Wine Tours

A popular and wonderful way to tour the Napa Valley [1] wineries is not to drive yourself. If you hire a limo or join up with a tour, no one in your party must abstain as the designated driver, and everyone has a better time because no one’s worried about traffic. You’ll find plenty of tour operators and limo companies in the area happy to take your reservations. Calling at least a few days in advance is recommended, or even earlier during late summer and fall. Expect to spend $100–300 on your tour or limo service, depending on the size of your party and the level of service and tour customizing you want.

Napa Valley Wine Country Tours (707/226-3333, www.winecountrylimos.com [2], $79/person, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.) runs a luxury van to some of the most prestigious wineries, plus a few great boutiques you might not be familiar with. With a flexible schedule and a 13-passenger limit, this tour makes a great choice for more serious cork dorks as well as Wine Country [3] newcomers. A picnic lunch is included in this six-hour tour, though you’re expected to pay your own tasting fees.

If you’re in Napa with a small party or just your sweetie, consider hiring Elegant Tours (707/312-1352, www.elegantwinetours.com [4]). Stretch limos in several styles are available, but so are smaller, unobtrusive sedans that can take smaller parties on custom tours. They’ll take you tasting, to dinner, and to the airport.

For visitors looking to meet new people on their travels, a seat on the bus with California Wine Tours and Transportation (800/294-6386, www.californiawinetours.com [5]) might be the perfect choice. Leaving from either Napa or San Francisco [6], these large package tours offer a great overview of the biggest Napa wineries. You’ll be seated in a comfortable bus for the duration of the trip, swapping tasting notes with your fellow travelers. Or if you prefer a smaller tour of the more intimate winemakers, consider hiring one of the company’s smaller vehicles for your trip.