I'd give this winery 6 stars if it was possible. Fabulous wine, very casual setting, totally relaxing--the kind of place we search far and wide for. Angie, the manager, is a fount of local knowledge--wine ins and outs, winery history, restaurants, recipes, etc-and a kick to hang-out with. We'll be back, if only to re-visit Saddleback (and to re-stock the case of wine we brought home, and hang with Angie). Can't recommend this winery enough... read more

My husband and I found this place over 10 years ago as we were planning one of our first trips to Napa. We read about it in an article called "Hidden Gems". And this definitely is one! It's off the beaten path while still convenient to get to and has a casual atmosphere that makes it seem like you are just drinking wine in your own backyard. Picnic tables next to the vines make it a beautiful scenic place. We joined the club - I believe on our first visit - and it's one of the few clubs we've never even considered leaving. The funny thing is every time we bring friends here - they seem to join the club too! The wines are rock solid and they have something for everyone. The Zinfandel and Chardonnay are our go-to's, but there's lots of variety and it's fun to change it up whenever we visit. Angie is simply amazing and makes every visit fun and enjoyable. She is friendly, accommodating and we always have a good time with her as our guide. Definitely a must if you are wine tasting in the valley! read more

I came in with a friend as one of his choices for wine tasting today and I must say, Nils Venge is whipping up some tasty wines here. The bench we sat on is right next to his Pinot vines... giving you a nice traditional old school napa feel. Must try is the Cabernet Franc! No surprise that he's one of the legendary wine makers of the valley. Cheers! read more

We went to Saddleback cellars on our anniversary. The place is low key, but amazing. We spent two hours there, never stayed at any other winery so long. Angie was fabulous and very knowledgeable. The wines are also fantastic. We joined the wine club. Can't wait to go back. read more

Thank you Saddleback Cellars for our wine tasting on Thursday, April 21st, 2022. We waited in the car for the rain to let up, and then we were very warmly greeted by Angie. She was assisting some other guests, but was quickly attending our group. While Angie prepared for our tasting, Lars was able to spend some time explaining Saddleback history. Since there were 6 of us, Angie had many questions to answer and orders to handle. Hosting us meant Angie had to be prepared and accommodating. She was both! Thanks again, especially Angie! Sincerely, Molly Wildman. read more

All I can say is WOW! The wine was delicious and the atmosphere was laid-back, making for a wonderful afternoon stop. Great variety of wines at a great price point. What really put the experience over the top for us was Angie. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the wine and was able to make spot-on recommendations for everyone in our group despite the fact we each prefer different styles of wine. She also had us in stitches with her wit and knack for storytelling (my face hurt from smiling and laughing so much). If you visit --and I hope you do-- be sure to ask for Angie. She will make your day! read more

Just wanted to send a huge thank you out to Angie in the tasting room at Saddleback winery. A group of us (6) were out tasting wine in Napa the week of April 18th and Saddleback is always one of our favorite winery's to make an appointment for a tasting with. Angie shared the winery's history and the background of the winemaker. She was able to flag down the wine maker and introduce him to us too! Always an added bonus! If you're planning a trip to Napa I highly recommend making an appointment with Angie for a tasting. Since our first visit in 2020 she's made a believer out of our entire group of friends. We're all members now! read more

Saddleback has always been one of my favorite wineries and of course did not disappoint at the last tasting. Angie was wonderful! She was very personable and knowledgeable about the wines, guiding us, one on one through the tasting. She even helped plan the rest of our day to other wineries and made great lunch recommendations. Can not say enough great things about the wine and the people. Will definitely be back on the next trip! read more

