Swanson was our first stop on our first ever trip to Napa Valley... I wish I had known how much better this place was than the other wineries we visited, I probably would have lingered a bit longer, especially at the outdoor areas. The place was chic and really adorbs! Red and white striped, tent-like walls with ornate wine bars, interesting wine display- it had a great graphic quality to it, unlike the other places we visited. (I heard Kate Spade had something to do with it?!) The staff was overly friendly and even gave us a few extra tastings since they knew it was our first time in a winery. The tastings were priced a bit higher than a few other places, but I felt they were willing to explain more and really focus on our experience. We left with the Cab-lovers Merlot, and a few of their "gift bottles" with adorable labels like "Just Married", "Mazel Tov", With Love", etc.- I'm a sucker for a well-designed label! All-in-all, a very nice experience! read more

My friends and i went to swanson for a wine tasting today. Tess was our wine embassador and she was amazing! She made an experience for us that was amazing and made us feel very confortable. I highly recommend this winery for a special experience. Her attention to detail and wine knowledge blew us away. We loved the viognier and the alexis cabernet. Overall amazing wine and an amzing host. We will definitely return soon! Make sure you ask for tess. She will make you feel like you belong there! read more

This was my favorite tasting of the day. First of all, you have to get buzzed into the courtyard, because they only allow one group in at a time. It creates a very intimate experience, something special and different from your average experience standing at a bar with loads of other people. Doesn't hurt that they meet you in the courtyard with a glass of chardonnay! We sat outside because it was a really nice day, but we went inside when we bought wine and it was decorated very nicely. The person that helped us was very sweet and took us through about six different wines, all generous pours. We bought about three bottles, and my only compliant would be that they don't waive the tasting when you buy a bottle. read more

Wonderful place to visit and sip some good wines. I liked all of their wines and courtyard sitting. Thanks Nancy!

Swansons... The only winery where I have a membership. Love their merlot and the Alexis wine. We visit the Salon every year to do a Harvey tasting. Being greeted in the courtyard with a glass of wine is a great start to the tasting. The private seating (never more than 10 people) and the matchless pairing of food and wine are worth the visit. I always get the sense of personal attention at the sit down tasting. Saw the Sip Shoppe for the first time. Loved the design of the Modern House Wine... bought several bottles to use as gifts, if we don't drink them first. read more

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Swanson vineyards? More like swantastic! This place was Amazing - from the wine, to the staff, to the bird cages! We will definitely be back! read more

Harry saved the day. We went to the wrong location and he fixed everything. Our tasting was exquisite and he made it so enjoyable. The location was lovely and he made the experience unforgettable. Love this winery! read more

I actually loved my experience here. A group of us mommies and daughters made this our first stop on our Mothers Day tour and the hostess Lynn was very personable and polite. The place has a touch of whimsy, humor and class. Very fun and girly. I loved that the Sip Shoppe is in a circus tent. Tastings are by appointment only, so it makes for a very comfortable presentation as we had our own picnic table on the grounds and each tasting was paired with a tasty snack like a toffee chocolate bar or roasted pistachios. I have to say my favorite was the introductory rosato, but all of the wines had a nice finish. Didn't have that "mass-produced" flavor. Not sure how to explain that, but you know what I mean! Anyway, lovely place for a visit. read more

As others have noted you need an appointment to come here. It really is a special little vineyard. Unlike the other places we went during our time in Napa... Swanson had a much more intimate feeling which was welcome after some of the other, more crowded venues in the valley. The villa that houses the tasting area is beautiful as is the garden courtyard out front. Sitting out front on a beautiful 75' day sipping wine was heavenly. read more

Sad to see the Rutherford site closed which was a huge draw. The new venue is also nice and shared with another winery Gerard. We had a wonderful time doing a tasting with Nancy as our host. The wines are very good with our favorites being the Face Cab and 2018 Cygnet. The new venue is super new and dog friendly. read more

Wow, this place is absolutely perfect! It's by appointments but definitely worth it! The wine was great, service was awesome and the live music made me feel like I was in Paris! I will definitely be coming back!! read more

Swanson Vineyards - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Rutherford, California

