First winery of our trip. I have been at many tastings before but nothing like this! We had a lunch of lobster roll or chicken salad. The toasted rolls were amazing! Best lobster roll I've ever had! The owner sat with us in this home. His wife is the excellent chef! Their wines were great and the cheese plate and chocolates were a wonderful treat. Just my friend and I. Dan is a great storyteller and his story is amazing! The property and the home are lovely with a lot of history! Must see!! read more

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A Mom and Pop story of getting into the winery business. I loved the journey of how this place got started and kept pushing their way through to claim a quaint location in Napa to kickstart their business. I loved the location and the simplicities of this winery compared to the bigger ones. Had a more intimate feel for their customers. We all enjoyed gathering around for the story of how this place started from a ranch owner who enjoyed good wine on the side with homemade meals. I also thought it was really cool to learn the owner had an analytical process of how to create his own wine and record keep each process until the product was nicely balanced. Everyone I went with enjoyed the Cabernet Sauvignon, I did too but I also enjoyed the white wine with the butteyy try cream and peach texture. Not a common wine you'd encounter but I enjoy experimentations that can compliment a dish with it. A fun experience and a huge shoutout to the owners and next generation staff that's still working on locking in Ladera into the wine business. Cheers. read more

Ladera Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

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What a wonderful wine tasting experience curated by the owner Dan. I was also able to meet his wife KC. My favorite wine was the chenin blanc which I never usually like and their Pinot. Check them out it's a really peaceful experience. Calming and quaint. read more

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Bf made a 2 pm lunch reservation for us today and we pulled up and was welcomed by the most lovely gentleman!! What a spectacular winery this is and we love the Chardonnay! The grounds are so beautiful and it's a perfect location for wine and a gluten free lobster lunch! We chatted about wine and he's so knowledgeable and fascinating!! read more

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Such an amazing experience and even better wines!! A must stop in the area! Really got to know the brand and the people behind each bottle. read more

Ladera Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

The Stephanie Herman Show was back again to scope Ladera Vineyards. What can I say, but this was and always is a special treat. Arriving at the sweet humble home was like going to visit family that you love. Being treated with care and good wine, what more would you want. Ladera prides themselves on understanding the land and the best dirt to grow great wines - each area they own specializes in producing the best wine for that area. Each variety of wine tasting we had came from their different properties - each lovely. If you have a chance make an appointment for their personal wine tasting - let them know The Stephanie Herman Show sent you. read more

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We had the best experience with our host Andrew today at our tasting. He was so personable and knowledgeable about the history and all of the wines at Ladera Vineyards. The wines were excellent and we loved the one on one tasting experience today. We would highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Napa Valley. Top notch wines and customer service, what a gem! What a lovely place and a highlight of our Anniversary trip. read more

Ladera Vineyards - Personalized tasting menu! - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

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Jan, Alex, Andrew, and the entire Team Ladera work together so well to create an outstanding hospitality experience for their guests. Each member of the team has their own way of interacting to personalize the experience, and all make a point of learning who you are so that you are not just a guest at a winery. At Ladera, you are a friend that they are happy to see today and hope to see again. The beautiful property and warm welcome are accentuated by finely crafted wines that stand up to the test of time and only get better with age. The only thing that you will regret about a visit to this beautiful place is that the visit comes to an end. Thank you Ladera for a wonderful experience, as always! read more

If you're looking for a personalized vineyard experience, splendid wines from Howell Mountain, knowledgeable and friendly staff, look no further than Ladera Vineyards! My cousin who is a member reserved a private tasting on a Friday morning, and we were the only clients the entire day. We could stay as long as we wanted, and enjoy ourselves we did! We appreciated the trivia, great hospitality, and tour of the estate with our host Russ, Director of Hospitality. Especially on a Friday before a holiday weekend, he thoroughly explained the tasting menu, what to look for when tasting each wine, and the different highlights of the vineyard. The views are spectacular, especially the grassy lawn behind the tasting area. My favorites were the Rose, then the Malbec, then the Chardonnay. Portable bathrooms are available behind the barn and are very well-maintained. Water can be given upon request. read more

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What an amazing experience. Colleen made our wine tasting experience even better. Ladera has fabulous wines and the conservation and stories took it to another level. Thanks Colleen. We will be back. read more

