Swanson offers a truly opulent tasting experience. You will need to plan ahead and make a reservation for a tasting in the Salon because the experience is very individualized. Rather than standing at a bar, here you sit with a wine educator, chat about the wines and sample tasty morsels. My favorite is when the get to Alexis, the sensual red blend. They've added a second tasting experience called cirque. I haven't been there yet, but the photo on the website looks downright stunning. read more

I have been to approximately 40 wine tastings in Northern California, and when people ask me what my favorites are, I have to talk about my special experience at Swanson in July 2012. I unfortunately forget the names of the amazing two women who created the experience for us that day- if I find out I'll update this review. The creative people who make and market at Swanson are in love with the specialness of Napa Valley, for which their winery is a rich and meticulously maintained showcase. Getting buzzed into the gate, you come to a private experience offered by other wineries like Far Niente, Nickel and Nickel, and Jordan. There are no buses here, no lines or crowds, you'll feel like royalty in a surreal and beautiful time warp for a few hours, and you'll never forget that feeling. Napa is a place with a deep bond to the land. You notice this right away driving past the courtyard garden with exploding colors and outrageously large flowers. I believe they told us the winemaker's wife maintains it- you couldn't pay for a garden like this, it is cultivated by endless hours of planning and passion, and is a preview to the care and artfulness to come in the wines. Your first tasting is waiting for you on a silver tray in the courtyard: take a few sips, complement the garden, pet the winery dog, watch the hummingbirds, listen to a description of the wine you're drinking, this is Napa. The table your wine is presented on is inlaid with colored stones, you sit in a three story atrium with fresh cut flowers at each place setting, art everywhere. The wines are exceptional: being at the winery you will taste things you have never seen before and can't buy anywhere else. The Rosato was delightful, the San Giovese is classic, the Angelica is transporting. What stole my heart and now sits in my wine case is Instant Napa. The winemakers at Swanson have Napa Vally in their veins, and this really shows it. Big fruit from rich soil, the smooth body of French Oak, shifting notes of tobacco, cherries, chocolate. For me, the wine is a nostalgic homage to all the classic elements of a Napa red. Pleasure like this is so rare. It is the product of years of planning, work and love. I will languish in this feeling when I uncork my bottle, and I will feel melancholy when it leaves. At least a case was taken home that day, with a chocolate bar made with their Merlot, caviar was ordered and shipped, and we had it home in Florida at a dinner basking our favorite Napa moments. read more

See all

Beautiful setting, fabulous wines and top notch service! Thank you Kendall and Nancy!

This place is beautiful! The wine is even better!! Pros: the grounds are absolutely stunning! It's very private and cozy. The gentleman who helped us was very nice and informational. He told us a lot that we didn't know! Cons: none Tips: make an appointment read more

A must! My boyfriend and I made the trek to Swanson after finding a great deal on Living Social. Unfortunately we were late (oops) and missed the tasting we'd signed up for...but luckily we were met with an even better tasting (phew!) Cidy met us at the gate and went above and beyond - truly a great wine tasting experience...we left with two bottles in tow. The wine is of course delicious, but the design of the tasting rooms is what gets ya - Elle Decor fans, take note. read more

Just toured wine country, and this place was by far the best we visited. Jamison was inviting and knowledgeable, and we loved having our tasting in the adorable garden with no pretentiousness. Each wine was delicious, and the sip shoppe provided a fun wine purchasing experience, unlike some other spots that pressure you into purchasing or joining the club in a hurry. The wines and labels are cute and creative, making great gifts for anyone back home. read more

Never have I experienced such an intimate wine tasting. It is well worth the visit, price and drive. The recommended pairings, beautiful decor.... very nice. 5 stars. read more

