10 Best Sonoma County Wine Tours

There’s nothing quite like a day of wine tasting in Sonoma County, but with more than 425 wineries spread out over 19 American Viticulture Areas (AVAs), it can be hard to know where to start. That’s exactly why taking a tour is one of the best ways to discover the region’s best wineries.

These days, wine tours aren’t limited to limousines (although that’s also an excellent option). You can pedal, trolley, and Tesla your way from vineyard to vineyard while also learning about the history of the area and maybe even enjoying some delicious nibbles along the way. Not sure which tour is for you? You can’t go wrong with any of these 10 wine tours, all of which will show you another side of Sonoma, and maybe even of yourself.

For the Winery Newcomer

Beau Wine Tours & Limousine Service

21707 8th Street East, Suite A, Sonoma, CA 95476, (707) 938-8001

If you’re new to wine tasting, Beau Wine Tours will provide you with a welcoming experience that includes a crash course on fine wines and Sonoma County’s AVAs. There are four pre-planned tours to choose from (Sonoma Valley, Russian River, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley) with tastings at notable vineyards like Benziger Family Winery, Jordan Vineyard & Winery, and Dry Creek Vineyard. You’ll taste wine and enjoy behind-the-scenes tours at some of the wineries, and you can even arrange to tour a local farm to learn more about Sonoma’s “eat fresh” philosophy.

For the Kid at Heart

Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley

21707 8th Street East, Suite B, Sonoma, CA 95476, (707) 938-2600

Hop aboard a vintage open-air trolley inspired by San Francisco’s famous cable cars for a six-hour wine tour with a group of other people looking to have a fun day in Wine Country. A tour aboard the Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley includes stops at four boutique wineries, a delicious lunch, and a tour guide who will impress you with their knowledge about historic landmarks like General Vallejo’s Soldier Barracks, the Bear Flag Monument, and the quaint town of Glen Ellen (where Jack London spent his final years). The wineries vary, but may include stops at Imagery Estate Winery and B.R. Cohn. All of the tastings are in a private setting, so you’ll have an opportunity to truly learn about the varietals and ask as many questions as you’d like.

For the Person Who Wants it All

North Bay Wine Tours

1109 Baywood Drive, Petaluma, CA 94954, (707) 774-5398

Drive through the vineyards in style with your personal driver and Sonoma expert, all in the back seat of North Bay Wine Tours’ Tesla Model Y. This intimate, and sustainable, experience is tailored to each guest’s preferences. Whether you’re looking to see the most popular wineries or you desire to uncover something unique, anything is possible. Book their All Inclusive Wine Tour for a truly decadent day out that includes complimentary trip planning, a personalized charcuterie lunch, sparkling wine, and tastings at three vineyards.

For the Party Planner

California Wine Tours

4075 Solano Ave, Napa, CA 94558, (707) 253-1300

Whether it be transportation from the airport to your hotel, recommendations on accommodations, or a complete beginning-to-end wine touring itinerary, California Wine Tours has got you covered. You can create a custom-made Sonoma wine tour that includes visiting boutique wineries, touring local farms, and a meal at a five-star restaurant, or choose one of their pre-planned tours. Depending on the size of your party, you can take your tour in a classic car for two or a party bus for 12.

For the Wine Savvy Traveler

Master Wine Tours

25 Fairways Drive, Napa, CA 94558, (707) 266-3750

Wine savvy visitors will adore Master Wine Tours’ epic escapades through Sonoma’s more off-the-beaten path wineries and vineyards. These tour guides have over 20 years of experience living and exploring Sonoma. Each outing is carefully curated to visitors’ preferences and expectations and specifically focuses on boutique wineries and lesser known destinations in Sonoma Valley.

For the Foodie

Pure Luxury

4246 Petaluma Boulevard North, Petaluma, CA 94952, (707) 775-2920

Pure Luxury offers several chauffeur tours throughout Sonoma, but if you’re just as obsessed with food as you are wine, then you’ll want to do the Pure Taste tour, a five-hour private tour for six people. You’ll indulge in a multi-course pairing at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates & Gardens before your final stop at La Crema, where you’ll taste the winery’s most exclusive Pinot Noirs.

For the Wine Collector

Designated Drivers

2587 Wine Country Avenue, Napa, CA 94558, (707) 244-1180

Worried about the age-old dilemma of who is going to be the DD for your wine tastings? Worry no further with Designated Drivers. Experience personally procured itineraries customized to your liking through a fully insured fleet of expert chauffeurs that take wine lovers on a tour of Sonoma Valley, all in their own car. Those looking to add to their cellars will particularly love “The Collector” experience, which features library bottlings, tastings with winemakers, and visits to special allocation-only wineries.

For the Outdoor Enthusiast

Active Wine Adventures

Napa, CA 94559 (707) 927-1058

If you like the idea of pairing your wine with a hike, but don’t want to commit to a four-day trip, the Hike & Wine tour with Active Wine Adventures is an excellent option. You’ll start the day with a hike with gorgeous views before heading to a family-owned winery. You can enjoy a picnic there, or head to a restaurant after. There are two tours to choose from depending on how much exercise you’re looking to get, but you’ll only get to hike through a peaceful redwood forest to a tranquil lake if you go on one of the longer five- or six-mile hikes, and that’s not something you want to miss.

For the Freewheeler

Sonoma Valley Bike Tours

1254 Broadway, Sonoma, CA 95476, (707) 938-2080

Take in sights and sounds you’d never experience from a car on this bicycle tour that brings you to local wineries and tasting rooms. The 11 to 15 mile bike ride is on quiet roads with flat terrain and you’ll typically travel about three to five miles between stops, but don’t worry if that sounds daunting: the bikes are pedal-assist electric bikes, so you can work as much (or as little) as you’d like. On the half-day tour, you’ll stop at one winery; if you’d like to enjoy a picnic lunch and one more winery, then you’ll want to sign up for the full-day tour. Like with most wine tours, the wineries will differ depending on the day, but some popular stops include Tin Barn Vineyards, Buena Vista Winery, and Gundlach Bundschu Winery.

For the Bachelorette Party

Bike Healdsburg

Healdsburg CA, 95448, (707) 385-1477

Limos are fun and all, but wine tasting on a party bike takes the good times to a whole new level. Plus, you’ll burn a few calories along the way, assuming you’re one of the 10 people pedaling the small trolley since everyone’s got to pedal in order to go anywhere (there are four non-pedaling seats as well). The Wine Tasting & Nibbles tour stops at three tasting rooms in downtown Healdsburg and don’t worry if you don’t have enough people to fill the bike on your own; you can pair up with other groups and make new friends along the way.