You searched for Les Tours | Wine Enthusiast

Napa Valley has over 400 wineries within its borders. There’s good wine around every corner, but if you’re planning a trip, that means there’s a lot to sift through. Then add in the hurdles of mapping a route, booking a car, finding a DD, snagging tastings at the up-and-coming producers or navigating crowds at the iconic stops. It’s a lot to navigate. Signing up for one of the region’s wine tours can save you the logistical migraines and make your trip a heck of a lot easier. The area’s best aren’t just on-the-bus, off-the-bus affairs. There are wine tours that give you exclusive access to prestigious vineyards and others that enable you to traverse the valley by foot or by bike. There are also tours for the sober-curious and options for folks who want to bring a furry friend along for the ride. There are even tours that give you different perspectives on the region, be it by looking backwards into Napa’s historical past or down from the sky—like, have you ever seen the Mayacamas from a hot air balloon? “Napa Valley is a world-renowned destination due to its culture, history and, of course, the wine,” says Bob Magnani, general manager of Bazán Cellars and executive director of WineD. “If you need help, just ask a local—we all love to share what we have with our new friends." Since there are so many options, we asked Napa locals which ones they think are actually worth the time and money. These are the wine tours they say to book. Image Courtesy of Napa Valley Vine Trail Napa Valley Vine Trail Mari Coyle, vice president of winemaking at Foley Family Wines & Spirits, recommends hitting the Napa Valley Vine Trail for a self-guided bike tour. “While the path is flat, the views are breathtaking,” Coyle says. “It's a great way to experience the Napa Valley whether you prefer to stop and shop or stop and sip.” More adventurous explorers can embark on the 20-mile (dog-friendly!) path from Napa to Yountville and back. Though, if you’d like to just bike one-way up the trail, Napa Valley Bike Tours offers relocation services, along with its rentals. Just keep in mind: Bouchon Bakery is located at the halfway point. While it’s easy to jump on and off the trail, one of the best options is to head south from downtown Napa, stroll by the riverfront and stop into the Oxbow Public Market for lunch. Or, head north from downtown Napa to hit the Rail Arts District, a two-mile stretch of public art. Current expansion plans will stretch the trail across 47-miles of the California wine country, from the Vallejo ferry terminal to Calistoga. Image Courtesy of Skyline Park A Self-Guided Tour of Skyline Park A more unconventional approach to exploring wine country? Hiking Skyline Park, an 850-acre wilderness area in the southeast corner of the valley. It’s one of B Cellars Vineyards and Winery General Manager Curtis Strohl’s favorite ways to see the valley. “And it’s free,” he says. Hike in the late afternoon and follow his lead: hit the veranda at Auberge du Soleil or the rooftop of the Archer Hotel to take in the sunset over the park. Jonathan Tyer, the winemaker of the historic Inglenook, prefers to start off a beautiful morning hike before heading out on a tasting tour. “Skyline Wilderness Park has multiple great trails with stunning views of both Napa and the San Pablo Bay,” says Tyer. Image Courtesy of Napa County Historical Society Walking Tour Napa County Historical Society Walking Tour In the warmer months, the Napa County Historical Society offers walking tours of both Napa’s historic downtown and the Tulocay Cemetery, allowing visitors a deeper dive into the faces and figures who shaped the valley. If you can’t sneak one of their tours into your schedule, the Napa Valley Tour app also offers self-led expeditions of the region’s most notable landmarks, including a tour that features audio monologues of Napa’s most historic residents performed by professional actors, courtesy of the Napa Valley’s Shakespeare Festival. Image Courtesy of Napa Valley Aloft Napa Valley Aloft Hot Air Balloon Rides Struggling to understand the Valley’s geographical composition? Can’t distinguish Calistoga from Carneros? Take to the skies and scope out the valley from the cradle of a hot air balloon. Napa Valley Aloft takes off from the center of Yountville, then floats passengers in small groups over Rutherford, Oakville, Oak Knoll and the northern reaches of Carneros. Spot To Kalon Vineyards, pick out Screaming Eagle and Stags’ Leap and watch the fog clear over Mount Veeder and Atlas Peak (it’s what gives the mountain Cabernets that distinctive intensity). If you’re feeling spendy, splurge for a more romantic hot air balloon ride for two. “A hot air balloon ride is synonymous with Napa Valley tourism, and Aloft offers an iconic experience that defines the region’s charm,” says Ryan C. Hill, the proprietor of Yountville’s Hill Family Estate. “Soaring above rolling vineyards at sunrise is a breathtaking journey that perfectly complements Napa’s world-class wine culture.” Image Courtesy of Bardessono Cabernet Canine Tour Matt Brush, concierge at Bardessono Hotel and Spa, frequently puts together a Cabernet Canine tour for four-legged visitors and their human friends. It starts with dog beds, treats and bandanas, then moves to Lucy Restaurant and Bar for a dog-friendly menu of chicken and apple sausage and eggs, or grass-fed beef and carrots. Then, guests can head off to Napa Cellars in Oakville. “It has a pet-friendly tasting room and offers a water bowl, treats and a Napa Cellars bandana,” says Brush. “Pine Ridge Vineyards is next: it welcomes leashed dogs into their tasting room.” Alternatively, Dog-Friendly Wine Tours—as the name suggests—also offers half- and full-day pup-centered itineraries. Image Courtesy of Napa Valley Trail Rides Napa Valley Trail Rides Traverse wine country’s terrain and terroir on horseback from Rapp Ranch, Shadybrook Estate’s property in the Coombsville foothills. The property’s 12 mounts carry guests through vineyards and under old oaks, in between Cabernet vines and over the Coombsville hills. Trail rides start at 30-minutes (for a quick ride