The 7 Best wine Tours from San Francisco

Have a thing for Wine? Then you have the best options if you are in San Francisco. Napa Valley wineries are the most renowned places to be if you are such a wine lover. Apart from wine tasting, this trip from San Francisco also offers a lot of scenic views on the journey.

In this post, we have selected and reviewed some of the best wine tours from San Francisco and we’ll cover the details of each so you can choose the right tour that fits your needs. We also make recommendations on accommodation, how to get there and the best towns to visit

Make sure to read our reviews of Alcatraz tours and Muir woods tours

Here are some of the best wine tours from San Francisco you can choose from

1. Napa and Sonoma Full-day Tour from San Francisco

For a slightly lower-priced tour, this full day tour begins from San Francisco into the wine regions of Napa and Sonoma. This tour stops at between three popular separate wineries of Napa and Sonoma where you will enjoy tastings all included in your tour ticket. The unique side of this, a sampling includes a variety of wines right from the barrel during your tour you will be given free time for lunch at Sonoma Plaza where you can select from among the many charming restaurants.

We recommend this tour because of the ease of transport and the professional guides included, this will prevent you from struggling with direction and guidance. In addition, it is a great option for someone who wants to make new friends and enjoy a small group setting.

2. Napa Valley Wine Train from San Francisco: Gourmet Lunch, Wine tasting & Vineyard Tour

This tour will take you through scenic Napa valley on this antique train passing through Yountville, Rutherford, and many more allowing you to enjoy picturesque views through your journey. Besides that, the wine train tour is a perfect choice if you want to indulge in luxury with three kitchens on the train we are sure you won’t go hungry. This includes a choice to choose on your 3 –course lunch on board.

During this tour, you will be offered time to disembark at three separate wineries which include Raymond Vineyards, Gryich Hills estate, and Charles Krug winery.

There is wine tasting at each winery and learn how the grapes are grown picked, processed into wine.

We recommend this tour for those who prefer a romantic and relaxing tour experience. This train journey takes you through picturesque views of Napa Valley, which will fill you with relaxation and comfort.

3. Private Sonoma and Napa Wine tour from San Francisco

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This private tour will begin when you board a luxury air-conditioned van with a group of up to 6 people. In addition to that, you will be picked from either your hotel or your place of residence.

During this tour, your chauffeur will take you to the top-selected wineries in Napa Valley and Sonoma. Because this is a private tour (personalized tour) you can customize your itinerary that will better meet your preferences. Also, your chauffeur can help you to make the right suggestions should you need them.

On this tour, you will be given free time to have lunch without rush your guide will be able to give you suggestions of the best places you can have lunch. At the end of your trip, you will receive two bottles of wine as a gift.

We recommend this tour for someone who would like to customize his/her tour itinerary and someone who enjoys the freedom of being on their own and avoiding large crowds.

4.Napa and Sonoma Valley wine tour from San Francisco

This wine tour starts with a pickup from your San Francisco hotel then stops at three wineries in Sonoma and Napa. There is wine tasting at each all included with your tour. While there learn about the history of winemaking including the first arrivals of grapes by the early Spanish missionaries see how grapes are grown, picked, crushed, and blended into the final product that you can later taste.

Lastly, lunch is not included in this tour but a stop for lunch or snack is made at Historical Sonoma square in the Heart of Napa.

We recommend this tour for those who love to have a lot of fun with a group and taste a variety of wines also this tour can be a good choice for someone looking for a low-priced or affordable wine tour.

5.Napa by Helicopter with wine tasting and food pairing from San Francisco

Get excellent views of the city, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the rolling Vineyards of Napa valley before landing down at Jamieson ranch vineyards in a helicopter

You’ll spend the afternoon exploring the property Tapas and enjoy wine tasting all under a guide of an expert. The tour will last for three hours but because helicopter travel is faster than using vehicles, you will have ample time to explore and enjoy wine tasting with a nice food pairing on the veranda of this winery.

We recommend this tour for those who like to travel in luxury also this tour is the best option if you like to avoid delay on the way. Helicopter flight is much faster than using vehicles giving you ample time to explore the beautiful winery.

6. Small group Napa Valley tour for wine lovers from San Francisco

This tour will take you to three prestigious wineries including Castello Di Amorosa, sterling vineyards, and Beringer vineyards.

On your way, be amazed by narratives from an expert guide about the history of the area, architecture, and vineyards of Napa Valley.

