Just because you're broke doesn't mean you can't have a good time in Napa Valley. Take those beer cans piling up in your recycling bin and trade them in for a trip to Napa for some budget wine tasting travels! You CAN do Napa on a budget, especially when you use FREE two-for-one coupons and go on free tours. Dine in the best cheap restaurants and when it's time to crash, sleep well knowing you're in a best value Napa hotel. This is the Best of Napa... on a budget!
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How to get Free Coupons: No tricks, no signing up, no stupid spam emails, just click the coupon link, and follow the instructions. Some require you to use the free Winery Finder App but a bit of planning before you go could save you some big bucks. You want to pay rack rate for wine? I didn't think so!
UPDATED FOR SPRING 2013 - Free coupons below!
Acacia Vineyards: A bit off the beaten path but worth seeking out - reservations required but two for one is the deal. Coupon / Map
Andretti Winery: That's right, Mario Andretti, the famous race car driver, has a quaint winery off the beaten track before you get to Yountville. Drink and drive? No problem! Coupon / Map
Artesa Vineyards: A cool new winery focued on ultra-premium that a normal guy like you can taste....now that there's a 2 fer 1! Coupon / Map
Andersons's Conn Valley Vineyards: Cave tasting (I mean, tasting in a cave) can be expensive, but not if you use this coupon for a big discount. Coupon / Map
Back Room Wines: OK, so this isn't a free wine deal but how about a comp'd cheese pairing? You gotta eat, right? Coupon / Map
Beaulieu Vineyards: You'll forget about the low end BV Coastal after you try the good stuff Great winery, should be on your short list. Can't pronounce it? Just say "BV". Easy. Coupon / Map
Beringer: An iconic winery, beautiful setting with the historic grounds and stone building. Do this one! Coupon / Map
Black Stallion: At the start of the Silverado Trail, a nice and open tasting room and great way to start the day. Coupon / Map
Bouchaine Vineyards: The oldest continually operating winery in Carneros with beautiful Chardonnays and Pinots, get the discount coupon and save some bucks! Coupon / Map
Bourassa Vineyards: Don't let the warehouse location fool you. Great wines at an unusual location at the Southern tip of Napa. Coupon / Map
Burgess Cellars: Complimentary tasting in their barrel aging cellar. That's right. What a deal! Coupon / Map
Cakebread: A fantastic smaller winery with a fantastic tasting experience and fantastic wines! Can you tell I love this place? You just need the phone app to get the 2-for-1 - can it get any easier? Coupon / Map
Castello di Amorosa: One of the hottest coupons in Napa, visit the famous Napa Castle with a cool $5 discount.. Coupon / Map
Ceja Vineyards: Located in downtown Napa, it's a wine tasting room, art gallery and lounge. Go ahead, be cool. Coupon / Map
Charbay Winery and Distillery: Wine, port, apertif, a lot of everything for a unique experience that's different from a traditional winery. Coupon / Map
Chateau Montelena Winery: These guys smoked the French in the famous Paris blind tastings with their chardonnay. Now it's your turn to check them out with a 2 for 1. Coupon / Map
Cliff Family Winery: From the folks who make the Clif Bar (I am not kidding), $5 off wine and food pairing right in St Helena. Coupon / Map
Clos du Val: Holy cow, another great winery on the Silverado Trail that should be on your "don't miss" list. Get a 2-fer-1 but only with the phone app! Phone App Only Special / Map
Conn Creek Winery: Right in the heart of the valley on the Silverado Trail side, if you like cabs you need to stop in - made all the better with a two for one. Coupon / Map
Consentino Winery: Impatient? Then make the first winery on Highway 29 your first stop. Located next to Mustards, a great stop for lunch. Coupon / Map
Cornerstone Cellars and Stepping Stone Cellars: You can't ask for a better location in Yountville. Coupon / Map
Cuvaison Estate Wines: A cool contemporary winery in Calistoga area, perfect for a nice sunny day. Free winetasting with purchase! Coupon / Map
Domaine Chandon: The coupon is back! Fantastic first stop for a glass of bubbly, essential! Coupon / Map
Duckhorn Vineyards: Such a nice winery! You've driven past this one and thought it was too fancy for you but now you have a reason to stop! Beautiful grounds and a nice tableside tasting experience. Coupon / Map
