Groth Vineyards & Winery

We visited Groth during our trip to Napa. It is near Silver Oak and other well known wineries. However, its Spanish architecture will give its destination away quickly.
I reserved a tasting on CellarPass or VinoVisit — can’t remember which one — but we really didn’t need reservations. We ended up being the only tasting group in the room at the time. I enjoyed their tasting set-​up. We were provided our own table with very comfortable high-​back chairs. Our guide was wonderful. She was extremely knowledgeable about Groth wines, but wine varieties in general. Her great customer service made it even more enjoyable.
We did not tour the property, but the ground appeared to be kept well maintained.
I believe our tasting fee was comp with a specific amount of wine purchased, which we did.
I highly recommend visiting them on your winery tour in Napa.

Rude people, tasteless and flat wine. Clearly more concerned with attracting tourists, not hosting serious wine lovers. Host was condescending, detached, distracted. Kept looking a cell phone, acted like answering questions was an imposition. Big money at work making less-​than-​mediocre wine in flamboyant, overdone environment. A complete waste of time. There are far better wineries to visit, with much tastier wines, and far
kinder, friendlier people. Stay away.

Very enjoyable experience. Service was good and they spent time explaining about their products. O would go there again

First if all, the winery:
One of the many stops just off the highway, Groth is a bit farther back than the others my wife and I visited, which gives it a bit more private feel and spectacular views of the mountains and carefully cultivated rows of grapevines.
The entrance is grand and awe inspiring, with a beautiful fountain, Spanish inspired stucco exterior, and double staircase leading to a huge entrance.
Inside it is very peaceful and tranquil, but to get that experience I would recommend a weekday and a 10am appointment.
The experience:
Groth was the #1 on my wife’s list and we were there for only two days after I officiated a wedding for my friends. Although we had many wonderful experiences at other wineries, Groth was hands down the best.
Why? The tasting was one on one. We had pours that weren’t just splashes in the glass, but enough to wet the tongue to taste the wine. We spent more than an hour tasting, seated, in a gorgeous room.
More than everything else, the experience was made by who served us. Izzy was the best «tasting tour guide» anyone could ask for. She found whites that even I liked, a Chardonnay that fit my wife’s palette, and had real and meaningful conversation with us. Some wineries were fun and had some kind of shtick to entertain, but having these delicious wines with Izzy was like sharing a bottle with a best friend.
Izzy gave an extra pour here and there and had us try a reserve wine, yes, but it’s not about extra wine. Izzy genuinely tried to get to know us and offered suggestions for how to have a better Napa experience. I am grateful for the extra care she gave and we were happy to run into her again later in the day at Goose & Gander.
I would recommend Groth, but more than that I would recommend Izzy.
We hope to try her handmade pasta one day!

I can’t stress enough how much I loved my visit to Groth Winery. Everything was so professional and polished that I instantly felt right at home as soon as I was greeted at the door. You need to make an appointment to taste here but they can often accommodate you on short notice. Give them a call to ask because I’d hate for you to miss out on this tasting experience and these amazing wines.
Izzy led our tasting appointment and was simply delightful. She had just the right amount of professionalism and friendliness and provided excellent service. Not only did she give us a ton of information about the wines, she also took us on an (unscheduled) mini tour of the barrel aging room, gave us an overview of the steel tanks (and let us sneak a couple of tastes of the unblended wines), and even let us take a peek at the bottling line. She even poured us 3 of the older vintages of cabernet so we could see how well Groth wines age.
I am a pretty tough customer when it comes to wine but I was blown away by how delicious the Groth wines were. Even the whites were amazing (and I never drink white wine). Even the older vintages were delicious (the noses were «funky» but the taste was smooth and still super fruity).
I frequently shout from the rooftops about what a raw deal «wine clubs» are but dang it if I didn’t sign up for Groth’s club. Why? Because I will look forward to my shipment with giddy excitement like a kid on Christmas morning! That’s how much I loved all of the wines here — that never happens where I enjoy the entire portfolio. Groth’s wine portfolio is limited but I think that’s what makes them so great: focus on a few grapes and do them well. (Watch out for those wineries that make every varietal under the sun)! If you are a big red cabernet drinker, give this place a try.
To top it all off, a few days after we arrived home we had a personalized, handwritten note from Izzy thanking us for our visit. Now THAT’S service. Talk about making us feel like valued customers!

Groth is beautiful! They have a beautiful tasting room and a great outdoors area to spend your time if it’s sunny.

