Our first official tour at a winery. Pretty freakin' awesome! Steve, our wonderful host gave us the tour of this beautiful historic building. He was friendly, funny and knowledgeable. The Rock and Roll photographs of the past they have up right now are worth the drive to Napa - really groovy man. The wines, oh the wines, all their whites were delicious. I especially liked their Sauvignon Blanc. All and all, a wonderful experience and a great stop for tasting in Napa. read more

We feel in love with Markham wines (especially their 1879 blend) long before visiting them in Napa Valley. When we arrived we were warmly greeted by Kip who was fun, friendly, generous (extra tastes of additional wines!), knowledgeable and accommodating. As expected, the wines were delicious and we will definitely come back on a return trip. read more

Very modest,quality,under the radar winery with nice staff plus sweeter winea available. Late harvest moscato fave

Have been drinking Markham for years and finally made it to the vineyard and very glad we did. Beautiful place and not stuffy or stuck-up. Rather crowded but were helped immediately upon arrival to the tasting room & the noise level was low. He likes reds and I like whites, so we each had both of the tastings that were offered. Our wine host was Rob and he was very knowledgeable and stayed with up the entire time. This was perhaps one of our best stops on the trail, even better than Chateau Montelena. I've never been a fan of Rose's (too sweet), but I was pleasantly surprised with the delightful Rose. read more

We wanted to hit one more winery before leaving napa and boy am I glad we did. Kraig was our pourer and was great. Gave us lots of great information about markham and wine in general. Great wines and we left with a bottle of the 05 petite verdot, LOVE IT. read more

Absolutely the worst experience of our entire Napa trip. I called the week before and spoke with Craig on the phone. I explained that my husband and I would be visiting on Sunday, and we would be bringing our dog. I asked if the tasting room was dog friendly, and Craig said "Yes - the winery will be pretty slow, anyway". I said OK, and told him that I'd see him on Sunday. When we arrived, I walked in with our dog. The first think I was told was "NO DOGS!" Not "hello" or "welcome"... but "NO DOGS!" I then explained that I called a few days prior to ask for permission to bring my dog. I told the man who shouted "NO DOGS!" that I spoke with Craig. The man said, "Well I'm Craig, and you didn't speak to me. Maybe you spoke with Greg." Craig went and got Greg in the back room, who also explained (in a nicer tone) that dogs were not allowed. I apologized and left, but then realized afterward how RUDE Craig was to me. I would have had no problem with their "no dog" policy (as many Napa wineries don't allow dogs), but after telling me that it would be OK, then yelling at me upon entering, then lying to me and telling me that you didn't talk to me a couple days earlier.... well that's just not OK. Screw you, Craig. You're a liar with no customer service skills. You could have handled the situation much differently. read more

You know when you go wine tasting and the person pouring wine for you totally makes your experience awesome? Nigel was that person for me and four of my friends at Markham this weekend. Our group of five arrived with a couple 2 for 1 tasting passes and instead of the cold shoulder you sometimes get when arriving with complimentary passes, Nigel warmly greeted our party and made us feel welcome. We decided on both the regular and the reserve flights between our parties and enjoyed both tastings. Nigel was very knowledgeable and personable. He even took us on a mini tour of the back room that housed a large format bottle of wine with a Jerry Garcia portrait (nice!) and samples of soil from different regions. We then checked out the barrel room, which is always a cool bonus. Markham is unique in that it is also an art gallery with additional art to view upstairs. The art they were showing this weekend in the main room was from a local artist and was a good exibxit, but my favorite art pieces were the colorful Rorschach-like paintings in the hallway. I also appreciate that Merlot is the winery's flagship wine, also pretty unique. Overall, it was a great experience with tasty wine and cool art elevated by an excellent, friendly wine pourer who went out of his way to make sure our party had an exceptional experience. We purchased a few bottles and I'm looking forward to opening them soon! read more

