Should I Go To Napa Or Sonoma
If you buy pricier wines, then go to Napa. If you mainly drink Cabernet Sauvignon, buttery Chardonnay, and Merlot, then go to Napa. If you buy more reasonably priced wines, then go to Sonoma. If you mainly drink Zinfandels, Pinot Noirs, Sparkling Wines, Red Blends, and Unoaked zesty Chardonnays, then go to Sonoma.
Napa Valley Wine Train: The Legacy Winery Full
- Instant confirmation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- 3-hour rail tour of Napa Valley
- 4-Course Napa style meal, including coffee or tea
- Welcome taste of sparkling wine
- Tour and tasting at Charles Krug and V. Sattui
- Vineyard tasting and photo opportunities at the Napa Valley sign
- Alcoholic drinks
- Souvenir photos
- Napa Valley Wine Train, 1275 McKinstry St, Napa, CA 94559, USA
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Operates in all weather conditions please dress appropriately
- Dress code is smart casual
- Must be 21 or older
- Not wheelchair or scooter accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
- 3-hour rail tour of Napa Valley
- 4-Course Napa style meal, including coffee or tea
- Welcome taste of sparkling wine
- Tour and tasting at Charles Krug and V. Sattui
- Vineyard tasting and photo opportunities at the Napa Valley sign
- Alcoholic drinks
- Souvenir photos
- Napa Valley Wine Train, 1275 McKinstry St, Napa, CA 94559, USA
- Returns to original departure point
Napa Valley Wine Train Tickets And Tours
Experience the luxury of the Napa Valley Wine Train on board a vintage, elegant 100-year old railcar. Discover Napa Valley wineries as you sip on Cali…
Book a Napa Valley Wine Train Gourmet Express and dine in sophisticated comfort aboard an elegant vintage train through the Napa Valley.
Book a Napa Valley Wine Train Vista Dome and enjoy the three-hour journey as you dine in luxury aboard an elegant vintage train.
Perfect! Everything went smoothly and we had a great time! Thank you 🙂
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The Glamorous Napa Valley Wine Train
I believe you all know I quit drinking alcohol more than 4 years ago and even before that I was never a big fan of both beer and wine. So going to San Francisco and listening to all the recommendations about taking time to visit Napa Valley famous for its wineries and wine tasting got a bit annoying to be honest. I kept refusing all of them with a simple answer:
What would I do in a wine place if I dont drink wine?
But it was just one of a few things I was wrong about and I only found out when the time was right.
When I got an email from Ryan, the PR and Media Manager of the Napa Valley Wine Train inviting me to experience the train restaurant, my first question was Are you familiar with me being a non-drinker?
I am not sure if it was him surprised more about me not drinking alcohol any more or then me after his reply saying there were a lot of other reasons why to hop on the Wine Train than the world known wine.
And as Ive been doing things in San Francisco I dont usually do, after Ryans a funny statistic about our Wine Train passengers is that nearly 50% of them do not drink wine, I decided to give the wine train a chance, too.
What To Expect From Your Journey
The Napa Valley Wine Train purchased their first railcar in 1987. All of the cars on this historic train are from 1915. Built by the Pullman Standard Company, they were originally in use by Northern Pacific Railway.
After two years of work, four railcars took their inaugural journey on September 16, 1989.
Today, the Napa Valley Wine train consists of 16 railcars and 4 engines. Although some people confuse it as being just a wine tasting touring train, it is mainly a restaurant on train tracks that rolls through the valley.
Their Executive Chef, Donald Young, and his team prepare all of the meals on board. There are four kitchen railcars.
They serve up dishes with fresh ingredients and offer some of the tastiest meals in the valley. For each meal selection, you will have a choice of dishes from a selection of three to four dishes per course.
Since it is a high-end restaurant, they will work with you if you need modifications for your diet. You just need to let them know ahead of time, so they have what they need on board for your meal. When you enter, just let any of the attendants know which person in your party ordered a dietary specific meal.
The cool thing about this experience is that you also have the chance to watch the chef and his staff in action. The main kitchen railcar has a large window and viewing area, so you can see them create the perfect meal.
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Where Is The Best Place To Stay In Napa Valley
From north to south some of the most popular places to stay in Napa Valley are Calistoga, St. Helena, Rutherford, Yountville, Napa and Lake Berryessa to the east. A wine-tasting tour of the fifty kilometre long Napa Valley is recommended for couples and friends rather than families with young children.
Is The Wine Train Worth It
I think it depends on which tour/dining experience you choose. As I mentioned this above, if youre looking for a full day tour, Id recommend the Legacy Tour or the Estate Tour. I LOVED Castello Di Amorosa, but I just cant justify paying around $350 per person to go there when you can go there for a tasting on your own and have an incredible time!
