Wine Tours and Tastings in San Francisco

Discover and enjoy the wines of the estates of the lovely Sonoma and Napa Valleys in California's wine country. Join a wine tour and tasting from San Francisco and enjoy lunch in the historic Sonoma Plaza with a private sit-down gourmet meal.

Go on an excursion to savor the fine wines of Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties and look in wonder at the towering redwoods in Muir Woods.

To learn more about wine tours and tastings, continue reading our guide about one of the most captivating gastronomic experiences in San Francisco.

What are the most popular wine tours and tastings in San Francisco?

Napa and Sonoma wine country full-day tour

Go on a leisurely journey of discovery in California’s famous wine regions on this full-day wine-tasting tour from San Francisco. Visit multiple wineries in Napa and Sonoma and taste regional varieties at large and family-run wine estates.

Share the secrets of the winemaking process during guided tours and enjoy the area’s gourmet culture with lunch in Sonoma Square Plaza. Finish your tour with a drive over the famous Golden Gate Bridge and marvel at the views of the Bay. You can choose from two departure points in San Francisco, the Fisherman's Wharf or Union Square.

Along the way, you will hear tales from your professional guide of the Spanish missionaries and Gold Rush. Pass by San Francisco Bay with stunning views from the Bay Bridge to the Golden Gate Bridge and the infamous prison island, Alcatraz.

Your first winery visit is to BR Cohn Winery, lying between Sonoma Mountain and the Mayacamas Mountain range. They have been making small-volume, vineyard-designated wines since 1984. Continue to Roche Winery, a family boutique winery boasting more than 35 years of award-winning wine-making experience. The winery offers daily wine tasting and you can also enjoy light bites.

After this visit, sit down for lunch in Sonoma Plaza. You will find numerous cafés, restaurants and shops in the quaint streets of this charming historic town. Then pass through the Napa Valley, California’s heart of the wine region and producing some of the best award-winning wines.

The last tasting is at the family-owned Madonna Estate, which wines have been handcrafted for nearly a century and created from 100% organically grown grapes. On your return to San Francisco, you will stop at the famous Golden Gate Bridge and admire the beauty of the San Francisco Bay.

Muir Woods and wine country tour

Enjoy one of the best wine country tours from San Francisco by combining a Northern California wine country visit with a walk through Muir Woods.

You can head directly to the meeting point, Hilton, Union Square, or request pickup. From there, the drive goes across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods National Monument, where you will stand in awe of the majestic redwoods. The California coastal redwoods are some of the world’s tallest and oldest trees, reaching heights up to 76 meters.

The tour vehicle will travel further into wine country and at the first winery in Sonoma County’s Carneros, you can sample a variety of wines. Enjoy lunch in the historic Sonoma Plaza from two lunch options. Venture out on your own or upgrade with a private sit-down gourmet food and wine pairing at a local restaurant.

Then continue to the second and third wineries and enjoy a leisurely stop at each winery in Sonoma County or Napa County for more tastings. Choose from three to five wines of different varieties to taste, white, red and sparkling. Your pleasant excursion ends with the drive back across the Golden Gate Bridge, when you can again admire views of the Pacific and the rugged coastline.

Napa and Sonoma full-day wine tasting shore excursion

You can give your sea legs a break on a full-day wine-tasting tour of the lovely Sonoma and Napa Valleys from San Francisco. Enjoy the scenery from San Francisco on the way to three renowned wineries of Napa and Sonoma Valley and taste premium wines.

Stop in Yountville or picturesque downtown Sonoma Square, and return along the famous Golden Gate Bridge. You will meet at the corner of Mason Street at Fisherman's Wharf and drive past the Golden Gate Bridge for a pleasant scenic drive.

Your first stop is the Madonna Estate in the renowned Carneros region. Here you can enjoy wine tasting and an exclusive estate tour. Next up for wine tasting is the Kieu Hoang Winery, a hidden treasure in the Carneros Valley with a passionate staff. For your lunch break, you will stop in historic downtown Sonoma Square to explore its variety of eclectic gourmet options, unique boutiques and art galleries.

Your final tasting is at Meadowcroft Wines, known for limited but quality production, reflecting European heritage and Californian creativity. Its tasting room is situated at CornerStone Sonoma, with a collection of gardens, shops and an art gallery.

Are there any combo wine tours in San Francisco?

Panoramic Bay cruise with half-day wine country experience

Go on a cruise in San Francisco Bay and enjoy Northern California's world-famous wines in one day. A guide/chauffeur selects two top wineries in the Sonoma Valley and drives you there safely. Also learn about the winemaking process on an estate tour.

Private Napa Wine Train glamorous dining experience from San Francisco

Experience fine-dining on the Napa Valley Wine Train. Visit top Napa Valley castle wineries and iconic venues, then hop aboard the historic train for a 3-hour ride and an elegant sit-down dinner.

