Saddleback Cellars

Oakville, United States

4.4

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards
By Appointment Only

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 707-944-1305
Website:
www.saddlebackcellars.com
Address:
7802 Money Rd, Oakville, CA, 94562
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Take-out
No
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Apple Pay
No
Accepts Bitcoin
No
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
No
By Appointment Only
Yes

Today

Today 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Oakville) 23:02 Wednesday, 11 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Saddleback has long made killer Cabs and Zinfandel but variety is our specialty! We like to produce fun wines for fun people, including Pinot Blanc, Albarino, Vermentino, Sangiovese, Syrah, and many more. If you have a sweet tooth be sure to ask about our Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel.

Please give us a call and come in for a tasting!

Come have fun the Saddleback way! :)

History

Established in 1982.

Saddleback Cellars is a small winery located in the heart of the Napa Valley. Its estate vineyard comprises of 14.8 acres planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Zinfandel.

Known as «The King of Cabernet,» legendary winemaker and owner, Nils Venge, has been making stellar Cabernet Sauvignon, along with many other varietals here since its establishment. Nils’ philosophy on making wines for Saddleback is that they must reflect the best qualities that Napa Valley has to offer; sometimes a single vineyard, sometimes a single appellation, or a blend of appellations to make the best wine in a particular vintage. Nils is a down-​to-​earth, cheerful, full-​of-​life kind of guy whose wines not only reflect the character of their region, but also seem to reflect his personality — bold, yet approachable, friendly and fun yet with layers of complexities.

Meet the Business Owner

Nils V.

Business Owner

Nils Venge is a UC Davis grad who started his career in 1970 as vineyard supervisor in charge of planting operations at Charles Krug Winery. He then went on to be co-​vineyard manager at Sterling Vineyards. His fame as winemaker came in 1988 while at Groth in Oakville after the 1985 Groth Cab was rated 100 points… the first perfect score given to a California wine by Robert Parker, Jr. He’s been known as the «King of Cab» ever since!

In 1982 Nils produced his first wine for his own label, Saddleback Cellars which was released in 1983. Nils has been focusing primarily on his winery since 1993 and still consults for various premium wineries in Northern California. He recently celebrated his 25th Anniversary at Saddleback with the release of the special commemorative 2006 Nils Cab.

Saddleback Cellars also recommends

PlumpJack Winery

116

reviews

Wineries

Nils V. says,

«Our fun neighbors on Oakville Cross Road make some great Merlot amongst other varietals.»

Envy Wines

76

reviews

Wineries

Nils V. says,

«Stop by and support Nils’ joint venture in Calistoga!»

Venge Vineyards

32

reviews

Wineries

Nils V. says,

«Nils’ son, Kirk Venge, is owner and winemaker of Venge Vineyards. Check them out upvalley in Calistoga!»

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Nearby

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B Cellars Vineyards & Winery
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20 reviews of Saddleback Cellars