Markham Vineyards is on Highway 29 just north of St. Helena. Markham offers two tastings, the Rock and Roll Tasting of five varietals for $15 or the Estate Tasting of four varietals for $25. We had the R and R Tasting but also tried the Cabernet Franc from the Estate tasting because we both love Cab Francs. Our host was very pleasant and friendly, making us feel welcome. The tasting began with the 2010 Sauvignon Blanc ($15) that had a light nose and some pleasant lemon on the palate. It was not as dry or crisp as many SBs. At only $15, it is a softer, easy to drink SB that some people might prefer Sauvignon Blancs with livelier acid. The 2010 Chardonnay was only $18 a bottle. It has 30% malolactic conversion or MLF and is not as dry as many Chardonnays. Their signature wine is their Merlot and we had the 2008 which was $23. It was a fruity, lighter bodied Merlot that is easy to drink. The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon ($36) had some cherry and perhaps pomegranate on the nose with a rather light, fruity entry but some soft integrated tannins. It was pleasant and could stand on its own or be paired with steak or other food. We opted not to taste the Muscat Blanc. These were all decent enough wines that are easy to drink and reasonably priced. But our favorite was the 2009 Cabernet Franc ($42) from the Estate Tasting. It had a fruity nose, with some vanilla, plum and soft tannins on the palate. We were informed that it is blended with 13% Cabernet Sauvignon. This was a good wine and we immediately purchased some to taste at home. It made me want to taste the other three wines on the Estate Tasting, the Petit Verdot and two Cabernet Sauvignons called the Altruist and the Philanthropist but we will have to save that for another visit. They also have a Petite Sirah, which I would love to have purchased, but which was sold out. In addition to offering easy to drink and reasonably priced wines that should have a broad appeal, Markham provides easy access with plenty of parking and currently offers an exhibit of the photos of Baron Wolman of Rolling Stone Magazine. Markham wines should probably appeal to many tasters who visit the winery, but they also make some more expensive wines, a Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah and two premium Cabernets that we would be interested in exploring during a second visit. read more

We came here on the recommendation of the staff at Freemark Abbey. I wasn't very impressed. While the tasting room staff was friendly..I thought the tasting was a bit rushed. Also, most wineries apply the tasting fee toward your purchase and in this case they did not. There were some cool pics hanging in their "gallery" but I found it humours that many of them were totally off centered and lopsided. read more

Christian was amazing. He was very knowledgeable on his wines and provided great service and Information. This guy was great all around. He was the guy to go to see on wines. Definitely deserves a promotion!! read more

Great tasting, affordable wines with AWESOME customer service! I absolutely HATE walking into a winery that is super stuffy and pretentious. You spend $25+ for crappy wines and some of the worst customer service you'll ever experience. With Markham, expect the complete opposite! I have been here at least 5 times now, and like wine, it gets better and better with age. The people working here are so friendly and knowledgable, and everytime I've gone they serve us at least 5 additional wines not even on the tasting list. Check this one out! You won't be sorry! read more

I visited this winery yesterday for my birthday. I've been wanting to visit this winery for awhile and had a tasting coupon for two. The winery is easy to find, close to the highway, and plenty of parking is available. Despite the rain, I took a couple photos outside of the winery and of the koi fish in the ponds enroute to the entrance. We used to have a koi pond so I knew my husband would enjoy this feature. Inside, it was very quiet and there were pictures on the walls of artists from a famous photographer. The tasting area has a large counter. (but no where to sit down). The restrooms are very close, around the corner. There is even an area where we could hang up our wet coats or umbrellas if we wanted to. Our server was Kevin. Not only was he knowledgeable of the wines, he was very pleasant to talk to. Our coupon was for the "rock and roll tastings." My sister and I really enjoyed their one white wine and the merlot. After our tasting, we went upstairs to view more photos of artists in the gallery. I proceeded to return to Kevin to pay for my tasting, only to be told that it was a 'free" tasting! Boy...I read the voucher wrong! Kevin proceeded to give us a few vouchers for tastings at their sister wineries, and he also gave us a bag of corks. (since we asked if he had any extra corks). Not just because we had a free tasting visit, I really like this winery and plan to return. I also plan to visit the other sister wineries. read more

Really excellent wines - friendly staff and excellent ambience. 1879 Cellar Blend and other Merlot 2011 was very good.

Our experience at Markham Winery was above the average wine tasting. Jake Peacock took good care of us. We did the standard tastings and the wines here are exceptionally good. Their 2009 Cabernet Franc is outstanding Yummy!. On top of the tastings we paid for, we were treated to several estate blends, "AL" and "Phil" that are grown in 2 separate but distinct regions in the area. We ended up joining the wine club and hope to make it back here soon, with friends. read more

The wines were mediocre and not what I'd want to spend my money on to take home. Very nice staff though.

