16 Wine Tours to Take in California

California’s wine country isn’t just about sipping fancy vintages—it’s about experiencing some of the most beautiful landscapes in America while learning the stories behind each bottle. From the rolling hills of Napa Valley to the rugged coastlines of Monterey County, the Golden State offers wine tours that cater to every taste and budget.

Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast or someone who can barely tell a Chardonnay from a Cabernet, these tours provide the perfect blend of education, relaxation, and good old-fashioned fun. Here is a list of 16 wine tours that showcase the best of California’s diverse wine regions.

Napa Valley Wine Train

The Napa Valley Wine Train turns your wine tasting into a nostalgic journey aboard restored vintage railcars from the early 1900s. This three-hour ride covers 36 miles of stunning vineyard landscapes while you enjoy gourmet meals paired with local wines. The train makes stops at renowned wineries where you can step off for exclusive tastings and behind-the-scenes tours. It’s like combining a history lesson with a wine education, all while watching California’s most famous wine region roll by your window.

Sonoma County Bike Tours

Pedaling through Sonoma County’s vineyards offers a completely different perspective on wine country—one where you can actually smell the grapes and feel the terroir beneath your wheels. These guided bike tours typically cover 10–15 miles of gentle rolling hills, with stops at 3–4 family-owned wineries. The pace is leisurely enough that you won’t work up too much of a sweat, but active enough to justify that second glass of Pinot Noir. Most tours include a picnic lunch among the vines, making it feel more like a wine-fueled adventure than a formal tasting.

Paso Robles Wine Trolley

Monterey Peninsula Wine Tours

Monterey’s wine tours offer something you won’t find in most wine regions—ocean views alongside your vineyard visits. The area specializes in cool-climate wines like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, thanks to the cooling fog that rolls in from Monterey Bay. Tours often combine winery visits with stops along the famous 17-Mile Drive, giving you dramatic coastal scenery between tastings. The intimate scale of most Monterey wineries means you’ll often meet the actual winemakers, who are happy to share stories about how the nearby Pacific Ocean influences their craft.

Santa Barbara County Sideways Tour

Ever since the movie ‘Sideways’ put Santa Barbara County on the wine map, tours here have embraced the film’s legacy while showcasing world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These tours take you through the Santa Ynez Valley, where rolling hills covered in oak trees create a more pastoral setting than the manicured rows of Napa. Many tours include stops at the actual filming locations, though the real star is the wine itself—particularly from the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. The region’s Danish heritage also means you might find yourself pairing wine with aebleskiver at local tasting rooms.

Russian River Valley Canoe Tours

Combining wine tasting with gentle river paddling, Russian River Valley canoe tours offer the most unique perspective on Sonoma County’s famous Pinot Noir region. You’ll paddle downstream for about two hours, stopping at riverside wineries that can only be accessed by water. The Russian River moves slowly enough that even novice paddlers can handle it, and the tour guides handle all the logistics of getting your wine purchases back to your car. It’s like a lazy river ride for adults, with world-class wine as the reward for your minimal paddling efforts.

Temecula Hot Air Balloon Wine Tours

Rising above Temecula Valley’s vineyards in a hot air balloon provides a bird’s-eye view of Southern California’s premier wine region. These dawn flights last about an hour, offering stunning panoramic views of the valley’s 40-plus wineries spread across rolling hills. After landing, you’ll typically visit 2–3 wineries for tastings, often including properties you spotted from above. The combination of the peaceful balloon ride and the warm hospitality of Temecula’s family-owned wineries makes this tour feel more like a special celebration than a typical wine tasting.

Anderson Valley Helicopter Tours

For those who want to see California wine country from the ultimate vantage point, Anderson Valley helicopter tours provide an unforgettable aerial perspective of this hidden gem in Mendocino County. The helicopter swoops over ridges covered in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines, then lands directly at exclusive wineries not accessible by regular tours. Anderson Valley remains one of California’s most pristine wine regions, with many organic and biodynamic producers who focus on sustainable farming. The helicopter aspect makes you feel like a VIP, but the intimate family wineries keep the experience grounded and authentic.

Livermore Valley Wine Trolley

Often overlooked in favor of more famous regions, Livermore Valley offers excellent wine tours without the crowds or premium prices of Napa and Sonoma. The area’s wine trolley connects historic wineries that have been operating since the 1880s, when the region was actually more famous than Napa Valley. Today’s Livermore produces exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, with many wineries still family-owned after multiple generations. The trolley tour format lets you sample widely without worrying about the winding country roads, and you’ll often have tasting rooms practically to yourself.

