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125 reviews for Silver Oak Cellars
125 reviews in English
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Review from Jason M.
2/28/2012
2007 Cabernet festival, heck yes! For a reasonable $75 Silver Oak was pouring their 2007 all day. They had a great band and awesome setup. They had several artisan pizza makers come in and bake pizza all day for no additional charge.
The weather was gorgeous and the staff was extremely courteous. This is hands down one of my favorite wineries in Napa.Listed in: Great Wine
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Review from Priscilla C.
La Habra, CA
4/5/2012
Beautiful view when sitting outside especially when it's nearing sunset.
Good wine, but somewhat pretentious & snobby (at least with the older gentleman serving us up for our wine tasting). There's just no need for that, overall other than the view there's not much to look at other than their tiny and unexciting gift/souvenir section.
I really enjoy Silver Oak wines, but I'd skip this winery while visiting Napa. -
Review from Anne Y.
Napa, CA
3/10/2012
We visited Silver Oaks winery last weekend. We are locals and were giving my daughter and her boyfriend a valley tour. After visiting Sullivan, one of our favorite small venues in Rutherford, we stopped at Silver Oaks, known for their cabs. We were greeted and ushered right away to a tasting area. Our server gave us generous tastings, but there was very little interaction that is typical at other tasting rooms. Towards the end, I inquired about the Napa Neighbor policy, which gives locals and their guests complimentary tastings. We were told they didn't have that policy (though I checked later on the NV Vintners Assn. Site and it's clearly stated they do) and were charged $70 for the tasting. That was the discounted price after buying a bottle of wine of equal value. Oh, and we did get free wine glasses...
We visit many wineries in the valley and bring them lots of business. Most honor the Napa Neighbor policy. It really felt like we were taken advantage of at Silver Oaks. I don't think we'll include that one on our list next time we have guests in town. -
Review from Catherine H.
Orange, CA
5/24/2012
2007 Cab was awesome!! After visiting 3 wineries today, our party bought total of 8 bottle. 20$ for tasting of 3 wines plus a souvenir glass? What a steal! Our server Mary was just awesome. Very interactive and we were treated into the glass wine room to see all their vintage bottles. Its just too bad they dont have a wine club. I could drink a couple of those...
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Review from Alan P.
Thousand Oaks, CA
4/30/2012
I don't really understand the price point of this industrial wine. Aged in 100% American oak leaves it with no depth and drinks as a very simple and unsophisticated wine. Their sales in the tasting room is without warmth and very robotic. ....that's all :)
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Review from Cassandra E.
San Mateo, CA
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
We were in and we were out, with our free wine glasses on the way. I agree with Tiffany C.. on the wine.. overrated! The winery was just remodeled and they were getting ready for the new bottle release party that weekend. The architecture was castle-like and beautiful, but isn't the point of having a winery to taste and produce good wine? It seems like they probably put more care and concern into the construction of their new building then they did their product. Oops.
We paid $20/person to try three different wines and get a free wine glass to go. All three were okay, and the only thing that made us happy about the stop was the fact that we didn't completely waste our money; we left with a couple of wine glasses.Listed in: Um.. No thanks
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Review from Ric P.
Agoura Hills, CA
4/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've tried to enjoy their product, but nah. Maybe at the actual winery, I would have a different experience. Nope. I wish them all the best!
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Review from Matthew J.
San Jose, CA
This is the Holy Land of Reds..Especially the Cabernat Sauvignon!!
If you drink from a jug or a box..this place is not for you!! Just keep driving..you'll find an entrance to a trailer park eventually! Go on-
The tasting room is relaxing and the outer grounds are spectacular!!
Please don't drink with you pinky out or nose up..Check Yourself if you feel the urge!! Fool!!
They have a sign, No Tailgating..yeah right!!
Chill and eat your goodies before getting back on the road!
Have fun!
Ps- Leave your snotty spoiled kids at your Moms house!!! -
Review from Tony D.
San Jose, CA
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
My first time wine tasting was here at Silver Oak Cellars. I'd have to say, it really set the bar for other wineries. This place is extremely nice and well kept. (You'll learn about its history if you take the tour).