We visited Groth last week. We had Izzy as our host and she was great. We have always loved Groth, but have a greater appreciation for it now. We will continue to enjoy Groth in our collection for years to come.

I’m so happy my Aunt, who lived in Minneapolis at the time, told me about Groth. It is too funny that it is nearly in my backyard and I learned about it from someone who doesn’t live here. Well thankfully I did learn about Groth!
Their Cabs are extraordinary, particularly their Reserve. Coming to Groth set a new standard for me to hold other Cabs up to and it is hard for others to compete. We’ve been members ever since we visited as we were so impressed. Their Chardonnay is also very nice as it is balanced with a bit of fruit and a hint of oakiness. I am shocked that I can even enjoy the Sauvignon Blanc they produce as I don’t normally drink that varietal. Groth does it right!
We’ve been to several events they host and they know how to throw a party! For standard tastings it is always a pleasant experience and the staff are very friendly, knowledgeable and down-​to-​earth. I always feel welcome.
The estate is lovely and striking with the vineyards surrounding. It is interesting to observe their processing from harvest to bottling as it is all done on-​site.
Suzanne Groth’s artwork is beautiful and brightens up the tasting room.
Everything at Groth is delicious, the service is wonderful and the environment is beautiful.

I was introduced to Groth wines a few years ago and the style of cab really impressed me. It is a perfect steak wine, and it is just a really good, beautiful Cabernet that they produce. It turns out they have quite a history (California’s first 100pt Cabernet!) and it turns out they have a very beautiful if not rustic and quaint tasting room /​facility grounds.
They are located on Oakville-​Cross Rd, which means that when you visit Groth you have a lot of options nearby to spend your money. However, at Groth, you will find wines that taste just as great as wines double the price down the road, and you will find that they have great events that they offer to club members.
We went for their 2002, 2003, and 2004 tasting. I loved being able to taste such beautiful crafted and well aged wines, and the friendly staff really opened the place up to us.
Allison at the sales area was very friendly, very funny, and very accomodating in answering all my questions, silly or not. Randy, who welcomed us with a pour of their beautiful Sauvignon Blanc, was very friendly in pouring, welcoming us, and milling around as well.
The winery was a little more quiet than I expected it to be, which was great for us!
Definitely put this on your list when you go tasting. It may not be the fanciest or the most exciting facility, but it is very nice, a great place to relax, and a great place to enjoy a great Cab.

Excellent reds in a classy setting with an excellent tour. very friendly service means I’d return here.

First winery that we visited this day. The color of the winery is a bit much (bright orange!), but don’t let that stop you from entering. We got a reservation for the patio area and tried their tasting menu. All the wines were delicious and the server was very knowledgeable and passionate about her wines! A winner!

I still think their reserve Cabs are some of the best in CA.
Groth is back online. They only tend to produce wine when the fruit is up to their standards and even more so with their reserve product.
Not the most elaborate grounds in the Valley but definitely some of the top product.

Groth Vineyards and Winery was founded by Dennis and Judy Groth in 1982. They became famous for their Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon after Robert Parker awarded their 1985 Reserve a perfect 100 points. It was the first time Parker awarded a perfect score to any California wine. Even today Wine Enthusiast magazine designated the 2009 Groth Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon as one of the «Best of the Year 2012,» referring to it as «incredibly lush and delicious.»
Our tasting began with the Groth 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($ 17.) It is made with 7% Semillon and about 35,000 to 40,000 cases a year are produced, representing half the production of the winry. Although the SB has sold out at the winery, you should be able to find bottles at Safeway, Costco or other major retailers. After a pleasant nose of mostly melon, I got more melon with a little grapefruit on the palate. The Semillon seemed to round it out, and I liked the balance. Eric Asimov of the New York times in July 2011 listed the Groth 2010 as the favorite in their group’s tasting of twenty Sauvignon Blancs.
The Groth 2010 Chardonnay ($ 29) can also be found at many major retailers. This one has no malolatic conversion and sees 25% new French oak with sur lie aging. It had a very pleasant nose On the palate I got a smooth, creamy palate of tropical fruit and toasted oak with a smooth, medium length finish. Although it has plenty of fruit, it is lighter bodied than many Napa Chards. About 3,000 to 4,000 cases are produced each year. Both whites were pleasant, easy to drink and well worth the price, but did not seem to aspire to the heights of their Cabs.
Groth Cabs, especially the Reserve, seem geared to discriminating persons who really know and appreciate serious wines. We started out with the Groth 2009 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon that sells for $ 50. It is made with 20% Merlot and sees 65% new French oak. This one has a very nice aroma. On the palate it is dry but big in flavor, with rich red cherry and well integrated tannins. The wine goes down smoothly with some earthiness and a medium length finish. It is very drinkable now and does need of years of cellaring to be appreciated
Our last tasting was the Groth 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon that sells at $ 125. This was an outstanding Cab. It had a nice aroma followed by a full, lush mouthfeel of cherries and blackberries with a touch of spice. It had great, very well integrated tannins with pleasant toasted oak, along with a good finish. I found myself taking very small sips and not wanting to swallow because it had such a pleasant mouthfeel. I asked how the 2008 compared with this 2009 and was told that the 2008 was slightly better, not because of the vintage but because it had an extra year of aging. The Reserve should cellar very well but it is so enticing to drink now that it would be difficult to lay any away
Groth wines are widely available in grocery and other stores in case you cannot visit the winery. If you do visit Napa Valley, however, we highly recommend a visit to Groth Vineyards and Winery. Photos and additional information are located here:

