Napa Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need to Know to Book a Cheap Trip to Napa
Local Wally
Wally’s On Vacation From May 10 - June 3, 2025
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
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.
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.
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.
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).
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!