This place is terrible. Sure, the wine is incredible so I'm giving it 5 stars but it really doesn't deserve it. I mean, a wine tasting is so much more complex than just having a collection of fabulous wine. First of all there's no food. Seriously, where are my artisanal cheese puffs with local rosemary? Sure the staff is friendly and knowledgable, but that doesn't mean they can get away without house roasted peanuts. The location is terrible. You have to taste outside! Inside is like some sort of production facility or something ridiculous - looks like they work there! Not a lick of reclaimed oak anywhere. And outside is just picnic tables with umbrellas - atrocious especially in today's 70 degree sunny weather. Clearly they aren't proud of their wine either. They claim to be reservations only, but if you call up and act all nice they will probably tell you to come on over. Seriously? If you are confident in your product you need to make people feel like you are out of reach and they are small. Not OK. Finally, people showed up with little kids and the were totally OK with it. I mean, tasting with Elmo and Cookie Monster? Skip this place, head over to Groth where the parking lot can fit your Escalade and they know how to treat people. read more

Saddleback Cellars among the Napa Vines The other day I was touring with a young couple and we visited Signorello, Plumpjack and Rubicon, but then we finished up the day at what turned out to be their favorite, Saddleback Cellars. This is a small winery just off the Oakville Cross Road located in a block building with a windowless, eccentric tasting room. But no one tastes inside when they can taste outside on the picnic tables within a couple of steps of the vines and their great views of the valley. If you've been to Signorello, Plumpjack and Rubicon you know that they are very polished. Of the three Plumpjack is the most relaxed and yet that is owned by the very polished Plumpjack Group who owns the very swanky Carneros Inn and the spectacular Cade Winery up on Howell Mountain. So underneath Plumpjack's woody exterior and intimate interior beats the heart of a world class winery. Saddleback is popular because it is so different. On one side is the 'Big Pink' Groth, across the street is the new and expansive Silver Oak winery facility, around the corner is Rudd which just drips with money and the other way Opus One, of which the less said the better. And there sits Saddleback with its picnic tables, forklifts and old tractors, the old milk bottle carriers filled with today's wine bottles, and a staff that looks dressed to top off barrels in between tastings. How could you not love them? This is wine country at its most down home comfortable. Fortunately the wines, Cabs and Merlot and their friends fashioned by Nils Venge (well known throughout the valley) are excellent, so it's just one more proof that a well plastered cornice doesn't guarantee a good bottle of wine. While they are located at 7802 Money Road the easiest way to find them is look for the driveway for Silver Oak Winery on Oakville Crossroad, which stands all by itself in view well off the road, and Money road is directly opposite their very fancy entrance. Saddleback is a little ways down Money Road on the right hand side. You'll see the end of the building and the picnic tables to the right of that. Not fancy but fun! Enjoy. read more

I'm at Saddleback right now. Rick Steele is amazing!!! He is a man with awesome story's and is welcome to help you with anything. I love the wine and the place. read more

Chloe's Blend is the best! Favorite winery so far. One of Napa's smaller wineries, but definitely some of the best wine. Bob is a gracious host! read more

This is was the most relaxing tasting on our Napa wine crawl. No fancy buildings or tasting rooms, just some wine, a couple of picnic tables, and some old trucks scattered on the property. As the name suggests, this is a laid-back, country cowboy kinda place. We came on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and enjoyed the tastings outside. The guy that poured for us was a newly graduate of UC Davis so he was very knowledgeable. He brought us some crackers and poured the wines. He did a great job knowing when we were ready for our next pour. The wines were pretty good. The one that stood out was their 2006 Merlot. FYI, the tastings are not comped with purchase like some of the larger wineries. read more

By apportionment only and worth it. Honestly this is the complete opposite of every big touristy Napa Valley vineyard. The experience resembles going over to your buddy's house fore some really stellar wine. Nothing fancy but it attracts distinct, cool and fun clientele and I really love the wine. Go check it out for yourself...you ought. You buy a case! If you are a bus-full of bridesmaids please never come here. read more

Saddleback Cellars - Barrel of wine converted into a horse! Funny... - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Oakville, California

