What a lovely wine tour! Got a beautiful tour of the estate which was gorgeous. Shout out to Tyler our awesome guide. I thought the food pairings were ok - fine though not my favorite. I enjoyed the two Chardonnays (my favorite was the Paris block) and the Pinot Noir. read more

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My party of five arrived at Fantesca, took in the beautiful landscape and was greeted by Roman who was charming and pleasant. We were all served bubbly and took a walk a bit towards the vineyard where he spoke a bit about the property and answered questions. Next, we took a tour through the cave which was like most every other cave - cold, dark, dank with barrels of wine stored wall to wall. I still enjoy visiting caves though. It's a necessary part of winery visits. Next we went upstairs to the tasting room, and there were these exceptional place settings at all the chairs! Things got even better when the food came out. I really enjoyed this tasting with the food immensely! I must repeat this experience in the future. The bites were each so unique and tasty. The wine to go with were excellent! The original winemaker was the legendary Heidi Barrett who knows the formula for elegant, balanced and age worthy wines. I love the rose also! It's such a bright, pink rose of pino noir with a light, refreshing taste and smooth finish. If you're looking to visit an amazing winery with exceptional food pairings, this is it. Tasty dishes exemplary of culinary creativity and excellent wine should impress anyone. The room we were in was eclectic, yet cozy also. I hope to pass through here soon again! read more

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We were lucky to have the opportunity to experience the tasting with food pairing at Fantesca since our friends were members! Probably wouldn't have considered it otherwise since it's quite pricy. It's probably worth to become members if you do the tasting here :) We were running a little late but they were understanding and still greeted us with champagne and a little caviar bite. Roman led us to a private tasting room where we had plenty of time to taste 4 different wines with a different bite for each. The menu included a hamachi and peas bite, duck pastry, cheese and fig dip, and a mushroom tart. Unfortunately I can't remember which wines we tried but there was 1 white and 3 reds, with the last red being our favorite! All of the wines were really good. We tried an extra rosé that surprised everyone - super bright, fruity and dry. Roman was very welcoming and social, and made our experience comfortable which I appreciated. Sometimes at wine tastings it can get a little awkward making small talk with the host, but I didn't feel that way here. If you get the chance to stop by Fantesca or become members, I highly recommend it! It was probably the best wine tasting experience I've had and thankful to our friends for taking us! read more

Fantesca Estate & Winery - Wineries Near Me - St. Helena, California

Fantesca Winery is one of those rare places that only few get to visit in a lifetime. Heidi Barrett is the Queen of Cab for a reason. Her true colors show through the elegance of the atmosphere here. The vineyard grounds, cave, tasting room... The entire location is amazing. Now most importantly, the wine. These are exquisite. Layers upon layers of distinct flavors that are individually produced like you've never experienced before. 100 point wines don't come easily... unless of course, Heidi is behind them. An absolute pleasure. read more

What an absolutely amazing experience it was at fantesca estate and winery. Our host Tyler couldn't have been any better. We had the most fun learning and drinking some amazing wine. Everything from the moment we arrived to the food and the experience we had was superb. I highly recommend this tasting! You will not regret read more

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Beautiful day visiting this hidden gem on springmountain with beautiful cave, stunning spring mountain view on the terrace and tasting wine crafted by Heidi Barrett and Tony Arcudi. Love the story on the Chardonnay sourced from the judgement of Paris. Tasted side by side "All Great Thing" 2018 & 2019, along with the estate cabernet. 2018 Napa Cabernet is such a spectacular benchmark year with a stretched out harvest where producers pick when the wanted to their liking. Can't go wrong with the 2018! The experience is amazing, the hospitality is top notch, you will have a great time. Reservation is a must (by appointment only) read more

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Had such an awesome tour with Angela today! Would highly recommend and we'll definitely be back! We loved the PN and Cab. Beautiful property too. read more

We had an amazing experience here. Our tasting manager, Carrie, was awesome! When we arrived, she poured us some French bubbles, and we walked around the property, and in the wine cave (or silver mine -lol). The room we were in for the tasting was lovely, with a big long table, and very comfortable high-backed chairs. The wine was delicious - the Chardonnay was a fan favorite (great body to it, very slightly oaked and more minerality). Another favorite was all great things - and we loved the backstory and how it ties to a Winston Churchill quote. In addition - they make a really great, full bodied pinot which was delicious. You can't go wrong with any of their wines or this winery -check it out - and ask for Carrie! read more