This review has been in the works for a while now, I have now been to both experiences (the formal seated tasting, and the sip shoppe). This review is primarily for the seated tasting.... First of all, we were served warm chardonnay (and on a warm afternoon, it was even more frustrating than it normally would have been). Now, I am in the wine industry, I understand that Chard SHOULD NOT be served "chilled", but room temp/outside temp...I would expect that at a random, nothing tasting bar, but not here. They clearly put in a lot of time and money trying to make this an experience, and do everything perfectly, I think maybe they try to hard, and it gets in the way of a genuine experience. There were roses all over the table and room - which looked beautiful, however completely messed with the senses. Again, it seems like they take the winery "experience" seriously, but this was a huge mistake in my opinion. I thought the wines were all solid, the winemaker is doing an amazing job. It is unfortunate that the staff in the tasting salon does not seem to take these great wines seriously, and are more concerned with the pretty, fancy, overdone "experience" A bit of a let down. read more

Loved the whole tasting experience at Swanson Vineyards, from the tasting room decor to the wines, but mainly our hostess Mindy! She was impressively knowledgable, but also sweet, personable and unpretentious! The wine tastings were paired with small exquisite bites. We have experienced tastings at Opus One, Duckhorn, Trefethen, BV, T/vine, Caymus, and Chateau Montelena but the tasting at Swanson was our absolute favorite! We highly recommend it!!! read more

Amazing spot! We went for a tasting and were so impressed by the personable, friendly service. The employees are incredibly knowledgeable. Even better is the adorable setting and beautiful vineyard views! read more

The sip shoppe is incredibly underwhelming. The guy doing our tasting had no knowledge of Kate Spade's affiliation with the winery (designed the sip shoppe). The only wine anyone in my party of 5 liked was the rose and we were literally given sips, not tastes. This tasting wasn't fun. Would not recommend or come here again. read more

Upscale winery in old European fashion. Beautiful and boutique whimsical atmosphere with delicious wines and friendly staff. Make an appointment! read more

Our Swanson wine tasting was a combination of fabulous wines, delicious food parings, beautiful venue and informative hosting. Our six-person family loved the opportunity to enjoy a remarkably special and memorable experience while also having wonderful family time. We look forward to returning. Definitely a five-star experience! Thank you! read more

This place had false advertising! My brother and I went for a tasting and food pairing menu for $65 each. The food was 1 potato chip with caviar on it and a small plate with cheese and crackers. We went hungry expecting lunch and we're staving when we left! 2 stars because they gave you a lot of wine and the vineyard was pretty but the wine wasn't even that great and very over priced! read more

We had a really nice day wine tasting with girlfriends. Last stop was Swanson Family Winery. It was our third stop if the day. As we entered we could see a gentleman pouring grapes to be crushed old school. 2 of my friends asked if they could do it. They guy said sure. So they popped off their shoes and jumped in. It was funny and not something you get to do or see every day. The rest of us proceeded into the tasting room where a very nice young guy started pouring. Out if nowhere comes some girl asking us to leave. She said she was choosing not to serve us. Now mind you we were not driving we had a limo, we had been drinking (hence wine tasting) but we were not obnoxious or causing problems. We asked if it was because of our friends who jumped in the grapes? She said no. And then told us to leave. The winery wasn't crowded. Maybe 2 couple sitting outside. Could not believe how rude this girl was. Don't ever go to this winery. They were ridiculous. We will never go back. Sad because in this day and age struggling business you would think they would put customer service first. Not Swanson family winery. read more

We had Kate as a guide and she was AMAZING. Then wine was also great. Highly recommend this place.

Amy was an excellent host and provided a great overview of the vineyard owners and was extremely knowledgeable about all of the wines. Thank you!! read more

The Swanson's don't know it yet, but I'm moving here. I'm no camper, but I'd set up a tent and live in their little garden in a heartbeat. I can't decide what I love more - the adorable Sip Shoppe, the glass of pinot grigio you're given as you're walking up, or the fact that the owners and all their staff made an effort to stop at each table, introduce themselves, and chat with all the tasters. We spent a good hour here and almost went a 2nd round of tastings but had to book it to another appointment. I refuse to go to any wineries that are pretentious and snooty, and this is anything but. Definitely a new favorite, can't wait to go back! read more

Enjoyed the wines, decent $25-40 bottles with attractive bottles. The problem arose when we checked out. We were told that the tasting fee ($25 pp) would be waived if we bought 6 bottles. The wines were decent, everyday wines so between the 4 if us, we bought 6 bottles. The girl was VERY deceptive because only ONE tasting fee was waived. So we paid $75 on top of the price of the 6 bottles. It was thoroughly annoying and really put a damper on the day. read more

