How to Plan Wine Tours in California

Wine tours in California are often best enjoyed with good planning. If you decide to take a trip to the California wine spots, most popularly Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley, then it may be a little hard for you to do it. A wide array of fun activities awaits you when planning California wine tours, so a carefully thought-out plan is in order. What follows are some suggestions and tips to help you plan.

If you’re all about the wines in particular, clearly decide on which wineries you want to visit. The Napa Valley has over 300 wineries that produce the finest wines locally and internationally. You can choose any of the most popular wineries such as Beringer, Raymond, Robert Mondavi, and Sterling. Sonoma Valley, on the other hand, boasts over 200 wineries. You may want to take time to research these two wine regions and decide which of the regions interests you the most.

If you are among the first-timers embarking on California wine tours, you will most likely choose guided tours. If you have a friend with you who has visited Napa or Sonoma Valley, then you’re in luck. And speaking of guided tours, you can also plan bus or limo tours which offer a fixed itinerary. They will take you to the most visited spots including popular wineries, general sightseeing spots, and other points of interest. The great advantage about guided wine tours in California is that you don’t have to do the driving which may keep you from getting lost. But if you want a sense of thrill, you may choose to go on the wine tours on your own. Take the map with you and who knows – you may hit the less traveled roads that are worth discovering.

Do you want some luxury or do you like to camp out? The Napa and the Sonoma Valley have a wide range of lodgings from world class hotels and charming inns to RV parks and camp sites. Whatever your choice, don’t forget to include lodging while planning your wine tour.

To make your wine tour the most memorable, include a hot air balloon ride. It may seem intimidating but at the same time, it is an exciting idea. Balloons Above the Valley (BATV) is one of the most recognized, trusted, and recommended hot air balloon companies in the region.

So what makes BATV stand out among the other hot air balloon flight companies? The tour packages! It’s not solely our opinion, but also that of clients who have recommend us to their friends.

Our tour packages are more than just the sunrise hot air balloon flights, which are a glorious activity already! Amazing, natural sights of the Napa Valley in any season, delicious pre-flight coffee and pastries, post-flight brunch with champagne and wine tours will leave you and your pockets satisfied. You may choose from the following wine tours:

1. Sunrise Balloon flight and brunch ($209 per person)

  • Pre-flight breakfast
  • Sunrise balloon flight
  • Post-flight champagne brunch celebration

2. Sunrise Balloon flight, champagne brunch, and wine tour ($608 for two persons)

  • Pre-flight breakfast
  • Sunrise balloon flight
  • Post-flight champagne brunch celebration
  • 6-hour wine tour
  • Picnic lunch

3. San Francisco Balloon and Wine Tour Package ($836 for two persons)

  • 7-hour wine tour from San Francisco in a limousine
  • Continental breakfast with mimosa
  • Stop at the vista point of the Golden Gate Bridge
  • Visits to two wineries in Napa and two in Sonoma
  • Picnic lunch at the winery
  • Olive oil tasting
  • Vineyard and production tour at one winery
  • Transfer to any hotel of your choice in Napa Valley (hotel fees additional)
  • Pick up at hotel for the hot air balloon site
  • Sunrise balloon flight
  • Post-flight champagne brunch
  • Transfer to Napa Valley location
  • Transfer to ferry terminal
  • Ferry tickets

We also offer other amazing products and services:

  • Sunrise hot air balloon gift certificates ($179 per passenger, non-refundable)
  • Chase and Brunch option ($40 per chase and brunch, with pre-flight breakfast and post-flight brunch, but clients can also choose to go with the post-flight brunch only)
  • Child rate ($165 per child, 12 years old and below, must be at least 40 inches tall)
  • Exclusive flights (Prices vary; this includes a private table at the post-flight champagne brunch)
  • Proposals and weddings*
  • Group tours/Corporate tours*

* – Please contact us for more information on how we can assist you in booking your reservation by calling 800-464-6824 or e-mailing info@balloonrides.com.

When making reservations, we recommend that you call us one to two weeks in advance. Usually, the busiest times of the year occur during weekends, holidays, and the months of August, September, and October. For last-minute reservations, however, we may be able to accommodate only a limited number of passengers. So even if it’s the day before you are about to go on a hot air balloon ride, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

When you choose Balloons Above the Valley, you will be able to indulge in luxury but with prices that you can afford. How cool is that? In over 35 years in business, Balloons Above the Valley has provided safe and enjoyable hot air balloon flights and other delightful activities that keep customers coming back for more.

Include us in your wine tours in California. We guarantee you a truly wonderful and utterly unforgettable experience.