I had a uniquely wonderful experience here! I loved the personal attention we got during the tasting. I liked how we were able to take our time during "courses" of wine and have some really good conversation with our attendant. Loved how the property is off the "beaten" path - it was definitely a more intimate experience. The interior decor of the tasting room was very French Quarter-romantic. Loved the abundant use of deep pinks and reds! A definite must if you want to experience the more slower, quieter, and romantic side of Napa Valley! read more

This place is quite nice and small with the friendliest employees you can ask for. On the other hand the wines are ok. Not s big fan of the syrupy desert wines and the reds were mediocre. They weren't bad overall though I guess I'm just nitpicking. This place seriously reminded me of a brothel for some reason, "I make-a the sexy time!" read more

A group of 6 of us went to Swanson last week for a tasting/wine and food pairing. We didn't know much about Swanson but a friend who really knows the tasting rooms in Napa and Sonoma insisted we visit Swanson. We couldn't have had a better experience. Sarah hosted us. She greeted us as we arrived with a big, welcoming smile. We were immediately excited when we saw the beautiful garden and the table set. Sarah articulately walked us through the wines and the food pairings. Both the food and the wine were amazing. We bought several bottles of each of the wines and iodine's the wine club, excited about future releases. read more

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This is the cutest lil wine spot! You have to find it though lol, our map wasn't right so make sure you get GOOD directions! We loved the small attention to detail on the lil accouterments plate of caviar, fruits, crackers etc...very nice touch. Super intimate winery that wasn't pretentious or snobbish at all...my only complaint was the wine offerings were still pretty high priced compared to retail...was wishing for a little deal without having to buy cases :) Beautiful courtyard and fun tasting room:) read more

For four years, I have made Swanson a regular stop on my Napa days and they never disappoint. I've been a member now for two of those years, but even before then, the customer service was exceptional. The ladies that work there really get to know their customers and make every attempt to go above and beyond your expectations. HIGHLY recommend the salon tasting (post-COVID of course). It's a beautiful pairing of small bites and wines. My personal favorites are their Salon Merlot, the Syrah and Zinfandel. That being said, you can't go wrong with any of their wines! read more

By far one of the best tastings in the Valley! As a Napa native, I've sampled various wines from all of the different appellations. Oakville and Rutherford are hands down my favorite. And in those appellations are Far Niente and Swanson my top two!!! Definitely drop by Swanson for a one on one tasting at the Sip Shoppe or for an even more intimate experience schedule a Salon Tasting. Worth every penny. C'est magnifique!!! read more

We had a reservation. They were timely. At least 15 minutes between each tasting which was frustrating. Document that had the wine list did not have any descriptions of the wines being tasted. Host Sarah was very nice though. Not heavily visited. read more

Definitely the best place we went to on our trip. The place is very calming and romantic. The service was absolutely amazing and the wines were the best we tasted. We would have definitely gonna back here if we had the time. They provide pistachios and chocolate with the tastings and give a very nice pour of their wines. read more

Great experience in a nicely done Parisian salon! Loved the ambiance and the pairing is very tastefully done. Definitely a hidden gem in Napa. read more

Swanson Vineyards - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Rutherford, California

My wife and I visited Swansons in April 2011. At that time, they had a "5" yelp rating, and I was really looking forward to the wines paired with food in the sip shoppe flight - and experiencing that 5 for myself. We sat on the picnic table out front. Not sure exactly why we weren't invited inside. Perhaps they had something else going on in there. Anyway, we never did feel like we made a connection with the winery or the server. On top of that, the wines were a big disappointment and we got shorted on one of the sip shoppe pairings. Maybe we just had a bad visit, but with many other options in the area, I know we'll bypass this stop in the future. read more

Easily the best wine tasting experience I've ever had. The salon is limited to 8 people and the the personal attention is magnificent. Pairing of food is provided and the staff give the most attentive, perfect, interactive education on their wines. It used to cost nothing which was a steal but of course that couldn't last for long. When we inquired about the art on the walls they went so far as offered us a book of the artist. Absolutely fantastic. read more

The 'salon' experience of wine tasting at Swanson will sour you on the 'herded masses lining up at the tasting bar' thing for the rest of your Napa visit. This is a truly luxury tasting experience. Miles might be a little dismayed, though, because one of their best offerings is a Merlot. Plus, the Alexis Cabernet blend is sublime (yes, I used the word sublime). The fee of $25 or $55 provides a different set of wines with a cheese pairing and a private tasting. Step up - it's worth it. read more