Had a great time here with our wine educator, Michelle, who was a blast and very knowledgeable! Their wine is among my favorites and I knew I had to check them out when I visited Napa. A great place to visit when you're in town! read more

You have got to go here and ask for Steven! We just loved that guy!!! We also love the wines at Markham! Their Merlot and Syrah are incredible and their prices are the best in the Valley! We will be back!!! Thank you all! read more

Great wine and great staff. Bryan del Bondio runs a great establishment and gives back to the community whenever he can. Definitely a must visit if one is in Wine Country. read more

this winery was really cool if you are a fan of classic rock puctures .the staff was very friendly and made you feel welcome. the wine tasting room was really nice and comfortable and don't forget to try the merlot definately good choice. read more

Markham Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

This was a great tasting. The wines were good enough, the muscat was delicious. The guy doing our tasting was hilarious and very friendly. He was really good at using common food and taste to describe the wines, so even those with no wine knowledge would appreciate the wines. They also have a great rock-n-roll photo exhibit. read more

Went here for the first time yesterday! It was such a pretty looking spot we had to stop! We are not red wine fans, and we most certainly are not wine snobs by any stretch of the imagination! So when we saw our 2 options for tasting we told our guy that we really only like whites...and he told us they were primarily a red house. I asked if they had any dessert wines and he said they did, but not one open for tasting. But he did have another white that wasn't necessarily a dessert wine, but definitely sweeter...so he let us taste that along with a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay. My husband definitely likes the sweeter wines, he loves the white zins, and I love the drier wines...I'm a Chardonnay girl...so our compromise is always the Sauvignon Blanc!! Well the Sauvignon Blanc, the Chardonnay and the Muscato wines were all amazing! So we went ahead and picked up all 3! On a side note, we are looking forward to sharing our sweeter wine with some friends that went to Italy and brought me back some biscotti from there for my birthday...they said in Italy they don't just dip them in coffee but also dessert wines! So that will be a fun experience to share with them! Back to Markham...Our guy was so great...clearly knowledgeable, but also perceptive to realize that those interesting factoids don't really matter to us! I asked him to suggest a good spot to take a group of hungry runners and he recommended an awesome spot...Gotts Drive-in...which incidentally was a huge hit...I posted a review for them as well! Needless to say, we enjoyed our visit...and look forward to making this a regular stop when we visit the area!!' read more

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I definitely agree with Andrew on this one. This is a very pretty winery, and would be a great place to hold an event. I also found that the man who poured our wine wasn't really "into it." Regardless, I didn't let this ruin our experience. Service aside I would recommend checking out this winery. They have some great, inexpensive white wines...or should I say great for being inexpensive. read more

One of my favorites. So much that I became a member of their wine club! Really great selection of reds and really friendy staff. I'm a huge fan of their cab franc read more

Winery was absolutely gorgeous. The walk from the front area was absolutely stunning. Quite possibly the most gorgeous winery I've ever seen. The wines were not overly impressive, but decent. The server at the tasting counter was knowledgeable about the selection, but made no effort to hide disinterest when we attempted several times to make polite conversation. Was the first winery at which I'd actually felt uncomfortable and unwelcome. Definitely not the winery for warm, down to earth atmospheres (at least, not today). Still, the stop is worth the time if you are looking for something unique and/or higher middle-of-the-road and definitely for the gorgeous courtyard. read more

Wonderful experience! Greg was very welcoming and helpful over the phone and Nigel was an amazing host once we got there! There was no hint of pretentiousness and you felt like valued family coming in. They were unassuming in their explanations and open in their presentation. We were promptly greeted and politely treated, even as it became very busy. They let you take all the time you need and don't pressure you to come or go, but are ready and happy to treat you in whatever you're interested in. They went above and beyond to make sure you had a pleasant experience and you really feel special. The wines are delicious and the winery is a neat little place to visit and spend time as you sip and lounge/browse. read more

This was my first time in the Bay Area so we drove up to Napa. This winery was awesome. The outside featured a koi pond and was very relaxing. The inside had a nice vibe and atmosphere. The wines were amazing and staff was very knowledgeable and energetic. I told the employee my preference for sweeter wine and he made sure I found something I liked and even mixed his own little concoction for me to try. The tasting room also displayed an art gallery which was cool. It was raining so we didn't do a tour but I'll definitely come back next time I visit the Bay Area. read more

