Visit Napa Valley and Sterling Vineyards -2 for 1

A must for first timers, Sterling Vineyards is on every wine lovers bucket list with their aerial tram ride that takes you to the top of the mountain for stunning views of the valley. A self guided tour with wine along the way, it’s a low stress, high fun experience that you won’t soon forget.

You can visit Sterling Vineyards with a Two for One discount if you have a Priority Wine Pass, saving you $55. The pass itself is $39 so yo more than break even. Add a couple more wineries to your day such as Beaulieu Vineyards (two for $55), V. Sattui (two for $55), Duckhorn (two for $50) or during the week you can do the Cakebread tour and tasting (two for $50). There are 75 deals in Napa alone on the pass so there’s no way you’re not going to find a few more wineries to add to your savings.

Priority Wine Pass - From $39 (Cheaper than Groupon)

Year of Exclusive Tastings, 300+ Winery Deals & Personalized Itineraries with Priority Wine Pass (Up to 40% Off)

Discover your new favorite wines with curated experiences with Priority Wine Pass! Sip, explore, and save all year long in top regions like Napa and Sonoma.

Unlock 365 Days of Elevated Wine Tasting

• ✔️ Digital or physical pass options with instant access

• ✔️ 300+ exclusive tasting deals across 350+ wineries in CA, WA & OR

• ✔️Complimentary tastings & savings on every visit

• ✔️ Access to personalized concierge service with custom itineraries

• ✔️ Transportation perks for a seamless trip

support the little guy and get the priority wine pass from local wally

My goal is to help people like you find the best wine tasting deals in Napa and Sonoma which is why I offer FREE advice and have the cheapest price on the Priority Wine Pass at $39. I’m a small business, the original Napa on a Budget guy, competing with sites with actual marketing budgets. But while I do have the cheapest “everyday” price, Groupon doesn’t always play fair and will sometimes undercut me by a few bucks. They’ll let me answer all the questions, help the customer with planning their trip and arranging their itinerary, and then walk away with the wine pass sale. And honestly, i understand that people are looking for the best deal and while I do have the lowest price most of the time Groupon can be a couple of bucks cheaper when they do an unauthorized flash sale.

The thing is Groupon doesn’t need the money. I get a few dollars when you buy a pass from my site and with the rising costs of web hosting, Adobe Cloud, and the actual costs of traveling to the wine regions (I write about San Diego, Napa, Sonoma, Paso and soon Oregon) I barely break even. So I’m asking everyone to PLEASE buy your wine passes through my site, especially if you found my content useful and even more so if you reached out to me and I helped you with personal assistance.

I’ll do my best to make sure that even if you do have to spend a couple of bucks more via my site during a flash sale that it’s worth it to you. And you should feel good about helping a little micro-business like myself versus feeding a giant corporation. Thanks for listening and thanks in advance for supporting my site.

How to Add Your Winery to the Priority Wine Pass - For FREE!

Get your winery added to the priority wine pass

For a limited time you can add your winery to the Priority Wine Pass absolutely free. All you have to do is come up with an offer such as a two for one deal, a free tasting with purchase, whatever works for you. You fill out a quick form and they’ll do the rest and will start sending people in. More visitors = more exposure to your wines = more wine sales. And again, its free.

• No Cost to the Winery - ever!

• Splash page with your offer created and maintained for free.

• Free exposure on both the Priority Wine Pass site and Local Wally’s Guide to Napa (napatouristguide.com).

• You can change your offer at any time and as many times as you want.

• Free concierge service that matches up your winery to the type of guests you are looking for.

How do I know all of this? Because I’ve been helping my friends over at the Priority Wine Pass set up their new pages and have worked with them for years promoting their pass and the wineries on it. If you want more traffic to your winery give the Priority Wine Pass a shot.

Local Wally's Tips and Tickets for The Carlsbad Flower Fields 2026

Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting the Carlsbad Flower Fields

• Runs March 1st - May 10th, 2026

• Classic San Diego experience loved by locals as well as visitors - Not a tourist trap!

• Acres of flower blooms looks like a scene from the Wizard of Oz - perfect IG backdrop!

• Butterflies, tractor rides, sluice mining, sculpture gardens, U-Pick Blueberries, and specialty food options.

• PRO TIP: You must buy tickets ONLINE - no tickets sold at entrance.

If the world today seems a bit, well, chaotic, then how about chilling out with a classic San Diego activity that’s certain to put a big smile on your face? That’s right, it’s time for the flower fields in Carlsbad to hit their stride with acres and acres of eye popping color. How many flowers? How about 80 million? Is that enough for you?

