Top Tips for planning your Napa Valley Getaway

Are you planning a trip to Napa Valley this year? Here are some of my top recommendations for a successful vacation!

It’s a new year!  For many of us, we are finally beginning to travel again.  Napa Valley has long been a destination for wine lovers, rightfully so since its wines are sought after worldwide.

In the beginning stages of Covid, wineries were not allowed to have in-person visitors, so they had to pivot.  This led to virtual tastings.  In the interest of keeping their staff healthy and reaching clients who can’t make it to wine country in person, most wineries are still offering them today!

Once California began to open up, there was a significant migration of visitors who had been cooped up, and they were ready to get back to wine country!  Little did they know, things had changed a bit.  

First and foremost, many wineries went to “appointment only.”  Places I used to recommend people stop in if they had a little extra time now require reservations.  Because of this, many tastings are more intimate in nature and now require tasting fees.  These experiences usually last longer and allow one to relax and learn more about the winery and its wine.

That said, here are my recommendations to make the most out of your next visit to Napa Valley!

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Plan early and make appointments

I’ll repeat it for the people in the back: PLAN EARLY! Chances are, you already have a list of wineries you want to visit. Get in touch with them as soon as you know your dates! Some wineries are booking out months in advance, especially for peak times. It would be a shame to come to wine country and not visit the wineries on your bucket list.

Schedule two tasting experiences per day; 3 max

Most experiences last 60-90 minutes. Enjoy each winery and what it has to offer!

Plan regionally

Considering the longer format of experiences and general travel times (it can take up to an hour to get from one end of the valley to the other end). Start the furthest away and work your way back to your accommodations. The pace of experiences in many wineries has slowed to improve the guest experience while layering safety measures for guests and staff. It is essential to consider that when booking as the general timelines. Most tastings nowadays are between 60-90 minutes. Add in more time for pictures, bathroom breaks, lunch, etc.

Be aware of tasting fees

Since the guest experiences have become more intimate, many of the tasting fees have also increased. Plan to spend anywhere from $50-$200 for a tour and tasting. Many tasting rooms will waive the fee with wine purchases, but don’t assume this.

Tipping

Tipping is a tricky subject.  After asking many working in the industry, I don’t have a definite answer.  However, one suggestion I CAN give you is to ask your educator if they can accept tips.  If they say yes, tipping what you feel comfortable with the service you received is best.  Typically, I tip $10-$20 per person for a good sit down tasting.  If a tour is involved or the educator has spent extra time with me, I tip more.

Hire a driver

Not only is it the safest option, but they also have a pulse on the geography and time it takes to get from winery to winery. Many good drivers have developed relationships with the wineries and can assist or plan your day for you! FYI, Uber is not always reliable with the lack of cell service, especially when leaving the valley floor. Plus, having a driver who will keep you on time is a huge plus when you are on a schedule!

Visit a downtown Tasting Room

That said, many wineries now have satellite tasting rooms in the towns of Napa, Yountville, St Helena, and Calistoga that are easily accessible by foot (I’m working on an urban tasting room post as we speak). It is still a good idea to make an appointment, but many also take walk-ins. This is an excellent option if you have some extra time after lunch or before dinner in town.

Allow Time to Eat

Plan to either pack a lunch or leave time to stop at a local restaurant and enjoy the wine country lifestyle. Eating and drinking plenty of water is vital when in Napa! The wine is fantastic ~ but not when you are hungover or too drunk to remember it!

I hope this overview helps you while planning your wine country getaway!  Remember, you can always message me for quick recommendations or general questions.  There is truly no place like Napa Valley.  We take pride in our community, and we want you to enjoy every minute of your trip here! ~ Cheers Wine Lovers