If you’re looking for something other than the variety of wine available in Wine Country, you should check out some of the best breweries and distilleries in Sonoma Valley and Napa. Many people are unaware that several distilleries and breweries in Napa and Sonoma Valley offer great tours and tastings to visitors.

Local beer and spirits contribute notably to food tourism in Wine Country, and individuals can learn about the craft of brewing, distilling, and fermenting at these small establishments. The craft of preparing these spirits and the chemistry involved is awe-inspiring, and you’ll be amazed by the finesse it takes to achieve some of the finest brews.

To help you take a break from some vino on your next tour of Wine Country, California Wine Tours has put together a list of the most popular distilleries and the best breweries in Napa and Sonoma Valley that will be sure to impress you. Here

Fieldwork Brewing

Location: 610 First Street, Napa, CA 94559

Fieldwork Brewing is a local brewery that was founded in Berkeley, California. It has a stunning taproom in the busy Oxbow Public Market in downtown Napa where you can sample some of their best options. The establishment offers a rotating tap of fresh releases, and you can enjoy these offerings by the glass, sampler flight, or take them on the go in growlers and Crowler cans. Although they don’t serve food with their brews, you can find fantastic local food in Oxbow Market. The top-notch food with drinks from Fieldwork Brewing can make for a fantastic pairing.

Clair Brown Winery & Brewery

Location: 816 Vallejo Street, Napa, CA 94559

In the middle of downtown Napa, you will find St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery, a boutique urban winery, nano-brewery, and a culinary garden. The brews at the nano-brewery are prepared in small batches on-site, and you can taste almost 13 various samples of beer at the location. If you know your beers, you can instantly detect how St. Clair Brown’s beers are more malt-driven and unfiltered. This gives them a hopped and less bitter profile which makes for delicious food pairings.

It is also a great place for vegans since all brews are vegan except for the Honey Wheat Ale. Moreover, if you want to learn about brewing, you can join St. Clair Brown’s Beer Boot Camp. This educational camp will help you learn about the tastes and semantics of a technical beer tasting and enjoy a three-course beer along with lunch. You will also get the chance to brew beer with St. Clair Brown’s Brewmaster, Elaine St. Clair.

Prohibition Spirits

Location: 23592 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA 95476

If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind tasting experience in Sonoma Valley, you should head out to Prohibition Spirits to try their Italian craft spirits. Prohibition Spirits is situated in Cornerstone Sonoma and is known for its delicious Limoncello, an Italian lemon liquor, which has won an award for its taste as well. They also offer amazing specialty spirits such as rums, gins, and whiskeys.

Prohibition Spirits was started by a husband and wife who wanted to bring Limoncello to Wine Country after falling in love with Sonoma. They moved to Sonoma County from Boulder, CO, to produce California’s first organic Limoncello. You can visit the establishment for group tastings and mixology classes.

They also host private events in their beautiful courtyard, where you can enjoy the warm and stunning atmosphere. The shop sells their daughter’s balsamic vinegars, olive oils, and soy candles, as it is truly a fantastic family venture. You can also spend some time in the Cornerstone and Sunset Gardens after your tasting and reflect on the taste as you take in the views around you.

Sonoma Distilling Company

Location: 5535 State Farm Drive, Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Adam Spiegel, a Bay Area native and whiskey maker, found his passion for creating spirits while helping a distiller friend. After honing his skills over the years by first making beer, then wine, and eventually moving on to distillation by founding the Sonoma Distilling Company in 2010. It is one of the first 200 distilleries in the USA, and its tastings feature an in-house selection of ryes and whiskeys.

Ryes are a more traditional style of whiskey and are a product of their old-school method of double distilling using handmade copper pot stills. The small batches ensure more flavor, but it means that only several are available year-round. Aside from that, there are also a few seasonal special flavors to look out for, such as the cherrywood rye whiskey in spring and the Distiller’s Edition cherrywood smoked bourbon whiskey in autumn.

Napa Valley Distillery

Location: Grand Tasting Salon: 2485 Stockton Street, Napa, CA 94559

Tasting Bar at Oxbow Public Market: 601 First Street, Suite 8, Napa, CA 94559

Napa Valley Distillery was the first distillery to open in Napa Valley after the end of Prohibition. It is a family-owned and operated distillery that offers unique educational distillery tours along with tastings of flights of their fantastic award-winning products. You can choose to visit them at Oxbow Public Market or their Grand Tasting Salon at Stockton Street.

The Grand Tasting Salon has an incredible interior design that can take you back to the 1920s as you learn about the tasty spirits offered by the distillery. You can book a reservation for a tour and tasting at the Napa Valley Distillery but be sure to do it well in advance since most places get occupied quickly. At the Oxbow Public Market, you can visit Napa Valley Distillery’s beautiful tasting bar to enjoy brandies in a great mahogany wood setting. Be sure to try their bitters collection when you visit the location since it is the most extensive collection on the West Coast.

Ready to explore some of the best distilleries in Napa and Sonoma Valley and the best breweries in Sonoma Valley and Napa? Reach out to our experts for guidance, who can help you choose the most suitable locations. We can also provide help with hosting private parties at these exclusive locations.

Discuss your needs with California Wine Tours today and leave the hassle of planning a tour and tasting in Wine Country to us.