COMING TO NAPA WITH A BIG GROUP? Best Wineries for Large Groups 10 and under

Best Napa Wineries for Large Groups 10 and Under

Planning a Napa Valley bachelorette party, corporate outing, family reunion, or just getting a bunch of friends together to go wine tasting? Then take note - even as we come out of Covid restrictions, most Napa wineries are still limiting groups to 6 or less. Don’t think you can just waltz into the winery and be greeted with open arms. Wineries will turn your large group away, leaving your friends to sulk in the parking lot while giving you the dagger eyes.

But don’t despair, I’ve been helping groups set up tasting events for years now and happy to share my tips, from finding wineries who are group friendly to showing you how to get discounts. I’ll show you to the ones that WANT your group, not just tolerate you. Everything you need to make your own group plans and reservations is right here!

Coming with a Group Over 10?

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For Groups, Size Does Matter

NOTE: THIS INFO WILL BE UPDATED IN SEPT 2023. RULES KEEP CHANGING SO BE FLEXIBLE!

GROUPS OF 6 OR LESS: Most wineries will take you no problem, and some will even honor the Priority Wine Pass for 2 for 1 deals. You can relax, groups under 6 are easy as pie.

GROUPS OF 7 TO 10: Now it gets a bit harder as many wineries on your wish list will flat out refuse to take your reservation or try to convince you to break up into two tables which is a party pooper idea if there ever was one.

You’ll need to plan ahead a bit and set your expectations that your list of winery options is much narrower. The good news is if you have a group of 10 or less you can still use your Priority Wine Pass for 2 for 1’s at some wineries - I’ll show you which ones.

GROUPS OVER 10 to 100: Now your options get even smaller - smaller than you might think because while there are some wineries who will take your group of 12 to 30, many of them just don’t do that good of a job. Over 30? Even harder to find. I’ve added a special page just for these large groups. Email Me, it’s easier that way!

Let’s Summarize

• If you have a group up to 10 use this page to find wineries who will take your group. Some offer discounts if you have a Priority Wine Pass.

• If you have a group over 10 you can reach out to me via email and I’ll work with you to figure out which wineries would work best. I don’t charge you for this - the wineries pay me a (very) small finders fee if you book which supports the site. I also make sure that the wineries take very good care of you since I recommended them.

• You will need to hire transportation. Uber does not work, especially for groups. I can connect you with drivers who have good reputations and prices.

Napa Valley’s BEST Wineries for Groups of 6 or Less That Offer Discounts

Booking wineries that accept groups of 6 or less isn’t hard, but finding ones that discount isn’t nearly as easy. That’s why I’ve listed all of the wineries that discount below. You’ll need to purchase one Priority Wine Pass per couple but since the passes are only $49 you’ll definitely come out ahead. Buy the passes here so you get my $20 off deal. Put the passes in the names of people who might use them again as they’re good for a full year. Now that you have your passes here’s all you need to do to plan a great day or more in Napa with your group… on a budget!

1. BOOK TRANSPORTATION: Work this into your budget. Trust me, you don’t want your group driving themselves after sipping wine all day and getting multiple Ubers to show up at the same time to get you to your next stop is nearly impossible. So just hire a driver. Drivers come in different flavors, from those who drive rentals (cheapest) to professional transportation companies with a fleet of drivers (more expensive). I also have drivers who were once tour guides who can give you backstories on the wineries and keep you entertained, as well as some who will even make reservations for you. It all starts with an email to me letting me know your dates so start there and I’ll hook you up.

2. PICK SOME WINERIES: Ignore your well meaning friends who keep tossing winery names at you and just trust that below are all of the wineries that offer discounts. These wineries cap out at discounts for groups of 6 so if you have 7 to 10 people just move along to the next section.

A really easy and fun agenda would be

10:00 Beringer: Grab a glass of wine and stroll the groups, with the Priority Wine Pass it comes out to only $15 per person.

11:30: V Sattui: Everyone loves this winery because they have a full deli onsite and great picnic grounds. Get half off your tasting with each pass, save $22.50.

1:30: Hans Fahden: They discount groups of 10 or less so take the short scenic drive to Calistoga and do this one. It’s simply beautiful and if you want instagram worthy shots this is the place with it’s reflecting ponds and old wooden bridges. Two for one, just $20 per person with your Priority Wine Pass.

3:30: For the last stop you could do Castillo di Amorosa, the Napa Castle. There are no discounts here but it’s worth the full price and super fun for groups. Or stay on budget and go to Louis M Martini or V Sattui, both really nice wineries with outside areas perfect for your final stop.

You must call to make reservations and tell them you have the Priority Wine Pass so that they charge you correctly. If they don’t pick up the phone (many won’t) you can book online and I’ve been assured that they will charge you correctly once you arrive. And remember, you only need one Priority Wine Pass for every two people. Use my button below so you get my $20 off deal making each pass just $49.