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Fort Mill, SC
We loved Saddleback! Really fun experience and great wine! Bob was great. The outdoor experience was beautiful and we liked the country music a lot! The Pinot Blanc, Merlot and Cab were great and it was fun to hang out with Chloe (the dog!)
Place rating: 5
Greenwood, IN
Best winery we visited on our tour! Would highly recommend! Chloe (the vineyard pooch) is very friendly and cute.
Place rating: 3
Peoria, AZ
This place is the perfect stop for the middle of your wine trip. Grab a sandwich or some cheese or even a pizza and bring it here for lunch while you try out some wines. The décor is western. The guy pouring for us was a little drunk and seemed to be making up facts, which I found annoying. He was also flirty which isn’t why I went to napa. The wine was hit or miss, but not every wine in every winery is going to be amazing. There were definitely a few worth trying here though!
Place rating: 5
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Well, thank goodness we did the biking tour and they brought us here, otherwise I wouldn’t have found such amazing wine! I do believe it’s appt only, so consider that before popping in.
Our bike tour guide had booked us an 11:30am appt, but since we are such speed demons we arrived at 11:00am. No problem, they were happy to accommodate us after we spent some time outside taking pictures on their barrel horse, and lasso-​ing a stationary bull lol. Completely Westerned theme down to the John Wayne John (that’s the bathroom for non-​Western folk lol).
They typically do their tastings outside on their fabulous picnic tables, but due to the wind we were brought inside to their barrel storage area and took our seats at a great round table.
6 wines for $ 20 wasn’t a bad deal, made even better by the extra pours we were given. Ann did a fabulous time explaining everything to us, down to the wines, the owner Nils and his interest in the Western theme, and even brought in Chloe to meet us, the name behind Chloe’s blend!
We’re quite a rowdy group, but Ann did a great job joining in on the jokes and keeping us all in line. And we ended up taking a bottle of Petit Verdot to go (not often you’ll find a wine with more than 5% Petit Verdot, so this was a real treat!).
Found out afterwards that some of my friends are huge Saddleback fans, so it looks like I may be joining their wine club soon!
If you’re looking for a winery with a different feel, that’s off the beaten track, make an appt at Saddleback!
PS — They do have an EV charger!
Place rating: 5
San Antonio, TX
Chloe’s Blend is the best!
Favorite winery so far.
One of Napa’s smaller wineries, but definitely some of the best wine.
Bob is a gracious host!
Place rating: 5
Washington, DC
This place is terrible. Sure, the wine is incredible so I’m giving it 5 stars but it really doesn’t deserve it. I mean, a wine tasting is so much more complex than just having a collection of fabulous wine.
First of all there’s no food. Seriously, where are my artisanal cheese puffs with local rosemary? Sure the staff is friendly and knowledgable, but that doesn’t mean they can get away without house roasted peanuts.
The location is terrible. You have to taste outside! Inside is like some sort of production facility or something ridiculous — looks like they work there! Not a lick of reclaimed oak anywhere. And outside is just picnic tables with umbrellas — atrocious especially in today’s 70 degree sunny weather.
Clearly they aren’t proud of their wine either. They claim to be reservations only, but if you call up and act all nice they will probably tell you to come on over. Seriously? If you are confident in your product you need to make people feel like you are out of reach and they are small. Not OK.
Finally, people showed up with little kids and the were totally OK with it. I mean, tasting with Elmo and Cookie Monster? Skip this place, head over to Groth where the parking lot can fit your Escalade and they know how to treat people.
Place rating: 3
Aliso Viejo, CA
We enjoyed the casual tasting and picnic tables outside for cheese and crackers. The wine was good not great. We bought a couple bottles and they wouldn’t waive our tasting fee unless we purchased a half case which was disappointing.
Place rating: 4
Olympia, WA
Lovely wines in a beautiful setting. Bob is friendly and winery dog Chloe will sit quietly at your feet while you enjoy your time at the picnic tables. Bring a lunch and enjoy this place!
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Such a laid back, refreshing change of pace.
Place rating: 5
Fullerton, CA
We really enjoyed this winery! As another Unilocaler said, not at all pretentious and very relaxing stop in Napa Valley. Bob was pouring the first day we went there — he is funny as heck and we all had a blast listening to his stories. The tasting was $ 20 for about 8 different wines — all delicious and reasonably priced. I am a white wine fan, and their Pinot Blanc was delightful! The Sangiovese is a nice light red that was also very good. Actually, there wasn’t a single wine we didn’t like. We ended up coming back the next day, became members, and bought 2 cases of wine. The tasting room is picnic tables outside in a nice setting — our whole party relaxed, enjoyed the views (trees, vineyards), and Bob and Brian brought the wine out to us. Very relaxing — glad we joined the club because we will be back.
Place rating: 4
West Chicago, IL
Saddleback remains a hidden gem in the valley… or maybe they are not considered hidden, but I don’t hear a lot of «talk» about them, and there should be — they do a great job making wine. Tastings are $ 20 but waived with a reasonable purchase of wines, and the wines are very affordable, many as low as $ 30 or $ 40. The Chardonnay is always good and we are also big fans of the Petite Syrah and the Zin. Tasting can be done inside, or outside at the picnic tables. It is very casual and friendly and definitely worth adding to your list.
Place rating: 4
Astoria, NY
So I didn’t actually try the wines here, although my friends enjoyed them. I did love the setting and it was the perfect place to bring our picnic lunch and enjoy it during the wine tasting. Fun, rustic atmosphere and the guy who gave us our tasting was very nice. I also enjoyed the John Wayne theme in the bathroom. A nice change from some of the fancier, more commercial-​looking wineries.
