Hall Wines

I’m really glad I waited to write my Unilocal review for HALL. My first visit was nothing short of a disaster, but on subsequent visits I have fallen in love! My rating has gone from an initial 2 star first impression to a 5 star best-​of-​the-​best, well deserved rating.
I first visited this winery in late September 2015 on a busy Saturday during harvest /​crush season. You can imagine what a zoo that was! The winery was overrun and super unpleasant. I had to check in with a front desk concierge and wait my turn for a tasting at the bar. The employees were frazzled, rushed and quite unfriendly. Luckily I fell in love with the wines and signed up for their wine club on the spot because most of their delicious wines are only available at the winery. Since I live out of state I get the convenience of having special wine selections shipped to me 4 times a year. My husband was so completely turned off by the place that he couldn’t enjoy the wines. He thought I was crazy to sign up as a club member because of the surly, impersonalized service we received. (I do hope our frowny-​faced hostess didn’t get a big bonus for signing me up because she did not deserve it).
Fast forward to February 2016. We were back in the Napa Valley and decided to stop back by. What a remarkable difference! First of all, this visit was in the low season during the week. I was literally the ONLY person in the tasting room! Talk about VIP service. Chris was my wine host and he was absolutely delightful. When I asked if I could taste the wines that were sent in my most recent club shipment, he immediately went to get the two bottles and opened them for me right on the spot! How’s THAT for service? He also told me to be sure to stop back by on the weekend because that’s when the members-​only dining patio is open. Of course I had to ask what the heck that was and he told me that there are special tables where club members can bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a wine tasting on an outdoor patio overlooking the vineyard! Wow! To me, the fact that I can picnic on the gorgeous HALL grounds is reason enough to join their wine club.
So we rolled back in on Saturday. It was much more crowded but nothing like our visit in the fall. We were warmly greeted and treated like rock stars. Lana at the front reception desk was a joy and delight, and Chris was working outside that day and welcomed me back. I counted over a dozen different bottles of wine open for tasting, and visitors were welcome to get a taste and take a stroll around outdoors. Wine club members must check in at the concierge desk to be escorted to the special patio tastings.
The grounds are nothing short of spectacular. Take a look at my photos, those are actual pictures of what the place looks like with no filters. It’s show stopping. There’s an amazing collection of modern art (my favorite) both inside and out. The building itself is sleek, stellar and environmentally friendly. I think people are in two divisive camps over the grounds here — you either love it or you are turned off by it because it’s so «rich» and expensive looking. I love the atmosphere but my husband is in the latter camp. His opinion is that if all that money is spent on the flashy look, then the winery most likely favors style over substance. I’m slowly converting him and even he enjoyed this latest visit (and fell in love with a couple of their wines).
Let’s not forget the prime reason HALL is so great — their wines are truly fantastic. This is a big, bold red drinker’s paradise. I am a fan of huge cabernets and HALL delivers. I’m not in love with their entire portfolio but everything is of a very high quality (remarkable for most wineries in the area). The price points match too, so don’t expect to find a lot of $ 30 bottles here. Most everything is in the $ 50 and up price range, and I’ve only found a few of their wines to be overpriced.
My suggestion for visiting is to get here either early or late in the day and avoid the weekends and busy times of the year. The parking lot here is huge so if you pull in and there’s not a lot of empty spots, leave and try again some other time. You’ll have a much more pleasant visit. When you arrive, go in the main building and stop at the reception desk. This place is huge and can be extremely overwhelming so that’s the best place to start. Tastings are $ 30 per person but they have no problem if you want to share one tasting (something we often do). HALL also offers $ 1 shipping if you buy 6 bottles or more. They’ll let you mix and match too, making this a great way to get wine home without having to worry with checking it in your wine luggage on the plane.
If you love big Cabernet Sauvignons, HALL needs to go on your must-​visit list. I am so in love with this winery!

I visited this place based on Unilocal reviews, however staffs were very rude. We asked for another glass not to mix red wine with white one. They said they do not offer the second clean glass. We are supposed to use the same glass. How rude is this? Then, it was one of our friends’ birthday and we had a birthday cake. They told us they could not provide the plates and knife because we are not the club member. I will definitely go to another place next time.

We always make it a point to stop by Hall winery if anything because we love the name:) perfect backdrop in the morning overlooking the valley. Decent wine, great décor and gorgeous scenery. It’s one of those wineries you can just relax and enjoy the scenery without the madness of big tour groups.

This is the place with the huge rabbit in front!
I guess I’m more a fan of the smaller, less crowded wineries. When we came on Saturday around 4, there was a 15 minute wait so the person in our group that had been there before decided to join the wine club so we were seated slightl yquicker.
The wine club member area is actually not as nice as the «regular» area. There’s dining style seating instead of the «regular» area that has couches and more comfy stuff. Hmm… Our wine expert, Steve, was knowledgeable and friendly. But, the thing about some of these bigger wineries I guess is that he’s with multiple groups kinda like a server at a restaurant. A lot of places have a somal just for your group and it’s super fun to get to know them, etc.
None of their wines really stuck with me. including the Cabs (both the mixes and 100%s) that people on Unilocal are raving about​.hm. Maybe just not my taste?
The property is gorgeous! A nice place for first time Napa go-​ers probably. Not necessarily for me though.

Best. Cabs. Ever.
I had never heard of this winery until a friend mentioned that Hall was the maker of her favorite Cabernet Sauvignon: «Kathryn Hall.» As I was already in the area for a day of wine tasting, I decided to pick up a bottle for her as a birthday present. Little did I know that this would be the beginning of an ongoing affair with Cabs. Sorry, Syrah, I still love you too.
The winery specializes in Cabs and, wow, do they make some tasty wines! I was so blown away on my initial visit that I had to sign up for a club membership. It didn’t hurt that the tasting fee for our entire group of five was comped as well.
Pros:
— Beautiful, clean, modern tasting room that offers an amazing view of the grounds.
— Friendly, accommodating staff. The server on my initial visit was nice enough to allow me to include some off-​menu substitutions during my tasting! And my server, Jackie, on my most recent visit was just a nice.
— Entertaining artwork decorate the grounds including a piece made from stacked index cards and the «contemplating camel.»
— Membership at Hall also gets you perks at its sibling winery, Walt, which specializes in Pinot Noir.
— Tasty wines… duh!
In addition to the «Kathryn Hall and «Jack’s Masterpiece,» here are my favorite discoveries from my most recent tasting:
2013 Walt «Blue Jay» Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
2011 Hall «Darwin» Syrah
2013 Hall «1873» Cabernet Sauvignon
2012 Hall «Ellie’s» Cabernet Sauvignon

Hall does a great job of combining art and wine together in one complete experience. We enjoyed tasting their famous cabs and ended up purchasing a few bottles. Unilocal check in also gets you an additional pour!
The grounds are beautiful and there’s lots of interesting art to check out. I do wish we had done the tour, but didn’t have lots of time — will have to come back again and explore some more.

Loved this place! What makes it unique is the architecture! The artsy factor makes it look kind of like a museum. Very modern looking unlike the typical rustic winery theme that we’re used to seeing. It was perfect weather when we went, so we enjoyed sipping our wine on the patio. A lot of outdoor seating so that was great too! Also, they’re dog friendly! They even give each dog a treat! Thought that was so cute! Definitely glad we tried Hall Wines! :)

Extremely modern and property on point. The giant rabbit caught our attention, and for those from Sacramento, the same artist who did «Leap» (red rabbit) at Sacramento International was commissioned to do the rabbit at Hall Winery.
Good Cabernets — but the only two (on tasting list) that made me go… Hmmm??? was the Ellie’s and Jack’s Masterpiece. Both really really good but priced at 80 and 125. So if you are looking for a bargain — the price point is on the high side.
However– $ 30.00 tasting was included in purchase of bottle of Cab– which I like very much and always think is always fair (wished more wineries would do this).

BEAUTIFUL property and bright, beautiful tasting room that’s on the second floor (great views). I had always been curious about that shiny statue of the leaping rabbit off the main road through Napa Valley all these years. I finally picked this place for one of our stops after searching for the most beautiful wineries in Napa to visit. «Crazy good cab,» what they advertise, is surprisingly true.
One does not normally expect a property to of this size and ‘tourist appeal’ to have such good wines. I am considering joining this wine club after I get tired of the current one I’m on. I’m also a sucker for fireplaces — they have gas fireplaces to lounge around on their huge balcony in the tasting area. I cannot wait to come back here with more people!

Gorgeous spacious tasting room. Tons of glass and light and gorgeous grounds.
Wines were innovative and delicious. It was raining when I came but I can’t wait to come back on a sunny day and enjoy the wine outside.

Hall Cabernet Sauvignon has been a staple of mine for years now ever since my first visit 6 years ago. The tasting room I visited is no longer a tasting room as they have recently built a brand new and quite modern tasting facility. Plenty of art work can be found both inside and outside the winery, including a massive bunny sculpture out front. This is one of the first, if not the first LEED Gold Certified wineries in California.
We did not have an appointment, so the hostess guided us upstairs to the large tasting area on the 2^nd floors. As you go up the steps, you walk by large fermentation tanks behind a glassed wall until you reach the tasting area. There is a big outdoor deck outside and plenty of seating.
The winery focuses mainly on Cabernet Sauvignon or Bordeaux Blends. I personally enjoy many of their wines and would drink plenty more of them. They are costly though, which usually keeps me from drinking them in larger quantities, but that is a personal decision. They have recently started producing Pinot Noirs under a separate label called WALT. You have the opportunity to taste these wines here as well.
Our tasting room server was pretty friendly. She was willing to answer questions and talk to you about the wines. No issues there.
I would highly recommend a stop here if you want to taste some great Napa Cab’s. The new tasting facility is quite remarkable and it truly stands out. Also, if you check in here, they offer you «1 free Extra Wine Pour»…I believe I used this.

The art and grounds are world-​class. The «Jack’s Masterpiece» Cabernet is classic Napa.
A silver hare leaping above the valley floor vineyards greets visitors to St. Helena location of Hall Wines. The sleek, stylish, and modern tasting room is stunning, with floor-​to-​ceiling windows to capitalize on those vineyard views. All that glass does little to mute the crowded room and discourages lingering. Outdoors, it’s significantly more relaxed with a few couches for lounging while tasting. Service is perfunctory with rote recitation of tasting notes for each pour. The only ‘wow’ taste was «Jack’s Masterpiece» for that classic, big, fruit-​forward California cabernet, but overpriced at $ 125. The tasting itself is pricey as well, at $ 30 for 5 pours. For me, it’s a pass, unless you’d like to wander and enjoy the superb art installations and sculptures.

I was looking forward to trying out the wines here after having visited Walt Wines. However, aside from the Jack’s Masterpiece, my husband and I weren’t wowed by the majority of the wines. The tastings here aren’t cheap ($ 30 for 5 wines) so my husband and I split a tasting.
The place is modern and beautiful, and I enjoyed viewing the art collections. Although it was a nice place to explore, I think the modern feel of it made it feel less like a winery for my husband and me.

Hall Wines is so much different from other vineyards in Napa.
Modern architecture. Art around the vineyard. Planting of their own vegetables. And delicious red vino, from the glass, bottle, or barrel.
I had an amazing time here, with the fall sun setting above the grape fields, our knowledgeable host explaining the rich history of the vineyard, and a private tasting of their more expensive bottles. What more can you ask for.
Best compliment — that visit turned me into a red wine enthusiast.

Words cannot describe my love for autumn season when the leaves on trees start to change color. It’s really a lovely sentiment.
First and foremost, I would like to thank North Bay CM Kevin B. for an amazing exclusive intimate Unilocal’s Flight Club at Hall Wines.
Kicking off our tour at the Hall’s historic Bergfeld Winery with a generous pour of 2012 HALL Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc while nibbling to delicious Ahi Tuna Tartare with freshly made gaufrette potato. I accounted for at least five more of those tasty bites. Luckily, we moved along through the Olive Grove where picturesque backdrops of woven willow structure trees got us whipping out our cameras instantly. It was lovely and taking a gazillion pictures with my fellow Unilocalers added much joy.
Reunited with the fellow Unilocalers at the Wine Making and Hospitality Center was oh so great. More arts, more tasty bites, more wines! I especially enjoyed the 2010 HALL Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon. Nice tasty blend and crisp! I think this is the reason why I felt dizzy after two pours.
I’d like to extend a special thanks to my partner in crime for holding my hair back because he knows what was going down…

Weird sculpture aside, what a beautiful winery! We just came for a tasting, as one of our member friends needed to pick up his bottles. We brought a dog with us and was greeted at the door with a dog treat! Turns out they were having a humane society fundraiser that day, so the place was full of napa dogs :) Not sure how crowded it is on normal days, but it was pretty busy, and we had to wait in line for each tasting.
They’re super liberal with their tastings and pours. That Jack’s Masterpiece is really true to its name. Once you taste that you won’t want anything else.

We came near the end of the day, and I can see how this location gets packed quick. I believe we made reservations online on CellarPass or VinoVisit for our tasting. Hall makes excellent reds and Cabs so it is definitely worth the visit.
I do agree that when we were there I felt they needed more help behind the bar as the customer to wine educator ratio was 1:10 or so.
Their wine was ridiculously good! We HAD to join their Wine Club because some of the wine that we enjoyed are only sold through the Wine Club or on property. Since joining the Wine Club, I will say that their customer service and getting back to its customers was excellent.
They also have one of the cheapest alcohol luggage bags for purchase in Napa Valley. I highly recommend getting theirs because 1) it’s red and more identifiable in the airport baggage claim and 2) the price is better than others near by.

