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Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine Country Tour

Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine Country Discovery Tour

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Duration: 9 hours

Overview

Your Wine Country Discovery Tour is the perfect combination of exploration and tasting in California’s Wine Country. This San Francisco to Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley tour visits three wineries, each specializing in different varietals, such as Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. A wine enthusiast accompanies the tour, adding expert insights and unparalleled passion for California wineries.

Included

  • Complimentary pickup from most San Francisco hotels
  • Visit and tour three Napa and Sonoma wineries
  • All Wine Tasting fees
  • Live tour guide narration in English
  • Free time at lunch to explore the historic Sonoma
  • Local Taxes

Excluded

  • Meals
  • Guide gratuity: recommended

Important information

Does this tour operate every day?

Yes, this tour usually operates daily based on a minimum number of participants.

How long is the tour?

This tour takes about 9 hours.

Which wineries are we going to visit?

We visit three (3) wineries, located in Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley. Each winery stop ranges from 40-45 minutes. We’ve narrowed the list of winery stops to those that offer the best California Wine Country experience for our clientele. We have preferred partner wineries that we like to visit but the wineries may depend on the day. Occasionally, a winery on our tour may be closed for a private event, so our tour guides may change the itinerary on the day of the trip.

Does this tour go to Napa?

Yes, we do. The itinerary of visiting Napa Valley AND Sonoma Valley.

Are wine tasting included?

Yes, all wine tasting fees at the three (3) winery stops are included on this tour. If you want to join additional wine tasting, please feel free to do so. This can be done at the winery or at our lunch stop in Sonoma Plaza. The wine tasting fees range from $10 to $20.

What happens if I don’t have or forget to bring a valid ID?

In the U.S. it is important to have a valid ID if you want to consume alcohol. If you forget to bring your valid ID, you will not be allowed for wine tasting.

Do we stop at Golden Gate Bridge?

Yes, there will be about 15-minutes for a photo stop opportunity at the iconic Golden Gate Bridge (weather permitting).

Do you offer a combination tour of both Wine Country and Muir Woods?

Yes, our top wine tour is the Redwoods and California Wine Country Tour see here. This tour combines Muir Woods and three (3) wineries in Napa & Sonoma.

Is this tour suitable for children?

We do not recommend bringing children under 6 years old on this tour. Drinking alcohol is not permitted for those under the age of 21. Please bring a valid photo ID.

I'm travelling with a child

Please note that for your child's safety, we require you to bring a child safety seat or booster seat for all children under 8 years of age or 4' 9" in height, as dictated by California State Law. You will be required to bring your own child seat on all motor vehicle tours. Failure to provide a seat for your child will result in forfeit of your seats on the tour without a refund. Please also note that any children 12 years and older must have an adult ticket as they do not qualify for a child-priced ticket.

Do you offer this tour in different languages?

This tour is offered in English only. However, if required we can organize a private tour in several languages.

Do you pick up outside of San Francisco?

We only pick-up from hotels located in Downtown San Francisco including Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf.

Is this a guided tour?

Yes, the tour is guided with an English-speaking guide. There will also be time on your own during the stops.

What is the average temperature?

Wine Country weather varies depending on the season. Average temperature data is below.

SUMMER MONTHS (JUNE, JULY, AUGUST):
Average High temperature: 83°F / 28°C
Average Low temperature: 55°F / 13°C

WINTER MONTHS (DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY):
Average High temperature: 58°F / 14°C
Average Low temperature: 40°F / 4°C

What should I wear?

Temperatures vary depending on the season and time of day in the Bay Area, so we recommend that you wear layered clothing in case of unexpectedly climbing or falling temperatures. We do not recommend wearing shorts or sleeveless shirts in the winter. However, we realize that everyone is acclimated to different weather and thus trust you to make your own judgement. For footwear, we recommend comfortable walking shoes, such as regular tennis shoes, sneakers, or boots with rubber soles and treads. In the summer months, hiking sandals can be worn on the tour, but high heels, beach flip-flops, and other open-toed shoes are not recommended.

What should I bring?

Valid Government-Issued ID
Extra spending money for meals, snacks, souvenirs etc
A light jacket (easily removable) in case of wind
Camera
Water bottle
Warm clothes and a waterproof jacket (during the winter months)
Hat and sunscreen (during the summer months)
Sturdy umbrella (if the forecast calls for rain)

Are meals included? Can I buy or bring my own?

Meals are not included on this tour. We will stop for about an hour where you can purchase lunch.

How accurate are the times on the itinerary?

Times listed are approximates only. Traffic and other unforeseen issues can cause delays or changes in these times, which are out of our control. Please do not make flight/travel arrangements on the same day as your tour. Extranomical Tours is not responsible for and will not be providing any compensation for missed flights or appointments.

How will we recognize the vehicle?

As we have several different vehicles, we don’t know until the morning of your tour which vehicle will be hosting your tour as well as the name of your Expedition Leader. Please feel free to call us in the morning of your tour if you like. Regardless of which vehicle will come to your location, it should say “Extranomical Tours” on it.

Are there restrooms on board the vehicles?

