Don’t drink and drive!

Getting Here

Touring wine country generally requires the use of a car. We'd suggest flying in to San Francisco International Airport and renting a car. Wine country begins about an hour north of the city.

FOR LOCALS

For people living in North Bay, East Bay or San Francisco, a day trip to Napa or Sonoma is entirely doable. Be aware that this is a LONG day with a lot of driving. In our 30s, Husband and I decided that a tasting, lunch, followed by a second tasting is all we can do before we’re exhausted. Ducking out early also means we usually beat the bridge traffic back into the city.

If you’d rather let someone else do the driving, there are two options:

  1. Join a tour. Several companies offer day tours of wine country. Tour companies take care of all the driving and reservations for you which means less work for you. However, this means you don’t have a say in where you go and you’ll have a less personalized experience. I think this is a great option though for first-timers looking to dip their toes into wine.

  2. Hire a private bus. This is the preferred option for birthday and bachelorette parties. You can split the cost between a large group, choose your own wineries, and not worry about directions.

Whatever option you choose, DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE. Your designated driver should SWIRL, SIP and SPIT. If there isn’t a spittoon already on your table, ask for one. Your server will not be offended.