I like to take out of town guests to wine country and Hall is usually one of the wineries we visit. After today, I think I will cross this one off the list. Do not taste with Kathryn. We were immediately greeted with a scowl. Our out of town guest asked her to take a picture– we got another scowl. As we walked back toward the bar area I overheard Kathryn telling another pourer what she thought of everyone she was currently serving. Nothing good. She couldn’t wait to get this group «out of here» and that group «out of here.» Unfortunately for her we had just started our tasting and Kathryn was warning the other pourer we would be here longer. The other pourer saw that we had overheard Kathryn’s rant and tried to excuse her poor behavior by suggesting maybe she wasn’t feeling well.
Pretty disappointed and shocked to hear an employee talking so loudly and so negatively about all the guests– especially when my group was there for less than 2 minutes.
I really enjoy the Cabernets here but this experience left a bad taste in my mouth. I’d rather take my guests to a winery where employees don’t speak so horribly about their visitors. #crazyrudecabernetpourers

I love this property! It’s right off the freeway and once you turn into their parking lot it transports you to a beautifully created experience.
There is a beautiful mix of old and new here. The old tasting room is an original building that embraces the vintage charm vineyards bring in contrast to the contemporary art and architecture of the new tasting room and art collection both inside and out in the gardens.
I came most recently for the Kathryn Hall release party and it was such a lovely treat to spend the afternoon in their gardens sipping the beautiful wines paired against delicious nibbles and fabulous music to keep your hips swaying in the afternoon.
To come outside of an event there are several experiences you can reserve such as a wine tasting 101, art and wine tour, pairing options, etc.
If you are coming this way the wine is fantastic– known for cabs, and the team of people are all incredibly nice. Price points average $ 50 a bottle with their flagship wine available at $ 150/​bottle.

The words that come to mind when I visited Hall Wines with a bunch of friends while enjoying brunch and wine tasting are hip, modern, elegant and extremely stylish and those aren’t the words that normally come to mind when you think of the rustic and venerable wineries of the Napa Valley.
After going to another winery earlier in the day a group of friends and we still had some energy to burn through one more winery. It was about 4pm on a Sunday and as we drove down Highway 29 one of my friends mentioned he had been to Hall Wines for a previous Flight Club Unilocal Elite Event and really enjoyed himself the time he went. None of the the rest of us had previously been to Hall, and we didn’t know what it was all about, so we were game.
The Sunday we went there was an event going on so parking was limited but not impossible. The first thing you notice when you arrive at Hall Wines is the huge Silver Rabbit sculpture greeting you at the entrance when you drive up. Once you arrive, it is as if you are entering a museum as huge art installations are everywhere. Once inside Hall Wines feels like an art gallery in and of itself, as the front desk tells you to go upstairs to the tasting room.
And what a chic and trendy tasting room it is! In fact everything is trendy at Hall, from the wine barrel rooms to the private rooms everything is behind locked glass doors. There is a huge square glass counter-​top in the middle of the room for tasting with plenty of employees to serve the seemingly abundance of customers Hall Wines seemed to have on this day. If that wasn’t enough there’s also a patio outside with a ton of tables in which you can get table service during your wine tasting. Who would have thunk?
The four of us had a great time at Hall Wines. Special shout out to our pourer Stefanie who manged to handle not only us but it looks like at least six other customers. For a tasting for about 28 dollars there was list of wines to which you can choose from to get six pours, but only negative was that practically all of the choices were Cabernets. So if you weren’t a fan you were probably out of luck, unless you had a great pourer like Stefanie who pleased our request to pour a few whites (and some extra pours, but who’s counting?).
You have to give Hall credit though, they have a list of wines for sale alongside the list they were giving away to taste and some of those choices were in fact available to taste, if you asked of course. And boy some of them both on both lists were pretty pricey, so kudos to Hall for opening the expensive stuff as well!
All four of us had a great time, they were ready to close for their event but none of us felt rushed at all. For our final pour, we got to enjoy one of the best sweet wines I have ever had: the 2006 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc. It tasted sweet as sugar with flavors of apricots, honeyed figs, butterscotch and spice! My friend and I loved it so much we threw caution to the wind and both bought bottles for 35 dollars a piece. Pricey but so worth it! Thanks to Hall Wines for a great time and beautiful location to enjoy our time in the valley!