When I think about Napa, Jax isn’t the first vineyard that comes to mind but I can tell you that the Tasting Room downtown is a fantastic way to establish the brand.
Location is fantastic - just a few minutes from Oracle Park and down the block from and so many businesses HQ’d nearby (think Airbnb, Pinterest and many more). Seems like there’s a good blend of locals and visitors - not uncommon to see folks with suitcases who want to grab a drink before heading over to the airport or train station.
Thursday happy hour in Feb had a great ambiance. There’s a blend of couches, barrels with stools and large tables which contributes to the social feel, integrating all groups. I can imagine that it may become too chaotic before Giants home games.
There is no table service at Jax but it works. The group of girls that was working on the afternoon we visited was so warm and accommodating...Jax’s strength, in my opinion.
There isn’t much of a food selection (which is to be expected of a ‘tasting room’) - charcuterie boards are standard fare for this environment and they seem to turn a fair number of these. They’re just ok...lots of the selections, like the prosciutto, are store bought but overall it’s a good way to get some nutrients when sampling the wines...which is why we’re here, after all ...and the wines did not disappoint. We enjoyed a few bottles of the rosè (pictured) which was very good.
Would love to return.