The flowering season lasts 10 weeks and at its peak boasts 55 acres of ranunculus blooms. 2026 is shaping up to be the best year ever with a super bloom predicted due to our dry winter and recent rains meaning that even on Day 1 of the season you can expect incredible blooms. As the season wears on the sunflower fields pop, typically in April, making the season pass ticket a worthwhile purchase if you just can’t get enough.

PRO TIP: Expect the largest crowds on the weekend so a weekday visit is a good strategy. Come early and have the fields nearly to yourself.

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So Many Food Options… and U-Pick-Em Blueberries too!

If all of this walking and photo snapping is making you hungry don’t worry as there are plenty of snack options with two food trucks serving tacos and pizza as well as lots of snack and drink options. There also are special food vendor pop ups throughout the season - check the official site for their schedules.

PRO TIP: Speaking as an experienced parent if you need a distraction from the cotton candy and ice cream head over to the 6 acre U-Pick-Em Blueberry patch where you can pick your own for only $8 a pint. Fresh blueberries are so much better than the supermarket variety that the kids will forget all about the kettle corn, at least for a moment. Pro Tip 2: Get the kettle corn anyway. You’ll thank me later.

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Butterflies and tractors

With hundreds of butterflies and a stick of nectar to attract them, the Butterfly Encounter is certain to amaze and enthrall everyone, from toddlers to grand parents. There’s just something magical and oddly enchanting about butterflies landing on your hair and following you like you are like Mary Poppins (I know, she had birds fluttering around her but you get the idea). They do something similar at the San Diego Safari Park but it’s quite expensive so get your butterfly fix at The Flower Fields. Tickets are free for those under 3, $4 for kids and $8 for adults - you can purchase them when you arrive.

And for those looking for a unique way to experience the Flower Fields there’s a Tractor Wagon Ride that takes you up and down the fields. It’s perfect for when the kids have had enough of walking but you still want to see more flowers and a great way for those in wheelchairs or just walking impaired to get the full experience.

Tickets are free for those under 3, $4 for kids and $8 for adults - you can purchase them when you arrive.

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freq asked q’s

DO I NEED TO BUY TICKETS IN ADVANCE? Yes, buy them here online as no tickets are sold at the entrance. You must pick your time to enter but if you’re late they are very flexible.

ARE THERE TICKET DISCOUNTS? Yes, Seniors get $5 off on Thursdays, Children under 3 are Free, and every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday get one free child admission with each adult admission. Also, the first week the fields are open, March 1st -6th, offers additional discounted pricing.

HOW MUCH IS PARKING? Parking is free. Unbelievable, I know, but wow, free parking.

CAN I RENT A STROLLER OR WHEELCHAIR? No, bring your own.

HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD I ALLOT FOR A VISIT? You can see it all in about an hour but if you want to experience the butterflies and visit the gardens and exhibits you should plan on 2.5 hours or so. Four hours is about the max.

Use AI for a Napa Valley Winery Planner Itinerary

Outstanding Caves at Schramsberg Vineyard

Everyone’s talking about AI and how it makes life so much easier, at least until the robots turn on us and destroy the world. But can AI replace Local Wally when it comes to picking wineries?

When I used AI to plan my trip it picked these wineries - all without any input from me as to what I wanted or was looking for.

DAY 1:

• Schramsberg Vineyard - Good pick, their sparkling wines and cave tour are the best in Napa. Cost: $90 pp.

• Duckhorn Vineyard: While I like Duckhorn wine I find their winery experience to be a little impersonal as the server bounces from table to table. Your experience may be different but for me it was just OK. Cost: $65 pp

That’s it - AI says two wineries a day and offers no lunch options. Since each experience is 90 minutes tops that leaves a lot of time to wish you were at another winery or wait in line for lunch.

DAY 2:

• OPUS One: The classic high end winery, Opus One is fancy indeed and a showstopper. Cost: $125 to $200 pp.

• Cakebread: Yes, love this one for the Napa visitor who loves good wine but also doesn’t have unlimited funds. A small group, a tour, and sips of some great Napa wine. Cost: $50 pp.

DAY 3:

• Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars: Great pick from a famous Napa winery. Cost: $95 pp.

• THE FRENCH LAUNDRY: Whoa, wait, hello AI. You clearly have good taste but you do realize that it’s nearly impossible to get reservations here and even if you did a dinner for two will easily set you back $1,000. Here are photos from my visit back when I had a lot more money than I do today.