I usually don't like red wines but the ones from here are superb. The people who work here live and breathe Silver Oak so they are extremely proud and passionate of it. I would definitely recommend this place for the experience and... to get a little tipsy. -
Review from Penny M.
Highland Park, IL
3/3/2012
Wow! What a let-down! The building is beautiful and of course so are the grounds.
We walked in wanting to do a tasting ($20) per person. We said we were interested in belonging to their wine club which they don't have. The man who was pouring was kind of snooty and aloof. He didn't pay much attention to us even twhen we bought a bottle of wine.
We have been to many tastings in California and Tuscany and people have always been friendly and helpful. Not at Silver Oak. We did not enjoy the experience and will not go back! -
Review from Josh F.
3/7/2012
This place used to be intimate and in the 90's they made great wines. Unfortunately, it's now a circus and the wine has gone severely downhill. I can't say it is bad wine, but for the money, you can do a lot better. The staff was very friendly and for $20, they poured well and refilled our glasses while on the tour. I'm just not a fan of the overcrowded tasting room full of tourists that just want a fleece or license plate holder that says Silver Oak. Take the time to book a private tour at a smaller vineyard and you'll be a lot happier.
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Review from Tiffany C.
Palo Alto, CA
1/6/2012
Honestly? Way overrated. People are always talking about Silver Oak this and Silver Oak that, but I don't see the hype about it. Yes, I'm going to be up front. The wines are good, but are they way better than other Napa Valley cabs? I don't think so. Don't get me wrong, they're good. But it doesn't merit the snobbiness that ensued from the staff. And trust me, I worked in a Napa Valley tasting room that in my opinion made way better wines, but we were not a snobby bunch at all.
The grounds are very pretty. Gorgeous building, very nice and there are great views of the vineyards. At the entrance we were greeted by a hostess who led us to a spot at the tasting bar. We were... kinda welcomed... by an older gentleman. Now, I understand being turned off when three young people walk into the tasting room. Oftentimes younger groups are just looking to drink and get drunk, not necessarily taste or appreciate the wines. But when I say I'm in the industry and one of my friends say they are interested in buying a bottle, come on... Act like you freaking care.
This guy was short with us, seemed very uninterested, and just seemed like he wanted us to leave. I even did some wine talk with him to be like "HEY, I know my stuff." But nothing worked on this guy!
Just because you are a winery in Napa Valley that makes quality wine, it doesn't mean you need to be rude or lack customer service. Would I go back when friends come to wine taste? No. Would I buy a bottle? No, there are much better options in wine for the similar price. -
Review from Emmaline W.
Napa, CA
3/11/2012
My husband and I like to drive up valley on Sundays and find a place to go wine tasting as a little date day.
Today we wanted to find somewhere new, so we followed a limo into Silver Oak. The grounds were very meticulously cared for the the buildings impressive- even more so on the inside.
This beauty we found was just a facade for non-attentive service, one hit wonder wine and the worst of all -a $40 price tag for only 3 tastes of wine. Oh, but as a consolation prize, we DID get 2 logo laden glasses!
Being that we are from Napa, at previous tastings, often we engage in meaningful conversation as well as get a great "neighbor" discount. Not so with Silver Oak.
So I say, take it from a local and pass right on by the long driveway to this winery. -
Review from Jessica H.
Concord, CA
2/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Lots to do for non-wine drinkers like myself. Silver Oak had a great vibe, and was visually appealing. Loved the wine bottle Christmas tree. They also had yummy breadsticks.
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Review from Candie A.
Napa, CA
3/3/2012
I am a reasident of Napa and went to Silver Oak Cellars last weekend with my husband and adult daughter. Beautiful grounds, but that's it. The wine was okay...However our pourer (a middle aged man with some greying hair) was the rudest server I have ever experienced in the entire valley. And believe me when I say I've done my fair share of wine tasting since moving here last May. I will not return to this tasting room, nor will I ever take friends and guests we host in Napa - EVER! It's a shame when one employee can leave this type of impression on wine tasters. Shame on Silver Oak Cellars for keeping him.
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Review from Bruce H.
