If you love travel, wine tasting and vineyards then few things are better than traveling to visit different wine regions. I love visiting different parts of the world and tasting at several different vineyards. It is really relaxing, educational and it’s also really fun! Half the fun or half the problem can be getting around from vineyard to vineyard as you’re undoubtedly drinking a lot of wine. Rental cars can be risky and walking isn’t really an option.
I used to say my favorite way to get around different wineries in a particular region was via bicycle in the Mendoza region of Argentina. However, after this past weekend in the San Francisco Bay area and Napa Valley, I have a much safer and more comfortable option. Take a limousine!
Whether you are staying in San Francisco, the east bay or making a weekend of it up in Napa Valley; getting a limo to drive you and your friends around is easily the best way to go.
Nobody has to worry about drinking and driving. You only need one car if you have a big group. There is plenty of room to eat in the limo and have fun with your friends (and Godson) and best of all…you don’t have to worry about getting lost because the driver knows where he’ going!
I had been to Napa Valley several times. In fact, every time I am in San Francisco or the bay area, I make sure to get out to Napa or Sonoma. It is so beautiful out there and a great day is always had.
Since I was out in the bay area this past weekend, we decided to get a limo this time for 6 hours at $60 an hour. Not too bad at all split a few ways. Of course, we ended up using it for longer than six hours but what can you do.
We packed some great sandwiches, well Lulu, my best friends fiancé packed them along with champagne and orange juice for mimosas and lots of Pellegrino water. It was the perfect way to start the ride up to Napa. Only about a 45 minute drive from Walnut Creek was our first stop, called Domaine Carneros; which is one of my favorite in Napa Valley.
Domaine Carneros is a stunning winery. It is situated atop a hill with grape vines dotting the hill below the main mansion so to speak. It is surrounded by vineyards and the gorgeous Northern California brown hills in the background.
Sitting down for a tasting is always a pleasure. The best move it to get a tasting flight of wines to share and get a bottle or two for the table. I highly recommend the estate red. It is fantastic.
Give yourself a few hours to enjoy the views, the wine and the people. The servers are extremely knowledgeable and very helpful in what to choose. I also love that during the tasting, the glasses are served over placemats with the name of the wine on them. Some wineries just pour it for you and you have no idea what you’re tasting. So when you like or dislike something, you don’t know which it is.
Domaine Carneros is the perfect starting out point if you’re coming up from the bay area although it sets the bar very high.
The cool thing about having a limo driver is that he just hangs out and waits for you to finish. When you’re done and ready to go to the next winery, he is there waiting. The other cool thing about having a limo driver is that you can continue drinking the wines in the limo as you head up further into Napa Valley.
Some other wineries we visited were St. Supery and Artesa. Both are fantastic wineries and very different from Domaine Carneros. However, I wasn’t nearly as big a fan and next time I am out in Napa, I would try some others I haven’t had yet. However, I would definitely go back again to Domaine. I would also definitely recommend doing so in style in a limousine because if nothing else, you can pass out on the way home!
Great pictures, looks like fun
I want to go to Napa so badly!
Cool post Lee. Your Godson is so cute!
Thanks and yes I can’t get enough of him!
I’ve been to Domaine Carneros and I totally agree it’s a fantastic winery and a beautiful setting and start for a great day of tastings
Ya it is a great spot!
Lee, very nice story
Thanks buddy!
I soooooooooo want to go to Napa!
Soooooooooo gooooooooo! hahaha
I live in Sonoma County and can’t believe that I havent done this yet! I have heard several times that it is the best way to go wine tasting and it certainly looks like it!
You definitely gotta get on that and lucky you for living over there, such a nice part of the country! Let me know how it goes when you do it!
If I lived in Sonoma County I’d be drunk everyday!
haha
This sounds like a plan!
The highlight of the limo trip, was our classy driver 😉
Haha ya, I should’ve taken a picture of him!
You should post this link on Domaine Carneros’ Facebook page. I bet they’d love it.
I love, love, love the Napa area! I used to go there all the time when I lived closer to SF. Domaine Carneros is a great winery for the stunning view. Have you checked out a lot of other wineries in the area? I’ve found that my faves are the ones that require you to make a reservation first. You get a much more personal experience, the grounds to yourself (or almost to yourself), and pretty decent wines too. If you ever need recommendations, let me know! 🙂
I will take you up on those recs next time for sure! I have been to several in Napa and Sonoma but just wrote about Domaine because I really like that one.
It sounds like renting a limo is a good choice for any vacation. You bring up a good point, it’s great that the limo driver knows where he is going! I tend to get lost a lot when I go to new places, so if hiring a limo will solve that problem, I will definitely do it next time.