Let’s do some math.

Cost of wine tasting fees for two: $1,200

Cost for dinner at The French Laundy: $1,000

TOTAL AI ITINERARY COST: $2,200

let’s see How Wally compares

BERINGER CAVES, the cheapest cave experiences in Napa

Here’s what I would do. First, let’s get serious here, wine tasting can be stupidly expensive. In the AI recommendations only Cakebread is “worth it”, a balance of quality and value, and only Schramsberg falls into the “splurge worthy” category as an awesome experience. If spending a $1,200 bucks on wine tasting at 5 wineries seems too rich for your blood then get yourself a Priority Wine Pass so you can do two for one deals. The pass is only $39 if you get it on my site - cheaper here than Groupon and TravelZoo and unlike those other sites you can actually ask me questions and I will actually respond, Not an AI bot response, but me, a real person. Wouldn’t you rather support a little micro business like mine over the billionaires who own google?

Now Pick Wineries, three a day

I already like my itinerary better than AI because with me I suggest three wineries in a day. The Priority Wine Pass comes with free concierge service who who help you pick wineries that match what you want in a winery. Are you a first timer or serious wine buyer? Did you want a winery that allows outside food (I don’t make you starve like AI does)? Or do you want a winery with food for sale? Dogs? No problem. Walk-in’s? No worries. The tasting fees range from $30 for Beringer’s Cave tour… that’s for TWO PEOPLE… to fancy Clos do Val which has two tastings for just $75 with the pass. You’ll probably average $150 a day for two people, yes two people, to taste if you use the Priority Wine Pass. Want to see all of the wineries on the Priority Wine Pass?

FOR DINNER, GO TO BOUCHON INSTEAD

I absolutely love The French Laundry and if you have the cash and if you are lucky enough to have grabbed a reservation then good for you. For others go to Thomas Keller’s other restaurant, Bouchon. It’s a French Bistro sort of experience and prices are much more down to Earth - Steak Frites are $56, for example, and the most expensive thing on the menu is Sole Meunière for $80. With wine you’re probably looking at a couple hundred bucks for dinner for two.

Let’s See How Much it Costs to Wine Taste the Wally Way

Wine Tasting fees for 3 days, three wineries per day: $450

Fancy dinner at Bouchon: $200

Napa and Winery advice: Free and included with the pass

TOTAL LOCAL WALLY THREE DAY IN NAPA ITINERARY COST: $650

What to Do this Weekend in the Bay Area 2025: Wine Tasting.... on a budget!

Cheap cave tour at Beringer in Napa Valley, Sun-Fri

Turn on the news and there’s tariff talk, conspiracy chatter, nuclear bomb threats, auuuggggggg!!!

And now here’s the weekend and it’s your turn to tune out and get back to enjoying life the way it was meant to be. And good news, if you live in the Bay Area all you need is a Priority Wine Pass to get huge discounts in Napa and Sonoma. And even better news, Napa has lightened up on all the stuffy rules and has been dropping prices to bring it all back down to regular people who just need a freaking buzz off really good wine.

What - what’s the Priority Wine Pass? It’s an annual pass that gets you lots of discounts like 2 for 1 offers all over Napa and Sonoma, as well as other wine regions. It’s just $39 if you get it here and you only need ONE pass for every two people. Do you still have friends? If so, get them to get passes too and let’s go have some fun.

Lots of 2 for 1 Deals - With no Limits!

Unlike some “passport deals” where you can only visit a winery once to get the discount, with the Priority Wine Pass if you find a winery you like you can go there again and again and get the discount, well, again and again. And in case you’re wondering if the pass is “worth it” here are a few examples of the deals.

Fun and cheap wineries in napa

• Beringer has a two for one cave tour, Sunday through Friday, that’s just $30 for two. They’re also cool with groups as long as you have reservations and have one Priority Wine Pass for every two people.

• Sterling and the tram ride is just fun and yes, the wines they serve on the standard flight are, well, standard, but at two for $55 it has to make the short list for cheap winery adventures that don’t suck.

• V. Satui: With their new marketplace deli open this is an obvious stop for a classic Napa picnic as well as a two for one flight for just $55 - for two.

• Pestoni Vineyards: A hidden gem with a large grassy area and picnic tables, they’re cool with you bringing in your own picnic lunch and even have a “picnic flight” that lets you pair their wines with your your own snacks - two for $50. Pro Tip: Bring random cheeses and some meats and a baguette and you have that dream Napa picnic with the undreamy price.

