The Beringer Vineyards is the oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley and the very first to offer public tours. This may make Beringer sound like a historical curiosity, but the tours are still fresh and they do say that wine improves with age.

The Robert Mondavi wines are not the only reason for the winery's fame, although they are well praised. The winery's tour has been voted the best of its kind in the valley.

Sebastiani Winery is a beautiful walk-through. Tasting rooms with vaulted ceilings and banquet tables that seem to stretch for half miles . . . it's exaggeration, certainly, but this winery has a sense of scale.

St. Supery Winery is a family winery that features small production vintages you won't find in any stores as well as widely distributed wines. You can taste both during your visit.

The Hess Collection, winery and gallery, is situated in a grand milieu of mountains and greenery. The vines are kept on hills that roll between peaks and large patches of rich forest.

Valley of the Moon Winery is both ancient and modern, hip and historic. Their technology is slick and state of the art, but Valley of the Moon has been open for a very long time and the wine is of an established excellent quality.