a background in science to grow exceptional Pinot Noir and Merlot. To that end he bought a small piece of land in the Carneros region of Napa in 1979.

Over the next ten years that small vineyard at the cool southernmost end of the Napa Valley grew to over a hundred acres spread amongst three Carneros locations. In his rapidly evaporating spare time he also initiated the construction of what is now a stone and redwood winery situated in the corner of the famous Stags Leap District, complete with a network of underground caves that are designed for the careful aging of wine. A vineyard in that same wine growing appellation was added, bringing to 150 the total number of acres planted to Sinskey vines. Son Rob took over the business in 1988, continuing the development already begun.

Today Rob and winemaker Jeff Virnig produce not just Pinot Noir and Merlot, but two proprietary wines as well, a Merlot-based Carneros Claret and a Cabernet Sauvignon-based Stags Leap District Claret. The winery also has a demonstration kitchen (call for information on their food and wine events designed by noted chef Maria Helm Sinskey, Rob's wife) and a beautiful terrace overlooking the Valley.

Hans Fahden Vineyards
4855 Petrified Forest Rd.
Calistoga, CA
(707) 942-6760
By appointment only

Frank Family Vineyards
1091 Larkmead Ln.
Calistoga, CA
(800) 574-9463

Robert Sinskey Vineyards
6320 Silverado Trail
Napa, CA
(800) 869-2030