We went for a private tasting at Ladera's location at Brasswood Winery and were so impressed first by the delicious wine, the modern tasting room and caves, but also by our gracious and knowledgeable hostess Jan Spitzka. We had friends visiting from SoCal and neighbors with us and we really enjoyed the experience and we look forward to coming back and tasting more of their refreshing Sauvignon Blanc and the absolutely jammy Pillow Road Pinot! Thanks Jan for a great visit and a chance to see something different. Well worth the trip. Cheers! read more

Ladera Vineyards - The tasting room, so cool for larger groups. - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

*********************** 782 ************************* Ladera Vineyards is the home of estate grown and produced hillside Cabernet Sauvignon in Howell Mountain Appellation. Their beautiful historic 1886 building was restored and renovated stone winery, they make their wines from the top floor for crushing, to first floor for fermenting, and than store it in the underground barrel caves. All Ladera wines are aged for about 2 years in French oak barrels tucked safely in their underground caves, where they are racked by gravity as often as taste determines. Their renovation includes almost 18,000 square feet of caves dug into the rock, where they store all their wines. I love that cave! It's a longer drive to get here, but the drive is stunning this fall season, leaves changing color, relaxing, and I feel as I was some place else rather than Napa Valley itself. Beautiful estate, tasting tour is about 1.5 hrs to 2 hours, you need to call in advance for RSVP, because Ladera doesn't open to the public. - 2008 Ladera Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon - 100%cab. - 2008 Ladera Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - Blend: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec, 3% Petite Verdot - 2008 Ladera High Plateau Cabernet Sauvignon - 95% Cabernet Sauvignon , 4% Malbec , 1% Petite Verdot - I couldn't stop drinking this blend! - 2009 Ladera Howell Mountain Malbec 100% Malbec - I dig this wine. - 2011 Ladera Sauvignon Blanc Howell Mountain - Saugvion Blanc for only $25 per bottle, this was crisp, green apple,, beautiful nose, and such a bargain. I love it. I also took my friends here for the recent harvest party at Ladera Vineyards, what an amazing event. The winemaker was there to chat with you at your table. The delicious food was catered by Smoke Open Fire Cooking, whole roased pig, wild turkey, beef, salad, salsa, melons, cookies, and a live Mariachi band; and all the best wines that you can drink. The grilled meats were stunning piaring with Ladera wines, and the harvest party was complimentary for members, and $65 per person for guests. It's STEAL for the high quality of food and wine Ladera served. All my friends enjoyed the harvest party and all said it was the best parties that they've been too. Natalie was so good to us. She toured us the estate, she told us about the history of the winery and served us some seriously tasty wines. I highly recommend this Ladera wines to you. read more

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Ladera is one of the oldest wineries on Howell mountain dating back to 1886. It is a simple, unassuming property with an old stone building an a sprawling gravel patio. Make an appointment for a tasting and sit outside on the patio, enjoy a couple of their wines and spend some time outdoors soaking up the sun. I think Angie was our host for the tasting. She was great! We could take as much time as we wanted and there was no pressure. She knew exactly when to come back out and entice us with her knowledge of the area and the winery to try the next wine on the tasting menu. Ladera's Cab an Sauv Blanc are amazing. Their wine club is pretty fantastic as well. I signed up for the Proprietor to get 6 bottles shipped twice each year and 15% off purchases (there's also the Patriarch for 12 bottles twice each year and 20% off). Bonus - there are a couple rows of malbec vines planted right next to the patio...being that it was harvest time, we got to try a couple right off the vine. read more

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Always a delight! We love tasting at Ladera. Everything about the experience is wonderful and the wines are amazing! Highly recommend

Wow where do I start? Excellent service, professional and extremely courteous staff and employees. They have a great selection of wines that are tasteful. I brought my mother out here for her birthday and we were both impressed by the wine selection. It's away but not to far from the city, yet it's in a beautiful environment that is natural and beautiful. I will be coming back and I recommend this place if you are looking for a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. read more

Gorgeous estate. Rich history. Delicious wine. Knowledgable staff! We thoroughly enjoyed our tour and tasting! Our hostess, Julie, was funny and welcoming, and had all the answers! We appreciated all the little tidbits about the estate and never felt rushed or pressured. Definitely worth a visit for the beginners as well as the well seasoned wino! read more

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One of my longtime favorite vineyards. Lovely well structured wines. You are in for a treat when a bottle of Ladera is opened!

