Waterstone Winery is located in downtown Napa next to the Oxbox Market and just down the street from the Copia Wine Center (now closed). Their Taste at Oxbow tasting room is a joint venture between Waterstone and Mahoney Vineyards. Waterstone Winery was founded in 2000 by two partners who have a long history in the Napa area wine business; one is a winemaker and the other worked at a Sonoma County winery for many years and now works with well-known industry organizations. Their premise for starting this winery was to produce luxury wines available at affordable pricing. They have certainly done this as other than their Cabernet Sauvignons their wines are in the high teen to mid 20's price range.
The tasting room is very large and well decorated. They are in a "green" building which means the building materials and furnishings are environmentally friendly. Check out their mostly green wine bar countertop; it is made from glass pieces of recycled wine and olive oil bottles. This tasting room has a slight wine lounge feel with tables and chairs scattered about (even the cushions on the chairs are made from recyclables!). They have a kitchen on site offer sit down wine and food pairings, by appointment only. For a set tasting fee you choose 5 tastes out of 10 wines, (5 Waterstone wines and 5 Mahoney wines are available). We tried their 2005 Merlot which is very reasonably priced. It is a juicy wine with lots of fruit flavors including plum and cherry and you can pick up just a hint of vanilla from the oak aging. It is an elegant Merlot.
We also tried their Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon which is priced head and shoulders above the rest of their wines, but for a good reason. The fruit for this wine is high end fruit from undisclosed locations in the heart of Napa's Cab country, the Oakville and Rutherford Appellations. It sees entirely 100% new French Oak and undergoes extended Maceration before the oak aging. There is a lot going on with this wine with complexity of aromas and flavors - the nose has some cedar and the palate has notes of chocolate and tobacco. This is a wine with a long finish. Lastly, we tried their 2005 Syrah; this wine has a huge nose with lots of white pepper flavors on the mid palate. Ask about the Downtown Napa Wine Tasting Card - multiple downtown area tasting rooms participate in this - for a one-time fee you can visit & taste at each of their tasting rooms. You can buy this card in each of the participating tasting rooms.
Visit: www.waterstonewines.com
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Open to Public: Yes
Appointments: No
Regular Tours: No
Hours: 11-7pm
Phone: 265-8523
Address: 708 First Street, Napa
 Winery Photos Winery Website
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