Established in 1861, Charles Krug Winery stands as Napa Valley’s oldest winery and is home to California’s first public tasting room, which opened in 1882. Walking the grounds feels like stepping back into California wine history—the original stone buildings and vineyard rows are genuinely impressive. The centerpiece is the historic Redwood Cellar, now a hospitality center where you can book curated tasting experiences that range from standard flights to more in-depth tastings focused on specific varietals or vintages.

If you’re hungry, Cucina di Rosa, the on-site salumeria, handles that well. They put together cheese and charcuterie boards daily, and on weekends they fire up wood-fired pizzas. It’s not fancy, but it hits the spot when you’re spending the afternoon there. You can order food and wine together, which makes for a solid afternoon if you’re not looking to leave the property.

Dogs are allowed throughout the estate grounds and in the designated outdoor areas, as long as they stay leashed. The vineyards and outdoor spaces give you plenty of room to walk around, and it’s nice that they’ve thought about including dogs in the experience. You can purchase bottles to take outside and spend time in the picturesque spots on the property—there are shaded areas scattered around if you need to get out of the sun.

The winery does get crowded on weekends, especially during peak season, so arriving early helps you move through tastings without too much of a wait. There’s parking on-site, which beats hunting for street spots in some of the smaller Napa towns. If you’re new to wine country or just want to see where California’s wine boom started, the history here is the real draw.