Where to picnic instead
Winery · St. Helena, Napa Valley
Can you picnic at Charles Krug Winery?
The short answer
No — Charles Krug Winery doesn't allow picnics or outside food. Food you can order there: Cheese and charcuterie boards daily. See the nearby spots below that do welcome picnics.
Heads-up: several older guides list Charles Krug as a bring-your-own picnic spot. The winery's own visit page now says outside food and picnicking aren't permitted.
Checked September 2026 from charleskrug.comStated on the venue's own website
Where to picnic instead
The closest spots to Charles Krug Winery that welcome picnics.
Picnic rules at a glance
Picnic rules at a glance- Picnicking
- No picnics
- Bring your own food
- Not allowed
- Outside wine / alcohol
- Not allowed
- Food on site
- Cheese and charcuterie boards daily; wood-fired pizzas Thursday–Sunday, ordered during tastings; Cucina di Rosa wine-by-the-glass spot with small bites (daily 10:30am–5pm)
- Groups
- Private lawn cabanas for 2–12 guests carry a food-and-wine minimum ($400 for 2–6; $800 for 7–12).
- Dogs
- Leashed dogs welcome in the outdoor cabanas.
- Kids
- Children and non-tasters welcome for $10 each (ages 2+), which includes a non-alcoholic drink.
- Hours
- Cucina di Rosa daily 10:30am–5pm; tastings by reservation
- Tastings
- $50–$150 per person
- House rules
- The winery states outside food and picnicking are not permitted, and cabanas allow no outside food or drink.
Bookable outdoor experiences at Charles Krug Winery
Bookable outdoor experiences at Charles Krug WineryThese are booked tastings or meals served outdoors, not a place to bring your own picnic.
Tock
Outdoor Private Cabana
$200 deposit; minimum spend $400 for 2–6 guests ($320 members) or $800 for 7–11 ($640 members) on food, wine and merchandise
A private cabana for a two-hour block with tasting flights or wine by the glass or bottle and cheese plates, tailored to the group.
2 hours · 2–12 guests (12+ contact the winery) · Daily
Check availabilityTock
Tastings on the Lawn 2026
$145 per ticket (club members 20% off)
An annual harvest party on the lawn with food, Limited Release and Family Reserve wines, and themed entertainment (Alice in Wonderland this year).
11 AM–3 PM · 1–12 per booking · One date: Saturday, Oct 10, 2026
Check availability
Prices as listed when we checked; the booking page has current availability.
The setting
The settingBig shaded lawns and historic stone buildings at Napa's oldest operating winery (1861). Guests can sit outside with wine and the winery's own food, but it is not a BYO picnic spot.
- Lawn
- Shade trees
- Restrooms
- Parking
Good for: Families · Dogs · Groups
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About Charles Krug Winery
About Charles Krug WineryNapa's oldest winery, run by the Peter Mondavi Sr. family, on a sprawling historic campus in St. Helena. Many older guides list it as a picnic spot, but the winery now says outside food and picnicking are not allowed. You can still sit on the lawn with wood-fired pizza (Thu–Sun) or a cheese board ordered with your tasting.
- No outside food or picnicking (official policy)
- Wood-fired pizza Thu–Sun and daily cheese boards with tastings
- Walk-in wine by the glass at Cucina di Rosa
- Dog-friendly lawn cabanas with a minimum spend
Make a day of it
Stock up at a deli nearby, then picnic close by — a short, easy loop.
- The Model Bakery
Deli & market · St. Helena · about 1.5 mi away
Charles Krug Winery (this winery)
Winery · St. Helena
- Beringer Vineyards
Winery · St. Helena · about 0.7 mi away
- Paloma Vineyard
Winery · St. Helena · about 1.1 mi away
More picnic spots nearby
More picnic spots nearby
Winery
St. Helena· 0.9 mi
Bring your own foodPurchase requiredReserve aheadDogs OK
A tiny family winery high on Spring Mountain, where owner-winemaker Sheldon Richards often hosts tastings himself. The winery serves no food but says many guests bring a picnic to eat at its outdoor tables with the mountain views before or after tasting.
Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
- Own food
- yes
- Wine purchase
- Required
- Reservation
- Required
- Dogs
- Yes
- Fee
- No picnic fee
Nearest picnic food: The Model Bakery · 1.0 mi
Winery
St. Helena· 1 mi
Reserved picnicsPurchase requiredVineyard views
Merryvale's winery and tasting room sit in downtown St. Helena, but its picnic offering is a splurge: a vertical tasting of its flagship Profile wine with a seasonal picnic lunch on a hillside vineyard deck high above the valley. It's a private, catered experience rather than a place to bring your own food.
Reserved picnicsChecked Sep 2026
- Own food
- no
- Wine purchase
- Required
- Reservation
- Required
- Dogs
- not confirmed
- Fee
- not confirmed
Nearest picnic food: Gott's Roadside (St. Helena) · 0.1 mi
Winery
St. Helena· 2 mi
Buy food on sitePurchase requiredNo reservation
The Clif Bar founders' winery runs its tasting room on St. Helena's Main Street with a well-loved food truck out back. Order lunch from the Bruschetteria, grab a glass or bottle of organically farmed wine, and eat on the patio. It's the easiest picnic-style lunch in downtown St. Helena.
Buy food on siteChecked Sep 2026
- Own food
- no
- Wine purchase
- Required
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Dogs
- not confirmed
- Fee
- not confirmed
Nearest picnic food: Gott's Roadside (St. Helena) · 0.1 mi
Park
St. Helena· 2 mi
Bring your own foodNo reservationWine allowedDogs OK
Crane Park is where St. Helena locals hold birthday picnics and bocce afternoons, and city code allows beer and wine. Reserve a picnic area and a couple of lighted bocce courts for a group. On summer Fridays the farmers market sets up here.
Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
- Own food
- yes
- Wine allowed
- yes
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Dogs
- Yes
- Fee
- Free entry
Nearest picnic food: St. Helena Farmers' Market · 0.1 mi
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questionsCan you picnic at Charles Krug Winery?
No — Charles Krug Winery doesn't allow picnics or outside food. Food you can order there: Cheese and charcuterie boards daily. See the nearby spots below that do welcome picnics.
Can you bring your own food to Charles Krug Winery?
No. Charles Krug Winery doesn't allow outside food, but you can buy food there: cheese and charcuterie boards daily; wood-fired pizzas Thursday–Sunday, ordered during tastings; Cucina di Rosa wine-by-the-glass spot with small bites (daily 10:30am–5pm).
Can you bring your own wine to Charles Krug Winery?
No. Like most wineries, Charles Krug Winery doesn't allow outside wine or alcohol — buy a bottle there to enjoy with your picnic.
Are dogs allowed at Charles Krug Winery?
Leashed dogs welcome in the outdoor cabanas.
Is Charles Krug Winery good for kids?
Children and non-tasters welcome for $10 each (ages 2+), which includes a non-alcoholic drink.
Sources & accuracy
Sources & accuracyWe last checked this listing in September 2026 (freshest source: Official visit page © 2026). Policies change — especially for groups and holidays — so confirm with Charles Krug Winery before you go. How we verify.
- charleskrug.com/visit
- napavalleyjourneys.com/napa-valley-picnic.html
- booknapavalley.com/napa-valley-wineries-that-allow-food
