Free Wine Tasting in Napa Valley

By American Winery Guide Staff on 2021-11-16

Finding a free wine tasting in Napa, the land of the $125 tasting fee, is a bit like finding a four leaf clover…in a field of regular clover five miles wide. If you’re willing to drive and put in a little prework you may be rewarded by the elusive free tasting. In other cases, your tasting will be free on a technicality: many wineries waive tasting fees with a minimum purchase of bottles or joining their wine club. Of course, if you find a winemaker you love, taking home a few bottles or signing up for regular deliveries is the perfect way to turn a regular wine tasting into a free one.

To be clear, if you’re looking to expeditiously drink copious amounts of free wine, visiting Napa wineries that provide free wine tasting is probably not the best way to do it. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a personal and educational wine tasting, and/or you’d rather spend your money on a bottle than a tasting fee, these wineries are for you.

Buehler Vineyards: Situated on 300 acres nestled high in the hills of St. Helena, CA, the Buehler family offers tastings by appointment only. They’ve been making wine for four decades, and you’ll find Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel (red and white), and Chardonnay on offer. The Buehlers attempt to combine “meticulous vineyard management and minimal winemaking techniques to create wines of uncommon complexity and depth.” You can make reservations Monday-Friday from 10am to 1pm, and each tasting costs $25. Buehler will waive the charge with a wine purchase or participation in their wine club.
Sutter Home Winery: While Sutter Home isn’t exactly a small family-run winery, you may be able to find a good deal here. Tasting reservations are available Thursday through Monday, by appointment only at this time. Make the most of your visit by taking in their historic Victorian mansion and rose gardens after you down as much wine as you can.
Vincent Arroyo Winery: After starting on a mere 23 acres back in the 1970s, this winery now produces over 8,000 cases per year. It’s entering into its second generation of ownership, so get in now and watch these award-winning winemakers thrive. Tastings are free to members; everyone else will need to fork over $30 to enjoy Petite Sirah, Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Tempranillo, Port, and several red blends (by reservation only).
Charles Krug: Wineries in Napa don’t get much more OG than Charles Krug, which has been making wine in Napa Valley since 1861 and welcoming visitors to their tasting room since 1882. If Chardonnay and/or Cabernet Sauvignon are on your list of favorites, this winery needs to be on your radar. Tastings will run you $45 per person and are available by reservation only, but there’s also a virtual option if you’re looking to manage your Napa wine tasting budget.
Beringer: Like Sutter Home, Beringer isn’t going to give you up-and-coming winemaker vibes, but they’ve been in Napa forever and will certainly deliver good value for your tasting dollar. Wine club members will get free tastings, and you can get a self-guided tour that includes a visit to their wine aging cave for just $30. If you’re feeling splurge-y, opt for the single vineyard tasting and food pairing; it’s well worth the $150 price tag.

We’re committed to helping you find the best value for your wine tasting budget, whether it includes truly free Napa wine tastings or the closest thing you can find to it.