Located just one hour north of San Francisco and an hour south of Sacramento, Napa Valley is the perfect destination to experience one of your life’s best wine tours. Napa is California’s most famous and prestigious wine-growing region.
Its unrivalled natural beauty and winemaking heritage make it the perfect location for a wine lover’s getaway. Napa Valley forms an arc stretching from San Francisco Bay in the south to Mount Helena in the north, and at just 35 miles from end to end, is a manageable distance for a scenic drive through some of the most valuable wine-growing real estate in the world.The best wine tours in Napa will also take in some of the historic townships along the way, each with plenty of opportunities for wine tasting both in the historic centres and just a short drive away.
In laid back Calistoga, weary after the best Napa wine tours, you can relax in the hot springs and historic mud baths. The town, far from the bustle of the Bay Area, has been drawing visitors to its geothermal springs and spas for over a hundred years. Following top wine tours in Napa, indulge in a mud bath treatment or stroll the charming town centre with its boutique clothing and gift shops.
Some call picturesque town of St Helena the soul of Napa. Enjoy one of the Napa Valley best wine tours before treating yourself to a meal in one of the town’s Michelin-starred restaurants. Its centre boasts many historic landmarks, so much so that three blocks of the town centre are listed as a National Historic District. Main Street is lined with elegant clothing, jewellery and homeware stores, perfect for a spot of shopping after enjoying one of the best Napa Valley wine tours in the sub-AVA of Mount St Helena.
Yountville has earned the unofficial title of ‘culinary capital of Napa thanks to its wide range of excellent restaurants, including three with Michelin stars. It also has thriving culture scene with museums, an art walk and a performing arts theatre offering some relaxation to the culturally-minded. Its compact charming town centre and many downtown wineries mean some of the best wine tours in the Napa Valley can be undertaken here on foot. Many other excellent wineries, including Moet & Chandon’s Californian investment for those in search of drop of refreshing sparkling wine, are just a short drive away.
The tiny towns of Oakville and Rutherford boast nearly sixty wineries between them, including To Kalon, one of the most prestigious vineyards in California, founded in 1868. Many other big names are also located nearby. If you are need of a snack to fortify yourself before potentially the best wine tours in Napa Valley, CA, then Oakville Grocery, founded in 1881, and the longest continually operating grocery store in the state, is sure to have the right ingredients for the perfect picnic.
Napa, the largest and liveliest town in the Valley is also a must. The only town with real access to the Napa River, its redeveloped riverfront is the ideal spot for a quiet river walk. Home to the renowned Oxbow Public Market and terminus for the fabled Napa Valley Wine Train, it makes the ideal base for the best wine tours in Napa.
American Canyon, gateway to the south of Napa Valley, plays an important role in the local wine industry with its warehouses, cooperages and label producers. It offers beautiful natural surroundings with a wetlands preserve and regional trails through the wilderness – perfect for hiking, biking and bird watching.
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