PRO TIP: Google map out your wineries so you are not zipping up and down the valley and make sure you work in a lunch break, even if it’s just snacking on some bread and cheese in the car on your way to the next stop. The best picnic spots for bringing in your own food is Napa Cellars. For wineries with food (no outside picnic food allowed) go to V Sattui for the excellent deli or Charles Krug for charcuterie and cheese platters as well as wood fired pizzas in the summer.

Once you have your wineries reserved you should provide your driver with the itinerary and they can double check the route. There, easy, right? Still stuck? You can email me, I’m here to help.

Napa Valley Wineries That Discount With Groups of 6 or Less

WAIT! THERE’S MORE! WINERIES IN NAPA THAT WILL TAKE A GROUP OF 6 OR LESS (AND DISCOUNT!)

• WALT Wines: A downtown tasting room that’s part of the famous Hall Wine family. (707) 933-4440

• Gustavo Wines: Near WALT Wines so you can do both of these without getting back in the car. (707) 257-6796

• Wm. Hill Estates: Beautiful views of the vineyard and delicious wines. (707) 933-4440

• HALL Rutherford: Book with your Priority Wine Pass and you and one guest will receive membership pricing on their Appellation Exploration experience - that’s $25 off per person. (707) 967-2626

• Frog’s Leap: One of my favorite tours at an old frog farm (frog legs, anyone?). Get an extra splash of wine, that ain’t nothing with wines this good, right? (707) 963-4704

• Conn Creek Winery: Bar tastings, two for one, or $25 off their incredible Barrel Blending Experience where you’ll make your own bottle of wine to take home. (707) 963-9100

• AXR: Wine buyers, pay attention - Some of the best wines in the valley, a private experience that’s not snobby, spend $150 on wine and they’ll waive the normal $90 per person tasting fee. Mon-Thurs only. (707) 302-8181

• Envy Wines: Lovely winery and if you can get to Calistoga before noon they’ll give you two for one’s. (707) 942-4670

• Clos Pegase: You’ll want to email me for the two for one pass - totally free, just ask!

• Brian Arden: Another favorite, a modern winery with two for one’s Mon-Thurs. (707) 942-4767

Keep reading as the next section are wineries that offer deals for groups of 10 or less - meaning if you have a group of 6 or less then you should consider these as well.

If you’re coming with a group over 6 but less than 10 you can still get some great discounts at a number of wineries. With tasting fees skyrocketing all over Napa it’s nice to see that you can still come here with a group and leave with some money left in your wallet. You’ll need one Priority Wine Pass for every two people to max out the discounts - hit up two or three of the picks below and it’s a pretty sizable savings since the pass is only $39.99 but you save at least that much at each winery below.

Same drill as before - Get the passes and then start making your reservations by calling the wineries. Give yourself extra time at these stops below as they typically are 90 minute experiences which can stretch out longer once the wine starts flowing.

PRO TIP: Wineries below appreciate it when you buy wine so come prepared to purchase a few bottles at each stop. It’s not mandatory, of course, but unlike the big brand name wineries you can only get these boutique wines at the winery so stock up if you like what you are tasting.

Napa Valley Wineries that Discount with Groups of 10 or Less

How Many Wine Passes do I Need to Get the Two for One Deals?

You need one wine pass for ever two people when booking these group deals. For example, if you have a group of 10 you will need to show 5 Priority Wine Passes upon arrival to the winery. Call each winery to reserve and tell them you have one Priority Wine Pass for every two people.

The following wineries offer NO DEALS but will take larger groups. If your budget allows then add some of these to your agenda.

Castello di Amorosa (aka The Napa Castle)

An actual full scale castle - with wine! Seated Tasting ($60 pp) and Tasting and Tour ($70 pp), limited to groups of 10 or less.

domaine chandon

Though their standard tasting experience is limited to groups of 6 or less groups can opt for a private food and wine experience in a cabana ($145 pp, groups of 12 or less) or their self guided food and wine pairing with upgraded foods ($145 pp, groups of 14 or less).

Darioush Winery

A Persian temple to the wine gods? Standard tastings are capped at 6 to 8 people ($85 pp), larger groups can book a wine and cheese experience ($100 - $125 pp), an olive oil experience ($125 pp) or a wine and small bites experience ($150).

Inglenook Winery

A beautiful winery with lovely landscaping and architecture, you’ll feel like you’re in Europe at a fancy chateau. Standard tastings cap at 4 to 6 people but larger groups up to 8 can book their Salon Tasting which takes place in their wine caves for $100 pp and groups of 14 or less can book their Private Library Tasting for $125 pp.

Robert Mondavi Winery

With it’s iconic arch as you enter that graces their label, Robert Mondavi is an iconic winery. Groups of 12 or less can book their one hour Patio Tasting. Minors are welcome to join at the table though counted in your reservation ($65 pp).