A Couple of super cool wineries you’ve never heard of

• RuVango is in the Carneros area, the entrance to the valley, which means if you’re coming from the bay area you can get right to it. With their cool art exhibits, elegant tasting room and private balcony overlooking the vineyards you might expect to pay $100 pp. But no, no, no, it’s two tastings for just $45! That’s amazing.

• Hans Fahden is on the tip top area of Calistoga. With ponds and old bridges and a tasting deck that overhangs it all, it' feels a bit like you walked into a Monet painting. And at just two for $45 it’s crazy not to check them out.

some big names and fancy WINERIES

• Clos du Val is brand New to the Priority Wine Pass! Insanely good wines and with the Priority Wine Pass you get two tastings for just $75.

• Rutherford Ranch, big red wine lovers love Rutherford Ranch even more at just two for $55. They also will book larger groups, two for one with one Priority Wine Pass for every two people, right in the vineyards!

• Napa Wine Train isn’t a two for one but the Priority Wine Pass is the only place you can get a discount. $20 off pp on their lunch or dinner excursions, $40 off pp on their Legacy tour. One pass is good for four discounts, now that’s a sweet deal.

And there are tons more, over 150 wineries in Napa and Sonoma. If you want to see all of the deals click this link for the most recent update. And if you need a pass you can click the button and it goes right to the lowest price offered on the pass.

Napa on a Budget 2025: Wine Pass, Group Deals, Tours

Is this your idea of a trip to Napa? I can show you how!

Whoa, Napa is really expensive! Even Sutter Home, the winery behind the infamous White Zinfandel and long known as the last free tasting in Napa, is charging $15 per person. For truly terrible wine, at least by Napa standards.

Well let me show you how you can beat Napa at it’s own game and visit some great wineries without breaking the bank, and without sacrificing wine quality and winery experience. The key is the Priority Wine Pass.

OK, I know I sound like a broken record but for the record I do NOT own the Priority Wine Pass. I just love what they do and how they save my readers so much money. For $39 per couple you get lots of two for one deals all over Napa and Sonoma. The pass is good for a year, you only need one per couple, and you’ll break even by the first or second stop. Here’s some recent reviews:

“We used the Wine Pass at 4 different wineries in May 2025. It worked problem-free at each place, and all of the wineries were great.” Teresa Y., 6/2025

“The priority pass takes us places we might have missed. There have been many pretty wineries as well as excellent tasting rooms. Everyone on the list has been very kind and accepted the pass without question.
Love it!!” Billie L., 6/2025

“Super easy to use and is great value! I highly recommend getting one!”, Kaitlyn G, 6/2025

Looks fancy, looks expensive, but it’s Two for $45 with the Priority Wine Pass. RuVango Winery

What Wineries are the BEST DEALS on the Priority Wine Pass?

There are a lot of great wineries on the pass - here’s the complete list. For first timers I really like these wineries:

BERINGER: Visit their caves for just $30… for two! This must be the least expensive cave experience in Napa.

STERLING: Of course you want to ride the tram and do their self guided tour and then relax with the killer views at the top. Two for $55.

V. SATTUI: Napa’s most popular picnic spot with a newly remodeled marketplace deli. Do a flight, two for $55, stay for lunch. So nice you might stay all afternoon.

PESTONI: Hidden gem picnic spot and a wonderful wine flight experience that allows you to sip your tastings at your own rate at your own picnic table eating your own lunch you brought. I like it! Two for $50 with the pass.

RUVANGO: Tucked away in the Carneros area, this secret winery gives you a high end experience but is just $45 for two. Sit as long as you would like on their balcony overlooking the vineyards, the hospitality beckons back to the old days of Napa when sipping and savoring great wines was the norm.

Coming with a Group? Bachelorette Party? Corporate or Wedding Event?

I have a lot of solutions for groups and none of them include getting in big long lines and being seated in a crowded tasting room where your server has a dozen other tables to wait on. For groups I like personal service where you get your own space, your own server, and service like you’re a VIP. Reach out to me and I’ll help you out, for free. Here’s a summary of group services I provide.

• CUSTOM GROUP EVENT: I’ll connect you with my friends who not only will get you into terrific wineries but will provide you with a RSVP page and the ability for each of your guests to pay their own way if you want. Perfect for bachelorette parties and any event where you don’t want to hassle the planning and don’t want to get stuck with the bill. Of course you can also pay for the entire event and just let us do the planning. And guess what? It’s actually cheaper then if you tried to do it yourself because we use our wholesale connections at the wineries and pass on the savings to you.

