Del Dotto Estate Winery & Caves — Attraction in Napa Valley AVA

Let’s be clear about what the Del Dotto Estate and Cave Tour really is. This isn’t your standard educational deep-dive into winemaking—it’s a wine-soaked extravaganza. Designed more for indulgence than instruction, it’s a boozy barrel-side marathon where “notes of blackberry” quickly give way to “how many pours was that?”

From the moment you step into the ornate stone tunnel lined with oak barrels and glittering chandeliers, you know what you’ve signed up for: a tasting, not a class. Generous pours of bold, barely-aged reds flow freely—sample after sample until flavor distinctions blur by glass five. We reached a point where we were politely using the dump buckets just to maintain balance. By the time we arrived at the premium wines—The Beast and Villa Del Lago—our palates were shot and our bodies tapped out.

Then came salvation in the form of piping-hot tater tots and blistered-edge pizzas that somehow managed to steal the show. Crispy, cheesy, and served with a side of sparkling wine, these snacks weren’t just good—they were necessary. I’m convinced they’re strategically served to soak up the gallons of cabernet now sloshing through your system.

This tour is lively, over-the-top, and a blast—perfect for bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthdays, or anyone looking to recreate their 21st birthday with better wine and chandeliers. Staff is knowledgeable and fun, but if you’re hoping to learn about terroir, tannins, or barrel-aging science, you might want to start elsewhere.

If your goal is to consume more red wine than you ever thought possible in 90 minutes, Del Dotto’s got you covered. Just remember: you’ve either been warned—or handed your dream wine tour. Either way, bring a...

This place was highly recommended to me for my trip to Napa. So my friend and I booked a trip with them.

It started out very well. Their customer service was great. I actually confused our time of booking so they called me and rescheduled since I didn’t show up on time. However once we actually got there, things took a turn.

We took a turn about the garden which was very nice while we waited for others to join the group and we noticed bunch of peacocks locked up in a coop. They have plenty of space for them to roam around the premises but these birds were locked tight in a small coop with about 8-10 birds. I grew up in a country where peacocks just roam around. They’re smart creatures but when I asked the staff they implied they would die outside the coop. I have never seen blatant cruelty against animals like that. The birds couldn’t walk around and the eggs were there and it was just messy. Do better Del dotto.

Then came the tour which was nice enough but nothing special. Every wine tasted sour as if it was opened way too early. There was maybe one that I enjoyed out of them all. Nothing interesting or special, sad to say.

After the tour, we were escorted back to the garden where peacocks were and were served food. This was a nice surprise as most places don’t offer as much food with the tasting. But sadly again, quality was not good. Pizza was very tasteless and salty.

All in all. This place is below average. Customer service is good but that’s not why we go to wineries. Gardens were beautiful but peacocks in captivity ruined it. Maybe in the past this place was good but this was one of the worst wineries I’ve ever visited. Try something else...

Went to Del Dotto very excited and left feeling used. The experience they offer is very overpriced for what you get, and our host was quite low on his level of fun and very high on his level of snootiness. They have good wine, but there is a lot of good wine in the area for much more down to earth price points. The experience seems like it is a wine tasting in caves and meat and cheese pairing after the tour. Although that is true, both are on the slim side. The tastings were small and you were not given an opportunity to taste a second time. The meat and cheese plate they put out is more sized for two and they served it to eight. This left everyone feeling uncomfortable that they might be taking away the chance for someone to try something on the plate as there wasn't even a taste of each element for each person. This part of the tour is also very rushed at the end after you do the cave tour and while they are hoping you buy their overpriced wine - $85 - $195 a bottle which is not even bottled yet. The cave itself seems gimmicky too. In terms of our host, he started out fine with a nice greeting, but became more and more snooty as the tour went on. Someone needs to tell these folks how to have fun and welcome guests; especially those who may be shelling out that...