Cliff Lede Vineyards

What it's like

Cliff Lede sits on Yountville Cross Road, a short drive from the town of Yountville, and every tasting here is hosted, so you are never left to work out the wines on your own. The menu of experiences is unusually wide for a single estate. The shortest is a 45-minute bar tasting at $40 per person, and the next step up is a 60-minute reserved tasting at $70 per person.

If you want something with more of a sense of place, there is a 75-minute morning walk in the vineyard at $120 per person. Two longer seated options, a 90-minute view-focused tasting at $100 and a backstage tasting lounge at $110, add cheese and charcuterie to the pour. For a special occasion there are by-appointment experiences at $295 and $395 per person, plus a 22% service charge and local tax, booked by emailing the group team rather than online.

Who it's best for

This is a good pick if your group has mixed appetites: one person wants a quick taste before lunch, another wants a long, slow afternoon. It also suits people who like to start the day outdoors, since the vineyard walk is the earliest slot on the menu. Cabernet lovers will feel at home, as the estate sits in the Stags Leap District.

What to book

Book through Tock for the experience you want; the bar and reserved tastings are the easiest to fit around other plans. The winery is open daily from 10am to 5pm and closes for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, and New Year's Day. Plan for the experience length plus a little time to look around.

As with anywhere in the valley, arrange a designated driver, a rideshare or a driver-guided tour before you go. Yountville Cross Road is a quiet rural lane, so allow a few minutes for getting in and out.

How it fits into a day

You are minutes from the restaurants of Yountville, so a late-morning tasting here followed by lunch in town works well. Pair it with a second Stags Leap District stop such as Pine Ridge or Clos du Val for an afternoon, and keep the evening free for dinner.