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During our Christmas Trip to Napa, Sonoma and Lake Tahoe we stoped at Fantesca to start off the morning of day 4. We arrived at 10am and Alex had 2 glasses of sparkling to walk around the outside grounds of the property. The views are very relaxing, quite and peaceful. Then we moved to the tasting room where an impressive setup of glasses were already served. We tried around 4 or 5 wines, started with the Chardonnay, moving to the Kings Pinot (not my thing but not bad) and ending with the big boys Cabernets. The decoration inside is very contemporary and immaculate, the presentation by Alex was second to none, a lot of history with fun facts and the wines are high quality. PS, a couple of days ago I got a call in reference to a pending order. After a few minutes going back and forth about the shipping speed & cost they offered me an upgrade so I could get through the social-distancing period drinking their Chardonnay. I received the package yesterday in perfect conditions and drank the first bottle today! read more

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Under YELP you are listed as a no need reservation winery? Yet on your page you're listing that a reservation be made. Do we need a reservation just to pop in for a tasting? read more

I recently saw an article about the best wineries in Napa and I wasn't surprised that Fantesca was on the list. I was surprised to realize that I never reviewed them even though we were there 7 years ago! The grounds are spectacular. Duane, Susan, and their team could not have been more accommodating and their wine is outstanding. Tastings are by appointment only, so make a plan and go here! read more

We began our visit to Napa with a tour of Fantesca. Ginger was our guide and she was beyond fabulous. Her enthusiasm as knowledge of the history of the vineyard was a treat. The wine was amazing. Sitting on the patio overlooking the vineyard was breathtaking. The vistas are something out of a Tuscan travel guide but we're right here in sunny California! We will return. I highly recommend this place. read more

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Super fun tasting experience at the winery run by Heidi Barrett - the queen of Napa wine making! While I'm not big on the "royal castle" decor, the wines and story are so lovely that it's easy to get lost in their great wines and history. We were able to try a selection of latest releases and a couple library wines, and everything we tasted was simply divine. While this isn't the prettiest winery, the wines are worth the trip. read more

Had a great visit here on a Saturday afternoon. I'll break down the review. Host - Alex: 5/5 Fantastic host! He was very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. I enjoyed learning about the history of the owners, their wines, and fun stories. Wine-tasting: 5/5 I remember telling Alex that I normally wasn't a fan of Chardonnay, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really enjoyed this Chardonnay. We got the chance to taste 3 different years of "All Great Things" (2011, 2012, and 2016). I appreciated that a lot, since I think it's rare that I try the exact same wine and compare between different years. All 3 "All Great Things" were fantastic, with the 2012 being a clear winner in our group. We also got to taste a Lallier Champagne upon showing up. It was a great champagne to greet guests. Location and scenery: 5/5 Fantesca is one of those places that you need to make a reservation in advance to visit. There's gates at the bottom of the hill. I appreciated the serene, since we were the only group there. You are able to look out at their picturesque vineyard. The wine-tasting room was also pretty interesting to look at. They have a smattering of art This was a great visit! I'd recommend to anyone looking for a more private wine tasting visit. read more

Wow! Everything about our visit to Fantesca was amazing. Each different type of wine we tasted was absolutely perfect and the personal nature of the tour was something special that we won't soon forget. A description in a review can't do it justice. If you haven't tried Fantesca you should make it part of your next visit because you have been missing out on the best winery in all of Napa Valley. Thank you Duane for making our time at your place so memorable. read more

Fantesca Estate & Winery - Wineries Near Me - St. Helena, California

Small, intimate, tour and tasting of delicious wines. Highly recommended. Be sure to see how close the 2020 fire scorched the proprty. read more

Fantesca Estate & Winery - 2020 fire came this close ! - Wineries Near Me - St. Helena, California

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Absolutely an amazing visit!! My boyfriend booked a private tour for my birthday. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I have wine tasted in the past and typically disappointed as wine tasting can feel interpersonal and "touristy". Not this time, Fantesca Winery was absolutely amazing, Thomas was full of knowledge for only being there over a month. He shared the passion of history behind Chelsea's vision for making wine and the fearless name. I am always inspired by women history and success stories and Thomas definitely did the family justice in telling us the history of the vineyard. He was very personable and made us feel welcomed and entertained our silly inquisitive questions. My boyfriend was excited by his beer brewing knowledge and how he intertwined the comparisons of brewery and wineries, always bringing him back to how intriguing making wine is. My boyfriend who always says wine is "disgusting" was pleasantly surprised with the flavors. For myself I was taken back by the flavors, lightness and passion in each bottle. I prefer the darker reds but was pleasantly surprised by the Blanc and the Rose as they were equally tasty! My absolutely favorite was being able to taste the 2017 vs the 2018 Rouge, what a difference! The 2018 Rouge was my favorite!!! We signed up for the moonlight membership and where able to adjust the amount of bottles we wanted, which was a huge plus! A must visit and a huge THANK YOU to Thomas for making our visit fun, personable and memorable! read more