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We had an incredible experience at Markham and even signed up for the wine club. Nigel Cartwright (an easy name to remember, lol) was helpful with our tasting, generous and fun. This wine was excellent!!! And it wasn't crazy overpriced like so many places (I noticed some other wineries had higher prices than a store for buying their wines onsite, which I found kinda annoying). Looking forward to drinking our purchases. Thanks again, Nigel! read more

I had a complimentary wine tasting for two here, so when we stopped I was excited. Loved the beautiful fountains and koi ponds. However, upon entering, it seemed too commercial, not unique, not comfortable to taste and enjoy wine. We turned around. Just wasn't our gig. read more

Update: Markham gets an A+ for customer service, even though my experience on site was challenging due to the one bad apple there. After my original review, Marie (the hospitality director) emailed me immediately, apologized and made several mentions of how they would improve their processes. In addition, she did a lot of digging into this issue with our amazing host that evening, Nigel, which shows she went above and beyond just lip service and really got to the root of the issue. I am impressed at her level of hospitality and service and she and Nigel (again, our wonderful host and server) are the only reasons I will try Markham again. Thanks, Marie and Nigel! read more

The gentleman behind the bar seemed rather bothered by my presence (I actually was going to make him work) at first he did not engage and I had he grill him for information on the wines/winery. It was neat to learn the stone wall was from the pre-prohibiton era. The wines were ok but for being a merlot house, their merlot wasn't impressive...their dessert wine was my favorite. read more

Markham makes some decent wines but the winery itself is not terribly impressive. It's just another large, sterile space which is not particularly inviting. The staff is however friendly and informative which was very nice. They use the extra space in the winery as a "gallery" and while visiting they had a photography exhibit featuring famous musicians from the late 60's and early 70's which was fun to explore. We liked that there was a range of wines to try. You could do a $10, $15 or $25 tasting so there was really something to fit everyone's budget. Come to Markham for the wine and for the art, the building and the grounds won't impress much. read more

This winery was so simple but definitely was one of our favorites! The guy who did our tasting was really funny and nice, and the wine was fantastic. All of us in my group ended up buying a bottle! read more

What a pleasant surprise! I visited this winery on the suggestion from a friend who had tried their wines at home. The staff presented the wine very well. T The wine was delicious. This vineyard is worth a visit. read more

The customer service at this winery is through the roof. They were very attentive to everyone that walks through their doors.

Some really good wines here but the best value in all of Napa Valley is their Cab for $40. I am used to drinking cabs up to $250 and this one is a great competitor in the$100 range for 60% less!! Their Merlot is fabulous too and I don't even like Merlot. Look for Kip who speaks with incredible eloquence, knows his wines and yet leaves you feeling like you just had a conversation and tasting with your best friend. Napans tip and you should too when you have a great experience as we did, or are given extra pours or a tour!!!! Markham has a beautiful tasting room with seated and bar tastings. Don't miss it. read more

$15 tasting menu for 2 whites, 2 reds, and a desert wine. The $25 fee allowed 2 "better" reds as well as 2 other wines. As we are red only drinkers we went for the $25 tasting. Very small pours, OK but nothing great wine, and an unengaging server. I hope I spare someone the time. read more

Nice, large facility but due to its popularity and accessibility, I think it tends to be on the busy side which renders the staff unable to pay close attention to the guests. My host was thorough, informative and friendly, but did kind of just move me through my choices rather routinely. Nothing wrong with that, but it wasn't memorable. Solid wines. I have long been a fan of their chardonnay for a daily go-to drinker and getting to try their estate merlot and 100% cabs was a nice treat. read more

Good service goes a long way. Decent wines, great service. Thank you Kevin for being so friendly and great with service.

My favorite merlot, still! Nice modern tasting room with an art photo installation. Friendly staff. Grounds aren't much to speak of but come for the Merlot. It's still the best!! read more

Beautiful first impression walking inside the tasting area. A koi pond and beautiful original architecture. Inside there's a rock and roll museum of some of the classic greats. The staff was incredibly nice and welcoming. There wasn't a wine I didn't like. The staff taught us a lot about the wines and the area and really made our experience a memorable one. Will def be back. read more