Place rating: 5
Napa, CA
Wonderful wines with finesse and terrific balance. His zinfandels are really something special and all wines are constructed to be age worthy. Appt required but worth it. Relaxed picnic tasting atmosphere, John Wayne paraphernalia everywhere and great wines. Highly recommended.
Place rating: 5
Orlando, FL
SADDLEBACK ROCKS! My husband and I stopped in on the suggestion of ZD vineyards. The lady said, «If you liked Napa 20 years ago, you will love this place.» So off we went in search of Saddleback Vineyards… without an appointment. Luckily, we found it and had so much fun there! As we walked in, the young man new we didn’t have an appointment, but he didn’t seem to mind. He started pouring wine and we started tasting. I have to say, it reminded me of Cakebread Cellars 20 years ago when Cakebread had a dirt floor.
We are red wine drinkers and we really enjoyed the Cabernet and Merlot. We bought a case of the Merlot! I just opened my first bottle and my daughter, who also loves wine, said, «Wow, now that is some good stuff!» I have to say, I agree with her. I will be getting another case and probably join the club. Their wine is very smooth and subtle, and the Merlot has the boldness of a Cab, but not heavy on the tannins.
If you enjoy a relaxed atmospher, great wine, a nice ambiance, then Saddleback is a MUST!
Place rating: 5
Mount Airy, MD
I LOVE SADDLEBACK!!! In my opinion, this place has the best priced wines in Napa, for what you get. Sure, you could go to Sutter Home and get a $ 6 bottle, but will it be good? Probably not, unless you’re on your 3rd bottle. Saddleback wines are not only amazing, but for what you get the price can’t be beat. The soil is the most expensive in Napa for cabs, but somehow it tastes comparable to a lot of nearby places and is at least half the price. It’s the only place my husband and I go to knowing we’re leaving with a case, because they offer free case shipping with a 10% discount. I can’t say enough for Saddleback. And if you don’t want to buy a case, the $ 20 tasting fee is also a great deal for how much you get to taste.
Bring lunch and taste the wines outside at a picnic table! One of these days I have to join the club. If only I could stop spending money buying wine on my yearly Napa trips…
Place rating: 5
Ann Arbor Charter Township, MI
By apportionment only and worth it. Honestly this is the complete opposite of every big touristy Napa Valley vineyard. The experience resembles going over to your buddy’s house fore some really stellar wine. Nothing fancy but it attracts distinct, cool and fun clientele and I really love the wine. Go check it out for yourself… you ought. You buy a case! If you are a bus-​full of bridesmaids please never come here.
Place rating: 4
Smartsville, CA
Wonderful experience here — relaxed, personalized tasting in a gorgeous setting next to the vines. I’m not a huge fan of country music in general but I do like Western swing, and when our sommelier discovered my preference, he immediately changed the bland «new country» they were playing to Asleep at the Wheel. Very nice!
Wines were very good and with proper price points. We will return and we recommend this place wholeheartedly.
Place rating: 5
Silver Spring, MD
A small unassuming little winery in the heart of some of the most expensive places in Napa. None of the pretension that some of the «other places» have. Yes, they have picnic tables, so had a picnic lunch here and sampled some of the wines outside.
The tastings were good generous pours, but my only complaint is that since we were outside doing the tasting (and eating our picnic lunch) some of the wines took a little longer to arrive for us to sample. Nothing major since we weren’t in a hurry anyway. The 7 wines I samples were tasty, and while they didn’t make a huge impact on my taste buds, they were nicely priced.
Inside had a definite cowboy theme, but that and the barrels right in the tasting room added to the coziness of the place. Afterwards, I got into conversation with the man pouring the wines, to find out a bit more about Saddleback and its owner. It turns out that the owner, Nils, is quite the heavy hitter in the world of Cabernet. He consults for several big name wineries and scored the first every 100 point rating for a California wine. This sparked a great conversation about Cabernet and what makes this region unique.
At the end of the conversation, I’m offered to try some of Nil’s flagship Cab, tucked away behind the counter — WOW! That’s all I can say, it was amazing, this was seriously good stuff. For the quality of the wine, the price was still way lower than I expected (~100 for a bottle). I picked up a bottle and its sitting at home on my wine rack for a special occasion.
I will say that I wasn’t the only person to cycle through Saddleback for the tasting, but I saw no one else get a chance to try that amazing Cab. This was probably because most people were there looking to rush in, sample wine, and rush out. It’s amazing the things you learn and the experiences you have if you just take some time to talk to people and really get to know a place.
Place rating: 4
Austin, TX
This is was the most relaxing tasting on our Napa wine crawl. No fancy buildings or tasting rooms, just some wine, a couple of picnic tables, and some old trucks scattered on the property. As the name suggests, this is a laid-​back, country cowboy kinda place.
We came on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and enjoyed the tastings outside. The guy that poured for us was a newly graduate of UC Davis so he was very knowledgeable. He brought us some crackers and poured the wines. He did a great job knowing when we were ready for our next pour.
The wines were pretty good. The one that stood out was their 2006 Merlot.
FYI, the tastings are not comped with purchase like some of the larger wineries.
Place rating: 3
Roseville, CA
Maybe something is wrong with me or we were there on a bad day, but I think the current 4.5 star rating is pretty generous. I’m being generous giving this place a 3 instead of a 2.5 downgraded to a 2.
Pros: Picnic benches outside with nice scenery and seven wines for $ 20.
Cons: Wines are ok, staff isn’t that friendly and the tasting room could use some cleaning up.
Overall: If you’re in that area and want something with a little more small town feeling as opposed to Silver Oak or Opus One, check it out.