Brian Arden Wines - Calistoga, California

G-Town P.

We had such a wonderful experience at Brian Arden. Our host, Jillian was amazing. She told the story of Brian Arden Wines as she brought out each tasting, which connected our tasting with the history, making it so much more meaningful. You can tell Brian Arden is a family focused winery, hell bent on making quality, tasteful wine. We were lucky to be there on a day we had winery all to ourselves and Jillian graciously offered a tour, which was amazing.

What we didn't expect was the mind blowing experience of the Carrot Caramel Popcorn we purchased with our tasting. Are you kidding? The chef at Brian Arden has talent beyond words!

Thank you for such a great experience on the last day of our Anniversary trip in Napa!!

ayush K.

Brian Arden Winery promises a charming family-run experience with high-quality wines.
This family-operated winery boasts a dedicated team, producing a limited number of cases each year. We thought it would be a great option for a more intimate experience, but unfortunately, our visit fell a bit short.

The good:

Free Tastings (with purchase): Their $55 tasting fee is waived with the purchase of two bottles, making it a budget-friendly option compared to some Napa wineries.

Snack Attack: The highlight of our visit was the small bites selection. The carrot and caramel popcorn was delicious, disappearing quickly.

Room for improvement:

Setting: The indoor tasting room felt a bit plain compared to the stunning settings some Napa wineries offer. The limited outdoor seating faces the calistoga hills, but it might not be ideal on hot days.

Wine Quality: Unfortunately, the wines themselves were a letdown. Across most of the tasting, we found them thin, lacking complexity, and with an unpleasant aftertaste.
The pungent aroma wasn't very inviting either. Only the dessert wine managed to impress.

Sommelier Knowledge: Our sommelier, while friendly, seemed a bit inexperienced and couldn't answer some of our questions about the wines. The whole conversation felt more scripted than fluid. It also appeared that they were understaffed because our sommelier had to cut our conversation short because she had to attend to another party.

Brian Arden has the potential to be a delightful winery experience. However, based on the wines we tasted, it falls short for the price point (thankfully, our wine tasting was complimentary because we had the Covet Wine Pass).

Michael R.

We came here for the 5 course dinner and wine pairing. Th hospitality and care that goes into this experience is amazing. Do yourself a favor and book this experience. The wine and fame to table experience is exquisite and a melody of tastes that will tantalize your palette. I will be back for more. The wine and food stand alone well, but are off the charts when paired together.

Veronica G.

The winery is a fantastic family oriented place. They crew was very welcoming and passionate about their wine. We did the chefs experience. The meal blew me away and was paired with their fantastic wines. It was well worth it!!

Hunter H.

Great atmosphere, unique family owned winery. Brian Arden’s Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc were both the best I’ve had in Napa. Great wines overall, would recommend.

Tabor G.

Exceptional wine and food. The tasting includes only reds so be aware (they are very good though). The service was amazing providing a very personal touch. They were very dog friendly. The vineyard is located close to a main road that provides noise, but does not affect the view!

Diana M.

This was our favorite winery in Napa! We still belong to the wine club since our initial visit in 2021. Hope to go back soon! If you can participate in the food and wine pairing, do it! Fantastic food experience and reasonable price tag!

Kara B.

We had a great wine tasting here! Lovely setting, great hostess that told us the stories of the wines, and AMAZING burrata (with apricot jam and edible flowers!) from the chefs small plates menu