around the ranch) or can include a longer, wrangler-led trail ride, which concludes at the tasting room’s patio with a tasting of wines from the Shadybrook Estate poured alongside cheese and charcuterie. Image Courtesy of Laces and Limos Laces and Limos’ Napa Wine Safari Laces and Limos’ signature tour is a wine safari—a full-day tour of Napa’s stunning scenery via electric tuk tuk. Winery stops rotate frequently, though expect two to three on the itinerary, like John Anthony’s scenic church tasting room and Chandon’s chateau, broken up by a private chef-catered lunch at a scenic stop. All tours include a complimentary photo album, a welcome snack box and a glass of sparkling. “When visitors come to Napa Valley, I always recommend including a tour that provides a different perspective and unique vantage point,” says Sarah Jones Gillihan, a Napa-based communications expert. “The women from Laces & Limos deliver a one-of-a-kind way to see Napa Valley's vineyards and serve up a great meal to boot.” Image Courtesy of Napa Valley Wine Train The Napa Valley Wine Train The Napa Valley Wine Train takes travelers on a retro journey through the valley onboard restored Pullman train cars. The train’s route is just 36 miles, but tours come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. “You just can't see Napa Valley quite like you can from the Wine Train, and the dining experience is top notch,” says Gillihan. The Legacy Experience starts with sparkling wine and a warm plated breakfast, rolls visitors through three vineyards (including Charles Krug) and includes a requisite stop at the Welcome to Napa Valley sign for a snapshot. Or, take a themed tour, like a two-and-a-half-hour Murder Mystery Dinner, a Santa train or lunch and dinner in the train’s domed roof car. Tasting fees are included in the ticket price. Image Courtesy of Vintages in the Villa Vintages in the Villa One of Brush’s favorite excursions to send guests—specifically couples—on is the Vintages in the Villa tour from Lawrence Wine Estates portfolio. It includes a four-night villa stay at the property, a range of tastings with Master Sommelier Erik Elliott and several private tours of the portfolio’s wineries. “Crafted to help guests immerse themselves in Napa’s rich wine culture, the package includes private wine education sessions, and wine tasting experiences at both Stony Hill and Heitz Cellar,” says Brush. Outside of that experience, he finds that Stony Hill’s 90-minute private Terroir Experience and Heitz Cellars’ The Rutherford Legacy at Trailside Vineyard & The Salon offering (a tour of the vineyards in a Lexus, followed by cheese, charcuterie and a Cabernet vertical tasting) are both “luxurious tours,” he says. “Perfect for couples looking for a unique, romantic wine tour.” Image Courtesy of Napa Valley Wine Trolley Napa Valley Wine Trolley Hop aboard a replica of San Francisco’s iconic cable cars and roll through the valley’s southern AVAs, including Oakville, Yountville, and Rutherford. Tours depart from downtown Napa’s Oxbow Public Market and take one of two routes. The Up Valley Castle tour stops by Castello di Amorosa, a Calistoga winery housed in a Tuscan-style castle, and includes lunch at St. Helena’s Pizzeria Tra Vigne. The Classic Napa Valley tour runs through the hits with lunch at Michael Chiarello’s pizzeria, Ottimo, and stops at three wineries that change according to the day of the week. Properties may include spots like Monticello Vineyards, Napa Cellars and Jean Edwards. Image Courtesy of Bardessono N/A-Pa Concierge Bardessono Hotel offers a N/A-Pa Concierge tour, specifically designed for “free-spirited” visitors to the valley who are sober or seeking an alcohol-free experience. “As the first service of its kind in the region, it helps guests plan memorable activities and explore the beauty of wine country without the alcohol,” says Brush. Plans include wellness stops (like yoga or a massage), outdoor activities (hikes through the hills and hot air balloon rides) and a trip to Trinchero Family Estates. There, guests can enjoy tastings of Napa-based, alcohol-removed Luminara wines and FRE’s zero-proof red, whites and bubbles. “It allows everyone to join in on the fun during a winery experience,” says Brush. Image Courtesy of Pure Luxury's Exclusive Sommelier Tour Pure Luxury’s Exclusive Sommelier Tour Pure Luxury, a black-car service, offers tours across both Napa and Sonoma. There are pre-set, full-day tours that include tastings and pairings as well as customized options. Guests can pick out the destinations, plug them over to Pure Luxury and kick back in a luxury sedan or, if you’re with a crowd, a Sprinter van or motor coach. Savvier oenophiles will love the Exclusive Sommelier Tour, guided by sommelier Christopher Sawyer, a wine judge, journalist and personal sommelier to the stars (think: the Getty family and Pixar’s John Lasseter). His itinerary includes deep-cut wineries, like Baldacci (which has been growing grapes since 1888) and tastings of limited-release wines. Sawyer is there through the day, adding insight into grapes and winemaking techniques and answering any burning questions that arise. Group sizes are named after bottle sizes, from magnums (groups under 10) to Nabuchadnezzard (25+). More Napa Coverage For more than 30 years, Brown Estate has been breaking ground in Napa Valley. Nine Napa Valley hotels, motels and inns to book right now. The best Napa Valley wineries to visit right now, according to industry insiders. The making of a 100-point wine: a Napa red with balance and integrity. The top ten California wines to collect right now. In the Shop For Wine On-the-Go This versatile messenger-style wine bag comes with removable bottle liners, a corkscrew and an aerator. Shop All Wine Bags

We Bring Wine to Life

Get To Know Us

Help

For Business

Subscribe

Our Sites

Categories

Categories

Brands

Type of Cooling

Type of Cooling

Price Range

Bottle Capacity

Width

Ratings

Wine Style

Ratings

Price Range

Varietals

Qualifiers

Country

Type

Brand

Publication Date

Categories

Author

Tags

We Bring Wine to Life

Get To Know Us

Help

For Business

Subscribe

Our Sites