FAQs

The primary thing to take in to consideration is what type of overall experience you want for the entire group for several hours of touring around wine country. Limos can be quite limiting as to where they can go, they are overall less convenient or comfortable getting in-and-out several times during the day (not to mention riding sideways or backward), and the ride is somewhat dark/awkward when wanting to view the beauty of wine country or the ‘roads less traveled’. Group buses are a rough ride, no personal seating conveniences, loud, and a more impersonal type of experience. Private vehicles (SUV types) provide more personalized space, direct educational experience, more flexibility and options, very quiet ride with many personal conveniences, no limitations as to where to venture and much simpler ease of getting in and out several times throughout the day.

We work directly with the ‘next generation’ of wines/winemakers, updated comfortable stylish transport, relaxed personal experiences and current local activities. In short, a more customized/flexible experience based on who or what is available at the time of your booking and create that itinerary for or with you. We focus on some of the more progressive wine experiences, winemakers, and newer facilities, but not limited to what we incorporate to the tasting or tour based on your preferences. There is usually a good balance of traditional and new winemaking styles along with varying prices ranges to fit your budget.

First and foremost, our guides (drivers) are local wine experts that enjoy touring people around sharing their knowledge. If you are just looking for a “driver” or driving service, you will find those types of services provide just that with little attention to personal service, education or the insider perspective of the industry. Additionally, many of these ‘drivers’ are not properly licensed or insured and can put your group at risk. We are fully licensed by the CA governing body (PUC) for hired transport – TCP# 26729. Not only do we know our wines well, but we like to include a level of wine education with each tour along the way. Some of the best experiences we believe you can take back with you is a better overall knowledge of wines, winemaking, and the people behind the scenes.

Depends on the season. In ‘high season’, you need to have appointments set at least 2-3 weeks in advance for certain wineries. It is always a good idea to plan this far out to keep all of your possibilities open. Other places only require a few days notice or none at all. Again, one of the main reasons to use our service is that we can plan your itinerary and make all those appointments for you based on your preferences. The more time we have, the more special we can make those arrangements and get you to some of the more exclusive properties or experiences that tend to fill up well ahead of time.

Absolutely. Part of our customization and expertise is taking this in to account and making sure we know this up front for “first timers”. There are over 700 wineries in Napa/Sonoma to navigate and there is no reason to try and do it on your own. There are several factors from wining to dining that we can assist you with, many of which will save you time AND money. Plus, even after your experience with us, we’ll point you in the right directions for the remainder of your trip that will prove invaluable throughout the entire experience. It is not just the time you spend with us, but your entire time in wine country.

We definitely recommend at the beginning of your trip for several reasons. First of all, we can assist in the planning the rest of your time on your trip whether you use us or not. All of our clients benefit from our insights and we truly want you to have the best possible trip within our care or on your own. Second, there is so much to see, during your tour with us we will point out several of the interest spots for you to be able to explore on your own. Lastly, dining is large element of wine country and you’ll want some good advice as to where the ‘locals’ go right from the start.

Fewer than you might think, around 4 to 5 max is a good average. A lot of visitors try to visit too many wineries only to finish with a whimper with the full evening ahead. For a “full day”, we will recommend/plan two in the first half, a light break for lunch, and two in the second half leaving a lot of flexibility on where we can go in the ‘in-between’ spots. We plan your day so that you do NOT get burned out too quickly. We supply plenty of drinks and snacks to keep you fueled for during the day as well. There are various spots where you can get in and out quickly or just see the historical sights and it does not always include a “formal” tasting…this saves you time and money.

That is entirely up to the client and we will accommodate as needed. However, we will recommend getting a hearty meal in the morning and plan on the rest of the day touring/tasting. We do provide some snacks along the way to keep you satiated, but are fully prepared to make stops if the group needs food. We know most of the great spots to get quick, good food so that you can get on your way. Beware of companies that offer “lunch included” offers or packages as they may not be offering something that is really worth it and is only used as a lure for the tour. We can add, plan and conduct a ‘formal’ lunch or get you to the right spots for exactly what you want during your day on an as needed basis.

We have chosen some of the most stylish, entertaining and Premium SUVs that provide the highest level of comfort and luxury to see wine country. Most ‘black car’ tour vehicles and ‘Limos’ are cumbersome to get in and out of and group buses are very impersonal. All of our vehicles are newer models and designed for comfort and convenience with no limitations as to where we can take you. Limos or buses can be somewhat limited as to access to places we like to experience and are often not even allowed in many of the places we go. Some of our most revered and cherished properties do not accommodate traditional limos other types of large vehicles.