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I LOVE SADDLEBACK!!! In my opinion, this place has the best priced wines in Napa, for what you get. Sure, you could go to Sutter Home and get a $6 bottle, but will it be good? Probably not, unless you're on your 3rd bottle. Saddleback wines are not only amazing, but for what you get the price can't be beat. The soil is the most expensive in Napa for cabs, but somehow it tastes comparable to a lot of nearby places and is at least half the price. It's the only place my husband and I go to knowing we're leaving with a case, because they offer free case shipping with a 10% discount. I can't say enough for Saddleback. And if you don't want to buy a case, the $20 tasting fee is also a great deal for how much you get to taste. Bring lunch and taste the wines outside at a picnic table! One of these days I have to join the club. If only I could stop spending money buying wine on my yearly Napa trips... read more

SADDLEBACK ROCKS!! My husband and I stopped in on the suggestion of ZD vineyards. The lady said, "If you liked Napa 20 years ago, you will love this place." So off we went in search of Saddleback Vineyards....without an appointment. Luckily, we found it and had so much fun there! As we walked in, the young man new we didn't have an appointment, but he didn't seem to mind. He started pouring wine and we started tasting. I have to say, it reminded me of Cakebread Cellars 20 years ago when Cakebread had a dirt floor. We are red wine drinkers and we really enjoyed the Cabernet and Merlot. We bought a case of the Merlot! I just opened my first bottle and my daughter, who also loves wine, said, "Wow, now that is some good stuff!" I have to say, I agree with her. I will be getting another case and probably join the club. Their wine is very smooth and subtle, and the Merlot has the boldness of a Cab, but not heavy on the tannins. If you enjoy a relaxed atmospher, great wine, a nice ambiance, then Saddleback is a MUST!! read more

Lovely wines in a beautiful setting. Bob is friendly and winery dog Chloe will sit quietly at your feet while you enjoy your time at the picnic tables. Bring a lunch and enjoy this place! read more

Saddleback Cellars - Chardonnay on the picnic tables - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Oakville, California

A small unassuming little winery in the heart of some of the most expensive places in Napa. None of the pretension that some of the "other places" have. Yes, they have picnic tables, so had a picnic lunch here and sampled some of the wines outside. The tastings were good generous pours, but my only complaint is that since we were outside doing the tasting (and eating our picnic lunch) some of the wines took a little longer to arrive for us to sample. Nothing major since we weren't in a hurry anyway. The 7 wines I samples were tasty, and while they didn't make a huge impact on my taste buds, they were nicely priced. Inside had a definite cowboy theme, but that and the barrels right in the tasting room added to the coziness of the place. Afterwards, I got into conversation with the man pouring the wines, to find out a bit more about Saddleback and its owner. It turns out that the owner, Nils, is quite the heavy hitter in the world of Cabernet. He consults for several big name wineries and scored the first every 100 point rating for a California wine. This sparked a great conversation about Cabernet and what makes this region unique. At the end of the conversation, I'm offered to try some of Nil's flagship Cab, tucked away behind the counter---WOW! That's all I can say, it was amazing, this was seriously good stuff. For the quality of the wine, the price was still way lower than I expected (~100 for a bottle). I picked up a bottle and its sitting at home on my wine rack for a special occasion. I will say that I wasn't the only person to cycle through Saddleback for the tasting, but I saw no one else get a chance to try that amazing Cab. This was probably because most people were there looking to rush in, sample wine, and rush out. It's amazing the things you learn and the experiences you have if you just take some time to talk to people and really get to know a place. read more

I'm rating them purely based on what I thought of the wine. I won't go into my experience since we didn't spend enough time there for me to fairly judge it, we were in a rush and we rushed them. Generally, I thought the wines were just OK. Nothing awful, but definitely nothing spectacular. I will say that the winery was pretty cowboy themed. I would have guessed the owner was from Texas (or something) not Orange County. They were pretty friendly, but they were busy running in and out. We didn't get that much attention but I won't blame them for it. Like I said, we were in a hurry too. read more