I like the wine but I dont love the winery. Feels like an old mission… It echoed inside and just didn’t feel warm and cozy Felt old and the design of it feels awkward when you walk in. Our host was great though!

I’ve visited about 20 wineries in the Napa area with little to no complains about any of them, but had a laughably bad experience here. Maybe I just caught it on an off day?
There were 2 people working. One man was very cold and unwelcoming. Stared at his computer and seemed to roll his eyes when the server of our wine testing would ask him for help with some of our questions.
But that was the laughable part. The ever so sweet woman who gave us our tasting was nice, but lacked any knowledge beyond what felt like a script she was reading from.
Yes, the wine was ok. But I could have purchased it at the store. I visited the winery to experience the winery. Personnel have everything to do with that. Sorry to say Groth was such a disappointment.

This is a wonderful experience with incredible wines. We were fortunate to meet with the wine maker and he was incredibly friendly and informative.
Don’t miss this one.

Today my wife and I scheduled a tasting at Groth. We had never been, but actually found them in a «Vineyard Dogs» book featuring pictures of dogs that live at the wineries. We have a pug, and Groth has 3 or 4 as well. Unfortunately, the pugs only «work» Monday through Friday — so we didn’t get to meet them.
We chose the premium tasting for $ 25, which allowed us to buy any bottles for $ 10 off. We really enjoyed the Savignon Blanc, we ended up buying a few bottles for $ 12 after our discount.
The mission style winery is worth checking out if you’re tired of the touristy spots along Highway 29.

I’ve made hundreds of visits to California wineries over the past 30 years. This is one of my top five picks.
1. Value: Their wines (Cabernet, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc) are consistently wonderful, yet a fraction of the price of other comparables (for example, Far Niente, which is 2−3x the price and not as good).
2. Validation: I don’t care much about professional ratings, but in case you do, they’ve won tons of awards worldwide, from the top raters and tastings, and some perfect scores in competitions.
3. Their wines are distinct: the Chardonnay doesn’t have that over-​fermented, over-​oaked thing that has ruined California Chardonnays the past 20 years. It is more like White Burgundy, the original Chardonnay. The Sauvignon Blanc, on the other hand, has much more body and balance than any other I’ve tasted from California.
4. Values: Family-​owned and run, and practicing sustainable viticulture. How can you go wrong?

Groth is a beautiful winery between Highway 29 and Silverado Trail. While Highway 29 is busy and Silverado Trail a little less so – the perpendicular roads between each north south roadway are much less busier. The architecture of the winery is somewhere between California mission style and a something looks like an M.C. Escher drawing.
I have fond memories of Groth – not a large selection of wines but well crafted wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. On my first visit I met some great people visiting from the East Coast. Great thing was that we became instant friends and have remained friends ever since – and those are the things great things that can happen at a winery. This winery requires a reservations.

Groth vinyard is gorgeous. I went with my mother this past week and was pleasantly surprised by the knowledgeable staff. Especially Jimmy, we were lucky to have him helping us. We had the 5 wine tasting.
Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc (so fresh, light green, with lots of citrus and fresh flavor)
Chardonnay (yummy, full flavored butter on the nose and melon on the palate. None of that pungent cat pee taste that I always seem to pick up in Chardonnay)
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon ($ 57/​bottle, which I bought on my way out.)
Oakville Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (This wine is really smooth, fruity and I think is 15% merlot and 85% cabernet sauvignon,. Very smooth tannins, it goes through a double pass to remove small stems)
I didn’t get to look at the actual vineyard because it was raining but it looked very pretty.