Fantesca Estate & Winery - Wineries Near Me - St. Helena, California

Went again to one of my faorite sites on Spring Mountain, Fantesca. Mandi Ackerman still there & that is awesome for any visitor. She and her husband are linked in the wine industry and that linkage gives visitors a much broader knowledge base to tap into. Spent another 2 hours there and took it all in. Savor the setting inside and out as they are very inviting. Mandi said they added a new tasting upon arrival, a Lallier Gran Cru, Grand Rose Champagne from France. What a way to start a tasting! Susan Schulze Hoff & Duane Hoff, the founders, apparently have been spending time in France & forged a relationship with Lallier & not sure where that will go but Lallier is located in village of Ay, France which was one of 17 locations classified as "Grand Cru", what a feat. Francis Tribaut owns the Lallier Vineyard and brand as he bought it from Rene Lallier in 2004. Just go to Fantesca, start with the Lallier Grand Cru Brut Rose Champagne, maybe Mandi will pour you 2 as it is a great way to start. But settle in & enjoy the Fantesca lineup from there and you will not punch out the clock for at least 90 minutes. Go next to the Chardonnay in a unique bottle & this is still the only white varietal Hedi Barrett works on. Grapes sourced from Carneros (great citrus & tropical notes). Then on to the cabernet sauvignon (slight blending with petit verdot) & this is only about 3,000 cases. Cab is what Spring Mountain is known for. The 53 acres on site have typical segmentation into blocks & they do a great job refining the blending each year. The King Richard reserve pinot noir is not to be missed. Enjoy it and ponder how this varietal can challenge the "bad girl pinot noirs" of Russian River. "Bad girls" seem more appropriate than "Bad Boys" when describing pinot. This King Richard is so elegant and a lot of structure for a pinot. Job well done. Consider that Pinot plantings are only 3,000 acres in Napa & declining & in Sonoma pinot plantings are 13,000 acres. That is why pinot is called the "Heartbreak Grape" in Napa. If you pick Pinot in Napa, rule of thumb is to get them when brix is between 22.5 and 23.5 sourcing from Atlas Peak & Spring Mt., compared to 25 to 26 brix in Sonoma. Probably only southern Napa in Carneros can also provide a good pinot fruit. Hope someone probes the King Richard pinot noir some more with Mandi & posts it as would love to know more about what the team & Heidi Barett have done. Now on to All Great Things. As described on their site... . "This vintage is called "Hope." Made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, "Hope" is a testament to Heidi's winemaking finesse. This vintage is the sixth release in All Great Things series, inspired by the words of Winston Churchill: "All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope." What a tasting joy and went beyond my expectations. See pics. One final comment, this amazing experience does not include a tasting fee, but one would assume a guest at Fantesca would procure some bottles, have them shipped and even join their club which has many options. If you do not find their wine to your liking (zero chance of that happening) then do not buy any. But I know you will have a longing for all of their offerings & go to your wine storage area at home and snag one of the many Fantesca bottles you take home. Go crazy with food pairings and even take a bottle to a restaurant & pay corkage fee, life is short. read more

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Although we didn't get a chance to taste here due to a mishap they are going to ship us some wine read more

Fantesca Estate & Winery - So much for our appointment today as they were a no show and didn't call us to cancel our appointment. - Wineries Near Me - St. Helena, California

My wife and I are members at Fantesca and greatly enjoy their wines. In November we took two other couples to a tasting at Fantesca and our wine host Jeff was excellent. Our friends had a great time learning about the wine and Jeff was an awesome host. There's always a delicate balance between too much information and not enough but Jeff had the perfect balance. Beautiful grounds, tasting room, and wine! read more

If you were to walk through and grade every aspect of this winery and the experience, you wouldn't have any trouble giving each part an A+. The views - marvelous The wine - incredible The experience - wonderfully memorable Sure, the wine has a higher price point than others. Someone once told me that you can't tell the difference between a $40 bottle of wine and a $75 bottle of wine. Well, that person obviously hasn't tried Fantesca's wine. There are extra moments of lingering flavors and hidden layers of depth to their wines that justify the cost. read more

Stunning location and stunning wine. What a gorgeous place to spend a Friday afternoon. If you ever get the chance to drink their wine or visit their estate DO IT, the experience was second to none. read more

Fantesca Estate & Winery - What a view! - Wineries Near Me - St. Helena, California

Most amazing place ever!! I'm not sure which is best... the spectacular views of the amazing wines! We never visit wine country without stopping in at Fantesca! Seems each time we go we learn something new!!! read more

Fantesca Estate & Winery - Wineries Near Me - St. Helena, California

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Thomas is great we had an amazing experience, full of knowledge of each wine and the vineyard! Highly recommended.