By appointment only and so glad i booked. Trip to Napa with five gals this spot is a must! Great wines and the photo ops are amazing. I loved this winery so much im gonna forgive that the host/server was a little snobby! read more

Go for the salon tasting, and be on time! If you are late, too bad, gate is shut and you can't get in. All aspects are fantastic, small spectacular, tasteful setting, knowledgable folks, and very good and sometimes great wines. read more

We started our second day of wine tasting here, and had a lovely hour tasting their wines and learning about the family and their wines from Grace. The room was distinctively decorated, whimsical and casual, and we were the only tasters, two young adults and their mom. I highly recommend the tasting experience and their wine. Intimate and warm. read more

I'm a huge fan of Alexis' blog http://www.alexisnapa.com/ and have been meaning to visit for quite sometime. When winter break came up, I decided to finally make the reservation. My boyfriend and I did the Salon Tasting for $65 each. One couple got held up at the airport, so it ended up being just us and another couple. Lin Forino was our salonniere- and she was really great. {She pulled out a few special items not on the menu and kindly distributed the extra portions of cheeses and chocolates between our two groups :) } She was formerly a hospitality director at another napa valley winery before joining the Swansons, so her breadth of knowledge of the area, the families and the wines was great. The wines were awesome and the atmosphere was divine! I really loved all the bold reds and stylish graphics- I really couldn't get enough. I wish the weather was better so we could have spent more time walking around outside and exploring the grounds (and gotten a few more pictures!). Lin mentioned that the Salon will soon be available for private dinners- ask for her if you are interested- for parties of 8 or so. Ugh, I am just thinking up 'events' in my head where I'd need to have a private dinner for 8 in Rutherford! :) read more

The Salon Tasting in a unique 1800's style French Salon is wonderfully intimate. The wines are excellent...maybe the best Cabernet lover's Merlot in the Valley. Be sure to enjoy the desert wines. read more

I have experienced tastings at Swanson Vineyards Salon four different times and each one is memorable. From the gorgeous grounds outside to the elegant decorating inside to the insightful and courteous staff to the delicious wines, cheeses and bon bon, it is an amazing experience. It is an intimate setting for eight people which makes for a very personal tasting. It has been a pleasure to meet people from different parts of the country and world while sharing a fun experience. I highly recommend booking a tasting at Swanson Vineyards. read more

If Carrie Bradshaw opened a winery this would be it. Super cute and super French carnivalesque. I enjoyed the sip shop where we got to experience 2 tastings with some small snacks. The outdoor seating area is adorable with the gravel and bistro seating. I tasted the "Night Cap". The bottles were a bit pricy but quite delish. We didn't feel rushed at all and the service was wonderful. We got an iced coffee aka "roadie" which had chicory. It was a perfect way to end our day. read more

A very pleasant surprise. Been to napa a dozen times but first time to Swanson. Lucinda led a great tasting for my group of 11. Very strong wines that were reasonably priced. And warm pistachios.... how do you beat that. Make a reservation, taste and buy read more

Wonderful personal tasting with Sean. And amazing little chocolates made by Vosges chocolate!

Made a reservation for the Hub's birthday and we are glad we did! The wine is fabulous, and the host was great and personable. The entire experience was a delight from start to finish!! read more

Great service. Great aesthetic. Definitely one of my favorite stops on my trip to Napa. Highly recommended.