• TWO FOR ONE GROUP EVENTS: Some wineries allow you to use the Priority Wine Pass for 2 for 1 discounts for larger groups. I can help you connect with these wineries - this really is the cheapest way to do a group event in Napa.

• UNIQUE TOUR EXPERIENCES: I LOVE Laces + Limos, the tuk tuk tour that not only gets you into some cool wineries but also provides a gourmet lunch right in the vineyards. This is great for couples, groups, join in events, it’s really one of the best experiences in Napa. If you book make sure you tell Chel the owner that Wally sent you as she pays me a small commission - and not to worry, the rates are exactly the same. Here’s a direct email to the owner for more info: Laces + Limos

Napa Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need to Know to Book a Cheap Trip to Napa

Wally’s On Vacation From May 10 - June 3, 2025

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Yes, I’m on vacation but don’t worry, here’s a quick cheat sheet to help you plan your trip to Napa. And don’t worry, I’m still your “Napa on a Budget” guy so I’m also going to show you how to do this without breaking the bank.

FIRST, GET A PRIORITY WINE PASs

This pass will get you mainly two for one’s but also has a number of “buy wine, get free tastings” offers which is great if you were going to buy wine anyway. You need one pass per couple and it’s $39 but you save $55 at Sterling, $55 at V Sattui,. $30 at Beringer’s cave experience… you get the idea.

Once you have the pass you need to pick wineries. Here’s the complete list of deals: Priority Wine Pass Wineries

You will need reservations for the most part, though many wineries are now allowing Walk-In’s and nearly all will accept Day-Of reservations. A quick call locks it in and it’s worth your time. Space the wineries out every 2 hours to give yourself time to enjoy the winery and get to the next spot.

WHAT ABOUT GROUPS?? CAN YOU USE THE Priority Wine Pass FOR GROUPS TOO?

Yes, certain wineries will accept the Priority Wine Pass for larger groups. Here is an updated list of the wineries on the Priority Wine Pass that will give you two for one discounts for large groups.

next, hire a driver

You could Uber but at the end of the day it’s not much more to just hire a driver. Some drive your rental (legally), some drive you in their vehicle. Figure $50 an hour as an average, some charge a bit more or less. It’s worth it not to get a DUI. Here’s the list of my qualified drivers who have been driving my readers for many years.

full service tours with top notch napa experiences: Romantic couples, bachelorette parties, corp events - Do the Laces + Limos Tour

If you just want to hand it all over to a company that plans out your entire agenda I would start with Laces + Limos first. They will whisk you away in a 3-wheeled Tuk Tuk that’s small enough to squeeze into the vineyards where a gourmet lunch awaits you after tasting at hidden gem wineries. It’s Local Wally approved, 5 star service, really the BEST Napa experience if you want to make sure your day goes perfect. Click this link to be connected with my friend Chel who is the owner over there and can get you all of the details (and will take very good care of you!).

for last minute, no frills (well, some frills) tour do platypus

Platypus Tours has been doing the “join in” tours for as long as I can remember. A nice shuttle, you basically book it and they pick you up and take you to various wineries and provide a nice lunch along the way. No planning, just hop in and have a great Napa or Sonoma experience. Alison is my contact there so email her and she’ll get you all the info. This is great for singles, couples, even larger groups.

for big wedding or corporate groups

These are much harder to do on your own so email me and I’ll try to get you some basic info while I am away.

Castello di Amorosa, the Napa castle

quick tips for frequently asked questions

1. Is the castle worth it? Castello di Amorosa offers no discounts and many will say the wines are so-so and it’s Disneyland touristy. But I like it. For first timers this and a visit to Sterling (ride the tram) are quintessential first timer experiences and super fun. Oh, and don’t forget that Sterling is two for one on the Priority Wine Pass so you can save $55 on tasting fees there.

2. Where do I stay? Start your search in downtown Napa. The River Terrace Inn has a discount on the Priority Wine Pass and is a very nice upper moderate hotel in an excellent location. It’s not a resort, think “very nice Marriott” level of hotel. Yountville is exceptional and expensive but if you can afford it it’s a top pick destination.

3. Is the Napa Wine Train Worth It? I only recommend the wine train if you have more than a couple of days here because it eats up an entire day unless you do the dinner excursion. There are discounts on the Priority Wine Pass but I would pass on this if you are here for just a day or weekend.

