Top Rated Attractions in Napa Valley

If you want wine made out of your choice of grapes in small quantities—like maybe just a barrel, then Judd's Hill is the place you need to visit. The winery is owned and managed by Finkelstein family on the principle of 'small is beautiful.' They are quite happy to make wines on a made-to-order basis and according to customer specifications. They have a wine club where members have additional benefits and are invited to Judd's Hill events in Napa Valley. A combination of art, heritage, finest grapes and hand crafted wines is what Judd's Hill is all about. Picturesque and sunny, a visit to this winery is a great way to spend a lovely afternoon.

The Castello di Amorosa, located in Calistoga, is truly one of the most unique wineries in the Napa Valley. This genuine (albeit fairly new) castle in the Napa Valley took 14 years to build and opened in 2007. The castle has many features that make it truly one of a kind here, including a moat and drawbridge, chapel and even a torture chamber, complete with authentic instruments of torture like the iron maiden (which dates back 300 years!) All of the craftsmanship in the castle was done using original, old-world techniques. The Castello offers several different wine tasting packages, although they do not have a winery on site. Visitors can also take horse-drawn carriage tours of the estate and attend church services in the castle.

Robert Mondavi is one of the most renowned vintners in Napa County, producing affordable and complex wines. The Robert Mondavi Winery offers several tasting tours varying in depth and price. The Taste of Wine is a two-hour formal tasting dedicated to training your palate as well as learning about various wine characteristics. Reservations are required all tours and tastings. In addition, the winery hosts countless concerts, art exhibits and community events. Visit the website for details on tours, tastings and events.

Founded in 1973 by former photographer Jack Cakebread, this winery has produced a plethora of award-winning vintages. The winery produces 85,000 cases annually and is best known for its classic rich Rutherford Cabernets, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The entire family is involved with the winery operation, which includes promoting healthy food. The Cakebreads founded the American Harvest Workshop, an annual four-day event that promotes local agriculture and involves chefs, winemakers and farmers. The family also sells organic produce grown on winery grounds when available. Tours and tastings are by prior appointment only.

Located in California's wine country, the Sonoma Raceway hosts a series of nationally televised events such as the NASCAR Nextel Cup and the American Motorcycle Association's Super-bike tour. Featuring a number of motor-sport events throughout year, this 1600-acre (647-hectare) raceway is where pro-racers from around the world, assemble to compete in some of the most popular races. Head down to this track to catch some of your favorite racers and teams in action, or enroll yourself in one of the local events and test your nerves on the racetrack.

This Sonoma County community theater showcases and teaches opera and musical theater, dramas, chamber series and dance productions for adults and children. Besides its regular subscription and non-subscription playbill, the theater also hosts various special events like the Falstaff Festival and holiday productions. Founded in 1973, Cinnabar Opera Theater remains a great place to see new, experimental and traditional performing arts. You might even see a world premiere.