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
12/28/2011
I went to a hour long tasting class called "Tasting 101" There were eight of us in a beautiful glassed in conference room on the second floor. Our tasting guy had done a good job of preparing for this giving us a series of handouts covering the various smells to look for in each wine. He had a number of examples of these scents to help explain what we should look for.
We tasted both new releases and a 2001 vintage library wine. My surprise was I enjoyed the new release from Alexander Valley more than the Napa wines.
I bought a bottle for my brother for Christmas, received a $10. discount and a glass and enjoyed the experience. -
Review from Kali K.
9/7/2011
As you enter the main strip in Napa, Silver Oak is among the first, and it is--by far--la crème. Full-bodied? Silver Oak's wine is Rubenesque. The vineyard itself is God-painted in live greens, earthen browns, and dusky yellows.
Once the tour of the fields and cellars is complete, Silver Oak further rewards guests with keepsake glasses, initially filled with Alexander Valley Cab Sauv. After drinking this potion, you WILL want to fork over your life savings for a case because Silver Oak's Cabernet features a perfectly silken swirling texture with cherry and currant undertones that burst on the palette like homemade boysenberry jam.
We are talking granddaddy of wines. Period. -
Review from Aidan B.
Los Angeles, CA
11/6/2011
This winery was very posh. This is where the boogie people come have drinks at.
The wine is probably the best red wine I've ever had in my life. The prices... NOT SO MUCH.
Sure, if you wanna pay $90 bucks for a bottle... that's great... NOT ME! I cant afford that.
I will be back for more samples! This place is fantastic! -
Review from Jason T.
Berkeley, CA
7/11/2011
The best cabernet I have ever drank! After a full day of wine tasting we always save Silver Oak for last. Every timee we try different Cabernets and agree that it is really good (Pine Ridge, Silverado, Duck Horn, Paraduxx...), but than we go to Silver Oak and when that red liquid hits your lips your mind goes crazy! Nothing compares no matter what you drank that day.
The rest of the day drips off like dirty sweat. You feel dirty coming into here, like a gentleman walking into a strip club. So undeserving of the wine... wait let me pick up a case and that vertical please. -
Review from Nhung T.
Oakland, CA
9/26/2011
Their red wines were amazing, but quite pricey.. minimum $70 per bottle. I really love their 2003 bottle, forgot the name but it was around $90 or so. If you purchase their wine, you'll get $10 credit towards your purchase. The cool part was that if you don't purchase any wine, you'll get a free wine glass. However, you must purchase a wine tasting menu. We went on a short tour and the guide was very pleasant and knowledgeable.
The location itself was okay, pretty small (3 stars) but very modern and what a cellar they have...man I want one for my future home :-) -
Review from Michaela O.
South Pasadena, CA
8/11/2011
Pros:
The best Cabernet I've ever had.
The Cons:
In many ways, this wine tasting room reminds me of one in Napa. I often prefer to head toward Sonoma to avoid high priced tastings and over my head talk of tannins on the back left palate of my tongue. But at Silver Oak, you can find the expensive accessories, wine, and all usually all of the folks that they attract. -
Review from Terry B.
3/21/2011
I'm going through my bookmarks, trying to write all the reviews I have yet to write. Unfortunately, I came across Silver Oak. Let me repeat...unfortunately, I came across Silver Oak in my list.
Here's the deal. I know a lot of wine people love Silver Oak. I know they crave Silver Oak. I used to be that guy as well, until I realized I could get a better wine at half the price. And so it is with Silver Oak. It's a beautiful property, the tasting room is nice and what many would think a tasting room should look like. You have a great view into the barrel room, but it costs $10/tasting for a medium sized pour of two cabernet sauvignons. Is this review a reflection on the quality of their wines? No. It's a reflection of the experience when you taste there. It's a reflection of the value of the tasting where this was easily the most expensive tasting throughout our week in Napa, per capita of course.Listed in: Wineries
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Review from Andrew A.
Omaha, NE
5/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Overall (8/10)
Wine (9/10)
Price (6/10)
Atmosphere (8/10)
Service (9/10)
Wine is great, what can I say, great. Price is steep, there are others which are cheaper and of almost equal quality. They were $15/bottle away from me buying couple bottles. Atmosphere is nice and modern. The service was EXCELLENT. We went on a tour of winery and the host was patient and informative, as well as generous with the pours.
