Approachable Elegance
Napa Wine Tour
-
Guests
Small Group of 2-5 people -
Duration
Full day / +8 hours -
Experience
Private & Fully custom -
Starting from
$ 1199/per party (up to 4 adults)
Tour Overview
Welcome to today’s Napa Valley where “Cab is King” and modern day royalty pursue their passion projects.
California’s viticulture heritage lies at the confluence of legacy and innovation. This is where the Old World rediscovered its creativity and founded a new wine culture that has quite literally “taken root” across the globe. Over 150 years later, tech giants, politicians and Hollywood moguls have invested billions to create a new cadre of Napa Valley wineries.
But don’t worry- despite all the fresh-blood and modern capital, our heritage is still very much intact, you just need to know exactly where to look. That’s where we shine… or shall we say “Spark-le”!
During our day together, we’ll go beyond the commodified big names and take you to what we believe to be the best wineries in Napa. We peel back the gimmicky labels to rediscover the history and authentic Napa Valley. We’ll reveal the foundations of our rich history, and then introduce you to all that is new and innovative in California’s wine scene.
- Roundtrip Luxury Transportation from your hotel or residence
- A warm, friendly and knowledgeable professional host to facilitate your experience and guide your journey
- Personalized wine-tasting lesson and presentation about the history, science and passion of California wine-making (customized to your level of interest)
- Photo stop at an iconic landmark along the way (optional)
- Additional leisure stops for gourmet sampling and shopping as time allows
Our first stop will be to a property you’ve probably never heard of before— unless you’re in the industry. This place flies under the radar of the tourist scene, but they are the “real-deal.” This esteemed winemaker is where professional buyers and collectors go to get their pedigreed big bold reds.Their classically structured cabernets are some of the most venerated in the business, frequently achieving near perfect scores in Wine Spectator. Their portfolio also includes several delicious whites, enough to please every palate.
Rich in history, this Napa Valley winery was founded in the 1880s. The founder is featured above the tasting bar— in HER fabulous hat and bustle! This woman was WELL ahead of her time. Her legacy of tenacity and grit held strong through Prohibition and tremendous changes in American culture. In 1976, it was among the best wineries selected to represent California in the Judgement of Paris blind taste test. —Remember the movie Bottleshock, where those brash young Americans thoroughly p*ssed off the French? Well, Napa Valley wineries proved their chops and California re-emerged onto the international wine map.
Our personal host will connect the dots to help us understand exactly what makes Napa so special in terms of history, culture & terroir. We’ll learn how to actually taste and appreciate fine wines with a unique side by side pairing technique. This fun, no pressure approach is all about enjoyment. This is the perfect opportunity to ask anything you’ve ever wanted to know about wine… before your wits start to get a little fuzzy!
Now that we are up to speed and fully immersed in the Napa Valley heritage and culture, we’ll move on to explore the culinary scene with a California-style lunch at one of our favorite local restaurants. Of course we’ve made all the arrangements for you— the only hard part will be deciding what course to order first! (Sometimes even we start with desert…)
Relaxed and well satiated, our afternoon will fast-forward us to modern Napa Valley, where its all about expanding the senses. As we continue our journey along palm tree and oak lined drives, we see wine country lifestyle at its best.
We’ll admire gorgeous family owned vineyards, as well as gutsy rising stars among the familiar established names. Wine houses in Napa are a virtual showcase of inviting contemporary architecture, world class hospitality and state of the art production facilities. If time allows, we may look around the property and explore the modern process and science of winemaking, before sitting-back to soak up more liquid sunshine.
Weather permitting, you’ll continue your wine tasting journey surrounded by stunning views of the Napa Valley.
Depending on your pace, we may stop for more photos or gourmet shopping at the local market hall or Culinary Academy. You’ll probably want to bring home a taste of the best Napa Valley wineries to share with those who weren’t lucky enough to be a part of your entourage. 😉
Remember to bring your dark glasses. If you aren’t a celebrity already, you may feel like one in your luxury chauffeured vehicle. Marvel in the gorgeous scenery, as we trace the Mayacamas Mountain and return home, relaxed and re-connected, having enjoyed a truly special day!
AN INDULGENT UPGRADE: Elevate your experience even further. Allow us to arrange an exclusive food and wine-pairing luncheon at one of our favorite local properties. Each bite of your meal will be designed by the chef to perfectly compliment the wines featured in your tasting. Your “Spark Ambassador” and our winemaker’s team will host this experience, personally guiding you through the pairings, in a way that is multi-sensory, fun and completely accessible. Zero intimidation here! Our core philosophy is that wine AND food are meant to be enjoyed, never feared! Weather permitting, this sumptuous meal and experience could take place outdoors on the garden terrace, out among the vines, or in a historic dining room.
To inquire, please contact us immediately following your booking, and we’ll work with our team to confirm availability for your preferred date. If you see a date that is not currently not available on our calendar, send us an email, as we may be able to work a little magic!
Tasting fees are not included in the base experience price. We make all the arrangements for you, based on our your personal tastes and our expertise, so fees will vary based on your needs (and we’d never want you to overpay by charging an arbitrary preset amount). Some properties may require tasting fees paid in advance (which we are happy to do), if not, tasting fees may be payable to the property at time of service. We’ll advise you what to expect, negotiate on your behalf and work with your budget as needed. Typically fees in Napa Valley range from $50-125 per person, and some properties will waive these fees when you purchase wine or join their wine-club family. Similarly, restaurant meals are also payable at time of service.
By state law, wine tasting is limited to guests 21 years and older and many properties do not allow minors on property. If you’d like to include minor children, please contact us. We’ll happily customize a family friendly wine country experience just for you!
Properties are subject to change without advance notice. We partner with private working production facilities and real farms, so its possible certain experiences may be unavailable for reasons outside our control. Rest assured, in the incredibly rare instance that we cannot deliver the exact experience described on your preferred date, every effort will be made to offer you the best possible experience with a reasonable substitution. Our goal is always to show you a fantastic time and memories that will last a lifetime!
For more information, please review our Terms & Conditions.
About this tour
All Spark Experiences have always been, and will continue to be, 100% private— and ALL ABOUT YOU.
Included
- Private Instruction
- Fully customized Itinerary including two properties and time for lunch
- Hotel Pick-up & Drop-off
- Chilled Non Alcoholic Beverages (important to stay hydrated!)
- Parking and Tolls
Not included
- Tasting Fees
- Meals
- Retail purchases
- Gratuity for Excellent Service
Ride with style!
We are the only San Francisco based tour company with a 6 passenger Tesla Model X. Offering an exotic, high-tech luxury experience that is comfortable and FUN!
Designed and manufactured right next door in the Silicon Valley, the Tesla Model X adds a fresh, locally-authentic element to San Francisco Bay Area experiences.
