May is National Wine Month. What better way to celebrate National Wine Month than with a tasting at a military-friendly winery?
There are more than 8,700 wineries in the United States. Many wineries offer military discounts on tastings or free tastings to veterans and military spouses. Here is a list of military-friendly wineries in Napa and Sonoma.
15 Napa Wineries that Offer a Military Discount
Start your wine tour at the oldest winery in Napa Valley, Charles Krug. It also happens to be the first tasting room in California. At Charles Krug you can enjoy a five glass wine tasting. It’s usually $20, but the fee is waived for active duty service members.
Robert Mondavi has made Napa Valley what it is today. Enjoy a military discount and great wines at Robert Mondavi.
Hall Winery generally has a $40 tasting fee, but it is free for service members. Service members can enjoy a free glass of wine as well.
Domaine Carneros has a military discount on tastings as well as 10% off merchandise.
V. Sattui Winery has delicious wines as well as a military discount.
Grgich Hills Estate offers free wine tastings to service members.
Domaine Chandon has a 20% military discount.
Mumm Napa not only offers service members a free tour and wine tasting, but they also have a military discount of 30% off purchases.
Rombauer Vineyards offers free wine tastings to service members.
Raymond Vineyards offers a 10% military discount.
Peju offers free wine tastings for service members.
Beaulieu Vineyard provides free wine tastings to military service members.
Beringer Vineyards has a program where service members can enjoy a free glass of wine.
Cakebread offers free wine tastings to service members.
Monticello Vineyards may be a small family-owned and -operated winery, but they really know what they are doing. Enjoy a free wine tasting with their friendly staff.
7 Sonoma County Wineries That Have a Military Discount
There are more than 425 wineries in Sonoma. Here are seven military-friendly ones not to be missed.
Murphey Goode offers free wine tastings to veterans. I love that they support Operation Homefront, which is a nonprofit charity that gives assistance to service members. Murphey Goode donates 50 cents from each bottle of their Homefront Red Blend to the organization. While that doesn’t sound like a lot per bottle, it has generated over $300,000 a year.
At Francis Ford Coppola Winery you’ll enjoy a free wine tasting as well as a 10% military discount.
Adastra offers free wine tasting to military couples.
Alexander Valley Vineyards provides a free reserve tasting for service members.
Highway 12 Vineyards and Winery provides free wine tastings.
One last winery to mention in California is Tackitt Family Vineyards in Paso Robles. It is dear to my heart. They produce a collection of wines labeled EOD Cellars. The owner is a Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) veteran. My husband is an EOD Tech. A portion of the profits from these wines goes to the EOD Warrior Foundation, which supports wounded EOD techs.
8 Military-Friendly Breweries Owned by Veterans
There are also veteran-owned breweries. The eight below are ones not to be missed if you are in their area.
Honor Brewing Company is operated by an Army veteran, a Gold Star son and one other partner. Their tasting room opens this year.
Heritage Brewing Company has its own nonprofit that supports veterans. A portion of their proceeds go toward it.
Full Tilt Brewing in Baltimore, Md., is run by a veteran and a former DoD worker.
Young Veterans Brewing Company, owned by two Army veterans, is in Virginia Beach. You can visit their taproom and take a tour there.
Veterans United Craft Brewery in Jacksonville, Fl., is owned by a former Naval flight officer.
Railhouse Brewery is owned by Army, Navy and Air Force veterans. You can visit their taproom in North Carolina.
Red Leg Brewing Company in Colorado Springs has a wonderful taproom.
Fair Winds Brewing Company is one of the top 50 fastest growing breweries in America. You can visit their taproom in Fairfax, Va.
With all of these military-friendly wineries and breweries, you’re sure to have a good time supporting veterans and businesses that support our military community.
In the Boston area Sam Adams offers military discounts in their gift shop and for entry fee. Also, everyone who takes the tour gets a free Sam Adams glass to take home as a free souvenir.