We have been members here for several years and it is by far our favorite cellar. Over the years we have grown tired of the pretentious tasting rooms and the pomp and circumstance involved with wine tasting these days. Enter Saddleback! Off the beaten path, relaxed atmosphere and amazing wines. Definitely our "go to" in the area. read more

Great place to start off your Napa wine tasting experience! We opted to do our tasting outside to take advantage of the nice weather. There are plenty of picnic benches to choose from amongst Saddleback's vineyard. It has an old barn charm and is very homey. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. Our wine pourer actually sat down with us to talk about when the wine was harvested, the process of fermentation, how long it aged in the barrels, what types of barrels they use and when they bottled the wine. This really made our experience enjoyable and informative. The tasting fees are very low here in comparison to most Napa wineries (which can charge up to $25 a tasting and pour 4-5 varietals). At Saddleback Cellars, each tasting was $20 and they poured 7-10 varietals! Keep in mind to stay hydrated, or Saddleback can be your first and last stop on your wine trip. LOL The wine at Saddleback is exceptional. I am not much of a white wine drinker but I actually enjoyed their whites. My favorite red is their Cabernet. It paired very well with the baguette, brie cheese and salami that my husband brought with us. yummy. :) *Special notes: They only allow large groups and limos by appointment only. read more

We had a wonderful experience at Saddleback. My favorites were the Pinot Grigio & Grenache. Our host was extremely knowledgeable & welcoming. read more

On the weekend, Highway 29 in Napa can feel a lot like the Holland Tunnel on a Monday morning. Only more pastoral. The entire road is gridlocked from dawn to dusk, with desperate wine-tasters making dramatic attempts to turn left into the wineries in the face of oncoming traffic. A much more pleasing approach is to take one of the crossroads that lead to the calmer waters of the Silverado Trail. The first one you hit, the Oakville Crossroad, is one of the nicest. Oakville is where the cabernet grape reaches its apotheosis in California, and the Oakville Crossroad contains many of the high cabs - Silver Oak, Groth (like a mini Hearst-castle with marble steps and running water) and Screaming Eagle (a temple wherein you cannot enter, let alone sample). Even more charming is Saddleback. You take the little road right opposite Silver Oak and head down past a few private ranch houses to what looks like a grain barn. It's very low key - most of the tastings happens at picnic tables under the shade of some trees, right in the vineyard. Saddleback produces a noble Oakville Cab, but they've also resisted the temptation to pull up all their other vines and just plant Cab. They have superb white wines (viognier, pinot blanc etc), great merlot, fabulous zinfandel etc. Oh, and try the rose of merlot. Intense, quite dry and pungent, it's about as far from super-market blush as you can imagine! read more

We stumbled accross this vineyard while poking around okaville. It very nearly shares a fence with Opus One and let me tell you, you can tell in the quality of the wine. Overall, Saddleback is a boutique winery with artisan products-- but they somehow manage to preserve that farm-fresh, napa authentic feel. First off, the tasting was great. The standard tasting flight included 3 whites, 1 rose, and 3 reds for $20 a head. Tasting fee waived if you buy a case. The ambiance was rustic and casual, no pretention at all. We sat at a bench next to the vines, some old tractors, and enjoyed the shade and environment- the breeze was up and the weather was perfect- the outdoor setting was just what we were looking for. The service was personal and excellent. We got great attention from Bob (McEarney? I got his card but can't remember). He took the time to explain things about the wine and the vineyard, make some jokes, and was an overall delight. I could have lost an entire day here between the ambiance and the wine- it was, overall, a wonderful experience. If you're looking for something delicious, smartly casual, and napa-farmer-esque rather than commercial, polished, and a little uncomfortable, Saddleback will be a winner for you. The Pinot Grigio and the cab were quite special. read more

Wonderful experience here - relaxed, personalized tasting in a gorgeous setting next to the vines. I'm not a huge fan of country music in general but I do like Western swing, and when our sommelier discovered my preference, he immediately changed the bland "new country" they were playing to Asleep at the Wheel. Very nice! Wines were very good and with proper price points. We will return and we recommend this place wholeheartedly. read more