One of the loveliest wineries in St. Helena offering some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignons. Andrew is a wonderful and knowledgeable host and Jan's personality helps you have a wonderful experience. read more

Where do I begin. Well, this is the original Ladera Silverado Trail Vineyards, the one located on Silverado Trail. Not the one that was purchased by plumpjack. This is the real Ladera. To begin with, what an amazing hospitality and service by Jan, Bobbie, and her staff. I mean they were so caring, they treated us so well, they had great knowledge of the wine. 10/10 for the service and hospitality. Next, the wines are incredible and out of this world. The wines, service, and overall time at Ladera is worth every cent and every second. It is a must go anytime you go to Napa. I would absolutely recommend a tasting at this winery, the views are worth it alone, and the caring hospitality by Jan and Bobbie. Thanks for a fantastic time! read more

We had an amazing experience at Ladera! A friend of mine recommended the winery, so I booked my wife and I a tasting with a charcuterie lunch. I was blown away! Colleen met us as soon as arrived and was our personal wine guide for the next 90 minutes! She was delightful and tremendously knowledgeable! We learned a ton about Ladera and the Napa valley! I would highly recommend it to anyone!! read more

Ladera is like a beautiful woman with a bad personality. Unfortunately for Ladera, looks fade. When I drink wine, food, ambiance, customer service... to a certain degree, these influences have an effect on its taste. Ladera literally left a sour taste in my mouth. In fact. my experience was so bad, it redefined my definition of one star. On Saturday, I had a 10:00AM reservation and e-mail confirmation. When I arrived, Angie notified me that a mistake had been made. She said that she left *numerous* voicemails and e-mail messages. She didn't. I save all of my e-mails, and if Angie or Ladera can manufacture a e-mail stating otherwise, I will take out a full page add in their local newspaper and apologize. With that said, this wasn't my biggest issue... I taught high school mathematics. I instructed five classes a day, and my classroom averaged thirty-five students. The 10:00AM tour/tasting consisted of four people. Not forty. Four. With a straight face, Angie said, "I don't have anybody helping me today. I can't accommodate anymore guests." No apologies. No remorse. Nothing. Over the years, I have spend hundreds, possibly thousand on Ladera's Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Even if I didn't spend one cent, I expect ed a more dignified reception. In the immediate vicinity, Viader and Piedra Hill create comparable if not better wines. In fact, Viader is outstanding. On Spring Mountain, Marston Family, Sherwin and Pride (to name a few) offer great wines and exemplary customer service. Perhaps Ladera could learn a lesson or two from them. read more

I visited this winery many years ago and loved the atmosphere and wines. Going back with friends recently was a very disappointing experience. The tasting room host did not know about the tasting fee policy and charged our credit card without asking/informing us. We visited a few other wineries on Howell Mountain that same day and they were all much more gracious. We ended up filling our trunks with wine (literally) but not with Ladera. We bought the minimum to waive the tasting. Would have purchased more if the experience had been friendlier. I was sad and a little embarrassed as Ladera had been my choice. My friends were not fans. read more

Came here on a recommendation on yelp. We called 1 month in advanced to set up a winery tour and tasting. The wine cellar was modernize and AC free (note green). The tour was very complete and explained the steps from A - Z on their unique wine making process. The wine was good but not stellar. Would definitely recommend to others to stop by. Not the easiest winery to get to though, but worth a trek up the winding road. read more

What a great winery, and a wonderful assortment of great wines. We been purchasing Ladera wines for the past ten years and they just keep getting better. Can't wait for our next trip to Napa. read more

The highlight of our trip to Napa, undoubtedly. This winery has it all. Great wine, beautiful setting, and a great hostess, Julie. Everything about this tour stood out. From the drive up the mountain to the history behind the winery was unique. We did the barrel tasting tour. While I am slightly knowledgeable about wine (or maybe not), I truly had no idea of how complex the barrel making process is. This tour does an excellent job of explaining the process. The fact that a barrel tasting is part of the tour makes it that more exciting. We were thankful to have Julie as our hostess, especially after the wonderful recommendation she gave us for lunch. A must for any wine connoiseur. read more