4. Where Should I Eat? Napa has some of the best restaurants in the world so it’s hard to go wrong, but if you’ve never been to Thomas Keller’s Bouchon just go there. Keller is the chef behind the fancy expensive French Laundry but Bouchon is priced at a much more affordable level. Other restaurants that should be on your list - for breakfast Model’s Bakery, for lunch Rutherford Grill, and classic dinner spots are Mustards Grill (California Cuisine) and Bistro Jeanty (California French).

5. How do I pick Wineries? If you are a first timer and using the Priority Wine Pass I would do something like this:

   10:00 Beringer Cave Tour

   12:00 V Sattui for tasting and picnic lunch

   2:00 Sterling with the tram ride

   4:00 Castello di Amorosa (no discounts)

OK, that should help you while I am gone. If you email me I will return your email sometime in June when I return. Cheers, from Local Wally!

Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Napa Valley in 2025

Let’s cut right to the chase - here’s everything you need to know if you’re planning a trip to Napa or Sonoma in 2025.

WHERE TO FLY INTO IF VISITING NAPA OR SONOMA

Your choices are Oakland, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Santa Rosa. A lot depends on flights and costs but the easiest airport is probably Oakland. It’s small enough and you basically get off the plane and hop on a car rental shuttle and you are good to go.

PRO TIPS FOR OAKLAND AIRPORT: Give yourself time to get your rental - perhaps a couple of hours from the time you land to the time you have your car. Use a big name car rental company as I have been stung in the past with Dollar or Budget not having cars even though I reserved. And while I rarely pre-purchase gas, the stations around the Oakland Airport have had “issues” so if you are returning in non-daylight hours it’s not a bad option.

WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING NAPA OR SONOMA?

For Napa I recommend trying to find a hotel or AirBnB near downtown Napa. Quaint and trendy, downtown has plenty of restaurants and how happy will you be when you can walk out your door and down the street for dinner after a long day of wine tasting. Choose from very good moderates such as the River Terrace Inn (discount on the Priority Wine Pass) or Embassy Suites (a good one, almost resort-like) to higher end hotels like the Archer or Andaz.

PRO TIP FOR AIR BNB IN DOWNTOWN NAPA: My friend Jamie is the owner of the Priority Wine Pass company and has converted the downstairs half of her house into a legitimate AirBnB. Worth checking out and as a bonus she normally tosses in a free two for one tasting pass which is very cool. Here’s the official link - tell her Wally sent you too!

In Sonoma I like to stick to the area close to the downtown square though you will find wineries that have bungalows or rooms if you want to stay right at a winery. Here’s a good list of options for wineries in Sonoma with lodging.

HIRE A DRIVER? OR DRIVE YOURSELF?

Not going to lie, a lot of people still drink and drive in Napa. You start thinking you will be good, you say you will take a tiny sip and then dump the rest, but the reality is that almost never happens. Look, this is really good wine! And you love wine, right? So when was the last time you tossed a perfectly good glass of wine down the drain? Now make it perhaps the best wine you’ve ever tasted and do you really think you will have the willpower to toss it? Now take a few more sips and then the alcohol tells your brain to forgetaboutit and the next thing you know you’re seeing flashing red lights in your rear view mirror.

Who you hire as a driver can make the difference between a good day and an incredible day. I’ve vetted out drivers who can drive your rental, can drive you in their vehicle, and transportation companies that can get you limos and party busses. Just email me and tell me what you’re looking for and I’ll connect you to drivers who have driven my readers for the past 10+ years and have done a great job

INSIDER SCOOP: If you are coming as a group of 10 or more do not assume a driver can drive your large rental. Vehicles of 10+ require additional (expansive) insurance which most independent drivers can’t afford. So don’t book that rental until you talk to me as it might be a waste of money if you can’t find anyone to drive it.

TOURS AND EXPERIENCE FOR GROUPS OF ALL SIZES

If you are here for more than one day then I suggest you spend the first day doing a standard wine tasting day (more on that below) where you pick wineries and a driver and just go for it. But if you have 2 or more days you should do one of these Napa exclusive experiences to make your trip unforgettable.

laces + limos tuk tuk tour

My absolute favorite Napa experience, travel to back road wineries in a 3 wheeled tuk tuk. You’ll experience hidden gem wineries, maybe do some barrel tastings, and feast on a gourmet picnic lunch right in the vineyards. It’s exactly what you think of when you think of a Napa picnic, but even better once you realize that there are very few wineries that allow picnics, let alone a private picnic between the grapevines. Priced about the same as hiring a driver and having lunch at a restaurant, my friend Chel who owns the company can fill you in,

BOHEMIAN HIGHWAY TOURS

It certainly feels high end with the private luxury SUV that whisks you away to private wineries that only open their doors to people in the know, but it’s priced about the same as a driver and lunch on your own experience. Because BoHo is owned by a winery they use their connections to get you access to their friends and family wineries. Full gourmet lunch, full service, tasting fees included, you just need to book it and show up and then everything else is taken care of. Mainly on the Sonoma side but not too far from the Carneros regios.

