After wrapping up a conference with coworkers in San Francisco, Kelsey, Dani and I decided to take a day off to go wine tasting in Napa and Sonoma. While we didn’t set out with a budget in mind we found ways to have a great time without breaking the bank. Here are three tips for wine tasting in Napa and Sonoma on a budget!
1. Creative Transportation
From San Francisco there are plenty of options for getting to Napa and Sonoma. The ferry system is likely the cheapest way to get across the bay but does require more planning and a longer day. If that is a good option for you, the Larkspur ferry is $10 and puts you 45 minutes away from Sonoma.
For our trip, we split Uber rides and managed to keep the cost down by using UberX when available. Keep in mind that not as many UberX cars will be available in Napa and Sonoma as there are in San Francisco.
If you’re new to Uber, go here to get your first ride free!
2. Membership Rules
The best way to save when wine tasting is to go with a member. Fortunately for us, Dani has excellent taste and is a member of Buena Vista, the oldest commercial winery in Napa and Sonoma. The original winery is a historical landmark and along with a beautiful two story tasting room there is a shaded picnic area and cellars for touring.
Devising a little membership strategy when planning your trip is a great way to save during wine tasting. Of course, half the fun of wine tasting is discovering new wineries so be sure to balance out the tried-and-true membership pit stops with new places.
Debating on whether on not to get a wine club membership? “Should You Join a Wine Club?” is a great blog post from Two Guys From Napa that explains the benefits of joining a wine club as well as the commitment.
3. Split a Bottle & Relax
At our last winery of the day we decided to forgo the wine tasting, sit on the back patio and split a bottle. At some point you can’t really even taste the difference in the wine, right? Taste buds barely intact we sipped on water and a white blend and snacked on cheese to end out our day. Splitting a bottle is a great way to save on the tasting fee but still enjoy the winery, wine and, most importantly, your fabulous friends.
Share your tips for fun and budget-friendly wine tasting in the comments below.
Happy tasting,
@laurylkitson