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We love any wines from Howell Mountain, so we set off to wine taste here after enjoying a bottle of their wines at a local restaurant. Reservations required. The winery and vineyard is very nice. Unfortunately it was too cold for us to do any exploring while we were there. Instead we got down to business and did what we came here to do: drink and buy great wine. We had a great wine tasting experience and ended up buying 4 whites from their Sonoma label and 2 reserve cabs. read more

I've been wine tasting for several years now and I have to say that we had a terrific experience at Ladera Vineyards. Perhaps things have changed since November of 2007! We rolled in unannounced on a Saturday and were greeted by a very nice server. He let us in on the wine tasting and we were so glad he did. The wine was terrific! I like wines that are more earthy and complex and this wine did not disappoint. Afterwards, we took our picnic lunch to the little picnic area outside and had a lovely, peaceful greenbelt/vineyard view. Interestingly, we live near a community called "Ladera Ranch" in Orange County, CA and apparently Ladera the community tried to sue Ladera the winery over the name. Crazy, isn't it? Wine would BOOST their image. Not take away from it. At any rate, you almost can't go wrong with anything from Howell Mountain, but I would highly recommend Ladera. Just be prepared for a bit of a drive if you are staying closer to Napa proper. read more

Ivisited Ladera for the first time today. I was thoroughly impressed with both wine and presen0 napa tation. I called day-of for my reservation on a Wednesday. They were busy but able to accommodate me. This is truly a special spot on Howell Mountain. I tried the 09 Sauv Blanc, plus the 3 Cabs: 1 Napa Valley, 1 Howell Mtn, and 1 Lone Canyon. Sav Blanc was awesome was crispness plus good body. 3 Cabs were all beyond expectations. The NV was great and definitely worth the price. Howell Mtn was killer with solid tannins and good fruit showing already. The Lone Canyon was my favorite because it was already showing signs of development. These wines will definitely develop in the bottle. I will be curious as to how the wines I left with will develop in my cellar. Recommendation: Get an appointment here because I can tell you can get an awesome experience when they are expecting you. The vineyard is exquisite and they have a historic wine making facility. There will be no disappointment here. High quality of wines and awesome experience. Will be adding to my top 10 napa winery list. read more

What a great tasting experience with our host, David. We come to Napa a couple times a year and came here for the first time at the recommendation of the generous folks at Chappellet. Ladera is a bit of a drive off the beaten path but is just beautiful, historic and has great, minerally cabs. Call a day in advance to do the full tour (cave, barrels, etc). read more

Full disclosure, I love Howell Mountain Cabs, my favorite grape. Having given that disclosure, let me say that Ladera Vineyards is fantastic, my favorite winery in the Napa Valley that isn't a dedicated port maker. Somewhat of a surprise, their sauvignon blanc and pinot noir were outstanding, and of course, not surprising, their cabs are world class. This alone would be enough to go to Ladera, but there is so much more. Price of wines, for this quality in Napa, are reasonable and in some cases, a great value. The winery itself is like going back in time to Napa a hundred years ago. The building is over 125 years old, most of it original, use many traditional wine making methods like gravity feeding, and are away from the hustle and bustle of the valley floor. The family and staff were incredibly friendly, which not something I usually associate with a Napa tasting experience. Samantha (Sam) did a terrific job, especially on the cave tour, and the owner's daughter went way above and beyond with our kids. There are a lot of great wineries and tasting experiences in Napa, but if you don't make Ladera Vineyards your 1st or 2nd stop, you are making a mistake. We will be joining their wine club. They are so relaxed yet classy you can't help but want to be a member. read more

I had read about Ladera and had made a reservation for my husband and me and our three daughters. We miscalculated time and were late. No matter. The Ladera people were very accomodating. We were treated to the most amazing tour and tasting. Michael was extremely knowledgeable about wine, European history, cooking and gardening, but without out the air of snootiness. So gracious. Our 20,21 and 23 old daughters were captivated. They were very generous with their time. The location is lovely, the wine and cheese were excellent, and the drive is through lovely scenic country. Amazing afternoon! read more

What a great time my family and I had here. They were very welcoming once we arrive although we must have had to call a dozen times as we got lost on the way up! But we finally made it, and they gave us the royal treatment. If you've ever had the pleasure of tasting their estate cab, it's even better when you are trying it in such beautiful surroundings. This is one of the oldest winery buildings around and quite different than the ultra modern Cade around the corner. Both are great, but it's so nice to be amongst the charm of the true history of this region. Thank you Ladera for being such wonderful hosts and stewards of Napa history. read more