We had an INCREDIBLE time with the host Chip showing us around the Swanson winery. We know Swanson Merlot as the best wine from our favorite restaurant in NYC -- so Swanson was the one winery we just HAD to visit in Napa. We were so excited when we got an appointment for a tasting in the Sip Shoppe. The visit started out on a high note and get kept getting better. Chip came outside to greet us, shake our hands, and give us a tour. Then he spent 90 minutes with us educating us on winemaking, the region, and more. Chip even walked us out to our car, took photos of us, and shook our hands to wish us well on the rest of our trip. We had a delightful time -- and bought out the winery I swear. My highest recommendation! read more

Another amazing trip to Swanson. This time we did the Bon Vivant tasting in the Salon. Extraordinary experience! A huge thanks to sommelier Skip. He was very knowledgeable and fun! read more

Swanson Vineyards - Celebrating our friend Kelly! - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Rutherford, California

Swanson. Yes, the frozen TV dinner company owns this winery. Do not hold this against them!! This place blew my expectations away completely. What a great tasting, one of the best we had in Napa for sure!! We were buzzed in and greeted immediately with a glass of wine while waiting in a quaint courtyard as the previous group finished. What better way to start a tasting, really? We didn't have to wait long before entering a beautifully decorated tasting room. And when I say beautiful, I mean BEAUTIFUL. There was seating for 8 around a FINELY set table and our pairings were laid out. The doors were closed, so our tasting would be completely private. Chards were delicious, Cabs were delicious. All of the older reds were decanted prior to serving. Our pours were generous and the pairings were great, especially the Caviar and Creme fresh. I ended up purchasing a few bottles of the reserve Cab, which was delicious, but expensive!!!! At one point, we were all asked to pick up the black glass in front of us. Everyone had a different varietal in their glass and we all had to taste and guess what was in our glass. Although most of us were correct(myself included), it was fun, and added to the experience. While not normally a fan of dessert wine, I did enjoy the one served with this tasting. The tasting fee is high, however, it was a very relaxed and upscale tasting experience. read more

Must visit. Great wine, nice pairings, beautiful parlor, fantastic service. Two thumbs up for Sean (Shawn?) our host, who did a wonderful job of explaining the wines and telling the story of Swanson. Don't skip the chocolate truffles with curry dusting. They will blow your mind. read more

This place is unbelievable! Our group found it by chance and we are thrilled it happened! They have a beautiful area outside with tables. The inside was clean and gorgeous. We had a dog with us and they were happy to accommodate. Nancy provided our wine flight and was knowledgeable and fun. The wine itself is unbelievable. We had come from a different winery/tasting and I immediately said "I can't believe how good this is, I would drink this hands down over another wine." We signed up as members so we can continue to enjoy their wine. read more

The view was beautiful and serene. We enjoyed sitting on the porch and taking in the gorgeous views. The wine was also delicious and the host was truly wonderful. read more

This was an AMAZING experience. I had never been wine tasting period so my entire day was fantastic but Swanson was spectacular. It's definitely not "casual" it's going to take time but it's worth it. You sit down and taste the wines with cheese and chocolate and really learn about the wine. My friend is a wine club member there so she's done the tasting a bunch of times, she's a regular I guess! I was going to upload pictures but it seems that kodak has eaten that album. Can I yelp how much I hate kodak and how much I love shutterfly? UGH! Chuck the owner welcomed us when our limo pulled up. I didn't know that this was not the norm but Monica informed me that this was special. He sat in on our tasting because he had friends visiting so that was cool. We got to taste the Arsenne which wasn't going to be released for a few months and oh my gah it was so so so so so good. read more

Three stars for the wine and five stars for the atmosphere. This winery is so freakin' cute that I can't even stand it. You're transformed into a tiny French town the moment you step foot into the place. If you're there on a Saturday, you might be lucky enough to hear Michel (sp?) play the Serinette, all while singing beautiful French songs. Even though I am giving this place 4 stars, it was my favorite winery of the entire Napa trip. I could have sat here for hours just enjoying the scenery and listening to the music. The place is small, so call ahead. read more

Swanson Vineyards - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Rutherford, California

