This Napa Valley wine tasting tour from San Francisco features the best that California’s wine country has to offer. By special arrangements with the winemakers, this small-group tour visits several of Napa’s best-loved wineries, including the 13th century-style castle at Castello di Amorosa. This Napa Wine Tasting Tour ends with a vineyard tour and seated tasting by a local winemaker.
On this all-Napa, all-highlights wine tasting tour from San Francisco, you will be delighted with the history, architecture, gardens, and memorable toasts. Your wine enthusiast guide will prepare you for experiences at the Castello di Amorosa and two other celebrated Napa Valley wineries. Once there, you will be treated to reserve wines in the California Wine Country. Learn more in our guide to Napa Valley.
Your San Francisco wine tour to Napa Valley begins as you cross the Bay Bridge and take in incredible views of the city skyline. As you travel, learn about the many microclimates and soil types that combine to produce some of the world’s best winemaking grapes – Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.
Wine corks pop first at Castello di Amorosa, a medieval-styled Tuscan castle winery constructed using more than 200 containers of European materials and furnishings. On your way to vaulted wine cellars, check out the moat, drawbridge, towers, courtyards, and armory. Thankfully, Castello di Amorosa puts the same love and attention into its wines which are elegant, intensely flavored, and well-balanced.
Next, your Napa wine tasting tour makes a fun photo stop at the Napa Valley Welcome Sign. Your lunch break is in charming Calistoga, California. Among its hot springs, elegant spas and yoga studios, you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect lunch spot and perhaps sampling another locally crafted wine with your meal.
After lunch, your small group heads to the intimate, yet modern winery, Twomey Cellars. Founded by the Duncan Family, owners of highly-regarded Silver Oak, the winery uses the same philosophy: use locally harvested fruit to make exceptional wines that are deliciously drinkable upon release.
A laid-back Napa Valley vibe is created by their farmhouse-style tasting room that opens up onto a sun-filled courtyard and Sauvignon Blanc vineyard with views of the Calistoga foothills. The Duncans apply their 40 years of winemaking experience to create single-vineyard Pinot Noirs and estate Sauvignon Blancs that pair beautifully with food.
Complete your day in the charming and historic St. Helena building that houses Merryvale Vineyards and has roots as a winemaking facility reaching back to the 1930s. Napa luminaries Robert and Peter Mondavi, the Christian Brothers, and H. William Harlan have all practiced their craft under its arched ceiling.
Family-owned Merryvale Vineyards is renowned for small production lots of world class wine, especially rich, powerful Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays which you can enjoy sitting under the century-old 2,000 gallon casks that line the stone walls of the cellar room.
On the journey back to San Francisco, we’ll make one final stop (weather permitting) at a scenic look-out point with sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge for you to snap some keepsake photos of Marin Headlands, San Francisco skyline, and Alcatraz Island.
For international guests, please be aware that the legal drinking age in the United States is 21 years of age.
While we endeavor to follow the scheduled itinerary, winery closures, special events, holidays, or unforeseeable circumstances can occasionally require us to substitute a winery with one of comparable quality and appeal.
08:00 AM to 10:00 AM: Drive to Napa from San Francisco
Enjoy stunning views from the Bay Bridge as you head out on a one-day tour to Napa Valley from San Francisco. Relax and listen as your guide whets your appetite for a one-day tour in California’s premier wine region.
10:00 AM to 12:00 AM: Tasting at a Castello di Amorosa
Arrive at one of the most sought-after Napa Valley wineries – Castello di Amorosa. Tour the stone castle and taste its premier wines. Stop at the famous Napa sign on your way to the second winery to take an instagrammable photo.
12:15 PM to 1:45 PM: Lunch in Calistoga
To satisfy your growing appetite, choose among more than a dozen delightful lunch spots in charming Calistoga.
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM: Tasting at Twomey Cellars
Enjoy the laid-back tasting at Twomey Winery. Taste their Sauvignon Blanc alongside the expressive Pinot Noir.
3:15 PM to 4:15 PM: Tasting at Merryvale Vineyards
Check out the 2,000 gallon oak barrels in the historic facilities of Merryvale Vineyards. Its small production lots of powerful Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays will make wonderful additions to your collection.
4:15 PM to 5:30 PM: Drive Home & Photo Stop at Golden Gate Bridge
Stop at the famous Golden Gate bridge for a memorable photo opportunity! Make your relaxing return trip from Napa to San Francisco where we will drop you at the door of your hotel or another convenient downtown location.
NOTE: Special events, temporary winery closures, or unforeseeable circumstances can occasionally require us to substitute with a comparable premium winery like Ru Vango Winery.
Read more helpful articles about the Wine Country in our BLOG.
You will be welcomed at three of Napa's finest wineries. The day begins with a mind-blowing experience at the authentically-styled Tuscan castle, Castello di Amorosa. After a relaxing lunch break in charming Calistoga, you will sip estate wines while learning about sustainable winemaking at Ballentine Vineyards. Finally, the tour kicks back on Ru Vango’s wrap-around porch overlooking their Carneros AVA vineyard. Note: wineries are subject to change.
Yes, the wine tasting and touring fees at the wineries are included in the tour price. If you request additional wine at any of the stops, you may do so and pay for it separately.
Yes. You will need a valid ID showing that you are at least 21 years old if you would like to consume alcohol.
Since alcohol is served, some of our winery partners do not allow children in the tasting room. Children may not stay alone on the tour vehicle during winery stops.
We offer a complimentary pick-up from hotels located in San Francisco. If you are staying away from the downtown area, we suggest taking a shared ride service or public transportation to the Hilton Union Square hotel on O'Farrell Street. We will pick you up outside the Mason Street side entrance.
San Francisco can be chilly in the morning, so it’s best to dress in layers and wear comfortable walking shoes or sandals. Bring a valid government-issued ID, a light water-resistant jacket, camera or phone, water bottle, hat and sunscreen, umbrella (if the forecast calls for rain), and a credit card or cash for making wine purchases.
The group size for the tour varies between 8 and 16 guests.
The tour will spend approximately one hour and thirty minutes (1.5 hours) at the Castello di Amorosa.
The tour will break in central Calistoga for about 90 minutes. This location offers many nice options for lunch (not included in the tour price).
Our Napa Valley Reserve wine tour is the only tour from San Francisco to include ALL Napa Valley wineries and feature the Castello di Amorosa.
Yes. We only pick up at Embassy Suites by Hilton Napa Valley - 1075 California Blvd, Napa, CA 94559. Please select this pickup location at checkout.
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