We often recommend that guests staying 5-8 days take a day off from wineries every 3 days. Go horseback riding, do a mountain hike, have a spa day . . there are lots of options.
People Also Ask
The best time to visit Napa is from August to October when the fall harvest is in full swing. The weather during this period of time is absolutely perfect. Whenever you visit Napa, it's always a good idea to bring a coat, as the evenings can get a bit chilly.
While you could easily fit in a half-day visit to Napa, we suggest making it a full-day trip, so you can do all the fun things like wine tasting, dining out, and exploring, of course.
How many wine tastings can we do in one day? We recommend 2 or 3 winery visits, but not more than that as most experiences take a minimum of 90 minutes and there is travel time in between. You can also hire a driver or tour company to drive you to the wineries, and they can even plan your day of tastings.
Yes!Jeans are acceptable year-round – we call it wine country casual. A more upscale winery might call for darker denim, and be sure to dress in layers as many winery experiences take place outdoors and tours often take guests through wine caves and chilled cellar areas.
Sattui Winery is at or near the top of the most-visited winery list each year. But the influx of tourists may not be appealing to everyone. Nonetheless, the vineyard is quintessentially Napa Valley and has a lot to offer with a storied history, striking estate and onsite dining.
The cheapest times to visit Napa are Winter and Spring. From October to May you'll find plenty of hotel bargains with many dropping their rates by over half. A hotel you couldn't touch during Summer in popular Yountville becomes almost affordable, and downtown Napa gets downright cheap.
The high land values, as well as the cost of water and other resources, make it expensive to grow grapes in Napa Valley. Secondly, Napa Valley wines are often produced in limited quantities. Many of the wineries in Napa Valley are small, family-owned operations that produce only a few thousand cases of wine each year.
It's Sonoma when you and your significant other want the whole peaceful valley to yourselves. It's Napa when you and your friends want to rent a limo and cruise the Silverado Highway. It's Sonoma when you and your friends want less crowds at the tasting bar and less competition on the bocce courts.
If you plan to do both Napa and Sonoma, dedicate one day to each. Also, they're close enough that I wouldn't recommend moving locations. Just stay in one place and then you won't waste time moving from one hotel to another.
Our beloved Sonoma County, California is renowned for amazing wines and legendary vineyards, as well as gorgeous organic produce and sustainable farming. Our natural beauty is our calling card, from our mountains, forests, rivers, valleys, and meadows, to all 55 miles of our Pacific Ocean coastline.