The larger wineries are something to see, but in terms of wine quality and the overall experience, making time for smaller wineries like Saddleback is so worth it. We learned more about wine in one tasting than in the entire Legacy train tour with tastings at Mondavi and Krug. And the tone was approachable and interesting. read more

Yelpers, you did me right suggesting Saddleback. This winery does not seem to fit in with the regular Napa fare...and that's a good thing. Set way back from the road, this nondescript, no-nonsense tasting room is the place for a truly fun tasting experience. The taster was outside in the "parking lot" (dirt next to the tasting/barrel room) to greet us, which was a pleasant change. The room is indeed storage for the barrels with a small horseshoe bar wedged in there. The two guys behind the bar were down-to-earth, friendly, funny, and incredibly knowledgeable about the wines...even though they weren't the winemaker himself. And the wines were wonderful. Bottles were purchased all around, and the star of the day seemed to be the Cab, which even my chardonnay-guzzling, red-wine-snubbing family members liked. It was leathery and smoky, but not overpowering or heavy in the mouth. I bought a bottle of that as well as the lovely, jammy Zin, which has more herb than pepper to it. All in all, this was a fun, unique tasting experience. If ever I am in Napa, I will be sure to return. read more

We visited Saddleback Cellars on a Tuesday afternoon and was greeted by THE most friendly person, Erica. We felt welcomed the moment we stepped on the property. She guided us to a beautiful spot under a shady tree, looking out at the vineyards. Erica was so informative about the wines and engaging in conversation. The wines were outstanding so we ended up buying about a case all together. I work at a winery in San Martin, CA. and I am often asked what wineries I'd recommend when traveling to Napa/Sonoma, this one will definitely be on the top of the list. Thank you Saddleback for the great wine, and especially Erica for being so friendly and accommodating to us. Can't wait to return! Cheers! read more

Want something refreshingly different from the "Napa Experience" of overpriced corporate wineries and their snooty receptionists and pretentious snobbery? And let's admit it, that's a lot of Napa these days. Well, there is a cure, right in the heart of it all: Saddleback. My roommate's brother found this gem of a winery I know not how. All I know is that I was getting a little nervous when we drove past some behemoths before finally turning off the main drag right before the Oakville Grocery. Why, what is this cute barn we are pulling up to? Ah ha, it's a winery! No, really! Come to Saddleback and you'll get to sit at a picnic table under shady trees, looking out onto a picturesque ache of vines, and sip delicious wine. Talk about the valley and the locals and what's good with what with Nils or one of the pourers. Have a genuinely good time, and leave with a few bottles of fantastic vino. And perhaps, like us, you'll be back every time you find yourself back in Napa. read more

The only thing about tasting wines in Oakville and Rutherford is that you have to help pay for all that expensive real estate you are standing on. High tasting fees and high priced wines. But don't blame Saddleback for that. It's just what comes with the area. The wine quality here is outstanding but they aren't giving away the product. Bring a stack of $100 bills because you are going to want to leave with wine. If you aren't tasting outside, you are tasting in a barn, and it feels like a barn as there is lots of stuff everywhere. A super clean tasting room wasn't a priority here. There is lots of stuff around. Our host was super nice and knowledgeable. He provided just enough info on the wines. He didn't tell me what I was supposed to smell or taste (BIG PLUS, bc I hate when wine people do that). He poured all the wines and they were all great. The two Cabernets were killer. I really liked the Zinfandel and the Merlot. The Chardonnay was average to me....head down to the Carneros appellation if you are dying for good Chards. There were lots of people picnicking while I was there. I don't know about people munching big Roast Beef sandwiches while they are tasting....is that lettuce floating in your glass? Anyway, highly recommend. I could tell that no one has a bad time here. read more