Swanson took us early for our reservation after we left Cakebread Cellars where we decided to leave early due to our experience. Swanson couldnt have been better. They welcomed us in, got us started with wine and let us sit whereever we want. We chose their beautiful courtyard, with so many birds and chirps that it you think it has to be piped in music! The tasty area is funky and not stuffy old school winery. It's pop colours and fun names like 'Sip Shoppe' for the tasting room. The wines: They are apparently best known for their Merlot, which was nice (and I've never enjoyed before). What stood out to me was the Rosato, a really light Rose style wine that isnt distributed. So you have to try and buy there, which I did. Next time I'm back I'll be wanting to swing by here again! read more

This is number three of seven. We made reservations for four people, arrived on time, and decided to sit outside. It was a lovely sunny day for us, but not too hot. The wine tasting experience is very memorable. I liked the Pinot Grigio the most, and was tempted to purchase that day. But decided against it because it can be purchased elsewhere, and on sale. Unfortunately, BevMo stopped carrying it, and I will probably have to purchase through Swanson. For a superb wine tasting experience, go here. I would definitely take true wine drinkers here. read more

Le vin est magnifique! There are places you go and never forget...they are etched in your mind, the same way colorful childhood memories can never be forgotten. Picture soft breezes, shady trees, roses, a man singing in French, a French farmhouse and pretty ladies walking through, bohémien français. Make a reservation at Swanson Vineyards and you will enjoy a relaxing tasting of great wines, plus dessert wines. Ask for a cheese plate to pair with your tasting. The wines are very good and the scenery is beautiful. You feel like you are far away in the French countryside, certainly not a tourist trap. Appréciez! @ColleenRugg read more

I'm a Girards member and they gave me a 2 for 1 wine tasting certificate. My friend and I were enjoying ourselves until the end. I bought some wine and the sales guy said that he would comp our wine tasting. Getting ready to pay and he said my total 109.00. I asked him" I thought you were going to comp the other wine tasting since I had 1 free wine tasting. He replied, " I did comp you for 1, I told him "we automatically had 1 free. So how were you suppose to comp us? To me, this was very scandalous and unprofessional! I left there very very upset. Dont like how people say one thing and do the complete opposite. What I really wanted to say, keep your wine and I won't be referring people!! read more

This is my favorite tasting on the Napa side of the wine country. You must make an appt. There are two different pricings for tasting depending on how many wines you want to taste. I highly recommend the pricier version. Its private only eight people with a food pairing that makes you appreciate each sip. They also have bon bons that are unique and quite the sensation in your mouth. Fun and knowledgeable staff. I also suggest joining their wine club. It is the only one that I know that you can actually customize and its only four times a year. They send you a email ahead to let you know what is coming, giving you the opportunity to change your order to something you love. All their wines are truly wonderful and offer something memorable. Also known for their merlots, but I love their Chardonnay and whenever they have Angelica buy it! read more

I am in love with this winery! Adorable decor, whimsy atmosphere, fun staff, and DELICIOUS wines. The experience was very unique and intimate - definitely a fun place to go with a small group of girls [they serve bonbons and the vibe is very vintage femme]. We went for my sister's 25th and had a fabulous time with Michelle [the cute blonde]. We were set-up in the circa tasting room and drank yummy wines for 2 hours! We all didn't want to leave! I am so glad that the napa valley has a few wineries that offer a different experience and decor than the usual " rustic napa-country". It makes winery hopping much more exciting. [Just as a note, this isn't the best winery for large groups. The facilities hold a limited number of people which is why they request making appointments] I will definitely be visiting Swanson again very very soon! i Their Rosato is calling my name... I love you Swanson. read more

Love this place. Wines are so yummy... we absolutely love their merlot. Their staff is great - they are so enthusiastic about their wines, and they don't put the high-pressure sales tactics on. If you are a member of their wine club, they'll let you make changes to the shipment as long as the cost is the same or more. Not sure if that's common to most wine clubs, but they have always been so cool about that. Don't just show up - they are appointment only. read more

Their Face Cabernet is money and their regular cab, zin, and muscat are also good. I love their chocolate bon bons and could've eaten 10 of them! Our host (forgot her name) was great and very personable. Solid tasting. read more

One of the most private, proper tasting experiences in the Napa Valley for nearly ten years. The birds sing outside, the staff greets you with wine as you step from your car, and the wines sing their own songs inside the delightfully eccentric "Salon." read more

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