Napa Valley Wine Train

Choose between 3-hour rides through the Napa countryside with onboard wining and dining or 5-hour excursions that also include stops at winery tasting rooms on the Napa Valley Wine Train. For a luxurious experience, book Napa Valley Wine Train tickets for the Vista Dome upper deck or the Gourmet Express dining train.

Vineyard options include the Castle Winery tour, which stops at the Castello di Amorosa vineyard; the Raymond Vineyards tour; and the Grgich Hills Winery tour, which offers an evening option. The Ambassador Winery tour includes tastings at two wineries, while the Quattro Vino tour includes tastings at four.

• The wine train ride is a perfect romantic excursion for travelers 21 and up.

• Dress for heat or wind (depending on the time of year) if you plan to sit on the deck.

• Bring proper photo identification for wine tastings.

• Dressing up is recommended, but many opt for more casual attire.

• All Napa Valley Wine Train tours depart from downtown Napa, but some tour packages include round-trip transfers from San Francisco or Vallejo.

• Look out for special tasting room events such as the Murder Mystery dinner tour.

Reaching historic Napa by car is relatively easy from anywhere in the Bay Area and the drive from San Francisco to Napa is roughly 52 miles (84 kilometers). As with most major metropolitan areas, leave plenty of time to account for traffic. Those without access to a car may prefer to rent one or opt for a tour that includes round-trip transportation from San Francisco or Vallejo, as public transportation options to Napa are severely limited.

Wildflowers are in full bloom from the end of February through April, adding delightful splashes of color to the landscape. November is the best time to see blond hills and flame-tipped leaves in the height of fall. Visit in summer for the warmest weather and most winery options.

Napa Valley is dotted with vineyards but some stand out over the rest. The Chateau Montelena Winery is revered for its beautiful grounds, including ivy-covered facades, while Pine Ridge is beloved for its peace and quiet. Round Pond Estate, meanwhile, has a gorgeous terrace, perfect for long, wine-filled lunches.

Yes, the Napa Valley Wine Train is worth the experience. If you’ve never done it before, it is something to try at least once. The Napa Wine Train runs through one of the most impressive wine regions in the world offering stunning views of the agricultural beauty that is wine country.

Yes, the Napa Wine Train stops at wineries; however, the stops depend on which tour you book. Some tours may include stops at some of the following wineries: Beringer, Castello di Amorosa, Charles Krug Winery, Domaine Chandon, Grgich Hills Estate, Inglenook, Raymond Vineyards, St. Supéry Estate, Robert Mondavi Winery, and V. Sattui.

The Napa Valley Wine Train is a 36-mile (58-kilometer), round-trip route from Downtown Napa to St. Helena and then back again. Along the ride, pass the old industrial area of Napa, the Rural Urban Limit (RUL) Line, and the small towns of Oak Knoll, Yountville, Oakville, and Rutherford.

Although dressing up is encouraged, it isn’t a requirement to ride the Napa Valley Wine Train. If you’re planning to have dinner aboard the wine train, it can be dressier than a lunchtime tour which will be more casual. You’ll also want to prepare for heat or wind accordingly.