Auro
Napa royalty, no velvet rope required
Calistoga · Calistoga · American, Seasonal · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
You open the list at Auro and immediately understand where you are — this is Napa Valley, and the wine program doesn't let you forget it. The heavy hitters are front and center: Opus One, Harlan, Screaming Eagle sitting in the library section like trophies behind glass. It's impressive and a little intimidating, which is exactly what Calistoga does best.
Selection Deep Dive
The 200-350 bottle list leans hard into California's greatest hits — Stag's Leap, Shafer, Caymus, Joseph Phelps Insignia, and Dominus Estate anchor the domestic side with serious pedigree. France gets a respectable nod through Louis Jadot Burgundy and some supporting players, consistent with their Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence credentials in California and France. Domaine Drouhin Oregon shows up as a smart bridge pick for guests who want Pinot without the Burgundy price tag. The gaps are real though — if you're hunting for natural wine, skin-contact whites, or anything from the Southern Hemisphere, you're in the wrong room.
By the Glass
The by-the-glass program runs 12-20 options in the $15-$25 range, which is reasonable for this zip code. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority — the list reads more curated-and-locked than dynamic. That said, the quality floor here is genuinely high, so even a middling glass pour is likely to be a solid wine.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir — $60–$90 (bottle estimate)
In a list stacked with triple-digit Napa Cabs, Drouhin Oregon punches well above its price point and offers a completely different experience — silky, earthy, and food-forward in a way the bigger bottles aren't. Best pivot on the list.
Louis Jadot Burgundy
Everyone's eyes go straight to the California icons, but Jadot's presence here is easy to underestimate. Good Burgundy at a wine-country restaurant is rarer than it should be, and Jadot is a reliable house with serious range — worth asking what specific bottling they're pouring.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is a fine wine, but it's also the most-marked-up wine in America right now. You can find it at Costco. In Napa Valley, at these prices, there are better places to put your money — like literally anything else on this list.
Joseph Phelps Insignia + 28-day dry-aged Australian Wagyu with Oaxacan mole de novia
Insignia is one of California's great Bordeaux-style blends — structured, dark-fruited, and built to handle richness. The Wagyu's fat and the mole's deep, bittersweet complexity need a wine with backbone and weight, and Insignia brings both without overwhelming the kitchen's work.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Auro is doing what a Best of Award of Excellence restaurant in the heart of Napa Valley should do — serious cellar, beautiful setting, wines that make the occasion feel real. The markups sting and the list plays it relatively safe, but when you're staring at vineyard views through floor-to-ceiling glass doors, you'll probably forgive them.
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