What is the best wine tour in Napa Valley?

Napa Valley is one of the most well-known wine regions in the world, known especially for its Cabernet Sauvignon. Every year, tourists flock to Napa Valley to enjoy the various winery offerings and picturesque views. With more than 400 wineries located in the region, it is difficult to choose where to take a wine tour. While some wineries are open to walk-in visitors, small wineries need visitors to make an appointment to accommodate them. 

If you are looking to visit Napa Valley anytime soon, you might want to arrange a tour or you could do some research yourself on specific wineries to visit. 

Tips on planning a winery tour

It is difficult to go to Napa Valley and drop by any random winery you chance upon. Many, if not most, wineries require reservations. Researching various wineries is very important because this will make it easier to plan your whole itinerary and budget. Find out what wineries are open to walk-in visitors and those which need reservations. If you are interested in a winery which requires reservations in advance, book it as soon as possible. 

It is also highly recommended to limit your winery tours to 1 to 3 per day. This is to prevent you from rushing from one winery to another and lessening the whole Napa Valley winery experience. With that said, hiring a professional driver is also a great option to make it easier to get around and remove the burden of driving yourself after a day of drinking. 

Winery tours in Napa 

If you are looking for a winery tour without having to make any reservations, here are some wineries that are open for drop-ins:

• Hess Collection
• Castello di Amorosa – while reservations are highly recommended, Castello di Amorosa also accepts walk-ins if there is still room
• Artesa
• Beringer
• Robert Mondavi

On the other hand, if you are going with a large group, it is better to make a reservation for a winery tour to make sure that everyone gets a chance to enter rather than hoping there are more available spots. Reservations are also more likely to ensure a great experience due to a more controlled number of people. Some wineries that need reservations in advance are:

• Fantesca
• Del Dotto Wine Gallery
• Silver Oak
• Schramsberg
• V. Sattui
• Hendry Ranch

 

Booking Tours

Local tourism agencies also offer private wine tours, group tours, and transportation that make it easier for tourists to navigate Napa Valley wine routes. You can choose from different options such as private chauffeured wine tours, a wine trolley, bike tours, a wine train, and even hot air balloon rides. Napa Valley has so much to offer which is why it is better to plan ahead rather than visiting on a whim. 

Fantesca Private Tour and Tasting

If you are the type of person who wants to plan their own itinerary, you should make an appointment to visit Fantesca Estate & Winery. Boasting a 10-acre vineyard lined with olive trees and also a bee colony, visitors can enjoy the whole experience while overlooking a stunning view of the Spring Mountains. 

Fantesca’s wines are produced by the world-class winemaker and ‘Queen of Cult Cabernet’ Heidi P. Barrett, and are definitely one-of-a-kind. During a visit, guests will be able to explore the vineyards, have a chance to peek at the winery’s cave where the wines are aged, and taste the limited-production wines at the private wine tasting salon. 

Schedule an appointment and have an intimate experience with Fantesca.