The first stop is at Castello di Amorosa its 13th-century type architecture the design and layout create a replication of a castle. While there you will be given, time to enjoy its elegant wines. The next move will be boarding an aerial tram for panoramic views of the Napa valley plus an elegant visit to sterling vineyards.

On your way back to San Francisco, make a champagne toast at the iconic Golden Gate Bridge with friends to make the trip more memorable.

We recommend this tour for same one who prefers a small group tour and opens to make new friends.

7.San Francisco Supersaver: Muir woods& Wine country

This tour combines two elements a trip to view the giant redwoods in Muir Woods with a visit to Wine Country. The tour starts with a hotel pickup early in the morning then your guide will take you for a one-hour guided walk in the Muir Woods. Next will be a drive to Wine Country for wine tasting at three separate wineries. The wineries are carefully selected to give a good experience for the visiting individual.

We recommend this trip for a wine lover who prefers a discount tour and is interested in combining a natural walk in Muir woods with a tour of wine country.

How to get from San Francisco to Napa Valley.

By Car: This is a 1: 28-minute drive from San Francisco to Napa Valley. To reach Napa Valley, usually taking the 1-80E to CA-20N route is the quickest drive to wine country. If you prefer to enjoy the natural and scenic views, the western route is the best option to connect, go North across the Golden Gate Bridge to high way 37 then connect to highway 121 and highway 29 north. Also, do not forget to check the traffic before you leave. The roads are often found crowded after 11 am, so it’s best to leave early in the morning. If you are driving the choice is yours, as you get to pass through the Golden Bridge or through the lush rolling hills of the wine country, this will depend on the route your choose.

By Ferry: To reach Napa Valley, you can either drive or take a ferry from the San Francisco ferry building or Fisherman’s Wharf PIER41 to Vallejo On the side of tickets you’ll have to buy separately and at least a day before you intend to travel. Make sure you have checked the operating schedule before booking your tickets.

By Tour: same of the San Francisco Tour companies offer personalized transportation to get to Napa Valley Also, most of the tours offered include Transportation and some use comfortable luxurious passenger Vans.

Some of the Famous Wine country Towns &Cities to visit

Wine country consists of different cities and towns with unique offerings. From Michelin star restaurants serving gourmet recipes to beautiful hotels with relaxing views, every town has its touch. Choose very wisely before you go and for that, we are here to help you pick what is best for you! Here are some of the famous Wine country towns and Cities you won’t miss

City of Napa: This city is known for The Napa Valley Opera House, which dates back to 1880, and for its entertaining live shows. If you are looking for a great dining experience, then Morimoto Napa is a Michelin star Japanese restaurant, which you can visit. The city restaurants also offer cuisines like Italian and American. For accommodation, you would be looking at vineyard cottages, hotels, and resorts, but some of the most favorites of all are Silverado Resort and Andaz Hotel.

Yountville Town: Known for its V marketplace, this town is known for its events and festivals, which introduce the tourists to local culture. Villagio Inn and Bardessono are few among the luxuries hotels to live in, but there are affordable accommodations near the marketplace. This town is best known for its number of Michelin Star restaurants that serve Italian, French, and Mediterranean cuisine. Hopper Creek Winery and Hill Family Estate are the two wineries, which offer you free tastings if you make a purchase that means your bottle of wine just got discounted.

St Helena Town: Hosting the Culinary Institute of America, you know what to expect from this town. ST Helena is also famous as a shopping destination and does have many art galleries. The most famous event is the Music in Vineyards, which is bliss for music and wine lovers. You can find a holistic dining experience from a local place like Farmstead to luxury restaurants like Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen. For accommodation, you can stay at the Meadowood Napa Valley resort for the best luxurious treatment.

Sonoma: Just like Napa, which is so famous in the world, Sonoma gets buried under its shadow but has a lot more to offer for your Wine tasting experience. This small town in the beautiful valley of the moon is only 30 min drive from Napa and very close to Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, and Russian River Valley. One of not to miss is the vintage Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley which leaves from Sonoma Plaza at 10:30 in the morning to take you through the best wineries and the picturesque view. This ride takes you to four premium wineries, which are Imagery Estate, Benziger, Kunde and Paradise Ridge, and BR Cohn.

Things to Know

Wine tasting: Most of the wineries charge for tastings and hence check prices before going. Stonehenge Winery and Farella Vineyard are among the few places, which offer free tastings with purchase, which is not usual as others charge on a per-person basis.

Don’t Forget ID: If you want to book a wine tour to be eligible most wine tours require ages between

21 and above so move with your Id as proof and to be able to drink the wine.