McKenzie-Mueller Vineyards and Winery

Definitely a hidden gem in Napa! Lovely property and staff. My group loved it so much that most of us joined the wine club. A must visit if you are in the area!

Cannot say enough about the experience here. Amazing wine. Amazing hostess. Very intimate. Went with a group of 4 and Sam was so gracious with her time and information.
Favorite wines in order:
Cab Franc
Family reserve blend (Malbec/​Cab Franc)
Napa jazz blend (multiple reds)
However, as a «red only» drinker, I was still able to appreciate the quality of the white wines from McKenzie-​Mueller.
No pretense. No glitz. All results. The wine itself is the reason to visit. Winegrowers committed to the craft.

My husband and I received a recommendation from Ken at Elkhorn Peak Cellars (another great small winery) to try this winery since we were looking for good small distribution wines you can’t find at the grocery stores back home. They take appointments only but we were able to call an hour before our appointment time.
Drove up a short gravel driveway to a residence in the the front and a barking dog :). Tasting room and parking is towards the back. Met with Max (tasting room manager) who was both quirky and affable. We tasted 5 – 6 varietals in a small tasting room adorned with paintings and ceramics created by the artistic family that owns the winery.
Max allowed us to tour the grounds a bit and even step into the cellar. This is where we were met by German (pronounced Herman) who gave us great wealth of information on their non-​filtration process of making wines. What sets this little winery apart from others is the time it takes from harvest till the wines are ready for distribution. Their wines sit in barrels for about 2+ years and since they don’t filter their wines it will age another 2+ years in the bottle. German treated us to a barrel tasting of a 2014 red (I think that was the year^_^) that he deemed ready for bottling. So unfortunately this specific harvest won’t be ready for us to purchase for another couple years. We made a promise we’d be back in two years and ask for that specific year & wine. But let’s see if we remember come then… LOL!
Very intimate tasting and tour session. Please go visit!

Small family owned wine. Wine selection is great! They make you feel welcome as soon you walk in the door. I highly recommend the pino noir and malbec.

Our absolute favorite place in the Napa/​Sonoma region. We went on our first trip to The area and
have come back every time since. It is family owned and operated by the friendliest people; it’s the exact opposite of pretentiousness that you get all over the valley. They make fantastic wines and is well worth a stop.

Nice little winery off the path (literally off road, if you miss their little sign you’re gone!). But great experience to have someone explaining everything in detail and ready to answer all your questions! Excellent time and fun with bits of information about how the water rights work for Napa wineries and how people die while cleaning the fermentation containers (yeap, ask him!). They wave the tasting fee if you buy wine and I’m sure you’ll find something you’ll like. If not, make an offer for the paintings on the walls or the furniture!

I am not a wine connoisseur but Kyle made the experience so wonderful. The staff is inviting and very educated. What a wonderful experience that I recommend to all!

Mom and Pop Winery Wows
This small winery is located in Carneros and produces excellent wines of all types, for all levels of enthusiasts. We enjoyed the art in the tasting room which is produced by the owner, a former art instructor.
The vibe is laid back, intimate, and informal, thus making it a wonderful alternative to other more pretentious wineries in the area and throughout the county. This wine tasting experience is as good as it gets. We look forward to visiting again during our next trip!

McKenzie-​Mueller is an absolutely fantastic place to visit. if you are in the area it would be a real shame to miss out on this wine tasting experience that has such a personal touch to it. Kyle (our host) was very insightful, clearly had a vast knowledge of the wine we were tasting, and was an amiable guy to spend an hour or so with. Not to mention I thought the wine itself was top notch! Definitely would recommend.

This is truly a hidden gem. Kyle; our host, was extremely knowledgeable and kind.
He answered the numerous questions that were thrown at him by our large group. Their wine is one rare find, where tradition and excellence are cherished.

This is a low key winery tucked in the carneros region away from the touristy crowds (visits by appointment only and for good reason – so that they can give you the experience and attention as a valued customer). I loved our visit to the winery. We visited on Valentine’s weekend and I cannot begin to explain how beautiful the carneros region is during this time of the year with all the yellow wild flowers growing inbetween the vines covering the rolling hills stretching beyond the horizon. I was very jealous of people biking on this gorgeous sunny 70 degrees day (why didn’t I think of bringing our bikes?! That’s my plan for next year around this time. We visited from Los Angeles so we can’t go to Napa too often).
The wines (all were unfiltered):
Savignon Blanc — very light and refreshing, crispy, and smooth finish. Picture this served chilled on a hot summer day with grilled fish. Yummy! We brought home a bottle.
Cabernet Franc– one of the few places that does cab franc right! A lot of wineries in Napa are good for cab savignon but let me tell you, this cab franc was a winner for me. Bought a bottle as well.
Cabernet Savignon– smooth, not too dry, rolls off the palate like velvet. Hubs loved this one. Bought 2 bottles.
Malbec– not a famous region for Malbec, but this winery did quite well with this one. They gave us two different chocolates to paired with this one and it was delicious. Definitely try this one with dark chocolate if you get the opportunity.
Other wines: chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot
The visit– our server was very chilled and friendly. We were the only party (party of 4 plus a baby – we didn’t get any judgments or impolite stares because we brought our baby along) at our appointment. The tasting room is small and homely for small groups. Loved that it’s low key but not too intimate or intimidating, neither big or crowded. Just the right atmosphere for some personal wine tasting.
In short, good selection of wine, especially the reds. Good service. Beautiful region to visit.

