Napa Valley Tasting Rooms Open After 5 p.m.

One might think that it would be easy to taste wine in Napa Valley at almost all hours of the day, but while there are lots of bars and restaurants that offer excellent wines by the glass and bottle, “last call” for tours and wine tastings at most Napa wineries is well before the sun sets over the vineyards.

Still, if you’re not much of a daytime drinker or are looking to keep tasting Napa Valley wines into the late afternoon/early evening, there are a few excellent wineries and tasting rooms where you can snag a reservation (or even walk in) until at least 5:00 p.m.

PEJU Winery

If you want to taste most of PEJU’s family-owned and estate-grown wines, including the popular Cabernet Franc, you have to either join their wine club or visit the winery’s tasting room. The latter sits inside one of the more recognizable buildings in Napa Valley, a copper-roofed, stone-faced building with a 50-foot tower at the end of a Sycamore tree-lined driveway and surrounded by gorgeous gardens with meandering walkways and outdoor sculptures. (Be sure to make time for a self-guided tour.) Reservations are recommended for all wine tastings and pairings, which are seated, with the last one offered at 5 p.m.

Visit: 8466 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford, CA 94573
Contact: (707) 963-3600

Domaine Carneros

There is nothing quite like sitting on the terrace of the Château at Domaine Carneros while sipping sparkling wine and looking out at the vine-covered vineyard hills of Napa Valley’s Carneros AVA. It is truly an idyllic Napa Valley experience, especially when paired with caviar, crème fraîche, and potato chips. Reservations (available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) are required, and the last pour is at 5:00 p.m. Be sure to give yourself time to tour the beautiful formal gardens as they are truly spectacular.

1240 Duhig Road, Napa, CA 94559, (800) 716-2788

JCB St. Helena

At JCB St. Helena, wine tasting is more of a sensory experience than anything else. The brainchild of winemaker Jean-Charles Boisset, sippers are surrounded by an eclectic collection of paintings, sculptures, candelabras, and plush furniture, creating a glamorous ambiance that’s perfect for a special occasion—or if you simply want to feel special. Reservations for tastings, like the French Bubbles Flight or Burgundy Flight, can be made until 7:00 PM, Thursday through Monday. Pair it with JCB caviar or artisan cheeses for the perfect pre- or post-dinner snack.

Visit: 1320 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574
Contact: (707) 934-8237

WALT Wines

Located just across the street from the Oxbow Public Market, WALT Wines focuses on producing high-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, grown along the Pacific Coast. Choose from fun experiences like the Wine & Chocolate Pairing, which combines Pinot Noir with hand-crafted Earth & Sky Chocolates, or the Michel Foch Champagne Flight, accompanied by bites like classic gougères or charcuterie. Visitors can snag tasting reservations until 4:45, any day of the week. Keep in mind that the tasting room officially closes at 5:30.

Visit: 605 1st Street, Napa, CA 94558
Contact: (707) 933-4440

Alpha Omega Collective

Three very different wineries collide to form the Alpha Omega Collective in downtown Napa. Vintners Robin and Michelle Baggett pride themselves on producing the best varietals from across the world—including Burgundian wines at SLO’s Tolosa, Bordeaux-inspired wines at Napa’s Alpha Omega, and Mediterranean reds from Perinet in Spain’s Priorat. Select from three different tasting options, including their Signature Flight ($60), Curated Flight ($80), and Flagship Flight ($100). Not interested in a full tasting? They also offer wine by the bottle and glass. Should you start to get a bit snacky (don’t we all during a wine tasting?), Alpha Omega Collective encourages sippers to order from The Dutch Door, their next-door neighbors who focus on sustainably made and locally sourced American classics. Tastings are by reservation only and run from noon until 7:00 p.m.

1245 First Street, Napa, CA 94559, (707) 294-6960

Louis M. Martini

This historic St. Helena winery is best known for being one of the first wineries to open in Napa Valley after Prohibition and has built a reputation around its world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. The renovated historic winery has large glass walls that let in tons of natural light from outside, as well as one behind the Crown Bar in the main tasting room that offers wine tasters a view into the expansive oak barrel room. Louis M. Martini offers food pairings, an underground cellar experience, and cabana tastings, but that aforementioned bar is where guests who want to taste wine in the late afternoon will be. The winery is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, and reservations are recommended, with the last one at 4:30 p.m.

254 St. Helena Highway S, St. Helena, CA 94574, (707) 968-3362

John Anthony Vineyards

It’s somewhat difficult to find a place to taste wine after dinner in Wine Country, but at John Anthony Vineyards’ It’s somewhat difficult to find a place to taste wine after dinner in Wine Country, but at John Anthony Vineyards’ tasting lounge in the heart of downtown Napa, you can enjoy late-night tastings. Sample the popular small-production Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon from the outdoor patio, in the tasting room, and in the private Reserve Room until 10 p.m., Sunday – Wednesday, and midnight on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. You can walk in, but reservations are encouraged.

1440 1st Street, Napa, CA 94559, (707) 265-7711

St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery

In the event that there is someone in your group who doesn’t enjoy wine, or if you just want your furry friend to join you, this pet-friendly winery AND brewery is the place to go. Located in the Rail Arts District of Napa proper, St. Clair Brown’s greenhouse tasting room is the only place to get your hands on their hand-crafted wines and beers, which are produced in extremely limited quantities – best enjoyed with small garden-inspired share plates. Tasting reservations are available from noon until 6 p.m. Friday through Monday. Private bookings are also available from Tuesday through Thursday.

816 Vallejo Street, Napa, CA 94559, (707) 255-5591