Would I come back? YES.
would I buy the wine? I sure hope I can afford itListed in: Wineries I have been to
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Review from Carrie-C N.
San Jose, CA
7/16/2011
I don't know why I came to Silver Oak. Maybe I was hoping for something new. Don't get me wrong, their wine is one of the best. But I should've known that they only have cab and merlot, and I've tried them both.
I can't give it less than 4 stars because the cabernet was sooo good. But is it worth a trip to Napa for? Probably not. Save your gas and your alcohol content level. Try the other vineyards and continue to stock up on Silver Oak during the BevMo Holiday sale. -
Review from Elaine K.
Placentia, CA
6/6/2011 16 photos
I don't know how Silver Oak slipped through the cracks because I am on top of my Yelp reviews like frosting on cupcake.
This was my first wine tour in Napa and I fell in love. If they would let me I would sleep in their amazing wine cellar.
I couldn't have asked for more in a tour of the property. To be honest, I was only half listening to our guide. I was more focused on drinking the 2004 Napa Cab that was being poured, and boy was she generous. It's like free-flowing champagne brunch, but with waaaay better goods.
I was uber impressed. They had had a fire a couple years back and were still in the process of re-building the property, but it looked great.
Next time I'm in the area, I'm totally coming back to Silver Oak. Good job, you got me hooked. -
Review from Lauren C.
Los Angeles, CA
7/27/2011
We were a little early for our appointment, but that didn't matter. They were very laid back and just started pouring wine for us. Our tour guy was Walter. A young college kid that was very informative and personable.
He poured us 3 different Cabs with bread sticks in between: 2006 Alexander Valley, 2006 Napa, and 2003 Napa. This is where we learned to love an older Cab and the differences when the wine is younger. It was very interesting to actually try the same wine, only aged a few more years, back-to-back. The 2003 was so smooth and just seemed to melt all our troubles away! Walter then proceeded to gather our small group of 6 people, made sure we took our glasses, and started the tour. To our surprise, he also brought a bottle of the '06 and as he noticed an empty glass, he would pour away. Wow!
The tour was $20 which included a Schott Zwiesel wine glass with Silver Oak logo etched on it. We were so impressed (a bit buzzed too) and loved the older Cab so much, we made our first official Napa winery purchase of their 2001 Napa Valley Cabernet. Walter was very helpful and even suggested we ship our glasses, which we did. We just received everything via FedEx in perfect condition and now await our 9th wedding anniversary in September to open and enjoy it! -
Review from Serina H.
Richmond, CA
6/21/2011 11 photos
Silver Oak.
This is a gorgeous place. The servers are great. The wine is superb.
So why the HECK does this place not have 75 Stars!!???? I don't understand.
Yeah, it's expensive in comparison to other table wines. This is not TABLE WINE. If you want 1/2 priced discount wine, go somewhere else. This wine is an EXPERIENCE to be had. I wish we could have gotten married here. I even have the plate frame on my car.... "LIFE IS A CABERNET".
Every time we come here he have sooooooo much fun and meet a lot of interesting people. If you are happy, open, fun, and interested in conversation.... you get a lot more in your glass when you're done with the first (just a hint). So don't come here thinking that it's OK to be a snob... you don't have to be.
This is my second home!!!!!! -
Review from Danielle F.
Santa Monica, CA
10/6/2010
I gotta say for a place that pretty much only makes cabernets, I wasn't so impressed with the ones here. The wines lack personality in my opinion which fun enough, is reflected in the vineyard itself. People seem to come here because it "seems' fancy and they "should" like it but the wines ate $75 a bottle and won't knock the socks off people at a dinner party. Kinda boring all around..
Yawn.. -
Review from Alli W.
Chicago, IL
9/7/2011
Good wine and a BEAUTIFUL setting, however our tasting experience was less than satisfactory. It appeared as though pouring the wine and speaking to us was painful for the woman on the other side of the bar. Perhaps it was a fluke, but this is not a "must-see" for the competition that is out there for Napa.
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Review from karen l.
