Raymond Vineyards: A Unique Napa Valley Experience

The name won’t give it away: Raymond Vineyards sounds like any of hundreds of other Napa Valley wineries, named after their founders. The tasting room you first enter won’t reveal much, either. It’s a pleasant, sunlit space with a tasting bar and a small gift shop.

Your first hint that something different is going on may have been the oversized, white chair you saw on the front lawn on the way in. Or maybe it was the cowhide panels on the tasting room bar – or a glimpse of neon light at the end of a hallway. Keep looking and you’ll discover Raymond Vineyards’ real 21st-century personality: playful, chic, surprising and – most of all – a refreshingly different style among Napa wineries.

The Experience at Raymond Vineyards

At Raymond, every tasting room is different – and they have several. The Library Room is intimate; its walls lined not with books but with wine bottles. The candlelit Barrel Room’s walls are barrels filled with the latest vintage.

Be prepared to be startled. If you think wine tasting should be just like every other tasting room in Napa Valley, with someone pouring sips of wine in a robotic manner, don’t proceed beyond the main tasting room. Instead, take a walk around the grounds. Peek in every nook and corner. Keep an open mind and enjoy the surroundings.

What’s Amazing at Raymond Vineyards

In the Crystal Cellar, Baccarat crystal chandeliers hang among neon-lit fermentation tanks. A mannequin wearing angel wings peers down from a catwalk, adding to the whimsical atmosphere. This versatile space is where you can enjoy premium wines amidst visual surprises. Search for the little wine casks dressed up as animals, spot the roller skate behind the bar, then see what other fun elements they’ve tucked away.

What about the wines, you might be pondering by now? Is this place all style and no substance? Fortunately, it would be difficult to find a Napa winery that isn’t producing quality wines, and our experience at Raymond indicates they excel in visitor engagement. Moreover, we’ve visited many wineries, and Raymond is one of the few where we genuinely enjoyed every wine they poured.

Additionally, you can receive a wine education at Raymond. In the Corridor of the Senses, white ceramic hands hold clear glass containers of red glass marbles that could easily be mistaken for an avant-garde artist’s exhibit. However, it’s designed so that your nose can experience the complex aromas found in Raymond’s wines. Classes are also offered to learn more about winemaking, or you can don sci-fi-looking silver lab coats in the Blending Room, where you’ll have the chance to become a winemaker for a day.

Raymond is also a fully biodynamic winery, practicing an agricultural style that respects and works with nature. Visitors can learn about this sustainable approach on-site. The Theater of Nature is the largest biodynamic farming exhibit in Napa Valley.

Raymond Vineyards Will Be Great for You If:

• If you enjoy something different and fun with a dash of the unexpected, Raymond is the perfect venue. It’s one of the most unusual and enjoyable tasting experiences in Napa Valley.
• If you are passionate about Cabernet Sauvignon wines, Raymond offers some of the finest selections that we have ever tasted.
• If you’re traveling with your dog, this winery caters perfectly to your four-legged companions, featuring a water-tasting counter and individual suites with dog beds made from wine barrels.
• If you wish to delve more deeply into winemaking, consider trying the Winemaker for a Day program. Here, you will visit the lab, learn to taste wine, and explore the components of blended red wine. Additionally, you have the opportunity to build your personal blend.

The Wines

Raymond produces a diverse selection of red and white wines, with a strong emphasis on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

What Others Think

Wine Enthusiast named Raymond Vineyards its 2012 American Winery of the Year. Sunset Magazine recognized it as a “Best Winery, Best Experiences Beyond Tasting.”

This visitor comment encapsulates many of the reviews we’ve encountered: “This winery is off the hook. So different from all the other wineries.” Conversely, another visitor remarked, “This place was ridiculous–purplish lighting, loud music, stainless steel walls, and Baccarat crystal everywhere.” Such remarks can help you determine whether this unique winery aligns with your preferences.

What You Need to Know Before You Go

Make sure to reserve on their website – at least 30 minutes prior to your arrival. They’re not pretentious; it’s just part of the restrictions of their tasting room permit. We recommend reserving as far ahead as possible.

Our only critique of Raymond isn’t about the winery experience but rather about the website. Its stylish design can make it challenging to locate the information you need.

The Basics

After many years in the Napa wine industry, Roy Raymond founded Raymond Vineyards in the early 1970s. In 2009, it became part of Boisset Family Estates, a family-operated wine producer and importer with roots in Burgundy, France. Under the leadership of president Jean-Charles Boisset, this respected winery has transformed into something truly different, with cutting-edge design and enjoyable visits. Meanwhile, winemaker Stephanie Putnam continues to uphold and enhance Raymond’s tradition of fine winemaking.

Getting There

849 Zinfandel Lane
St. Helena, CA​

As is standard in the travel industry, the writer received complimentary services for review purposes. While this has not influenced this review, GoTravelDaily is committed to full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.