Wine Connoisseurs Love Napa Valley Wine Tours

Your next trip to Northern California should include a Napa Valley wine tour.

Millions of years ago, a combination of erosion, volcanoes, and other geologic wonders came together to produce some of the best wine-growing soil in the world.

Napa Valley wine tour guests, however, don't think much about plate tectonics while they're enjoying fine wines and incredible scenery on a trip through this picturesque area of northern California, just a 2-hour drive from San Francisco.

Each year, thousands travel to both Napa and neighboring Sonoma to sip the best vintages, meet winemakers, enjoy gourmet meals, and roam through rows of plump grapes ripe for harvest.

Modes of Transportation
While it's fun to travel Napa on your own and at your preferred pace, guided wine tours offer a great education as to the intricacies of winemaking and the sites of the Napa Valley in general.

One of the most popular ways to travel from winery to winery is via limousine. Riding in a limo means that Napa Valley wine tours can be enjoyed safely, without the need to get behind the wheel after a day of wine tasting.

Limo companies offer pre-designed tours or are happy to custom-design a tour to meet your desires. This is an especially fun and intimate way for a small group to travel together in comfort.

Others may choose a bus. A number of companies offer Napa Valley winery tours on luxury motorcoaches, often departing from San Francisco. Guests ride in air-conditioned comfort and meet new friends with similar interests.

Some tour companies provide tours via horse-drawn carriage. What a great way to see Napa or Sonoma up close and personal, unobscured by tinted windows! Travel is leisurely and the scenery is unmatched.

A wine train tour brings visitors back to an era where train travel was king. Beautifully restored vintage Pullman or lounge cars offer a comfortable ride through the valley. On these trips, guests do their wine tasting on board and also enjoy gourmet meals that include the freshest California produce.

Last, but certainly not least, is the amazing Napa Valley balloon tour. While guests won't actually do much tasting on this tour, the sights from the air are amazing as the balloon drifts over the lush green landscape and picturesque wineries. Usually, a champagne toast or brunch is included.

Your Itinerary
Napa Valley wine tours are all a bit different. Most, however, include stops at both small family-owned "boutique" wineries and larger "estate" cellars.

Individual winery stops may feature tours of the wine-aging tunnels, a barrel tasting of a pre-release wine, and lots of fun and educational information about grape-growing and the winemaking process.

More formal tastings are usually held at the completion of the tour. Some wineries offer cheese or other foods with their wines during tasting.

A number of Napa Valley wine tours include a catered gourmet picnic, served in a picturesque setting at the winery, often overlooking the vineyards.

Planning Tips
Tours are conducted all year long but May through October are generally the busiest months. If you're planning to visit during that time, schedule your tour before you leave for California, at least 1 to 2 months in advance.

Also, it's easier to schedule your tour on a weekday, when wineries are less crowded.

If you're able to visit during the off-season, consider February or March, the time when most wineries show off their new releases. It's also fun to visit during harvest time, but it's sometimes difficult to secure reservations for Napa Valley wine tours during the "crush."

Posted by Pat on Saturday, July 16, 2005