Central Coast Wine Bus Tours

The Central Coast’s wine tours cover an impressive stretch of California, from San Luis Obispo County down to Santa Barbara, showcasing the diversity that comes from different microclimates along this 200-mile stretch. These full-day bus tours typically visit 4–5 wineries, ranging from large commercial operations to tiny family estates producing just a few hundred cases annually. The scenery changes dramatically throughout the day, from coastal fog-shrouded vineyards to sun-drenched inland valleys. It’s like getting a geographic lesson in how location affects wine character, all from the comfort of a climate-controlled bus.

Napa Valley Segway Tours

Gliding through Napa Valley vineyards on a Segway provides a fun, eco-friendly way to cover more ground than walking while staying more connected to the landscape than driving. These tours typically visit 2–3 boutique wineries over a 3- to 4-hour period, with your guide sharing both wine knowledge and local history along the way. The Segways handle the gentle hills with ease, and most people get the hang of riding within minutes. It’s particularly appealing to younger visitors who want to experience Napa’s luxury wine scene with a modern twist.

Mendocino County Redwood and Wine Tours

Mendocino County tours uniquely combine towering coastal redwoods with intimate vineyard visits, creating an experience you won’t find anywhere else in California. The contrast between ancient forests and carefully tended vines creates a magical atmosphere, especially when morning fog drifts between the trees. Many of the wineries here practice organic or biodynamic farming, reflecting the region’s environmental consciousness. These tours often feel more like nature expeditions with wine stops rather than traditional wine tours, appealing to visitors who want to experience California’s natural beauty alongside its viticultural achievements.

San Luis Obispo Wine Adventures

San Luis Obispo County’s wine tours showcase one of California’s fastest-growing wine regions, where innovative winemakers are experimenting with both traditional and unusual grape varieties. The area’s tours often include visits to wineries growing Rhône varietals like Viognier and Syrah, grapes that thrive in the warm days and cool nights of this central coast location. The relatively new wine scene means you’ll often meet passionate winemakers who left other careers to pursue their wine dreams. It’s like getting in on the ground floor of what many predict will be California’s next great wine region.

Lake County Hidden Gems Tour

Lake County offers some of California’s most affordable wine tours, visiting family-owned wineries around Clear Lake, the state’s largest natural freshwater lake. The tours typically focus on small-production wines that you can’t find in stores, made by winemakers who often pour the tastings themselves. The lake setting provides a relaxed, resort-like atmosphere that’s perfect for a laid-back wine day without the pretension sometimes found in more famous regions. These tours often include lakeside picnics paired with local wines, making them feel more like a weekend getaway than a formal wine education.

Santa Cruz Mountains Winery Tours

The Santa Cruz Mountains’ winery tours navigate winding mountain roads to reach some of California’s most elevation-blessed vineyards, some planted as high as 3,000 feet above sea level. This region specializes in cool-climate varietals, with many wineries carved into hillsides or tucked into redwood groves. The mountain setting creates a more adventurous feel than valley floor tours, with dramatic views of both San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean from higher elevations. Many of these family-owned wineries produce limited quantities, so you’ll often taste wines that are only available at the source.

Lodi Wine and Music Tours

Lodi’s wine tours often incorporate live music, reflecting the region’s laid-back agricultural heritage and strong community spirit. The area produces excellent Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon at prices that won’t break the bank, with many tours including barbecue lunches paired with local wines. Lodi’s flat terrain makes it ideal for comfortable touring, and the unpretentious atmosphere encourages conversation with both winemakers and fellow visitors. These tours feel more like community celebrations than formal wine education, with local musicians often performing at winery venues throughout the day.

From Soil to Glass Today

California’s wine tour landscape has evolved from simple vineyard visits to immersive experiences that celebrate everything from sustainable farming to innovative winemaking techniques. Today’s tours reflect both the state’s wine industry maturation and visitors’ desire for authentic, educational experiences beyond just tasting. The diversity of touring options—from hot air balloons to canoes to vintage trains—shows how creativity and California’s natural beauty can transform wine education into unforgettable adventures. These 15 tours represent just a fraction of what’s available, but they capture the spirit of exploration and discovery that makes California wine country such a compelling destination for both novices and connoisseurs alike.

More from Travel Pug

• 20 Best Beach Towns in the Carolinas
• 13 Destinations Where Tourists Regularly Regret Their Trip
• 20 Things You Actually Get in First Class
• 20 Small Airports With Aviation Museums
• 20 Places in the U.S. That Are Perfect for a Reset Trip

Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.