Napa has been making big, bold wines for decades — Cabernets that are big and bold, Chardonnays that fill the glass with fruit. But sommeliers say the region holds more than its most famous bottles. Eleven of them shared their picks for the Napa wines that deserve more attention, and the list cuts across varieties, styles and price points.
The selections range from old-school Cabernets to sparkling wines. Some are from familiar names, others from producers that fly under the radar. Each sommelier explained why they think these wines are worth a second look.
Pilcrow’s Low-Alcohol Cabernet
Andrew Albert, a sommelier at Cru Uncorked in Moreland Hills, Ohio, pointed to Pilcrow’s Granite Lake Cabernet Sauvignon. He described it as having “all the intensity and structure of great mountain Cabernet, but Pilcrow turns the volume down — lower alcohol, restrained oak, bright acidity, and a distinctly savory, mineral character.”
Albert argued that Granite Lake “feels more like a glimpse into old-school Napa than another modern cult Cabernet.” He added that it “deserves to be mentioned alongside far more famous Napa Cabernets.”
Schoener’s Mountain Cabernet
Bethany Heinze, co-owner and beverage director at Vern’s in Charleston, S.C., named Abe Schoener’s Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon from his Scholium Project label. She said the vines at a higher altitude give “a cooler, mountainous tone that balances the fruit’s deep body.”
Heinze praised Schoener’s experimental approach, calling the wine “intrigue and unexpected freshness with a really satisfying texture you’d crave from a Napa Cab.”
Chardonnay’s Forgotten Corner
Juan Valencia, a sommelier at Ômo by Jônt in Winter Park, Colo., made the case for Chardonnay as Napa’s most underrated wine. He noted that the western side of the valley produces “incredible producers like Stony Hill, Staglin, and Heitz Cellars, crafting wines that are stunning upon release but truly shine with age.”
Valencia said he has tasted older vintages of Stony Hill that “absolutely blew me away.” He added that “you can find beautifully aged Napa Chardonnay for a fraction of what you’d pay for comparable white Burgundy.”
Domaine Carneros Brut
Harlan Spiva, a sommelier at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas, singled out Domaine Carneros Brut Vintage Cuvée. He credited the Los Carneros AVA for producing “outstanding — though often underrated — méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine.”
Spiva noted that the estate uses 100 percent Los Carneros AVA grapes, sustainably farmed and aged at least three years on the lees. The result is “a light, crisp, and structured wine with significant minerality.”
Mayacamas Chardonnay 2020
Ryan Furlan, lead sommelier at La Grande Boucherie in Chicago, picked the Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay 2020. He called it “an extremely difficult vintage,” but said the winery “over-delivered through its high elevation and Old World winemaking style.”
Furlan noted that the wine is priced at only $50 to $60 per bottle. He described it as “a luxury bracket wine that delivers an old-school, pre-ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) Napa experience inspired by the great white Burgundies of Meursault and the flinty minerality of Pouilly-Fuissé.”
Cabernet Franc’s Bright Side
Adil Berrady, director of food and beverage at Kimpton Gray Hotel, Vol. 39, and Boleo in Chicago, highlighted Cabernet Franc. He said Napa is “naturally associated with Cabernet Sauvignon, but Cabernet Franc offers incredible aromatic complexity, freshness, and elegance while still reflecting the valley’s world-class terroir.”
Berrady listed the variety’s notes: “violet, graphite, red fruit, and spice.” He said it “provides the same sense of place with more brightness, aromatic lift, and food versatility.”
Enfield Wine Co.
Andrew Limberg, director of operations and sommelier at Moon Rabbit in Washington, D.C., recommended Enfield Wine Co. He noted that some of the vineyards John Lockwood sources from sit just over the border, but the winery “represents a style of Napa that people don’t always think about.”
Limberg described Enfield’s wines as showing “restraint and a sense of place. They’re interesting and delicious without trying too hard, and they’re a great reminder that there’s a lot more happening in and around Napa than big Cab and rich Chard.”
Cain Vineyards & Winery
Gabriel Corbett, a sommelier at Hive Hospitality in Washington, D.C., named Cain Vineyards & Winery. He noted that the winery lost nearly all of its vineyard land during the Glass Fire in 2020 but has since replanted.
Corbett said Cain Five, the winery’s flagship bottle, “is a showstopper at any age and provides incredible value — especially when released as a library wine.”
Component Wine Co.’s Petit Verdot
The final pick was Component Wine Co.’s Petit Verdot. Marc Gagnon is “definitely not one to shy away from a challenge,” according to the sommelier who recommended it. Petit Verdot has one of the longest ripening cycles of any grape, and the reviewer said Gagnon “pulls it off beautifully.”
“Petit Verdot has one of the longest ripening cycles of any grape, and he pulls it off beautifully.”
The Takeaway
The sommeliers agree on one thing: Napa is not just about the names you see on a shelf. From Cabernet Franc to sparkling wine to Chardonnay, the region has a depth that goes beyond its most celebrated bottles.
Each wine on this list comes with a specific argument behind it. Some are about price. Some are about style. Some are about survival after disaster. All of them, the sommeliers suggest, are worth drinking for reasons that go beyond reputation.
The full list is below, for anyone who wants to start at the top and work their way down:
- Pilcrow Granite Lake Cabernet Sauvignon
- Scholium Project Pergamos Cabernet Sauvignon 2024
- Chardonnay
- Stony Hill Chardonnay
- Domaine Carneros Brut Vintage Cuvée
- Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay 2020
- Cabernet Franc
- Enfield Wine Co.
- Cain Vineyards & Winery Cain Five
- Component Wine Co. Petit Verdot
- Matthiasson Wines
- Locanda Beckstoffer Georges III Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa has more than enough room for everyone.
Source material: “We Asked 11 Sommeliers: What’s the Most Underrated Napa Wine? (2026),” VinePair.
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