Schramsberg Vineyards

What it's like

Schramsberg is a historic sparkling-wine house, and it's a welcome break from Cabernet if your tasting days have been heavy on big reds. The draw here is the cave tour, so if you want to see how sparkling wine is made and aged, this is the stop that gives you that. The winery sits at 1400 Schramsberg Road in Calistoga.

Visits are structured rather than drop-in. Every experience is arranged ahead of time, so expect a scheduled visit instead of wandering up to a tasting bar.

Who it's best for

• Anyone who wants a sparkling-focused tasting rather than another flight of reds.
• Curious visitors who like seeing the production side, not just pouring and sipping.
• Planners who like a set appointment time to anchor part of the day.

If you'd rather keep things simple and skip the tour, a tasting-only option is available.

What to book

Reservations are required, and you can book through the visitor center page at https://www.schramsberg.com/visit/visitor-center/. Your options:

• Tour and tasting experiences at Schramsberg, by appointment only.
• Tasting-only experiences at Schramsberg, also by appointment only.
• Seated tastings at Davies Vineyards, by appointment only.
• Private virtual tastings, hosted by a wine educator over Zoom, with wines shipped to each attendee. These are tailored to the individual or group, and you contact a Hospitality Manager to set one up.

Check current tasting and tour fees on the winery's booking page. Hours vary by experience, so confirm your time when you book.

How it fits into a day

Because the visit is an appointment, treat it as a fixed point and build the rest of the day around it. A tour and tasting works well as a late-morning or early-afternoon anchor, with a relaxed lunch before or after. Sparkling wine also makes a good change of pace between stops focused on still wines, so it pairs naturally with a day that includes reds.

Leave some buffer around your reservation time when you plan the stops around it.

Getting there and getting home

You'll be tasting, so plan the driving before you go. Choose a designated driver, book a tour or car service, or arrange a rideshare. Allow extra time for the drive up Schramsberg Road so you arrive on schedule for your appointment.