Gustavo Wine

Gustavo Wine is the downtown Napa label of Gustavo Brambila, a veteran Napa winemaker who was part of the Chateau Montelena team in the era of the 1976 Judgment of Paris, the tasting that put California wine on the world map. His story later figured in the film Bottle Shock, and his own tasting room keeps that history within reach of anyone strolling downtown Napa.

Expect a personal, low-key tasting bar rather than an estate; the draw here is the wine and the story behind the man pouring it. Napa Valley rewards a plan: many rooms book out on weekends, and midweek visits are calmer. Confirm current hours, tasting fees and reservation policies with the winery before you go.