Bottle Shock: The Early Days of California Wine Making at Chateau Montelena

Chateau Montelena, located in Calistoga, is a Napa Valley winery most famous for winning the white wine section of the historic "Judgment of Paris" wine competition back in 1976 and is a must visit for wine lovers.  This wine competition helped put Napa Valley on the map and was famously portrayed in the 2008 movie Bottle Shock.

In addition to its famous wine, Chateau Montelena boasts one of the most peaceful settings in the Napa Valley, with a stone castle carved into a hillside overlooking a Chinese garden, lake and vineyards reaching out to the base of Mount Saint Helena.

What You Need to Know:

Location: 
1429 Tubbs Lane
Calistoga, CA 94515 USA

Pricing:
The wine tasting experience starts at $40 and goes up from there - Reservations are not required for the walk-in "A Taste of Montelena" bar tasting, available 9:30 am to 4 pm daily and is $40 per person plus tax.

There are a few other wine tasting experiences ranging from $45 and up that include private tastings and tastings with tours.  For the private tastings and upgrade options - it is recommended for adults only and those that are doing the tasting only.

Overall Impression:
Chateau Montelena offers a great family-friendly experience for the entry level tasting and gorgeous grounds for the whole family to explore.  The lake and gardens will be a big hit with kids and the variety of wine tasting experiences offers something for everyone. 

Be sure to add this great winery to your list of stops as you make your way through Napa Valley!