Private cheese trail, wine country and giant redwoods day tour from San Francisco

Travel on the back roads of Marin County's famous Cheese Trail and savor delicious traditional cheeses. The tour combines with a trip to California wine country, including wine tasting in the beautiful Sonoma Valley.

Wine tasting and biking in Healdsburg

Healdsburg is located at the juncture of three prime wine growing regions, the Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley. The charming town is the perfect base of operations for wine tasting. Explore the quiet back roads on a bike tour and visit family-owned wineries a kilometer or so at a time.

Which places are visited on a wine tour from San Francisco?

Sonoma

The historic town of Sonoma lies in northern California, at the center of the well-known Sonoma Valley winemaking region. It is especially known for the colonial-era Sonoma Plaza and its delightful art galleries.

The historic plaza is surrounded by 19th-century adobe buildings, including the Mission San Francisco Solano and the old Barracks. The latter was once used to house the Mexican soldiers who were transferred from the Presidio of San Francisco in 1835. During the season, Sonoma Square hosts a very popular weekly farmer's market.

Fishersman’s Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf derived its name from the mid-1800s and later, when there was an influx of Italian immigrant fishermen taking advantage of the gold rush. It is one of the most popular tourist areas in San Francisco, with a lot to see and do.

It was once known as the Little Italy of San Francisco, and has a lovely setting along the waterfront with numerous shops and restaurants. You can also take sightseeing tours from the Fisherman's Wharf for great views of the city.

Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods was proclaimed a national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt on 9 January 1908. It was the first created from land donated by a private individual, William Kent, and consisted of 295 acres.

At Kent’s request, it was named after the conservationist, John Muir. The gigantic trees in Muir Woods are the coastal redwoods, and there are also some Douglas firs. The tallest coastal redwood at Muir Woods stands about 79 meters high.

Further north, the redwoods can reach heights up to 115 meters, even taller than the Statue of Liberty. The coastal redwoods at Muir Woods have an average age of 600 to 800 years, with the oldest in the park at least 1,200 years old.

Golden Gate Bridge

During the wine tasting tours, you will enjoy fine close-up views of San Francisco’s most famous landmark, the Golden Gate Bridge. Construction of the massive bridge started in 1933 and it was opened in 1937, following a hard struggle against the Bay elements. Its completion brought the communities of San Francisco and Marin counties much closer.

The bridge stretches 2.8 kilometers across the Golden Gate Strait, rising as high as a 65-storey building. It is anchored by high towers and was once taller than any building in San Francisco. The suspended roadway is supported by two 2,133-meter cables, each containing about 128,700 kilometers of wire.

What are the prices of San Francisco wine tours?

The full-day Napa and Sonoma wine country tour costs US$150 per person and includes winery and vineyard tours and wine-tastings at three wineries.

The Muir Woods and wine country tour costs about US$1,210 per person. The price does not include lunch for children and should be paid at the restaurant. Tickets for the Muir Woods National Park cost US$15 per person.

The shore excursion and Napa and Sonoma wine tasting tour costs US$170 per person with a US$30 optional lunch add-on.

What is included?

Included in the tours are pickup/drop-off at accommodation in San Francisco, an air-conditioned vehicle, live commentary on board, a tour guide, wine tastings and lunch (if option selected). In the case of the shore excursion to Napa and Sonoma Valleys, you also have a shore excursion guarantee for on-time return to your ship.

Where do they start?

The wine tours and tastings from San Francisco start with pickup at your hotel in San Francisco or meeting points at Fisherman's Wharf and near the San Francisco Cruise Terminal.

What is the typical duration?

The normal duration of the full-day wine tour and tastings from San Francisco is 9 to 10 hours. The duration of the full-day Napa and Sonoma wine country tour and for the shore excursion Napa and Sonoma wine tasting tour is 9 hours. The Muir Woods and wine country tour lasts 10 hours.

When is the best time to go on a wine tasting tour in San Francisco?

The best time to visit for a wine tour in San Francisco is in the late summer and early fall, around late August to mid-September. The vines then still carry big clusters of grapes and the wineries are bustling with harvest activities.

The vineyards turn a pleasant yellow and you have moderate temperatures and warm and cozy evenings. The harvest season also offers a wide variety of winery tours and wine festivals.

Are wine tours in San Francisco safe?

The wine tours and tastings in San Francisco are safe, but it’s not recommended for people with back or heart problems or other serious medical conditions.

Are children allowed on a wine tour in San Francisco?

All ages are allowed on these tours, with infant seats are available on some tours. Keep in mind that the minimum drinking age is 21.

Travel tips

• Make sure to book your wine tour and tasting in San Francisco in advance.
• Most guests tip the wine tour guide 15-20% of the tour fee.
• It's important to stay hydrated when wine tasting.
• Bring a hat and sunscreen for wine estate tours.