Our vehicles at this time do not have any restroom facilities. We do, however, make several stops throughout the tours and there will be opportunities for you to use the restroom.

Do I need to call to reconfirm my tour?

Yes, we request that you reach out to us at least a day in advance to confirm your tour and pick up details. You can contact us via our live chat function or by calling our office at 1-866-231-3752 (toll free from the USA) or +1-415-357-0700 (internationally) during office hours. You can call us from your hotel’s phone if you do not have a working mobile phone while you are in the area.

Can I bring a suitcase or large item?

We ask that you do not bring anything on tour larger than 22”x14”x9”, or 56cmx36cmx23cm.

Can I bring a wheelchair?

We do have wheelchair-capable vehicles available – subject to availability. Please notify us at time of booking if you are bringing a wheelchair on the tour so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. Please note that due to limitations we are unable to guarantee an ADA vehicle.

Do you have a lost and found?

Yes, items left in the vehicle are stored in a lost and found area for 30 days. If you left something on one of our tours, please give us a call office at 1-866-231-3752 (toll free from the USA) or 1-415-357-0700 to see if it has been found. Once you have confirmed with us that your item has been found by our staff and you are still in town, you can come by our office to pick up your item. Otherwise, we will ship almost any item to any destination within the U.S. for a flat fee of $25. Extranomical Tours is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Highlights

More information

As we depart, sit back and relax as it will take an hour to journey from San Francisco to the California wine country. Your guide will share tales of the attractions we pass.

You'll learn about the Palace of Fine Arts and the Marina District. We'll pass the Presidio and, of course, cross the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge.

You’ll also catch tantalizing views of Alcatraz Island (maybe another tour destination?). You’ll also see the seaside villages of Sausalito and Tiburon before we turn east toward wine country.

We’ll kick things off in the wine country with a visit to a family-owned winery. The wine makers will proudly describe they have combined their natural farming methods with traditional wine-making techniques in this amazing growing area.

The Sonoma Valley is perfectly situated in a geographic Goldilocks zone. There's a unique mix of sunshine, cool air from the bays of San Francisco and San Pablo. Everything combines to help the grapes grow plump and produce wine perfection.

By late morning you’ll appreciate the passion that family-owned and operated wineries bring to their work.  They are devoted to making their estate-bottled wines the finest, award-winning products that fertile soil and Mother Nature allows. Your camera will capture the unforgettable sights, sounds and tastes from one of the world’s finest wine-producing regions.

For our lunch break, we’ll make a stop at V. Sattui Marketplace in St. Helena or Historic Downtown Sonoma Square. There you will enjoy leisure time to explore, unwind, take photos and immerse yourself in one of these special places.

Both Sonoma Valley destinations afford a wonderful variety of eclectic, award-winning dining options. You'll find tasty food pairings along with one-of-a-kind boutique shops and local art galleries.

After lunch, we make the climb to a slightly higher and cooler micro-climate where you will learn to appreciate what a difference a few miles makes in this diverse grape-growing region.

Popular White Zinfandels thrive in this wine-tasting area. You will enjoy their sweeter, smoother profile and understand how they burst onto the California Wine Country scene in the ’70s.

We’ll finish the tour on a high note. That's when we visit a Napa Valley winery that exudes old world charm. It is modeled after a rambling Italian village. The winery is dedicated to celebrating the Italian lifestyle, complete with fine wines, inspirational scenery and gourmet food.

After finishing up at our third winery, your San Francisco Wine Country Tour will return to the city through Marin County. The drive from Napa Valley to San Francisco is beautiful. But don’t relax too much! A panoramic view of the City by the Bay awaits you from the North end of the Golden Gate Bridge.  It is an unforgettable sight.

After soaking up the stunning views of Alcatraz and Angel Islands, you will cross the Golden Gate Bridge and re-enter the city where we will drop you at the front door of your hotel.

This is a San Francisco wine tour unlike any other!

TOUR ITINERARY

08:30 AM to 12:00 PM

  • Begin your Wine Country Discovery tour with a convenient pickup in San Francisco (we serve most San Francisco hotels)
  • Head north to your first tasting in  Sonoma County, birthplace of California's wine industry
  • Be introduced to Wine Country by a knowledgeble tour guide
  • At the first winery, learn about the winemaking process while sipping crisp wines

12:00 PM to 1:30 PM

  • Arrive in picturesque Sonoma wine country plaza for a lunch stop (lunch not included)
  • Visit tasting rooms, restaurants and boutiques

1:30 PM to 4:00 PM

  • Rejoin the tour group and head for the second winery on our great wine-tasting adventure
  • Visit and tour a third amazing winery and indulge in our final wine tasting

5:00 PM to 6:00 PM

  • Capture memorable photos of Golden Gate Bridge with incredible views of the ocean, San Francisco Bay, city skyline and Alcatraz
  • Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and be dropped at a convenient San Francisco hotel location

As part of our commitment to a sustainable environment, Extranomical Tours supports NatureBridge, whose proven in-the-field programs at national parks inspire self-discovery and environmental stewardship in young learners.  Help us by donating at checkout.