San Francisco, CA
8/7/2011
5 stars for the The release of our 2007 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon on Saturday, August 6, 2011.
This event was great. They are receiving a 1 star because we were really annoyed in the service of the photo booth printers. We had a group of 6 and we all took a few photos and only 2 came out. We were missing 1 photo and they wouldn't even print us multiple copies for each of us. The Chinese guy gave us an excuse of saying we can't print multiple photos for a group. You can wait till the end and "IF" we have time we can print it for you. "IF"???!!! So we waited in line to take our photos and waited for 2 prints and you expect us to wait till the end after you are all done and "IF" you have time you will do us this wonderful favor??? F-OFF! The part that really annoyed me was when you look at the photo pick up area you can see a few groups of 3 with 3 copies and even as much as a group of 8, YES 8 with 8 goddam copies. I thought this was extremely unprofessional and inconsistent with what he was saying. This looks poorly on Silver Oak.
My whole group of friends were really annoyed. We have been going to the Silver Oak release for the past few years. I really hope we don't see those same people doing the photos. They don't deserve your business and if you hire people who offer poor service, your winery will be the ones people will remember. -
Review from Stacy M.
Healdsburg, CA
3/5/2012
Great wine tasting experience. For $20 you get a tasting of their Napa and Alexander Valley Cabs. After the tasting you get to keep the wine glass with the Silver Oak logo on it. Will be back in August for the 40th Anniversary celebration.
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Review from Larry M.
12/5/2010
***My winery/tasting room reviews are rated based upon many factors. First is QPR or quality to price ratio of the wine. In other words, is the wine priced according to how good it is. The second factor is the tasting room experience. This involves the staff, grounds and anything unique about the winery.***
Tasting room fee: $20, $10 refundable with bottle purchase. Includes logo glass.
Wine price range: $70-$100+
Silver Oak is a larger scale high end winery. As such, you will not get the warm and intimate experience you might get at a small mom and pop place. However, for such a large and well known winery, they do a great job.
I really wanted to like this place and was afraid I would be disappointed. I recently bought a beautiful oil painting of silver oak wine and it would really suck if the experience here ended up being awful.
I opted to take the tour for $20. The tour is essentially free, because you get a tasting with your tour. You also get to keep their nifty logo glass which is nice.
I showed up early and was directed to enjoy some wine while I strolled around the building. I really wanted to take the tour and taste at the same time, but whatever.
So the tour starts. I forget the guides name, but he was genuine and a real cheerleader for Silver Oak. This is a standard tour, nothing out of the ordinary. Of interest was the history room where they detail how they got started and how they have rebuilt after a recent major fire. Everywhere we walked all of the employees we encountered were eager to say hi and chat about what they were doing.
In spite of having tasted in the tasting room, our tour guide seemed to have at his disposal a supply of various vintages of Silver Oak, both Alexander and Napa Valley. He ensured that no ones glass was ever empty.
We ended the tour in the vineyards after polishing off a library release of their Napa line. Wonderful, wonderful wine is all I can say.
For the size and price of Silver Oak, they have not let it go to their heads. Be sure to stop in and taste some of Napa's best. -
Review from harsha g.
9/12/2010 1 photo
This was our first stop during our trip to Napa(Hubby's boss who is a connoisseur had recommended this winery).
The rating is purely for the wine! Their wines(specifically their cabs)are potent and just the way I like it! a joyful buzz as you gaze at the splendid green of the wines around :)
The staff are rushed but very knowledgeable as in they follow a rigid timetable, and they encourage you to be done with your tasting and off! But I won't complain coz arrogance is allowed when there is quality :) -
Review from Ron C.
Pleasanton, CA
10/5/2010
I've done a heck of a lot of wine tasting over the years. And let the reader take note: Silver Oak Cellars is bloody good! I mean these people rock the Casbah!
The reader should also understand that these wines are anything but cheap! In fact, be prepared for a little sticker shock when it comes to the tasting fee...it runs around $50.00. Ah, but what a good taste you'll get: Exception wines, beautiful surroundings, and gentile and courteous service all around.