Fantesca wines are awesome, with Heidi Barrett as their winemaker. The hospitality staff, Jeffrey, Steven and Maria are the best. They are super friendly, informative, and always willing to share their knowledge of the valley on other wineries to visit or places to eat. It was because of their wines and friendly hosts that we joined their allocation list. The winery itself isn't too bad either. Their history and backstory are amazing as well as their innovative fortune corkies. This is one of the wineries that is a must for us to bring our friends and family whenever we're in the area and they have all enjoyed the winery and the hospitality of our host. read more

Beautiful winery with incredibly welcoming staff. Truly the highlight of our weekend in wine country, this winery is a fantastic destination for a quick bike ride from St. Helena. Their bubbly is the perfect treat for the climb! Their property is the crown jewel of the valley and a not-to-miss experience! read more

What an amazing winery and group of people. My fiancé and I love everything about wine and were in Napa for the first time. After reading the incredible reviews and looking for a place with great wine, beautiful views and a perfect spot for a proposal Fantesca hit the mark. Ginger worked through every detail of the proposal with me and could not have had things run more smoothly. Maria, our estate host was knowledgeable, fun and really hit on everything that was important to us on a winery tour and tasting. She made the experience completely custom tailored to our level of knowledge and preferences. I cannot thank the team enough and we will be visiting and buying Fantesca wine for a long time to come. Would highly recommend making the trip up the mountain to Fantesca! read more

Be prepared to pay $100/per person to visit. They will happily waive the fee if six bottles or more are purchased per couple.

Fantastic wine... a very unique and incredible Chardonnay. Maria was an absolute pleasure and we cannot wait to go back to this spectacular vineyard. Heidi Barrett does it again with her wonderful red blends and the cab is a must buy. read more

Visited Fantesca a few years back and may husband, Dwayne and I are hooked. Susan and Duane Hoff have an incredible story and their chase for another dream gives us wine lovers hope to continue to dream. Heidi Barrett is like an angel sent from above and her talent speaks for itself. Everyone at the vineyard is very knowledgeable and has no problem telling you that this is a must have wine for your cellar and while it opens as your drink it, save some for years to come because it only gets better! Susan, Duane, Heidi, Mandi, Daniel, Dylan keep up the good work. See ya'll soon read more

Simply the best in Napa. We're so honored to be members. It's the only CA wine we celebrate with and save for only special occasions. Keep up the great work!!! read more

Maria was the best host for our tasting. She was a breath of fresh air compared to so many almost robotic folks from some of the other vineyards. A true lover of what she does and shows pride for the winemaker's final product! This winery opened my eyes up to a Pinot Noir! I hated this type of grape before finding it here! We also loved all the other wine as well. This place is truly special and the wines are 5 star all the way. I can't wait to receive our first shipment in the fall!!! read more

Amazing tasting experience. Got to try the Chardonnay, petit le rose, Pinot noir, all good things, and the cab. The Pinot noir is made w grapes from Russian river and is incredible. All good things is Heidi Barrett's proprietary blend, well balanced and forward with a Long finish. The cab is solid, great silky smooth tannins. Only problem is the low number of cases and not being able to take any reds home unless I had dropped 1700 to be a member. read more

It's what you'd expect from a more exclusive Napa winery. Each wine had it's unique touch of finesse. Though the price point is appropriate for Napa and the quality of the wines, I tend to be more of a fan of great wines at affordable prices. Sadly, they sell out so quickly, I couldn't bring a bottle home. read more

A wonderful winery. The views are wonderful and the wine is spectacular. The owners are fantastic folks and the entire staff makes you feel like family. read more

My friends and I stumbled upon this winery after looking at a list of wineries in the Spring Mountain region. Jeffrey Geil was our guide for the day, and he provided the best tour in the wine country that I've ever had! He was very knowledgeable about not only the wines but the history of Fantesca. Thanks Jeffrey for providing an incredible experience! The property is also quite beautiful and you can have a picnic by the vineyards. I highly recommend Fantesca! read more

Went to Fantesca yesterday for the first time. Highly enjoyable time spent with a great host in Steve. As a "local," I am often trying new spots -- this one hit the mark with a beat story and excellent wine. read more

This is an incredible experience. The best customer service, amazing wine from wine maker Heidi Barrett. Beautiful tasting room. They go out of their way to attend to members and to guests. So elegant, so friendly, incredible wine from one of the very best and well known wine makers. This is a special winery. read more

Enjoying the 2009 Fantesca Chardonnay. Heidi Barrett has done it again. Very balanced with a great lingering finish.

This is the most amazing vineyard and is a must for all to see. Every person on the property was so kind and personable. The wine here is truly incredible!!! This is a must vineyard in Napa! Love this place and the people!! read more