What NOT to Do When Visiting Sonoma & Napa Valleys
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re discussing what NOT to do when planning a trip to Napa and Sonoma Valley wineries. While most travel blogs will tell you what to do in Napa Valley, we want to be sure you know what NOT to do when visiting California’s wine region.
Don’t Expect Free Wine Tasting
If you’ve visited tasting rooms in other locations, you may have received free wine samples to try. That is not the case in Napa or Sonoma. $35 – $50 per tasting is fairly common, so don’t have sticker shock if you are expecting free wine!
Don’t Expect a Cheap Vacation
I think most people know by now that California is expensive. It’s expensive to live there, and it’s expensive to visit. Napa and Sonoma Valleys are no exception. Lodging, tours and wine tastings are all pricey, especially during the busiest summer months.
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You can bring your own water bottle and get it refilled for free, rather than buying bottled water at every stop. You will want water to sip between wine samples!
Don’t Be Ashamed of the Spit Bucket
When you are wine tasting in Napa Valley, there will be a bucket available to spit out any wine. You can use this if you don’t like the wine, or if you’re just tasting the wine but don’t want to get intoxicated. Don’t be embarrassed! Using the spit bucket will allow you to taste more wines than if you are finishing every sample.
Don’t Screw Up Your Palate
Be careful about what you eat or consume before your wine tastings. You don’t want anything to interfere with your ability to taste the wine, so things like coffee, cigarettes, and chewing gum will alter how the wine tastes. Perfume can also affect your sense of taste, so go easy on that.
Don’t Think It’s a Kegger
Wine tasting in Napa Valley is not a “drink as much as you can’ outing. It’s wine tasting, not wine drinking, so you’ll get smaller pours and you will be pacing it out. You’ll get a sample, followed by some discussion where you learn about the wine, followed by more small samples. If you want a big pour, you can purchase more but don’t expect to get hammered off the free wine.
Don’t Just Stick to the Wine You Know
You probably have certain wines that you prefer. For Mark, it’s Pinot Noir. But wine tasting is the perfect opportunity to try different wines. It’s low risk because you aren’t ordering a full glass or bottle, so why not try something new?
Don’t Be a Wine Snob
Whether you realize it or not, Napa Valley is a place to learn about wines. Even if you already think you know all about wine, or you only prefer wine from France or Argentina, go into it with an open mind. You can learn a lot during a wine tasting.
Don’t Try to Hit All the Wineries
There are hundreds of wineries between Sonoma and Napa, so you really have to narrow down your choices. The best approach is to choose a few vineyards per day. Any more than that and you will be racing all over. You want to be able to relax and enjoy each tasting, so take it slow. I think three wineries would be the most to see in one day.
Most wineries do not stay open into the evening; hours are typically 10 until 5, so you really don’t have more than a few hours to spend at each tasting.
If you find a winery you really love, it’s perfectly fine to spend your whole day in one place. It’s your vacation, so do whatever you want. Don’t feel pressured to hit as many wineries as you can.
Don’t Forget to Make Reservations
Many vineyards require a reservation for tasting or lunch, especially if you are in a larger group. This can vary by season, so you will need to do some research on specific wineries before you go. If you visit in the winter, it’s less crowded and you have a better chance of playing it by ear rather than having reservations.
Don’t Worry About the Best Time to Visit Napa Valley
Most vineyards and wineries are open year-round, so you can visit any time of year. Summer and fall are the busiest seasons, so if you want to avoid crowds, plan a trip in winter or early spring. Different seasons offer different vibes, but Napa Valley is fun year-round!
Don’t Skip the Towns in Napa Valley
Of course, the main attraction is the wine, but the towns of Napa Valley are worth exploring, too! There are great restaurants and shops and it’s just a fun vibe in the small towns of Sonoma and Napa.
Don’t Skip Meals
Make sure you start your day with a hearty breakfast and a full stomach. Not every wine tasting will have snacks for you, and you don’t want to drink on an empty stomach. You might have a few tastings between breakfast and lunch, so fill up at breakfast.
Likewise, getting some food in your stomach between tastings is crucial for a good experience. You don’t want to sip wine all day on an empty stomach! There are tons of restaurants in the towns, but give yourself time for lunch because they can get very busy, especially on the weekends. Build a couple of hours into your schedule.
Don’t Forget About Wine Clubs
If you find a winery that you like, many of them offer a membership to their wine clubs. Many of these memberships offer a discount on prices at the vineyard or tasting room as well. We don’t have a lot of budget tips for Napa Valley, but this is one way to save money in Napa. However, if you’re not a big wine drinker back home, don’t get talked into the wine membership because you’ll have wine piled up at your house.
Don’t Be in a Rush
Wine tasting is not a hurried affair. They want you to stay and linger, so each stop can take a while. You’ll get a small pour, they’ll give you time to sample it and then come back, maybe have a conversation about what you liked and didn’t like, and move on to the next pour.
Don’t Expect Consistent Cell Service
Cell service in Napa Valley can be spotty, so if you need driving directions, you should download them to your phone. That way, if you lose cell service, you can still figure out where you are going.
Don’t Think Sonoma and Napa Are the Same
Both Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley are fantastic, so you can’t really go wrong with either one. And they are different enough to each warrant their own trip. I found Sonoma Valley to have smaller, more intimate wine-tasting experience and a bit more laid-back. The prices seemed slightly lower in Sonoma as well.
Don’t Forget About Non-Wine Activities
While wine is the main reason to visit Sonoma and Napa Valleys, there are other things to do when you are there. We already mentioned the cute towns you can explore, and many vineyards also have onsite activities where you can take a break from wine tasting.
Don’t Wait to Figure Out Transportation
Even though you will have small samples, you should not drive if you are wine tasting. The best approach is to take turns each day with someone in the group being the designated driver. If your group does not have a designated driver, then you need to hire a transportation company to get around. There are lots of Ubers and Lyfts that will drop you off and let you schedule a pickup for later. There are also lots of tour companies that will give you a guided tour of Napa Valley or Sonoma Valley.
Don’t Forget About the Wine Train
Napa Valley has a wine train with multiple vineyard stops. The Napa Valley Wine Train is 36 miles round-trip, and they offer half-day and full-day tours. They serve gourmet food on board so you can enjoy tasty food between wine stops.
Don’t Forget to Bring Napa Valley Essentials
When packing for your wine-tasting trip, there are a few things to remember:
- Have cash, in smaller bills like 5’s, 10’s and 20’s for tipping
- Pack layers for different climates, especially if you are staying in San Francisco.
- Good walking shoes are crucial, as you might do a lot of walking out in the vineyards.
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A trip to Sonoma or Napa Valley can be really fun, especially if you are into learning about and trying new wines. Even if you’re not that into wine, it’s a beautiful part of the country to visit, with charming towns, fantastic chefs, and beautiful views.
Want more tips for visiting the USA? Check out some of our other blog posts: