Tag: wine tour

14
May

Planning a Perfect Napa Wine Tour

For several years now, my cousin and I have been thinking about taking a trip up to Napa. When I flew out to visit just a few weeks ago, found ourselves talking about it once again and finally decided we just needed to pick a date and do it. So late this summer, we’ll be headed up to Napa to try out some new wines and have a good time. Naturally, our upcoming trip got me thinking of what we can do to really make the most of our trip. Here are a few things I came up with to help you have a great time in Napa if you’re headed up there this summer.

1. Plan on Visiting 3-5 Wineries at Most.

The most important thing to remember is that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. If you’re idea of a Napa vacation is to visit as many winery’s as possible, you may want to rethink that. Napa is the perfect place to relax and enjoy yourself. My advice is not to spoil that and choose about 3-5 wineries to visit. Many are in walking distance of each other so choose a few near each other and you can’t go wrong. In the event you do want to visit a winery a little ways away and you don’t have a designated driver, Uber and Lyft both operate in Napa and Sonoma.

2. Make Reservations.

Napa gets more than 3 million visitors a year, so make sure you make hotel reservations before-hand. The last think you want to do is end up staying an hour away and trying to commute to and from after wine tasting. Plan smart and get a room before hand. If you know want to tour a specific winery, it’s a good idea to make reservations ahead of time. Making sure you’ve got your plans set can help you avoid unnecessary hassles during your trip. Keep in mind that traffic in Napa can be a nightmare too and plan accordingly.

3. Pack a Lunch and plenty of water!

When I last went to Napa, I took a long road-trip up from Arizona. So we already had a cooler full of water and food in the car. But in the event that you’re flying in, it’s a good idea to have a plan to eat. Many wineries will have beautiful picnic areas. Going to the grocery store before hand and buying some bread and cheese will not only ensure you don’t go hungry but it will probably save you money on food too. Yes many wineries may have food with the wine tastings but it may not always be much and having some of your own will ensure you are prepared.

4. Pick Wineries Near Your Hotel.

When it comes to choosing wineries, it’s a good idea not to stray too far from your hotel. This will make your life so much easer and help you avoid either having to drive too far, or paying too much for an Uber or Lyft. With that in mind, take a look at wineries when you’re booking your room. If there are any that you know you want to visit, try to get a hotel nearby.

Good luck on your trip to Napa! I will definitely be writing plenty about my trip this summer with my cousin (perhaps a follow up on how well I followed my own advice). If you are visiting wine country or even a winery close to your home-town, consider writing about your experience and contributing to our wine blog. Click here for more details.