A DRIVE FOR WINE TOUR

Sometimes you want to pick your own wineries, sometimes you want the local expert to pick for you and plan it all out. If this sounds like you then make sure you connect with Melissa who is my favorite full service tour guide. She’ll work with you to find out what sort of wineries you might like and then use her years of experience to get you reservations at spots that match your desires. She can host couples and larger groups so keep her at the top of your list if you want a custom tour. Corporate groups, bachelorette parties, she an do it all. CONNECT WITH MELISSA

NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN

It’s on every Napa travelers bucket list but is it worth it? You decide - here’s a review I wrote recently on the Napa Wine Train. But let me get right to the point - it’s expensive, it’s not really a good way to visit Napa wineries, and the food served is definitely not as good as a drop in to Bistro Jeanty or Bouchon or just about any well known Napa restaurant. But there’s a reason why so many people say it’s their most memorable Napa experience. OK, no BS, I think the wine train is too pricey for me and I’d rather be on a Laces + Limos tour (for a whole lot less) but hey, I totally get it if this is your jam.

WALLY’S NAPA ON A BUDGET EXPERIENCE

Yeah, yeah, if you’re on a budget (who isn’t?) and want to experience Napa but still have money when you get home then you can reach out to me and I’ll show you how to do Napa using the 2 for 1 pass. Coming with a group? Bachelorette party where every girl is paying her own way? Corporate event where the boss just gave you the impossible task of planning an event in Napa on a tight budget? I can help. I don’t charge, just reach out to me and let me help.

CHINESE SPEAKING TOURS

If you are looking for a tour with Chinese speaking guides just let me know. I can also help you organize tours of San Francisco for your Chinese speaking visitors. Email me, happy to connect you with my Chinese speaking tour guides.

NAPA WINERY INFO 101

1. Make reservations every 90 minutes to 2 hours. Most experiences are 60 minutes, some longer, and you want time to mull around and then get to your next stop. The days of 20 minute sip and go tastings at the bar are gone, though recently some wineries have been taking walk-in’s again. But make a plan, make reservations, and you’ll be a lot less stressed. Plan on 3 to 4 wineries in a day. And don’t forget lunch, whether it’s a restaurant reservation or a picnic at a winery. PRO TIP: Not all wineries allow food so always ask first.

2. Use a Priority Wine Pass if you want to save some money on tasting fees (and hotels). The annual pass is just $39 per couple and you’ll find well know touristy wineries like Sterling and Beringer on it as well as plenty of wineries the tour busses drive by. Free concierge service too, so get the pass and get the most of your wine tasting dollar without sacrificing the experience. Here’s the link to get the pass with my discount.

3. What to wear? A mistake many make is thinking you have to be dressed for an Instagram photo shoot to go wine tasting. Just wear nice clothes, you don’t need high heels and trendy clothes to go wine tasting. You know what you wear when you’re going out to dinner with some friends? That’s perfect.

4. Tip, yes, tip: Tipping has gotten a bad rap and rightly so. Everyone wants a tip these days so I understand if you think you don’t have to tip your server but you do, you definitely do. Just tip the standard 10% to 20%, and tip cash if you can. I just bring a wad of $5 and $10 bills with me when I go wine tasting and politely hand them the tip at the end. And no, just because you bought wine doesn’t mean you don’t tip. I get not tipping the Jersey Mikes guy who asks if you want it Mike’s Way, but the winery server who spent the last 60+ minutes with you telling you all about the wines and the winery deserves a few bucks.

Napa Wine Train Versus Laces + Limos Tour

Which is MORE WORTH IT? Napa Wine Train or Laces + Limos

Napa Valley Wine Train

Laces + Limos

If you’re coming to Napa most likely you’ve stumbled upon a number of unique experiences that have you wondering if they are WORTH IT. There’s hot air balloon rides, bike rentals, custom tours, but the two biggest and most popular attractions are the NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN and LACES + LIMOS. Both promise a once in a lifetime experience and both deliver on that promise, but which one is worth your time… and money?

