Beringer Vineyards


Useful Information

Location: St. Helena, Napa Valley, California.
Open: Winery: NOV to MAY daily 10-17, JUN to OCT daily 10-18.
Introduction to Beringer Tour: all year daily 11, 11:30, 13:30, 14, 15, 15:30, 16.
Reservatin two days in advance required.
[2014]
Fee: Winery: free.
Introduction to Beringer Tour: Adults USD 25, Children (0-21) free.
[2014]
Classification: SubterraneaCellar
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours: D=30 min.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Beringer Vineyards, 2000 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574, Free: +1-866-708-9463, Tel: +1-707-302-7592. E-mail: contact
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1875 winery founded.
1876 wine cellar dug by Chinese laborers.
1881 wine cellars completed.

Geology


Description

Beringer Vineyards ownes probably the most impressive wine cellar in Napa Valley. Those cellars were dug by Chinese workers in 1876, deep into the hillside. The cellars can be visited on the Introduction to Beringer Tour, which takes only 30 Minutes. It seems that only adults (which means 21 and over when alcohol is involved) pay a fee, but are also the only ones to get wine for tasting. No wine, no fee? The rock acts as a natural insulator and keeps temperature at 15 °C and the humidity at 75-80%, which is fine for storing wine.

The Beringer Vineyards are one of the oldest in Napa Valley and the oldest one which continually produced wine. After the prohibition was abandoned in 1939 they were the first to reopen their tastings. The Behringer family originates from the Rhine wine area in Germany, the main building named Rhine House is a historic building from there, which was relocated to the USA. However, since the 1970s, when the family sold the estate and the name it changed owners several times.