We focus on added value to not only your tour day, but your entire trip. Beyond just being a ‘driver’, each experience is personally customized based on your individual desires and level of tasting you wish to do. You’ll find us not only very in-line comparable on pricing, but we’ll over-deliver with personal attention and lots of subtle extras. By taking a little extra time to discuss precisely what you want, we can usually put together a more reasonable custom package that remains very competitive within the market but with a higher overall added value. We offer many features that you do not get with other services (photography, wine education, Starbucks espresso & Refreshers, Vitamin Waters, palate cleansers, snacks, premium waters/drinks, etc.) that are included for your entire group. Additionally, we sanitize wipe all of our vehicles inside before each tour assuring maximum cleanliness for your touring environment. We also work more like your personal wine concierge utilizing our keen knowledge and personal connections within wine country for the best experience wining or dining for your whole trip.

NOTE: Many companies charge additional hidden fees, and excessive fuel or tax sur-charges on top of quoted rates (*as much as 35% extra!). Be sure to ask up front about any extra fees and net rates. We do not auto-add service charges/fees and gratuities are at the customer’s discretion and greatly appreciated. A daily standard fuel fee of $25 is applied to all tours within 20 miles of Napa.

No, we focus on a custom experience per each person in the party, not preset tours or random rates. Every company sets their pricing differently – seasonally either hourly, by persons, or by the job/event as a package. We customize all of our tasting experiences based on several contributing factors (number of persons, season, location, length, dining options, etc.) after a short discussion with what you want to do and/or what your preferences may be. This allows us the flexibility to make sure we are the right transport for your needs and that we can accommodate exactly how you wish to experience wine country. We then quote you the best possible price for your party of 2-6 persons per vehicle (a maximum of 10 per total private group in two vehicles will quote a special hourly group rate).

Tasting fees are generally not automatically included and every winery has their own policy or charge. You should make sure to ask for this up front with ANY company as it can add up. Fees can range from $10 – $50+ per person depending on the level of tasting that you schedule or choose at the time of the tasting. We do have several winery partners that do include the tasting fee either by association or if you make a purchase of wine, but we cannot guarantee the waiving of these fees. We do our best to be aware of these fees and at some level during your tour we will try and save you money in this category. Considering the tasting costs per person, this can add up to be a significant sum.

Sometimes. Depending on whether you are south, mid, or north valley, the tours are conducted both logically and strategically to make sure you can best utilize the time you have hired us for. There are definite routes to better organize the day or time so that you are ending up close to your stay. We pride ourselves in being master planners and logistic/time managers so you do not have to worry about it. It is one of the first questions we will ask and then plan from there.

Every company has their own style or level of expertise and there are a few companies that charge less by the hour that are OK for basic transportation services and touring if you have your own itinerary or do not require much expertise. There is usually minimal regard to personal preferences and little is done with assisting in customized itinerary planning. We specialize in only the pure wine experience with our personal winery connections rather than just being a driver and create an environment that is most comfortable to fully enjoy your special day here. This allows us to personalize your day so that you feel you are getting a very insiders view of wine country along with an interactive guide for all your needs.

All of our tours are private guided tours. Part of quoting based on the type of tour is the number of persons traveling in your party. We generally do not pair unknown groups together as it is difficult to match preferences. On rare occasion there is a group that requests to be paired up, but highly unlikely to match that exact date/timing. If we cannot pair your request, then we will quote you based on what we can accommodate at the time and do our best to make it economically worth the experience. If not, we have many very reputable partners we can refer you to for a great time either way.

The first major differences are the wines/varietals. Napa is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon (and Bordeaux varietals) and Sonoma is best known for its Chardonnay & Pinot Noir. However, both valleys do a bit of many various traditional varieties. Second, the landscapes are vastly different with Napa being more North to South for about 40 miles and Sonoma being much more spread out and several times larger. Napa downtown is a bit more subdued and fragmented, while Sonoma has a Town Plaza center that most everything resides. Both have their own charm depending on what kind of feel you prefer. We conduct great experiences for both valleys and recommend trying both during your trip depending on the style(s) of wines you prefer…then you can decide with us as your guide.

Absolutely. Dining is a very big part of the entire time in wine country and going to the right places completes the experience. One of the added benefits of spending a lot of time with our clients is being able to get to know more of your likes and dislikes. We are a little more in ‘trenches’ and a bit more well-versed on a wide variety of dining establishments from the ultra-fancy (i.e. The French Laundry) to the best place to grab a pizza or burrito to go. Many hotel concierges know their areas well, but we are usually more experienced outside just the central or primary areas.

Our services will provide all the snacks and water/drinks needed during your experience, but you are welcome to bring any personal items that wish. We do recommend bringing a jacket/sweater along for times when we might be in a cave or cellar tasting as these areas can be quite cool even in mid-summer.