Etude: Cab lovers, pinot lovers, coupon lovers, this is your stop! Coupon / Map
Flora Springs: Whacky looking tasting room on Highway 29 next to Dean and DeLuca, another essential stop. Coupon / Map
Folie A Deux: Another great one! Pronounced "fo-lay uh doo", a fun stop and even funner with a 2 for 1. Coupon / Map
Franciscan: $5 off any tasting, or $10 off their upgraded Exploration tasting. Great winery! Coupon / Map
Freemark Abbey: Taste in a historic winery and sample their wine and cheese pairing, all the better with a 2 for 1. Coupon / Map
Girard: Located in Yountville, more like a wine bar than a winery with cool music. Coupon / Map
Goosecross Cellars: A great small winery with a barrel cellar, 10% off coupon. Coupon / Map
Grgich Hills: I can't believe it, one of my favorite wineries and part of The Judgement of Paris! Try the chardonnay. Coupon / Map
Hagafen Vineyards: Pay attention, free wine alert on the Silverado Trail! . Coupon / Map
Hall Winery: Small boutique winery on Highway 29, get a free reserve tasting with standard tasting flight. Coupon / Map
Hess Collection: Off the beaten track, a scenic drive up the mountain, great art exhibit, two-for-one. Coupon / Map
Jessup's Cellars: Right in Yountville, close to The French Laundry. Coupon / Map
Long Meadow Ranch: Get a two fer one in the heart of St. Helena. Coupon / Map
Louis M. Martini: Stop complaining, it's a two-for-one! Coupon / Map
Merryvale Vineyards: The first new winery built in Napa after prohibition has a 2-fer-1 offer. Coupon / Map
Michael Mondavi Family Estate: OK, not the Mondavi you were looking for but can you really complain when I found you a two for one coupon? Coupon / Map
Midsummer Cellars: Tour and taste with the winemaker. Come on, this has to be good! Coupon / Map / Phone App Only Specials
Mumm Napa: Free 2-for-1 flute tasting. Start your day with champagne, free tour at 10am. Coupon / Map
Napa Cellars: Putting a modern spin on classic Napa in the Oakville area. Coupon / Map
Paraduxx Winery: A pair of ducks flies by and drops you some serious wine in a seriously fun setting! Phone App Only deal with this Coupon / Map
Peju: Incredibly fun tasting, especially when Alan the server starts rapping about wine. I'm serious! Coupon / Map
Raymond Vineyards: Have to tell you, I drink a lot of Raymond wines these days. Use this two fer one and see why. Coupon / Map
Reata: Located before you get to the heart of Napa, make this a stop along the way. Coupon / Map
Robert Mondavi Winery: This is the one you wanted! Discount packages and wine, worth checking out. Coupon / Map
Rutherford Hill: With a great cave tour and picnic grounds, what's not to like? Coupon / Map
Sequoia Grove: Surrounded by redwoods, beautiful setting, free tasting with purchase. Coupon / Map
St. Clement Vineyards: A small, premium winery with a great two for one coupon. Coupon / Map
St. Supery: One of my favorite boutiques with free self-tour and art gallery - great wines, too, and a 2-fer-1. Coupon / Map
Sterling: The tram ride to the top of the mountain is the main attraction, made better with $5 off coupon.. Coupon / Map
Sutter Home Winery: They invented the White Zinfandel but don't be a wine snob, especially when the wine if free. Yes, free. You don't even need a coupon, but print one anyway so you remember. Coupon / Map
Tamber Bey Vineyards: 100% estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Chardonnay in St Helena. Free cookies with your wine tastings. Really?? Coupon / Map
Trinchero Napa Valley: I always stop in to Trinchero, mainly because it's the first winery I see on the right! But great wines and a 10% off deal with the mobile app! Phone App Only Special / Map
Taste at Oxbow: Free wine tasting in a cool gourmet market downtown. Coupon / Map
V. Sattuii: Free upgrade to the good stuff. V. Sattuii is a great stop, nice picnic grounds.. Coupon / Map
Whitehall Lane Winery: Come visit a small, family owned winery in the Rutherford area and not only get a two for one, but a FREE t-shirt if you buy 6 bottles. Coupon / Map
William Hill Estates:The Tasting Room overlooks 140 vineyard acres in the Silverado Bench. Coupon / Map
Wineries of Napa Valley: More of a wine shop than a winery, sample wines from various wineries in one stop and get a buck off a craft beer! Coupon / Map
UPDATED WINTER 2010
FREE TOURS (So few left....)