Tucked away a stone's throw from a certain movie director's vineyard, this is a real hidden gem. A smallish winery, producing about 25K cases a year, this is all about the personal touch. There are no tours here (we've all seen steel vats by now) and the tastings are by appointment only (and on the expensive side if you are used to paying $5 for a swig of vin ordinaire). The tasting room is exquisitely decorated with an authentic French fireplace, faux rustic paintings and lots of special touches. Salonnier Shawn, passionate and deeply knowledgeable, makes this feel more like a private party in a very swanky home than a tasting. And the wines were simply some of the best I have ever tasted. http://www.swansonvineyards.com/ read more

I feel very lucky to have had the wine tasting experience here. It is so good. The wines are not the best I've ever had, but the salon treatment certainly was. Where else can you get custom-made Chardonnay sorbet, interesting conversation, and cute dogs walking around like they own the place all-in-one? I'm thankful for Jean-Baptiste who recommended the place, all the way from a little wine shop in Paris. read more

Of all the wineries we visited during our trip to Napa, we all agreed that Swanson Vineyards was our absolute favorite! We stumbled upon this hidden gem on our way back from a champagne tasting. Little did we know the cute lady pouring our water was Mrs. Swanson! The setting is stunning, quaint, and extremely warm and inviting. Remember to purchase a bottle of "Crepuscule" before you leave. It's almost like a little piece of heaven in a bottle :). read more

This was the most unique & best winery experience we have ever had!! The personal welcome and great one on one experience was unlike any other! Every wine was exquisite, the Viognier was a fav!!!! Highly recommend!!!! read more

after this experience, i can never go back to normal wine tasting, i've been too spoiled. you have to make a reservation, since they only have room for 8 people per wine-tasting session, and it costs about $55, but my friend and i were able to get a discount because my friend met a guy in france who used to be an intern here. upon arrival, we were welcomed with a chilled rose. it's such a nice and vastly different experience of sitting in a beautifully furnished room with no more than eight people, with the host explaining the history and technicalities of wine-making and the wonderful pairing of the food and wine and they give you a card with the names of the wines and the food pairing, for future reference. i'm not an expert on wine so i can't really say if it's good wine or not, but let's just say that i ended up buying more than i had planned. it's a great place to go to treat someone for a birthday or maybe a girls' day out... it is kinda girly, the alcoholic equivalent to a tea party. read more

Had a wonderful experience here with the Salon tasting. The tasting room is beautifully decorated, quiet, and off the main road. There's a large table in the middle of the room seating ~8 ppl in the Salon. The cute/ fun/ more casual Sip Shoppe is right next door. There also have picnic tables in a garden courtyard for you to relax/ hang out a bit. Both Salon and Sip Shoppe require reservations. I called on a Thursday and had no problem reserving the Salon for 2ppl for that Saturday. Would definitely recommend Swanson to my friends. read more

If you are looking for one of the best tasting experiences in the Napa Valley Swanson's is a must. My sister and I have gone twice and always try to include it on our visits to Napa. The wine is fantastic and the presentation of the wine elegant. The hospitality (Cidy was incredible) of the staff establishes the ground for an experience that truly sets the bar. The intimate setting is a refreshing break from the overcrowded tasting rooms. We made friends with a group on our first visit and met them at the Rutherford grill for lunch the next day. When I enjoy a glass of Swanson's wine I am reminded of two unforgettable memories. Make your appointment in advance. They can only see a certain number of guest a day. read more

We came here upon a friend's recommendation. The decor was SO fun-- had a circus meets vintage shop quality. The tables were really crammed together in a way that if you were among friends you would call intimate and cozy, but when it's a bunch of strangers you just feel a little claustrophobic. The wines were decent but nothing to write home about. I feel bad giving 3 stars because there was really nothing wrong with the wine or our experience, but with such stiff competition in the surrounding areas it's not enough to just be good. read more

My favorite tasting of the day! We sat outside at a slender picnic table beneath the leafy canopy, surrounded on two sides by beautiful flowers. The knowledgeable hostess started us off with an incredible rosato, and then after giving us some time to enjoy this crisp refreshingness, brought out some heated pistachios to enjoy with a lively pinot grigio. Then it was on to a red wine, I can remember the type, but is was perfectly complemented with some curry dark chocolate! Wowza, that was unexpectedly delicious! The following wines were good as well, but the first three really stole the show. YUM! Great company, interesting and knowledgeable hostess, perfect weather, delicious wines. Does life get any sweeter? read more

Amazing experience. Michael took care of us. He was very knowledgable and made us feel right at home. We enjoyed great wine and chocolate in their outdoor seating area with live French music playing and decent sized tastings. I will be back as soon as I can!! read more