Are you planning a trip to Napa Valley anytime soon? Are you looking forward to visiting wineries and tasting their special wine offerings? Visitors to the area can do and experience a wide variety of activities regardless of budget.
Napa Valley is one of the most popular wine regions in the world. It is known particularly for its world class Cabernet Sauvignon. The combination of good terrain and a Mediterranean-like climate allows the region to grow almost perfect wine grapes.
The area started to become a tourist destination for wine connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike when a local winery, Chateau Montelana, topped nine other chardonnays in a blind tasting at the 1976 Judgment of Paris wine competition. After that, people flocked there to try these California wines for themselves.
Over the years, the area has seen the growth of many wineries. Most of these are family-owned and have been in the business for a long time. Because of this, prices have also gone up for visitors. Because of the popularity that Napa Valley has acquired throughout the years, it has become a premium travel destination.
Whether you are on a budget or have extra money to shell out, there are many options that fit the bill. Wineries offer different experiences for everybody. Before, their offerings were only exclusively for wine tasting, but as time went by, they upgraded to a fuller experience. Wineries opened the option to tour the vineyards and let guests discover how their products are made to give them a more intimate feeling when they finally taste the wines.
Private tours are usually by appointment so it is highly recommended to book these in advance. Some visits can also be customized to your liking in order to give you the best customer experience. Depending on the activity and the winery itself, the price can start at $10 and the price can go as high as $300. There are also tours that can go as high as $20,000. It all really depends on what you are looking for.
When visiting, it is important to plan your trip carefully starting from how much money you are willing to spend on the whole trip and narrowing your choice of wineries to go to. If you are struggling to make an itinerary, there are private tours you can book. Professional drivers can also offer suggestions and recommendations on which wineries to visit. Again, the price for these tours depends on the size of the group or how luxurious you want your experience to be. It can go from as low as $200 to as high as $1,200. Bear in mind that some of these tours are not inclusive of wine tasting so budget wisely. There are also other tours that charge per person which might offer more competitive prices.
Fantesca offers a private tasting for $150 per person. The estate has a 10-acre vineyard planted with the best grapes which are transformed into great tasting wines. It also has about 70 olive trees which produce two special Fantesca extra virgin olive oils. Part of the tour is the chance to take a look at the winery’s cave where the wines are aged. A personal estate host will guide the guests through all of these areas which makes it more special and intimate for the guests.
All in all, Fantesca offers a full experience which should not be overlooked by those who are planning to go on a winery tour.
If you are planning on going to Napa Valley and exploring its magnificent wines and breathtaking views, the most important thing to do is to take note of your budget. From there, you can plan which wineries you want to visit and which tours are right on the money. Even if wine tours are on the pricey side, they are definitely worth it.