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Napa Valley Wine Train

What a lot of people get wrong about the Wine Train is that they think it’s a sort of hop on, hop off sort of transportation. It’s not. Well, sort of not. There are a number of experiences -

• LEGACY EXPERIENCE: Taste on the train, stop for a photo op in front of the Napa sign, have lunch on the train, then stop at Charles Krug and V. Sattui for tastings. Pricing varies depending on the season but currently it’s $645 per person. Get $30 off per person with a Priority Wine Pass (pass is $39 and you only need one for every 4 people for this discount).

• GRGICH HILLS TASTING: Lunch and a stop at Grgich Hills. Currently $380 per person.

• VISTA DOME LUNCH: Lunch on the wine train, no getting off. Currently $380 per person.

• GOURMET EXPRESS LUNCH: Lunch in the standard car, no getting off. Currently $225 to $275 per person. Get $20 off per person for up to 4 people with one Priority Wine Pass. Get Pass Here.

• TASTING ON THE RAILS: Elevated lunch experience, no getting off. Currently $645 per person.

• AFTERNOON TEA: Chandon bubbles, then teas and tea time snacks, no getting off. Currently $225 per person.

• VISTA DOME DINNER: Dinner, no getting off. Currently $360 per person.

• GOURMET EXPRESS DINNER: Dinner in their standard car, no getting off. Currently $215 per person. Get $20 off per person for up to 4 people with one Priority Wine Pass. Get Pass Here.

• TASTING ON THE RAILS, DINNER: Elevated dinner with wine pairings. Currently $425 to $475 per person.

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Laces + Limos Tuk Tuk Tour

Getting to the wineries is half the fun when your ride is a 3-wheeled Tuk Tuk and the path you take is a back country Napa road. Expect a truly gourmet lunch set up in the vineyards with every experience. Tasting fees paid at the wineries.

• NAPA WINE SAFARI: Join a small group on a full day experience includes stops at hidden gem wineries, a private chef driven picnic lunch served right on the vineyards, an a complimentary digital photo album. $250 per person.

• JUST US 2. Private full day experience, stop at various hidden gem wineries (winery selection can be customized based on your preferences), chef driven gourmet picnic lunch served right in the vineyards, complimentary digital photo album. $695 total for 2 people.

• WHAT’S FOR LUNCH? Half day adventure with visit to one winery and the same gourmet picnic lunch in the vineyard. Complimentary digital photo album. $189 per person.

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LOCAL WALLY DOES THE MATH AND HELPS YOU DECIDE WHICH IS WORTH IT!

So the Napa Wine Train is super expensive… but is it worth it? With prices that will set. you back more than dinner at THE FRENCH LAUNDRY and food quality that’s good but not Thomas Keller good, you’re really paying for the ambiance of a train ride. There are only two experiences that actually include winery stops.

THE NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN IS NOT WORTH IT IF…

• If you only have one day in Napa and want to immerse yourself in wines and winery experiences then it’s NOT worth it.

• If you are a foodie looking for the best food Napa has to offer you can get better food for less at an actual restaurant.

THE NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN IS WORTH IT IF…

• If you have tons of money so dropping a thousand bucks to ride a train is no big deal.

• If you have multiple days here and want an adventure to tell everyone back home about.

• If you really, really like trains.

My take - I’ve done the wine train and thought it was OK, certainly a good experience but one that had me trying to justify the cost. Friends who have recently experienced the wine train have had much more positive feedback and loved the party atmosphere on the experience they were on (disco ball, dancing, etc). So it could go either way but no doubt about it, it’s pricey.

LACES + LIMOS IS NOT WORTH IT IF…

• If you’re a first timer and only have one say and want to see the big names like Castello di Amorosa or Sterling. Laces + Limos tries to find the more unique wineries with more personal hospitality.

LACES + LIMOS IS WORTH IT IF…

• If you want a picnic in the vineyards (and a gourmet picnic at that), this is the ONLY way to do it. Absolutely a stellar experience.

• If you want authentic winery experiences that might include private tours and barrel tastings, if you want a more relaxed winery with more private experiences, they excel in this.

• If you want to experience Napa and the country back roads with the wine and sunshine in your face, it’s an elegant way to travel.

My take: I really like Laces + Limos. It’s owned by a husband and wife team and hubby is a trained gourmet chef who prepares a gorgeous instagram ready lunch spread that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. If a picnic in the vineyards is on your bucket list this is the way to do it. Plus the wineries are unique and special and far away from the hoards of tourists. You can do the touristy wineries another day. With Laces + Limos you get winery experiences like a local.

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