Smooth Sailing Limo Tour in Napa Wine Country

How to have the best time possible on your Napa wine country limo tour

Posted by Miss Melody

Despite the cliche of drunken bachelorette parties and frat boy blowouts, a limo tour can actually be a phenomenal way to see the wine country- because you have a designated driver, there is no concern for having one too many tastes, and if you're not familiar with the area, you can leave the navigation up to someone else while you sip that nicely chilled bottle of Sauvignon Blanc you purchased at the last stop.

Most limo companies provide the basics: bottled water, glasses, napkins, and a bottle opener. Depending on the package, you may get more, but expect these things to be included as soon as you set foot in the limo.
Here are some tips to help you cruise through your day in the wine country without too many bumps in the road (ahem).

1. Plan Ahead
-- Book the limo ahead of time. Most limo companies prefer several weeks notice. You are more likely to get a better deal the further ahead you plan. In Northern California, expect rates to run from $50- $120 per hour, depending on the size of the car and any extras you might request (champagne on arrival, flowers, picnic lunch, etc)

-- Research your wineries. Unless the company has a pre-planned tour, it makes a lot more sense to go to the wineries you would like to visit. Do you like small, family wineries? Big expansive villas? Do you want to tour facilities or just taste? Unfortunately, many of the smaller wineries don't allow groups larger than 4 so always call ahead to endure that they can accommodate you.

-- Map out your day. Get a good road map of the area and plan your trip out. Try to book appointments of wineries close together so that you aren't spending your whole day back tracking. Important: provide a copy of this map to the limo driver. They may have GPS but DO NOT ASSUME THEY KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING. Make it as easy for them as possible. A happy driver makes for happy passengers.

2. Keep it simple
-- Think before you invite. The people on the tour make all the difference. Know the people on the invite list. Before you ask someone to tour the wine country with you, make sure everyone has the same idea of a good time. Things to think about: Do they even drink? Can they drink (are they pregnant, or have a medical condition that prevents them from drinking?) People will agree to go on the trip just to be social but I can tell you from experience it's no fun to be sober when everyone else is tipsy.

-- Don't fill your schedule. Inevitably there will be some sort of holdup and if your schedule is too tight, you may be late for appointments or miss them all together. Allow yourself plenty of time at each winery as well as travel time in between.

-- Pack your lunch. You'll never know when you will need to eat something, even if it's just a snack, and most wineries have a place you can relax and nosh so always bring food with you. This prevents you from scrambling to find something to eat and eating overpriced and/or crappy food because you were starving and the crackers in the tasting room just weren't cutting it.

3. The day of the tour:
-- Don't over do it. Remember to eat a real meal, drink lots of water (most doctors recommend 8 oz of water for every glass of wine) and, most importantly, don't drink it if it doesn't taste good to you. That's what the buckets are for. Dump out the ones you don't like and that will let you enjoy the ones you do like even more. Hangovers are the number one way to ruin memories of even the best days. The goal should not be to get smashed on anything you can get your hands on- it's to enjoy delicious wine with good friends in a beautiful place. If getting sloshed is your goal, there are plenty of good pubs much closer to home, which will save you money and the disdain of winemakers who want you to appreciate the hard work they've put into their wines, not just pound it to get a buzz.

-- Be nice to your driver. No, it's not the most difficult job in the world, but a good driver who feels appreciated can make all the difference. They may know a secret picnic spot or a fabulous out of the way winery that you might have never discovered if it wasn't for them.

Most importantly, have a great time exploring the wine country! If you come across a winery you think we should review, please email us HERE. Our best tips come from our readers!