Now, if your smart (and I know you're smart!) you'll contact these people in advance and make sure you get not only a tasting but a tour! There is much to see here, much in the way of history that relates to Oakville and Napa Valley history, and the attention you receive in a private tour is even better than just simply tasting.
But go here expecting not just to taste, but to buy. This is not your "run-of-the-mill" wine, here. This is not "two-buck-Chuck!" In fact, the is not your average wine. Silver Oak Cellars wines are just beautiful. It's like drinking art, it's like tasting what beautiful would taste like. It's the kind of wine that when your world is grey you open it up and drink it because you crave color, and vitality, and beauty. Really, the wine is that good. I have other wineries I love just as much, however, even if you buy one bottle (and you'll have decide which one that is...I'm not going to recommend that!) you'll be glad you did because your doing it either for yourself or someone you care about.
Drink this wine and enjoy!Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Brandy Z.
Houston, TX
10/29/2011
Living it up with my friends is what I ended up doing here. What a beautiful educational treat. Beautiful sunny warm weather and great wine tour went to the area where they also made the wine and the fermentors. and got to even go out in the vineyards and eat grapes. our tour guy was 87 years old but was a good story teller and has been around for 20 years working for the Silver Oak family. did a food tasting at the end with alot of educational info on wine in wine country and how it should be paired with certain foods. I was a great experience as well as intoxicating
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Review from Carol S.
Updated - 8/20/2011
Just amazing cabs even though the tasting is $20! i liked the Alexander Valley more than the Napa Valley Cab. Wonderful, buttery breadsticks and you get to keep the glass. Bonus.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/20/2010
The Napa Valley Cab and Reserve were outstanding! If I were a guy, I would get down on one knee,… Read more »
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Review from Gaurav P.
1/27/2011
Silver Oak...Cabernet...Nuff said.
If you're an aficianado of bold and complex Cabernets, specifically from the Napa region, you must hit Silver Oak on your stop. You can elect to setup a private tour like we did or you may just walk in. Reservations are NOT required as some other Yelpers may state. The tour was fantastic, they keep your glasses full of Silver Oak's fabulous Cabernets and other red grape juice that you may like and do a great job of not rushing you or the tour. The glass enclosed room is beautiful and makes us cab sav fans drool over the humongous Balthazar/Jeroboam size bottles just strewn about.
They run specials for visitors to buy bottles and send you home with really nice Silver Oak glasses...
Go here and drink cab sav.
This has been a review by Gaurav -
Review from Britt M.
San Francisco, CA
8/30/2010
I'm a Cab fan, so this was a winery I'd been wanting to try for awhile. We were lucky enough to get up here mid-week when the tasting room was really quiet, which meant we got to avoid tourists and score a little extra attention from the person pouring.
Our pourer was knowledgeable about the wines, really friendly, and very funny - customer service is a priority here and you can tell. We ended up leaving with an '03 Cab that isn't easy to find in SF. The tasting room was built using reclaimed limestone from a Kansas flour mill and white oak from a Missouri barn, but combines modern elements like the "wine library" housed in walls of solid glass. It's a bit commercial, but a must-stop for Cab aficionados. Also, random aside but this is one of the nicest bathrooms I've seen in Napa wineries! -
Review from Ennis O.
12/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
Definitely one of the better wineries to visit for a couple reasons. They have excellent wines, beautiful tasting room, but also because they are very knowledgeable and present their wines and their production well.
I've read through the less favorable reviews and can see their point, but overall I've had a great experience with great service. The group next to us got far more attention, but I wasn't really wanting close personal attention as I wasn't planning to buy, so the respectful distance was appreciated. -
Review from Patrick O.
Redondo Beach, CA
6/30/2010
God talk about a disappointment...
First off, your almost shuffled in like cattle and then rang up for your tasting at the cash register, no discussion, no in formalities here folks, it's very clear they were to sell tastings and that's it.
Basically you go around to "stations" much like you were at a tupperware party...they pour you a bit and then you move on because someone is behind you.
Worse yet was when I saw them selling "Tommy Bahama" in the tasting room.... GAG, save the corporate America for middle America Napa and let me get back to real vineyards.
Don't think I'll be buying Silver Oak anymore after seeing this operation....sad.
