Best Things to Do in Napa Valley

Wine loving newbies and established experts flock to Napa Valley year round to taste the food and wine wares from one of the most well known and delicious wine destinations around the world. Napa Valley may be small in physical size, only three miles wide and 30 miles long, but with over 400 wineries and tasting rooms to visit, killer views, and enough Michelin stars and illustrious culinary spots to shake a fist at, there’s ample savoring and amazing things to do in Napa Valley.

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Wine Country Experiences

Take the guess work out of booking compelling activities in Napa Valley and visit Wine Country Experiences for a one-stop destination of must-do wine and food adventures. Experiences offered range from couple hour jaunts to multi-day excursions, and include culinary explorations, arresting views, and of course, our favorite Napa Valley liquid libation, ample amounts of wine. Guests to the site can explore diverse offerings, read itineraries and tips, and book directly through one website visit with ease.

Insider Tip: The next three Napa Valley activities are offered through Wine Country Experiences. Click through to the Marketplace and effortlessly book one (or all three), and explore other available packages.

Cruise and Wine Taste On The Napa River

The Napa Wine Yacht
Napa Yacht Club,
100 Riverside Road,
Napa, CA 94559

See Napa Valley from a fresh perspective. Relax on a 50-foot Catamaran Yacht as you enjoy a 4-course meal by Tarla Grill and CIA graduate Chef Kadiye. The owner and winemaker of AUM Cellars will be aboard to pair his wines with each course of dinner. You will enjoy a delicious dinner and a personal tasting with a charming winemaker while taking in the beautiful views of Napa. Aum Cellars makes interesting blends that you probably haven’t tasted before, but you will be delighted when you do.

As you cruise along the Napa River, you’ll have distinct views of the Mayacamas and Vaca Mountain ranges as the spectacular back drop for you tasting excursion. The Wine Yacht is a 50’ power catamaran built in New Zealand for shallow draft and stability. It’s luxuriously designed for entertaining and hosting events and wine tastings in the romantic setting of wine country. Built and designed by one of New Zealand’s most prolific catamaran designer/engineers, Alan Wright and Angelo Lavronos of New Zealand. The hull was designed for 3’ to 5’ seas to provide efficiency and enhanced platform stability for the 1999 and 2003 New Zealand America’s Cup Series. This vessel carried the Gyro-cameras for the Louis Vuitton series and AC finals providing excellent efficiency, speed, decreased roll and stability. It now lives in Napa.

Insider Tip: There are no other businesses like the Wine Yacht that provide the views you’ll get of the Napa River. This is truly a one of a kind WineCountry Experience!

Estate Ranch Tour and Exclusive Tasting

Tamber Bey
1251 Tubbs Lane
Calistoga, CA 94515
Trip Advisor: 4.5 stars; 176 reviews

A visit to Tamber Bey Winery is truly an out of the ordinary experience in Napa Valley. The winery is located at Sundance Ranch, a working equestrian facility where winery owners, Barry and Jennifer Waitte, actively train their endurance race horses. The ranch’s 22-acre property is as picturesque as it is functional with unbelievable views of the surrounding Palisade Mountains and well-known Mount St. Helena, and the remodeled, state-of-the-art winemaking facility.

Let vintner and owner Barry Waitte lead you through a private tour of this spectacular and unique facility. The tour begins with an inside look at the winemaking process located on site in their 15,000 square foot facility with 36 fermentation tanks. In addition to the peek into their process, meet the ranch’s beautiful horses as they roam in and out of the stable on site. Additionally, Barry is opening the door to guests of this Experience to explore your own custom, six wine flight by choosing any Tamber Bey wine or vintage from Barry’s private library. He will then guide you through a historic journey as you explore each sip and savor each nuance of their impeccable roster and your selection of Tamber Bey wines.

Insider Tip: Wear comfortable shoes as you will be traversing “on and off road” through the Tamber Bey property.

Hands on Winemaking

Holman Cellars
190 Camino Oruga, Unit 9
Napa, CA 94558
Trip Advisor: 5 stars; 11 reviews

Family owned and operated, Holman Cellars is a not your average winery by any means. Located in Napa proper in an office park, visitors may be a tad confused at first glance but this boutique winery goes above and beyond to produce inspiring and unconventional wines showcasing each vineyard’s unique terroir.

Prepare to get your hands a little dirty as you dig in to explore the full wine making process with owner and winemaker Jason Holman. This is a chance to discover your inner vintner with guidance from their friendly team and an open opportunity to ask questions that go unanswered at a typical tasting session. Once you’ve discovered your continued passion for wine, take your tastebuds on a test drive to explore different stages of the fermentation process and sample sips straight from the barrel.

Insider Tip: For the uber inquisitive Experience goer, prepare a list of questions so you don’t miss this intimate opportunity to ask anything from their talented team.

All Aboard

Napa Valley Wine Train
1275 McKinstry Street
Napa, CA 94559
Trip Advisor: 4.5 stars; 2663 reviews

While traveling by train may seem antiquated when it comes to a quick trip from point a to b, the Napa Valley Wine Train is not only a form of transportation, but also a wine and food-filled adventure. Step into a piece of history and glide through the valley on the original railway line between Yountville and St. Helena while soaking in the views from the comforts of their beautifully restored Pullman cars. This experience has been part of Napa Valley for the last 25 years and is still a favorite of visitors for things to do in Napa Valley. Guests can take ride’s dedicated to stops exploring the wineries that dot the landscape to intimate dinners with local, acclaimed vintners and chefs. And with a robust schedule of daily trips and special, seasonal events, finding a ride to fit your fancy is easy if you’re not too cha-cha-choosey.

Insider Tip: If you have dietary needs and you’re riding the rails on one of their culinary-based adventures, give advance notice and their talented team will ensure your special request is handled with care.

Fly High In WineCountry

Napa Valley Balloons
4086 Byway E,
Napa, CA 94558
Trip Advisor: 5 stars; 1509 reviews

There is only one truly incredible way to see Napa Valley that is hard to replicate anywhere else, from the basket of a hot air balloon. Napa Valley Balloons takes off in Yountville in the heart of wine country. Operating an outfit dedicated to safety, comfort and luxury this is an experience you’ll be hard pressed to forget. While the mornings are early, this is an incredible time to float over the vineyards. Watch the fog roll off the Mayacamas and Palisades Mountains as you climb high and fly where the wind takes you(expertly guided of course). Those expert pilots also have a little fun and dip your basket into vineyard lakes and skim over tree tops when they get the chance. Land safely an hour later where you’ll be picked up and taken to champagne brunch at Domaine Chandon.

Insider Tip: Definitely don’t skip brunch. Napa Valley Balloons puts together a lovely spread, glasses of bubbly in a chic, but cozy room at the winery. Located within walking distance of downtown Yountville, it’s a perfect place to start your day!

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Author

WineCountry Staff