By: Connie Etemadi
Just over an hour north of San Francisco, wine country mornings are getting a thoughtful refresh.
If you’ve done Napa before—hopped the buses, packed the back-to-back tasting schedules, posed in front of grapevines—this might be the moment to do it differently. A new kind of ritual is quietly unfolding in the heart of Yountville, and it surprisingly starts with a pause.
A Morning Flight that’s Not on a Plane
Every day at 11 a.m., Cornerstone Cellars invites visitors to slow down and sip with intention. Their Spotlight Flight, offered only during the first seating of the day, is a complimentary tasting of three single-vineyard wines. But this isn’t your typical tasting room lineup. It’s a communal curated experience that feels more like an invitation to connect than a sales pitch.
You won’t find a bar to belly up to or a high-pressure menu of wine club tiers. Instead, you’ll settle into a shared table or cozy space alongside just a handful of others. You’ll talk. You’ll listen. You’ll taste three wines all from distinct appellations in California including Napa Valley, Sonoma County and Sta. Rita Hills. And by the time you’ve finished, it’s still early enough for lunch.
This intentional low-key introduction to the day isn’t just unusual in Napa—it’s nearly unheard of. And for urbanites looking to break out of the city without breaking the bank or booking weeks in advance, it’s a rare gem.
A New Take on the Classic Wine Escape
For San Franciscans, Napa is a rite of passage, a weekend standby, a first date fallback and a birthday go-to. But even seasoned wine lovers can get burned out on the circuit of overbooked tastings, pricey pours and selfie-centric experiences. Cornerstone’s Spotlight Flight offers something refreshingly different—slower, deeper, more human.
The team behind the tasting isn’t reading from a script. They’re wine lovers, farmers and longtime locals who’ve been part of the Cornerstone Cellars story since 1991, when a group of friends shared a bottle of Cabernet on a hillside in Howell Mountain and decided to follow the fruit. That spirit of friendship, curiosity and exploration still drives the winery today.
Under the leadership of winemaker Kari Auringer, Cornerstone has remained committed to crafting site-driven small-batch wines that express the uniqueness of California’s most celebrated regions. Some of their wines are bottled in lots as small as 100 cases and you’ll often be tasting vintages you can’t find in stores or online.
More Than a Tasting—A Gateway to Yountville
If you time it right, the Spotlight Flight can be the perfect start to a Yountville day. After your tasting, stroll a few blocks to grab lunch at Bouchon Bakery, R+D Kitchen or Ciccio where the locals go for pizza and cocktails. Walk off your meal with a lap around the nearby art walk or explore the charming boutiques that line Washington Street.
Want to keep the wine flowing? Book Cornerstone’s afternoon “Taste of Cornerstone” experience—a private seated tasting of five wines paired with optional culinary add-ons like cheese boards or local bites. It’s $50 per person but the intimacy and quality of the wines easily outshine other more expensive experiences in the valley.
Or just pack a picnic and head to a nearby trail or lookout. Yountville is small, scenic and immensely walkable making it a perfect place to wander and reset.
Photo Courtesy: Cornerstone Cellars
A Wine Experience That Feels Like a Breath of Fresh Air
At its heart, the Spotlight Flight isn’t just about wine. It’s about taking the morning slowly, meeting a few new faces and starting your day with a sense of place. It’s about making Napa feel personal again.
In a region that can sometimes lean too heavily on grandeur and exclusivity, Cornerstone Cellars brings things back to earth. Their communal approach reminds you why wine became such a powerful connector in the first place. And in a time when travelers are increasingly seeking meaning over flash, that kind of authenticity feels downright luxurious.
Book your complimentary Spotlight Flight at CornerstoneCellars.com and swap the packed buses and preset tours for something personal, grounded and memorably delicious. Space is limited and reservations are required but the welcome is always warm.
Disclaimer: Women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems. Drink responsibly.
