Fodor's Expert Review Beringer Vineyards

Brothers Frederick and Jacob Beringer opened the winery that still bears their name in 1876. One of California's earliest bonded wineries, it's the oldest one in the Napa Valley never to have missed a vintage—no mean feat, given Prohibition. Some tastings take place inside or on the veranda of Frederick's grand Rhine House Mansion, completed in 1886 and surrounded by mature landscaped gardens worth a stroll themselves. Beringer is known for several widely distributed wines, but many poured here are winery exclusives. The Legacy Tasting & Tour surveys Beringer's history; the tasting takes place where the brothers crafted their first vintage. The winery prefers that all guests make a reservation, but same-day visits are often possible when no food is involved.