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At first, we were worried about placing our bottles in the box , but everything turned out quite fine. Bring a little taste of our world-class culinary scene to your own kitchen. And if you’re local, now’s a great time to support your favorite Napa Valley restaurants by ordering a meal for takeout or delivery. I typically practice intermittent fasting, but I always eat breakfast before wine tasting.

If you're driving, guard against extreme temperature changes. Wine can be a bit like Goldilocks — one temperature is too hot, another is too cold. Now we get to the most expensive option out of all of your wine courier scenarios, and that is dedicated wine suitcases like the VinGarde Valise or CasePro. These are comparable in design to the wine shippers mentioned at the start of this article but are made from heavy plastic for a reinforced, multi-use case. These services will handle all of the logistics from packaging, insurance, to arranging to ship in temperature controlled vehicles from FedEx / UPS as needed, but naturally comes at a cost. We think this is on the riskier side of the spectrum as it relies on your packing abilities and how the airlines handle luggage .
When To Go Wine Tasting In Napa Valley
You know you’re coming back again and again so get the pass now and save on every visit. 12 bottles of wine don’t weigh near 50 lbs , so shipping shouldn’t be an issue. Saving money in Napa starts with a realistic approach to picking wineries. I know, youre all excited about coming here and googling best wineries in Napa and now have a long list of wineries you want to visit.

I like to pack nuts, fruit, baguette, and plenty of water in a reusable water bottle. You can grab a sandwich off Highway-29 at Oakville Grocery, just north of the Opus One winery, and bring it along with you. You dont need to dress to the nines on a visit to Napa, but you dont want to look like a schlub, either. Aim for wine country casual kind of a cuter, frillier version of business casual.
We Love Wine As Much As You Do At Our Napa Valley Inn
Most of thebest wineries to tour in Napaare “appointment-only” for tastings. Usually a quick phone-call or onlineRSVPwill do the trick. Even those that don’t require a wine tasting RSVP still appreciate reservations, particularly with parties of 6 or more. Are you looking to learn something valuable about wine tasting?
This is a great place to visit if you want an elevated and high-end tasting while maintaining a budget. One of the most Instagrammable wineries in Napa for sure. Their basic tasting starts at $40, but they offer some incredible experiences above that as well if you’re looking to splurge. After a day of walking the downtown wine route, you might think about slipping into some off the beaten path wineries, motor a leisurely route through wine country, or explore cult and classic wines. We have great relationships with many premier wineries and our guests enjoy special reserve tastings all over the Napa Valley. To help guide you, weve put together a few wine tasting etiquette tips plus a few extra guidelines worth noting for COVID times so you can seamlessly enjoy this beloved Wine Country activity.
What Should You Wear On The Napa Valley Wine Train
Their chic garden patio is the perfect place to spend an afternoon, sipping wine and soaking in the views. They also offer a diverse lineup of wines sourced from all over Napa Valley. If youre trying to decide what to wear on a wine tasting adventure especially if its your first time youre probably wondering if there are any strict rules you should follow. While theres typically no agreed-upon dress code for tasting rooms and wineries, there are some unspoken rules we definitely recommend following. Joseph Phelps Winery Youve probably heard of Joseph Phelps famed Insignia label an insanely good cabernet sauvignon that is worth the trip to this winery alone.

Built by the Pullman Standard Company, they were originally in use by Northern Pacific Railway. If you mainly drink Cabernet Sauvignon, buttery Chardonnay, and Merlot, then go to Napa. If you buy more reasonably priced wines, then go to Sonoma.
Fall : Best Bay Area Wineries To Visit
You’ll be able to find these all over wine country and they add a nice layer of protection to your bottles and keep the wine contained should the bottle break. If you don’t see your favorite label here, just know that the lot of them are offering big discounts on shipping and occasional pulls from the cellar for rare and tasty things. Also know that unlike their Insta-always restaurant brethren, Napa Valley wineries still seem to save a portion of their big announcements for Facebook. In addition to sipping delicious wine surrounded by vineyards, Napa offers many activities to enjoy. There are plenty of hiking trails nearby– for every fitness level.
Are there any tasting rooms in Napa that do not charge a fee? Where can we get a discount or two-for-one tasting coupons? This got me to thinking how much tasting room fees have increased over the years. There was once a time when no winery in the Napa Valley charged customers to taste their wine. I have no idea how much tasting room fees increase each year.
Downtown Napa is filled with beautiful shops to window shop and browse through. You can also walk along the Napa River downtown pre or post-dinner. The other thing you need to do is engage with the tasting staff. If you’re an international traveler, come from across the country, or live in the state of California, winery employees are priceless resources for local intel.

If youre not already located in Northern California, youll need to get there. The two best places to look for flights are either Sacramento or anywhere in the bay area, including San Francisco , Oakland , and San Jose . Depending which one you choose, youll wind up anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 hours away from the heart of Napa Valley. From the airport, I highly recommend that you rent a car for the duration of your trip. More on that in the next section, but its the easiest way to get to the valley and the easiest way to get around once youre there.
Rombauer Vineyardsis one of my go-to Napa recommendations. They’re friendly, craft incredible wines, and have beautiful hilltop vineyard views. They offer a full range of tastings, with their entry-level experience checking in at just $20. Despite its affordable price tag, it’s still a full experience — I learned so much from our passionate and friendly host!

If you’ve only purchased a few bottles, it won’t be too much work to take your wine into each winery when you taste. The winery will understand and it’s a great way to keep the wine out of the hot car.Keep your wines in the passenger area of your car instead of the trunk. The passenger area has the benefit of air conditioning… your trunk, not so much.Start your day with an insulated wine shipping box. If you plan on purchasing quite a bit of wine and want to check it as luggage or ship it home to yourself this is a great plan. Wine shipping boxes have styrofoam or cardboard insulation that can help maintain the temperature of your wine throughout the day.Bring an ice chest to store your purchased wine in.
Napa Valley is known for an array of wines, but cabernet grows particularly well in the valleys terroir. Long Meadow Ranch Winery & Farmstead is conducting frequent virtual tastings — including last night’s merlot talk with winemakers Justin Carr and Jeff Meisel. Keep an eye on their Instagram for the next event — or get pick-up/delivery of frankly terrific-looking selections of wine, craft beer, fresh produce and pantry items. I’ve rounded up the best places to stay in Napa that combine luxury with affordability.