Amongst the best wine we have had in Napa! One of the owners, Karen, did our tasting in a cute little tasting room adorned with paintings made by the family. Off the beaten track but definitely worth a visit. By appointment only. Bought their lovely Cab Franc and the Malbec. It’s amazing how well they manage to grow the Argentinian grape in this place! They also make a great Merlot. Adding to an already great visit, the Hubby landed with a wine opener for correctly guessing Karen’s mystery wine :)

Wow! Amazing. I called early afternoon on a Sunday and happened to get an appointment. Drove on a foggy day through beautiful countryside just 15 min. from downtown Napa and discovered a gem of a winery. It ended up being a tasting just for our group of six and the wines were unique and as excellent as I hoped they would be. We especially enjoyed the Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Our host was knowledgeable and friendly. I great time was had by all and I would definitely return!

One of my favorite wineries in Napa. Despite being in the Carneros region, where Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate, McKenzie-​Mueller creates some of the best red wines in the valley including Cab Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot (yummy!) to name a few.
This is no corporate winery. It’s a family winery. So there’s no fancy tasting rooms, no bocce courts, no gondola, etc.
It’s all about the wine. You will meet friendly, down to earth people (who will more likely be part of the family) who will share their love and knowledge of wine when you visit. Whether it’s with Bob, Karen, or their kids, Samantha or Julius, it’ll be a memorable experience.

This is a delightful little family owned and operated winery in a sea of «big fish» surrounding wineries, yet they swim along just fine. It is important to know that it is Appointment Only but the experience is wonderful! It is casual and laid-​back yet you leave with so much more knowledge than you start with. Julius did a fabulous job at leading my friend and I through a delicious tasting, followed by a tour of the grounds and how they make all of the wine. My friend is not a big fan of wine, but with the expert coaching, realized he did enjoy one of the many flavors we tried. This is definitely a winery to schedule if you are looking for an enjoyable Napa experience and exceptional wine.

I have a lot to say. I will limit it to this:
Need to know:
*Get an appointment… but don’t be tricked. It could be just YOUR GROUP and Sam/​Kyle in the tasting room, offering you loads of attention and information. Customer Service is fabulous, and the vibes are great. Very laid back.
*You get to try A LOT OF WINE!
* Prices are very fair
*Family-​run, self-​described «little guy» in big Napa
*Wine is very good
*Check out the family art all over the walls in the tasting room.

The tasting room at this family winery seats maybe half a dozen people, and tasting is by appointment only. Still, we didn’t have a problem setting one up just an hour or so beforehand on a Saturday. Sam was really friendly and it was great to get away from the crowds.
These are stunning wines. The first taste was a Chardonnay that surprised and delighted all three of us typical Chardonnay haters, and by the time the Pinot Noir was poured I was head over heels. I left with club membership and several bottles, as did both of my companions.

I’m so thankful I got to experience this winery on our Platypus wine tour. I absolutely fell in love with their wines, their story and their property. They put so much passion into their craft and it comes through in every bottle. We joined their wine club so that we could support their family operation. We’ve gone back up a few times for wine tours/​tastings with friends, and Sam is always so friendly. She lets us «churn» the wine that is fermenting, sample the grapes off the vines, and answers all our many questions. They had a super fun Harvest Party for their wine club members that was potluck style and included a live band and LOTS of wine. We had such a blast. I’m happy to support this wonderful winery and recommend it to everyone we know.

If you’re looking for a commercial and grand tour with a fancy tasting room and sweeping grounds, this is not your place. If you’re looking for a family-​owned, low key tour and tasting, then this is a great spot.
Most of the tour was in the small tasting room (standing only, although I saw some chairs stacked to the side), and we were also allowed to view the vines and the machinery/​storage. The guide (one of the owners) was knowledgeable and answered all questions.

Wow! This winery is truly a hidden gem of the Valley. I grew up nearby and had never actually come for a tasting before. Glad I did. The 5 star review is well earned.
This is an appointment only winery, and it has a quiet, more laid back feel than other places in Napa. The tasting room is really cute, with artwork and photography lining the walls. The wine maker’s son, Julius even sells some of his beautiful photos at the winery.
Our server was the wine maker’s daughter, Sam, and she was great. We tried several different wines, including a Chardonnay, Malbec, and my personal favorite, the Cab-​Franc. Everything was super well done. The Chardonnay was sweet, and not overly buttery, the cab-​franc was smooth and the Malbec full of flavor. Sam was even kind enough to let us try one of their Napa Jazz wines. Very good, with a fancifully designed label.
The best part? The wines are moderately priced. Most bottles cost around $ 30 – 40. Wines of similar quality cost double that price at other places.
The scenic rolling hills of grapevines, and large, earthy smelling wine cellars are great for photo opportunities. When we visited, the vineyard was in bloom with wild flowers. Super pretty.
If you’re in the Valley looking for great wines and an affordable price and gorgeous vistas without all the crowd, definitely give this place a try.