Amazing!! I tend to avoid Napa Valley in general, too hoydy toydy, and pricey to taste. However, family visiting from out of town, had to go to Napa Valley. This winery came highly rated by a couple other wineries in the area. What a find! Down to earth, fun, and informative. They truly believe that the best wine is the wine that tastes good to you. Some of the highlights: 2004 Merlot, Napa Valley Delicious. I am not a Merlot fan, the b/f loves it, so I was looking for a bottle for him. Probably the best Merlot I have tasted. $36. 2005 Old Vine Zindandel, Napa Valley If you love Zin's this is a must to try. Everything a Zin should be deep, rich, full color and smell -- VERY yummy. $36. 2006 Vine Haven "Scarlett's" Rose Soooo good. Who would have thought of drinking a Rose. Crisp, not too sweet. I cannot wait until we have a nice hot day to sit outside and drink this. A steal at $15. 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon OMG. This was good. I could kick myself for not getting a bottle. This was their priciest bottle at $52. but in retrospect I should have just bought it. They have many others to choose from. Their whites were very good, all were around $20. the Chard being the highest at $25. Their sign is small, so I missed them on the first pass by. Tasting can be inside or outside, whichever you prefer. The tasting was $10. for 9 tastes, and they waived the tasting fee with purchase. Really this place is not to be missed. If you are new to wine or an experienced wine person; they are a lot of fun, on top of having some DELICIOUS wines. read more

We live in Sonoma County. We had a friend in town doing business in Napa.He had been a previous member for years. He wanted to share this wonderful place with my husband.No appointment so it was nice they let them taste.Both tasted and friend bought a magnum of 2013 Oakville Cab and two additional bottles of Chardonnay and my husband bought 4 bottles 2 old Vine Zin and 2 Merlots. Needless to say they spent $490 plus they tipped them and still were charged $30 each for tasting.Service was great. read more

Amazing wines and friendly staff

Great tasting experiece. My husband and I went before an appointment at another winery around the block. Nils was sitting at a table inside eating his lunch with the other workers...on a Saturday. Wines were very good. The Cab was just as good as the Cab around the block for about 1/2 the price. I like the relaxed atmosphere and lack of pretence. The tasting host, Bob was very friendly. read more

Came for the wine but stayed and became a member for the hospitality and ambiance of this serene hidden gem. Angie is the absolute best! She made me feel at home, comfortable and has an infectious laugh that will make you enjoy your time out tasting just that much more! I can't wait to go back! Been out there a few times with different types of people but they all say the same about the peaceful location, beautiful surroundings, amazing wine, and awesome hospitality. read more

This place is so amazing! Great views and even better wine. Our host, Angie, could not have been better! She is incredibly knowledgeable about the wine, but also so personable and hilarious and truly added to the experience. Highly recommend!! read more

Angie was AMAZING. Wine was great and we had an even better time than the other "more expensive" wineries. Will for sure recommend!

Thank you Yelp! (and sorry reviewers hoping I wouldn't find this place!) Pulled in at 3:30 on labor day saturday, and see the sign requiring reservations. But there is hardly anyone there so I go in and ask if they can accept four people - and they are more than happy to. We spend the next hour at an outdoor picnic table with a very down-to-earth pourer (she may not have been the worlds biggest wine expert but she knew her winery back and forward and was very pleasant!). You need an hr for this place because there are two tasting menues - one with six wines, the other with an incredible NINE (that one is actually cheaper). I felt the quality of the wine was variable - a couple on both lists I loved while a couple on both I didn't like much at all. Really one of the bigger spreads I've ever experienced. read more

What a great afternoon. Such a chill spot to stop and sip wine, ride a barrel horse, try out a tractor and just enjoy the wine, the company and the afternoon. read more

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A great find in Napa. In the valley, but off the beaten path. There's a good chance you'll be the only ones there (be sure to call ahead to make an appointment, mostly to make sure they're there). A large selection of white wines, which is uncommon for that area. Tasting room is no-frills and they have picnic tables outside. A great place to go for good, inexpensive wines and a local/personal feel. read more