California is the largest wine producer in the country and is the home state of, Napa Valley, the most famous wine region in the US!
Visiting the area and going on a wine country trip is one of the best activities to do in the Golden State, especially for those who like breathtaking landscapes, take a break from the hustle and bustle of San Francisco, try haute cuisine and – most importantly – drink some good wines.
Below you’ll learn the best options of how to get to Napa Valley from SF for a day trip to wine country!
What is Napa Valley?
Napa Valley wine country is located in Northern California, 50 miles northeast of San Francisco. When talking about Napa Valley, many people think of a single city, but Napa Valley is actually a combination of some small cities located around the Napa River.
Napa Valley consists of five distinctive towns – Napa, Calistoga, St. Helena, Yountville, and American Canyon, with the first four being the best known.
Check out some impressive numbers of Napa Valley:
- More than 400 wineries
- Home to more than 150 restaurants
- More Michelin stars per capita than any other wine region in the world
FUN FACT: For all its (worthy) success, only 4% of California’s wine comes from Napa Valley.
How to Get From San Francisco to Wine Country
Napa Valley is a little over an hour from San Francisco, depending on the wineries you visit. There aren’t any convenient public transportation options that connect San Francisco to the wineries in Napa Valley. You can take the San Francisco Vallejo Bay ferry, which is just a block from the Vallejo Transit Center, but you still need to get from one winery to another, so to visit the area you’ll need to rent a car or book a tour.
Napa Valley by Car
Driving is perhaps the best option for those who want to visit Napa Valley. You can visit the wineries of your choice and do the tastings at your own pace. The problem is that alcohol and driving don’t mix, right? For those who desire to travel by car, we recommend that you have a designated driver to help keep everyone safe.
Napa Valley by Group Tours
Of course, we couldn’t forget to mention our Deluxe Sonoma & Napa Valley Wine Country Tour. Our journey starts in San Francisco, driving over the Golden Gate Bridge and stopping at Golden Gate Vista Point (because we didn’t miss the opportunity to take a good photo of the majestic Golden Gate Bridge). During the journey, our tour guide will share stories and important facts about the places we will cross along the way.
Arriving in the wine region, we will take you to 2 renowned wineries located in Sonoma Valley for tasting, where you will learn about winemaking techniques, and shop for wines and souvenirs in local shops.
For lunch break, we’ll stop at Yountville or Sonoma Square Plaza, two super charming places well-known for the many options of shops and restaurants nearby. You will have enough time to take pictures, walk around the area and have your lunch at the restaurant of your choice.
After lunch, we drive to Napa Valley for another taste experience at a renowned winery. Another opportunity for you to learn about the wineries’ production process, enjoy good wine, stroll through the vines, and take lots of pictures. It is worth it!
After the third winery, we will return to San Francisco through Marin County and end our amazing tour.
Don’t miss the opportunity to live this experience. Learn more about our Group Tour!
Napa Valley by Private Tours
Another great way to visit Napa Valley for a wine country trip is to book a private tour if you have a small group of at least 6 people. The private tour will be similar to the group tour, but you will stick with your own group in a private vehicle.
Beyond that, we can also organize the tour based on the customer’s needs, customizing the trip and changes like time of departure and duration of the tour, the number of wineries, and everything else. In this case, the customer can also look for specific wineries and choose if they want us to include the tasting fees in our price or pay as they go. It is a great option for the ones that are looking for something more exclusive without taking the risk of driving.
You can book the private tour by contacting us at (415) 353-5310 or [email protected].
Regardless of your choice, visiting Napa Valley is an experience that needs to be part of your trip itinerary. Enjoy!
