Making a quick first trip up to Napa next weekend and could use some advice. We are staying in Calistoga and probably are going to stick as close to the Calistoga/Saint Helena area as possible as we only have a couple of days. Would love suggestions on wineries to visit (traveling with a group of young, somewhat inexperienced, but very eager wine drinkers if that helps). Thanks!

Try visiting a winery tasting room.

Welcome to VC!

There are a LOT of threads on this. Try the search function first then ask for something a bit more specific in terms of what you are looking for.

Welcome to Vinocellar.

My first piece of advice: Since you will be will a group of "young, eager drinkers" you might want to consider a designate driver. I know that probably takes the fun out of things but it is safe and noone gets a DUI.

What kinds of wines do you like?
Do you want scenery or wines out of a winery?
What kind of food are you looking to eat? Is there a price limit?

Napa Valley isn't that big so staying close to Calistoga/St. Helena is a bit of a silly idea.

Welcome to VC. Post early, post often.

Sorry-should have been more specific. We've actually been tasting through the Willamette Valley so we aren't completely inexperienced to the process...I meant more that we haven't been to Napa before so I was looking for feedback on any particularly interesting places to hit (one big operation, a few smaller wineries, particularly good tours, etc.). Right now we are planning on hitting Beringer and possibly Phelps. Willing to stray from Saint Helena, that was more of a starting point.

btw, by eager I meant eager to learn, not eager to end up in a ditch...sorry for the confusion. I appreciate any help!

Schramsberg is a very nice tour and is located near Calistoga. Reservations must be made well in advance.

I second the Schramsberg tour. They are a champagne/sparkling wine house. Nice people. The tour of the caves are neat.

I remember going to Beringer my first time...ah...the memories. The grounds are beautiful and the tour is ok. There are cool carvings on some barrels. The wines they pour are mediocre (different wines for different tours...I think).

I haven't been to Beringer in a number of years, but the wines they pour at the end of the tasting are more geared towards non-geeks. They had a room upstairs called the Founders Room (I think) where they poured some better wines, charging by the pour.

-Al

After a little searching, i realize that there were quite a few threads covering this topic (sorry!).
We set up a tasting at Pride which I am looking forward to...thanks for everyone's advice, I appreciate the board's patience!