Frank Family Vineyards

Makers of great wines and served in a cool craftsman house. Groups of up to 10 can taste inside the house for $60 pp, though no guarantee that you won’t share the room with other groups.

Clos Pegase

Modern architecture and wine caves, groups up to 12. Standard one tasting is $75 pp, the upgraded cave tasting with small bites is 90 minutes and $95 pp.

Duckhorn vineyards

A beautuful home with breathtaking architecture is the backdrop for Duckhorn Vineyards. Groups up to 11, this 45 minute to one hour experience is $50 pp. Sister winery Paraduxx can take groups up to 12, tasting fees run $50 to $100 and run one hour to 75 minutes.

IS YOUR GROUP OVER 10?

Wineries that take super large groups aren’t that hard to find. But finding the wineries that take groups 10 or more that offer the combination of good price, good wine, and exceptional hospitality are. I work with a handful of wineries that take VERY good care of my readers and don’t gouge you on pricing. They don’t rush you out after an hour, they don’t shortchange your pours to speed up your experience, and they don’t charge triple their normal rates just because you’re a large group. No $120 per person tasting fees if you stick with me.

HOW DOES THIS WORK? Easy Peasy, you just email me and tell me what you are looking for. Do you want fancy or casual? Do you want to bring in your own food or want the winery to provide it? Basically you tell me what you want and I’ll connect you with the wineries, free of charge. Oh sure, the wineries sometimes pay me a finders fee which helps me keep the site running but I never recommend wineries that I don’t love. And these wineries want me to keep sending people in so they really do go above and beyond to take extra special care of my readers. So don’t overthink this, just email me and let me give you a hand.

Wine Tasting on an e-bike tour

NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN discount - PERFECT FOR GROUP OUTINGS!

Let’s party on the Napa Wine Train

Forget all the planning and just jump aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train for a full day of wine tasting run. The Legacy Tour starts with a glass of sparkling wine, a stop at the Napa Valley sign for wine tasting and photo ops, a gourmet lunch, and stops at Charles Krug and V. Sattui, two of Napa’s most popular wineries.

And yes, there are discounts. With each Priority Wine Pass four of your guests will receive $35 off tickets on Saturdays and weekdays, and $10 off on Sundays. That’s a good deal!

To book you call (707) 253-2111 and tell them you have the passes and then you go to my discount link to get them - again, one pass for every four people. They’ll ask to see them when you check in so don’t forget that last part!

Top Myths About Group Tastings in Napa Valley

MYTH 1:  YOU DON'T NEED RESERVATIONS:  Totally wrong!  Especially after Covid every winery is requiring reservations. Don’t think you can just show up and taste - even the downtown and Yountville tasting rooms request reservations.

MYTH 2:  I CAN JUST MAKE MULTIPLE RESERVATIONS AND THE WINERY WILL NEVER KNOW: Many large groups try to skirt the rules only to find out that wineries not only frown upon this but will often break up your group over multiple tables that are not next to each other. And no, you can’t just all jump over to one table once you are seated.

MYTH 3:  YOU DON’T NEED TO TIP BECAUSE YOU’RE PAYING FOR WINE TASTINGS: No, should tip, especially if the server is dedicated to your group and only your group. Use the same tipping amount you would at a bar or restaurant. The servers are typically paid minimum wages so tipping is very much appreciated.

MYTH 4:  YOU CAN BRING IN MY OWN FOOD AND REALLY SAVE SOME MONEY:  Sorry, but most wineries have policies and restrictions on outside food.  I know some that still allow it so if this is something you want to do make sure you contact me or the wineries to verify before arriving.

MYTH 5:  YOU DON'T NEED TRANSPORTATION:  Forget about Uber or having people drive themselves, just hire a driving company.  Yes, it's expensive but if you are planning a group event you need to factor this in.  Everyone who comes to Napa and thinks they can just take small sips and still drive has failed - this is really good wine!

MYTH 6: KIDS ARE FREE! Nope, kids are often not even welcome on the tours or inside wineries so call ahead and make sure. And just because they don’t drink doesn’t mean they can tag along. The castle, for example, charges everyone an admission fee whether you drink or not. And don’t think your non-drinking friend will get a break either. However, if your group includes kids then reach out to me and let me help you at least connect with kid friendly wineries that will let them run around outside without stressing you out!

MYTH 7: WE CAN SPLIT TASTINGS AND SAVE: Sorry, for groups it’s charged by the person not the flight. So a group of 12 will be charged for 12 and there’s no way to get around that. Think of wine tasting like a concert seat - if you’re sitting down, you should assume you are paying.

Still Overwhelmed?

If figuring this out on your own has your head spinning like you drank a bottle of Cold Duck then just reach out to me. I still offer complete concierge service for a nominal fee and will give you personal attention and help you plan out your perfect event. I’ll help you get your transportation and will work directly with the wineries on your behalf to make sure that your event is a huge success. Email me to stat the conversation and I’ll provide a fee quote once I get a feel for your needs and the time required.

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