10 Unusual Ways to Experience California Wine Country

These custom and quirky guided tours of Napa and Sonoma offer you all the perks of a vineyard visit without having to drive

Matt Villano

Courtesy of Gondola Servizio

1 of 10 Courtesy of Gondola Servizio

Gondola Servizio

Take to the water on gondolas powered by singing gondoliers dressed in full Venetian regalia. Tours from Gondola Servizio began operating in August 2018 and leave from the Main Street Public Dock on the Napa River in downtown Napa. The 50-minute boat rides can seat up to six passengers (though they’re designed for two); the rides meander up and down the river, depending on the tides. Riders are welcome to bring their own vino; guides provide glassware and will open bottles for you for no additional charge. $95 per couple, $10 for each additional person.

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Courtesy of Bohemian Highway Travel Co.

2 of 10 Courtesy of Bohemian Highway Travel Co.

Bohemian Highway Travel Co.

Tours from this nascent Sonoma-based outfitter trade in intimate and luxurious adventure—each Bohemian Highway trip pairs up to seven passengers with one guide in a classic-but-modernized Land Rover Defender or a tricked-out Mercedes Sprinter van. The farm tour, one of the most popular offerings, stops at a working organic farm and gives visitors a chance to harvest vegetables before stopping at private (and often family-owned) wineries for tastings and other experiences. Drivers provide coolers stocked with snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Of course, passengers can drink their own wine along the way, too. $95 per hour, plus additional fees.

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Courtesy of Laces and Limos

3 of 10 Courtesy of Laces and Limos

Laces and Limos

The traditional three-wheel electric tuk-tuk experience is elevated with Laces and Limos, a Napa Valley outfitter that specializes in half- and full-day excursions to lesser-known parts of the famous wine region. The “Classic Tour” includes a pick-up in downtown Napa, a stop at a tasting room downtown, a tour of the Coombsville appellation, and a visit to a winery in the countryside. While tasting fees are not included in the price of each tour, passengers do get discounts. Tours can accommodate up to six people; custom tours can be designed to include a stop at the Napa Valley Distillery as well. $65-$90 per person, plus additional fees.

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Courtesy of Paper Napan Walkabouts

4 of 10 Courtesy of Paper Napan Walkabouts

Paper Napan Walkabouts

The best way to explore Napa’s up-and-coming Rail Arts District is by foot—precisely the type of itinerary offered by relatively young outfitter Paper Napan Walkabouts. On the half-day walkabouts, participants learn about murals from globally renowned street artists, taste world-class wines from small-batch wineries, and sample California cuisine. Some tours also include tastings from urban nano-breweries. Walks parallel the Napa Valley Vine Trail and offer prime views of the Napa River and downtown. $40-$85 per person.

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Courtesy of Rooted Fork Foodie Tours

5 of 10 Courtesy of Rooted Fork Foodie Tours

Rooted Fork Foodie Tours

Napa has spent the better part of the last decade establishing itself as a food city, and tours from Rooted Fork Foodie Tours give participants a taste of the best. There are two different tours—one that incorporates eight individual bites over the course of three hours, and another that focuses on different brunch experiences around town. Stops have included Sky & Vine rooftop bar, Alexis Baking Company, Ca Momi (pictured), and Hudson Greens and Goods at Oxbow Public Market. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions are available. $90-$95 per person.

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Courtesy of Bike Healdsburg

6 of 10 Courtesy of Bike Healdsburg

Bike Healdsburg

Party bikes are all about teamwork, and the newest transit offering in downtown Healdsburg is no exception. Dubbed Bike Healdsburg, the contraption seats up to 13 passengers at a time, and just about everyone must pedal in order to move it. The rookie outfitter offers three separate tours—one that’s just a workout, another that stops at a trio of wineries around town, and a third that essentially transports pedalers through a progressive dinner at multiple restaurants. Perhaps the only downside is that you can’t drink on board—a real bummer since the bike looks like a bar on wheels. $20-$149 per person.

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Creative Commons photo by Thomas Hawk is licensed under CC BY 2.0

7 of 10 Creative Commons photo by Thomas Hawk is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Sonoma Food Tour

One of the best things about downtown Sonoma: Almost everything in town is within walking distance of the central plaza. Half-day excursions with Sonoma Food Tour capitalize on this proximity. Over the course of three hours, you’ll stop in at three or four different local restaurants and food purveyors, sampling signature dishes paired with wine. Most tours include a visit to the Vella Cheese Company, which dates back to 1931. Tours end on the plaza with sweet bites from Wine Country Chocolates. $79-$92 per person.

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Bob McClenahan for Visit Napa Valley

8 of 10 Bob McClenahan for Visit Napa Valley

Getaway Adventures

The flat roads of Calistoga practically beg visitors to explore by bicycle, which is precisely what the Sip ‘N’ Cycle Tour from Getaway Adventures has them do. Over the course of 12 miles and five hours, bikers will stop for tastings at Chateau Montelena and three or four other wineries, walking the vineyards and picking up tidbits about winemaking at every step of the way. Guides also provide snacks and all the fixings for a picnic, which the group will enjoy at one of the wineries. Helmets and bikes are included on all rides. $142-$159 per person.

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Courtesy of Spoonbar

9 of 10 Courtesy of Spoonbar

Wine Country Walking Tours

There’s no better way to explore downtown Healdsburg than the Tastemakers Tour from Wine Country Walking Tours. The four-hour walkabout, held on select Thursdays throughout the year, usually includes hands-on sessions with some of the most famous chefs in town, like Mateo Granados and Dustin Valette, to name but two. The tour also features a mixology session at Spoonbar (pictured), one of the city’s most popular cocktail destinations. Participants end the night with a three-course meal paired with vino from Williamson Wines. $175 per person.

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Creative Commons photo by K Schneider is licensed under CC BY 2.0

10 of 10 Creative Commons photo by K Schneider is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Wombat Charters

Small-boat tours with Wombat Charters offer up-close and personal looks at a part of Wine Country few visitors ever get to see: the Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area. This region, at the southern part of the Napa-Sonoma county border, comprises more than 15,000 acres of bay lands, tidal sloughs, and wetland habitats. During three-hour daytime or sunset tours, guides regale up to six passengers with information about the region and help look for wildlife, including birds, seals, otters, and more. Riders are welcome to bring wine and snacks aboard the boats. $95-$150 per person.

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