Mumm Napa: First tour of the day at 10am is free. Website / Map
St Supery: A free self guided tour, free art exhibit, and a cool aroma sensory interactive display so you can test your skills at sniffing out wines. Website / Map
BIG WINERIES WITH TOURS INCLUDED IN THEIR TASTING FEE
Inglenook (until recently known as Rubicon Estates): Big changes as of 2012. Inglenook has been relaunched by Francis Ford Coppola. Gone is the movie memorabilia, but the tour and tasting is still one of the best. Website / Map / Cost: $50
Robert Mondavi Winery: Signature tour and tasting takes you from grapevine to cellar, a terrific introduction to how wine is made. Website / Map / Cost: $25
Castello di Amorosa: Taking 13 years to build and using only authentic Old World construction techniques, the famous Napa castle is an essential stop. You can drop in for a basic tasting ($16) but to see the castle you must do the tour, which wraps you around the 121,000 square foot castle, into the dungeons and through the caves to a private tasting area. Website / Map / Cost: $33
Frog's Leap: An old frog farm becomes a winery and offers a tour of their facilities and farm. Fun and engaging, light and lively, you start the tour with wine and taste along the way, making this one of the best tours in Napa. Website / Map / Cost: $20
FREE BARREL TASTING WITH STANDARD TASTING FEE
Grgich Hills: Mike Grgich was the winemaker behind the "Bottle Shock" winning chardonnay in the 1976 Paris blind tasting's Visit the winery on Fridays from 2 to 4 for barrel tasting's, included in your tasting fee. Website / Map / Cost: $15
River Terrace Inn: A full featured hotel that acts like a resort, full complimentary breakfast with eggs and meats, contemporary room decor, walk to The Wine Train. Website / Best Rate Guaranteed
Best Western Elm House: A "charming" Best Western, this downtown motel is more like a boutique hotel than a budget chain motel. Best Rate Guaranteed
Embassy Suites: Not your typical corporate Embassy Suites, this one looks like a destination resort. Best Rate Guaranteed
Hilton Garden Inn: A smaller Hilton at a smaller price, located in-between downtown and Yountville. Best Rate Guaranteed
Marriott: A recent remodel updates the rooms and the full spa keeps the wife happy. Best Rate Guaranteed
Silverado Resort: Can be surprisingly affordable. Full golf course on site. Best Rate Guaranteed
Rancho Caymus Inn: An oddball eclectic boutique, located steps away from Rutherford Grill and right in the heart of Napa Valley. Best Rate Guaranteed
Dr. Wilkinson's: Home to the original mud baths and one of the best (and inexpensive) spas in Napa. For the adventurous, but why not? Best Rate Guaranteed
Napa Inn: A bed and breakfast in downtown Napa, nice rooms and setting. Best Rate Guaranteed
Gott's Roadside: Formerly Taylor's Refresher, everything is the same except the name. A gourmet "drive in" burger joint, now with a location downtown in the Oxbow Market. Website / Map
Hog Island Oysters: Incredibly fresh oysters, half off during Happy Hour on Tues and Wed, making them basically a buck or so apiece. $3.50 pints to wash it down. Website / Map
Bounty Hunter: Home to the Beer Can Chicken dinner for 2 ($24), Happy Hour ribs for $5 and BBQ sampler plate for $10, 2 for 1 "house" wines (not crap, good stuff!) . Website / Map
