Beaulieu Vineyard

Beaulieu Vineyard Review

The Cabernet Sauvignon produced at the ivy-covered Beaulieu Vineyard is a benchmark of the Napa Valley. André Tchelistcheff, who helped define the California style of wine making, worked his magic here from 1938 until his death in 1973. This helps explain why Beaulieu's flagship, the Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, still garners high marks from major wine publications. The wines being poured in the main tasting room, which might include anything from a spry Pinot Gris to a lush Syrah, are always competent and sometimes surprise. Still, it's worth the $35 to $50 fee to taste that special Cabernet in the less-crowded reserve tasting room. The tour, an excellent overview of the wine-making process, includes a barrel tasting.