I will say, though, the Legacy Tour was worth it. We got to try out different wineries that wed never heard of, we had a delicious meal, and we got to ride on the historic railroad. Best of all we could drink as much wine as we wanted, because we didnt have to worry about transportation between wineries!
As for the dining experiences, I feel like thats a personal decision. Both the lunch and dinner options make for one expensive meal, but its the experience that can make it worth it for some people.
I hope this article was helpful for you and Id love to know if youve been on the Napa Valley Wine Train, or if youre planning to go. It was such a memorable experience for us and I know it will be for you, too!
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Gear Up For Halloween With A Wizards And Witches Murder Mystery Tour
The Napa Valley Wine Train has partnered with The Murder Mystery Company, the largest theatrical company in the U.S., for a new Murder Mystery Tour still available on Oct. 16 and 23. On the journey, guests will solve a “murder” while being served a multi-course gourmet dinner from the train’s expert culinary team. They can also take a break from their detective work and enjoy sweeping views of the sunset and vineyards along the way. Witch hats and wizard robes are encouraged. The ride starts at $505 per person.
Feast With Family And Friends On A Thanksgiving Ride
Offered exclusively at lunch on Thursday, November 25, the Napa Valley Wine Train’s culinary team is offering guests a delicious menu of classic Thanksgiving-themed dishes so they can give thanks in style. Dishes include pumpkin bisque, roasted Diestel farms turkey, rosemary and cracked black pepper filet of beef, ricotta cheese gnocchi, and pumpkin-white chocolate mousse.
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Riding The Wine Train Helped Me See Napa Valley In A Completely New Way
We were almost to Yountville when my cynicism about the Napa Valley Wine Train showed the first signs of wearing off.
That was when I began speaking with David and Ann Emery, the passengers seated directly to my right, who had traveled from Brentwood, Tenn., to celebrate Anns birthday. We were creaking along at 15 miles per hour, eclipsing the Veterans Home to our west, then Domaine Chandon. Listlessly, I was picking at the appetizer that had just been served a ramekin of alarmingly squishy spiced walnuts with a sturdy slice of Camembert and some salami, the first taste of my $164 experience as I gazed out the trains window considering how much faster Id be moving north on Highway 29 if I were driving.
Maybe the Emerys were taking pity on me, a solo traveler on a train full of vacationing couples, when we began to chat. They were very excited about being on the Wine Train. Touchingly, poignantly excited. They wanted to know what every landmark was. They were ecstatic to spot the purple clusters of grapes hanging on the vines, something theyd never seen up close.
What You Need To Know About The Napa Valley Wine Train
The Wine Train makes four to six trips weekly, but the schedule varies by season. Cost varies by type of trip, and whether you have a meal. You can get their current times and prices on their website. Reservations are required.
You will spend two to three hours on the train, but allow extra time to get there and get on board before departure time. The station is at 1275 McKinstry Street, Napa, CA, not far from the Oxbow Market.
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Birth Of A New Railroad
The NVRR operating company was formed in 1987 by local entrepreneurs and headed by Vincent DeDomenico. DeDomenico was a veteran of more than 50 years in the food business and was formerly the president of Golden Grain, a company founded by his father and famous for its Rice-A-Roni. DeDomnico purchased the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company in 1964 and sold both it and Golden Grain to the Quaker Oats Company in 1986. The NVRR acquired the right of way for $2.5 Million after Southern Pacific notified the Interstate Commerce Commission of its intent to abandon the line in 1985.
The new company’s plans to create a tourist-oriented Wine Train were strongly opposed by local community activists and several city governments. Some people disliked the noise and pollution of an active passenger train line in their midst, while others felt that the train would attract even more visitors to the Napa Valley, which they saw as already over-saturated with tourists. The project’s opponents persuaded the state Public Utilities Commission to order the company to comply with the rigorous requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act . However, in a 4-3 decision handed down on March 19, 1990, the Supreme Court of California held that the PUC had no jurisdiction to require CEQA certification because the train fell under the CEQA exemption for “the institution or increase of passenger or commuter service on rail lines already in use.”
What Should I Wear To Napa Wine Train
We encourage our guests to dress for the occasion, though we do not have an enforced dress code. Dinner can be dressier some guests prefer cocktail party attire. Jackets are suggested on cool nights, but not required. It is always a good idea to bring an extra layer to make sure you are warm enough on board.
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Explore Napa Valley By Train
It might seem cliché to say that the Napa Valley Wine Train is more than the sum of its parts, but it is. Part distinctive Napa Valley fine dining restaurant. Part museum, its made up of exquisitely and faithfully restored vintage early 20th century Pullman cars. Part journey, to some of Californias most celebrated wineries.
