The oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley, founded in 1876 by the Prussian-born Beringer brothers and never closed — even through Prohibition, when it produced sacramental wines for the Catholic Church. The estate runs along the west side of Highway 29 just north of town and consists of the 1876 stone Old Winery, the spectacular 1884 Rhine House mansion, and the original limestone caves dug into the hillside by Chinese labour.
Tours range from a basic tasting at the Old Winery bar to a full guided walk through the caves with reserve pours. Even without a tasting, the grounds are open and free to walk — the lawns under the old oaks, the gabled Rhine House, and the rose garden in front make it one of the most attractive winery estates in the valley.