Ladera Makes Some Fab Cabs! One thing I've learned in what is now my third year in a row going to Napa is that it pays to call wineries ahead and arrange a special tour. What a difference vs. just pulling up to a tasting room bellying up to the bar. Another lesson, limit the winery visits to two a day (but that's another story...). After winding our way up to Ladera Vineyard a few weeks ago, we were met by the very affable hospitality director Gordon Waggoner, who instantly welcomed us with a glass of their crisp Sauvignon Blanc, the perfect start to the morning. After a fascinating tour of the property and the interesting turn of the century stone winery, we settled into an amazing underground cellar room, filled with their magnificent cabs and a very lovely plate of food pairings, including some delicious local cheeses, nuts and delectables I am now forgetting. The star of the sit down feast was their Howell Mountain cabs that were the right blend of flavor and value. Gordon was a terrific host, and provided a great education on their approach to winemaking. Before it was all said and done, and there were several empty bottles and plates of food, we we're sold and all joined their wine club. Just got my first shipment today, and look forward to opening a bottle up on the right special occasion. Great experience, great wines = we'll be back for more. Check out my blog post of this review and others on my site: http://www.ronhofmann.com/ronhofmann/Smoke_and_Mirrors/Entries/2011/5/14_Ladera_Vineyards_Puts_on_a_Show.html read more

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Had a lovely Terrace Tasting with Jeff as our guide today. Ladera's current owners are to be highly commended for salvaging & restoring this grand old structure. Now, the wine! A lovely Sauvignon Blanc that had me dreaming of shrimp & crab. The Pinot Noir is wonderful. But, the Plateau Cab is Outstanding. Ladera is off of the beaten path but well worth driving up the mountain. read more

Ladera Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Calistoga, California

Nice drive to the winery, but I will not return. Sale seemed to push their wine club once you decline the experience get's awkward. Definitely not going to recommend or drive up the mountain for this winery ever. read more

Justin D. and Jeff were magnificent in the tour of the winery and hospitality. The wines were great, but attention to detail and knowledge that Justin has is amazing, making the wine that much more delightful to taste. Highly recommend setting a tour with Justin and tasting at Ladera. Both a hidden in gem in the hills above Napa. Thank you, Jeff W read more

I can't say enough good things about Ladera ..... The words that come to mind are scenic, beautiful, great people, intimate and most important excellent wine. A must visit on any Napa Valley trip. read more

I have not been to their winery in California but have tasted their wines a year ago in a GEMS tasting in Atlanta along with other great wineries from Napa. Great wines and their whites were awesome, my favorite being the Sauvignon Blanc. I have ordered a case or two of the Sauvignon Blanc from the winery since then. I am predominantly a 'red wine only' kind of person but they serve up some pretty good whites that I will continue to order when ever I get down to my last bottle. I am not a member of their wine club but probably should be given all that I have ordered from them. The staff that I have been in contact with have been super and helpful over the phone....if I do get fortunate enough to do another wine tour in California I will be sure to visit them. read more

Really enjoyed our time at Ladera; definitely one of our favorite vineyards we visited on our Napa trip. Located off the beaten path in Howell Mountain; has some fantastic views of the valley. Ladera produces a number of fantastic wines, in particular their Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, that are generally not available to the public (they tend to sell directly to club members and restaurants. Tour was fantastic and guide did a great job introducing us to their wines and Napa wines in general. Tasting pours are generous, and our guide allowed us to taste some additional wines that were not on our tasting. Did not feel pressured, although we did walk away with a number of bottles and a membership. Will not be disappointed with a visit here. read more

Ladera Vineyards is a member of Gems of the Valley, an exclusive wine membership club of nine prestigious wineries in the Napa Valley. We were greeted by Jonathan (and his sweet dog Luca!). Tour started with a stroll around the estate, where Jonathan educated us on Ladera's history, the vines, the fermenting tanks, the wines, Howell Mountain, and the rest of the Valley. The tour finished with an amazing tasting, and continued education from Jonathan!! His expertise really made our experience more enjoyable!!! read more