With its Honduran mahogany paneling, brass accents, etched glass partitions, and plush armchairs, the Wine Train also evokes the elegant glory days of luxury train travel of the early 1900s. You get to sit back, relax, and savor every delicious bite, every bit of extraordinary scenery, every taste and tour. There are lots of ways to explore Napa Valley. This one is an experience you will never forget.
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Napa Valley Wine Train, 1275 Mckinstry Street, Napa, CA 94559
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More Details On The Napa Valley Wine Train
The Napa Valley Wine Train is an actual train that takes you on a tour of up to three different wineries in Napa Valley. There are different options, but the tour we did included meals and private group tastings to each of the wineries we visited. When I say private group tastings, I mean everyone on the train sticks together and has the tasting as a group. This was a really fun way to meet people and make friends with the people youre drinking wine with all day!
The rails that the wine train uses were built back in 1864 and were originally owned by Samuel Brannan and used to transport guests to his spa resort. Later on, he needed to sell and the railroad became property of California Pacific Railroad. Fast forward to 1984 the railroad was no longer as important as it once was, so the state of California wanted to sell the property to at least make a profit on that.
However, Napa Valley residents didnt want to see the railroad abandoned. In 1987, Vincent DeDomenico, the inventor of Rice-A-Roni, invested in Napa Valley Wine Train Inc. and they were able to buy the whole operation from California Pacific Railroad. The first passenger trip was taken in 1989 and has been running ever since.
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What Should I Wear In Napa
Denim is acceptable year-round in a more upscale setting, opt for dark denim. Always bring a light jacket for the nighttime breeze from the bay. Flats or wedges when visiting wineries, there is often a lot of walking around outdoors on unpaved surfaces be safe and comfortable and wear low wedges or flats.
Are Wine Trains Real
The Napa Valley Wine Train is well-known for its fun and innovative day-trips through Californias Napa Valley. Combining wine, food, and entertainment, the Napa Valley Wine Train debuted its first ride with The Murder Mystery Company in April 2019, and ran a special 1980s murder mystery train in September.
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What Should You Wear On The Napa Valley Wine Train
The Napa Valley Wine Train is an upscale restaurant experience. While they don’t have a strict dress code, I do recommend that you dress up a little.
You can wear business casual attire or class it up even more in the evening. If you plan to do one of the trains with the tastings at local wineries, make sure to wear casual or comfortable shoes. You will be standing on and off for up to an hour at a time.
Here are a few more tips on what to expect from the weather throughout the year, so you can pack accordingly.
Is The Napa Valley Wine Train Worth It
If you havent heard of the Napa Valley Wine Train, its essentially a train that takes you around Napa Valley, California. The winery tours also include stops at 1-3 different wineries. It doesnt get much better than that, does it? I bought Austin tickets to the wine train for Christmas back in 2018, but I never wrote about it! Keep reading to hear about what our experience was and if I would recommend the Napa Valley Wine Train going forward!
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Who Owns The Wine Train
The iconic Napa Valley Wine Train has been sold for an undisclosed price by the family of its founder, the late Vince DeDomenico. The new owners are Seattle-based Noble House Hotels & Resorts, Ltd. and Brooks Street, a California-based real estate development and investment company, according to a news release.
How Much Does The Napa Valley Wine Train Cost
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Moreover, how much does Napa Wine Train cost?
I had purchased the most basic lunch package, the Gourmet Express, for $164. Other passengers on my train had shelled out for the Vista Dome dining experience or for a mid-journey excursion to Grgich Hills winery .
Likewise, how Much Does Wine Train cost? Yes, we recognize that many people have special wines they would like to have for their special occasion. The Napa Valley Wine Train charges a corkage fee of $20.00 per 750ml bottle and $30 for a magnum-sized bottle.
Consequently, how much is a Napa Valley wine tour?
Cost: Half Day Napa Valley Tour– $74.99 per person, including 1 wine tasting fee. Full Day Napa Valley Tour $99.99 per person, including 1 wine tasting fee. Muir Woods and Napa Valley Tour $124.99 per person, including 2 wine tasting fees.
What is the wine train in Napa Valley?
The Wine TrainAnd the Napa Valley Wine Train’s route runs right through it. Originally a rail line built in 1864 to take visitors north to the resort town of Calistoga, the Wine Train is a three-hour, 36-mile round-trip journey from Downtown Napa to St. Helena and back.
From sleek, modern LEED-certified structures to restored 19th-century estates, here are the 12 most beautiful wineries in Napa Valley.
- Castello di Amoroso.
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