Seeing as I love wine, and I spent some time living in the Bay Area, I was never a stranger to Napa Valley and the surrounding area. On my very first trip to Napa, a friend recommended V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena, California.

After that first trip, I made it a point to visit V. Sattui every time I was back in the Napa region -- it became my favorite winery and I recommend it to anyone I know making the trip to up to wine country.

Unique to the vineyard
The wine tasted and sold at V. Sattui is unique to the vineyard. Unlike most of the other vineyards in the area, V. Sattui wines are not mass-produced: In other words, you won't find their label in your local wine store.

The good news is that you can order wine through their website (www.vsattui.com) and have it shipped to your home (if you live in a state that permits the purchasing of out-of-state liquor.)

Variety of wines
I'm not going to critique each wine, because I am not a wine expert. I will say that V. Sattui offers a plethora of all types of wines -- there is something for everyone here.

Also, a tasting (which was free last time I was there) at the tasting bar in the store affords each wine connoisseur the opportunity to taste a wide range of their wines, and decide which he or she likes.

Personally, I prefer the Off-Dry Riesling at V. Sattui, and I am not typically a Riesling drinker. Their standard Chardonnay is a little too heavy for me, and the Riesling seems to work perfectly -- especially when buying a bottle for a mid-day picnic outside of the vineyard! It's fruity, sweet and light and great for the afternoon.

They also have a fabulous dessert wine -- a Madiera -- that is thick and very tasty. An extensive list of all their wines is located online on their website.

Location -- the perfect lunch spot
V. Sattui is conveniently located right on Highway 29 -- easily accessible in a long trail of great vineyards. They have a great central location that makes their vineyard a fabulous mid-day stop for a picnic and rest. They are across the street from the famous gourmet market, Dean & Deluca. (Which, although over-priced, I would also recommend stopping at.)

The picnic area and grounds outside of the shop at V. Sattui are perfect for an afternoon picnic. They have several picnic tables set up in a grassy area next to their store and field after field of harvesting grapes.

Spending all your hard-earned money here
The store at V. Sattui not only sells wine but a whole array of other items. Cute wine decorations, books, postcards, wall art, t-shirts and so much more is available inside. I think this is one of the larger and better stores in the Napa region that caters to the wine-tasting tourist.

My recommendation is to buy some cheese at their mini-deli (where they also sell an assortment of salads and cold cuts), get a loaf of fresh cooked bread, a bottle of their wine, and sit outside and enjoy the company you are with and enjoy the day!

Recommended: Yes

Winery Name: V. Sattui Winery
Country: USA
State or Region: Napa Valley
Date Visited: Several times, different times of the year
Tours Offered: Yes
Tasting Cost, Per Person: free
Guidelines for rating scale: Something special