Tra Vigne Pizzaria: While FoodTV chef Michael Chiarello is long gone from Tra Vigne, the food quality remains as good as ever. Huge pizzas and no corkage, fresh salads and reasonably priced pastas. Website / Map
La Luna Market and Taqueria: An authentic Mexican market aimed at he local workforce with a take out counter in back offering tacos, burritos, and other Mexican fare. Grab some to go for a delicious picnic, budget Napa-style. Website / Map
Red Rock Cafe and Back Door Barbeque: A tiny "locals only" eatery downtown, burgers, sandwiches and BBQ. Burgers for $6.50, or go large with the $18.95 combo with chicken, beef and pork, big enough to split. $1 corkage, so bring in that good bottle to enjoy with your budget meal. Website / Map
Buster's Southern BBQ: Rustic to say the least, Buster mans the BBQ's and everyone eats at picnic tables. Located as you enter Calistoga, a worthy stop for BBQ lovers. Website / Map
Uva Trattoria: OK, not really a cheap restaurant but you can get in and out without spending an arm and a leg if you stick with a pizza and split a salad. Stay for live jazz but don't blame me if you go over budget. Website / Map
STEP 1: BUY GOOD STUFF TO EAT
The ultimate cheap lunch in Napa is a fresh baguette, cheese, salami, and some gourmet mustard. Bring that extra blanket from the hotel and a bag of ice from the machine to keep things cool and let's go shopping!
Near Downtown: Trader Joe's (3654 Bel Aire Plaza, Napa, 707.256.0806) or next door at Whole Foods (3682 Bel Aire Plaza, Napa, 707.224.6300)
Yountville: Ranch Market Too! market and deli (6498 Washington St. Yountville, 707.944.2662)
Silverado Trail: Soda Canyon Store, market and deli (4006 Silverado Trail, Napa, 707. 252.0285)
Highway 29: Oakville Grocery, a great stop even if you're not shopping for picnic supplies. (7856 St. Helena Hwy, Oakville, 707-944-8802)
St Helena: Dean & DeLuca, a high end gourmet store (607 South St. Helena Highway, St. Helena, 707.967.9980)
STEP 2: FIND THE ULTIMATE PICNIC SPOT
Not every winery allows picnics due to code and those who do ask that you purchase a bottle to use their grounds. They'll even open it and supply you with glasses.
HIGHWAY 29
Inglenook Rubicon Estates: The bistro tables under the trees feels more like Europe than Napa. Though they officially do not allow picnics, they rarely kick anyone out for breaking out a snack. Website / Map
Alpha / Omega: With the comfy lounge chairs in front of the fountains on the dog friendly patio, you could stay here all day. website / map
Hall: A boutique winery with picnic tables under the trees surrounded by modern art. website / map
Frank Family: Beautiful grounds and picnic tables and off the beaten path. Worth seeking out. website / map
SILVERADO TRAIL
Regusci Winery: Picnic tables under the olive trees makes this feel like you're in the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun". website / map
Robert Sinskey: Gorgeous winery and picnic ground website /map
Rutherford Hill: With picnic tables overlooking the valley below, a stunning view - though recommended by many concierges so can get busy. website / map
Rombauer: A secret find, the beautiful gardens take you to hideaway picnic spots and beautiful views. website / map
WHERE TO NEXT?
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER WITH A NAPA TRIP AGENDA
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