There’s nothing like a scenic drive through California wine country, exploring the state’s world-famous vineyards and wineries—but sometimes the best way to enjoy it is by letting someone else take the wheel. Tour guides and drivers not only allow you to sit back with your tasting crew and enjoy the epic view—they can also provide intel on hidden-gem wineries, the most spectacular vistas, and snap a picture or two. Here are 15 of the top private tour companies and guides for exploring California’s nearly 5,000 wineries across the state, from north to south.
Mendocino County Winery Tours
Anderson Valley with Tour Mendocino
Explore gorgeous, off-the-beaten-path Anderson Valley with Tour Mendocino. Led by friendly locals Alex and Shelley Fields, the company offers private van tours among Mendocino County ’s redwood forests, vineyards, and rolling hills. Agendas typically include tastings at three wineries—Fathers + Daughters Cellars and Goldeneye Winery are among their favorite destinations—plus a stop for lunch. If you have a particular itinerary in mind, Tour Mendocino offers car-and-driver services by the hour.
Napa Valley Wine and Sonoma County Winery Tours
Alluvium Wine Tours
Discover Napa Valley and Sonoma County wineries through the eyes of a true insider. Alluvium Wine Tours, led by wine industry veteran Holden Sapp, offers custom itineraries tailored to each group’s interests—whether you’re looking to ogle the scenery, stock your cellar, or take a deep dive into local winemaking practices. A typical day includes visits to four wineries and a stop for lunch, transported via Alluvium’s six-passenger Ford Expedition EL Platinum.
RAM Wine Country Tours
Founder Reggie Mudaliar fell in love with Napa Valley as a student at San Francisco State. Now, as a full-time resident of Yountville, he prides himself on showing visitors the Napa and Sonoma destinations they won’t find in guidebooks. Each itinerary is customized with curated experiences for a perfect fit, with transportation via a Lincoln Navigator SUV or Mercedes Sprinter.
Zen Wine Tours
Get your “oooooohm” on in Napa and Sonoma with Zen Wine Tours. Owners Jan and Kat Silberstein lead curated excursions in their Cadillac Escalade, focusing on local history and small, under-the-radar wineries—identifying the best spots along the way for photo ops. If you’re missing your pup back home, book the signature Napa Zen tour; it features a morning hike with the Silbersteins’ lovable shiba inu, plus a guided meditation session, a wine country picnic, and tastings.
Noble Wine Tours
Wine country locals Austin and Katie Smith of Noble Wine Tours love sharing their deep knowledge of Sonoma and Napa history, grape growing, and winemaking—whether their guests are newbies at wine tasting or seasoned experts. The couple curates private excursions in their luxury van that typically feature two winery visits and lunch at a top restaurant. They even bring along a professional camera to capture your memorable moments.
Pure Luxury
Boasting one of the largest chauffeured fleets of luxury sedans and Sprinters in the Napa-Sonoma region, Pure Luxury creates wine tours tailored to each group’s size and vibe. Book your own chauffeur for the day or opt for a curated itinerary. The Sonoma Valley tour kicks off with an outdoor seated tasting with charcuterie at Kunde Estate, followed by visits to VJB Vineyards & Cellars, and Wellington Cellars—with special discounts on wine purchases.
Santa Cruz Mountains and Monterey Winery Tours
The Santa Cruz Experience
Navigating the steep, winding roads of the Santa Cruz Mountains can be daunting, so why not leave the driving to the pros at The Santa Cruz Experience? Private tours include visits to wineries rarely open to the public, winemaker-led tastings, and vineyard walks—with the option to add a catered lunch. They also offer tours of the Monterey, Carmel and Santa Lucia Highlands, and a combination wine-and-beer tour.
Ag Venture Tours
Looking to geek out and learn about wine from a true expert? Ag Venture Tours sees you. Founder Evan Oakes previously worked as an agricultural research scientist and has a viticulture degree from UC Davis, so he really knows his stuff. Oakes leads half-day van tours in Carmel Valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains, with stops at up to three wineries. Along the way, you’ll learn about the vineyards and the region’s rich farming heritage.
Paso Robles Winery Tours
Toast Tours
With years of experience in the wine industry, Toast Tours guides know the Paso Robles wine scene inside and out. The outfit specializes in off-the-beaten-path excursions and behind-the-scenes experiences, whether you have specific wineries in mind or prefer to let them choose for you. Want an educational tour? They’ve got you. A party bus vibe? They can do that, too. You’ll travel in comfort aboard a mini-bus, Sprinter, or Cadillac Escalade, and you can even bring your dog along for the ride.
Grand Cru Limousine
Explore Paso in style with Alex and Estera Gonzales of Grand Cru Limousine. Knowledgeable “Cru” chauffeurs guide guests on customized tours via Cadillac SUVs, luxury vans, or black cars, taking care of every detail along the way. You’ll get behind-the-scenes access at boutique wineries and grand estates to learn all about the winemaking process from vine to bottle.
Santa Barbara Winery Tours
Sustainable Wine Tours
Want to feel like a VIP, visiting Santa Barbara wineries that aren’t normally open to the public and connecting with the people who make the wines? That’s the specialty at Sustainable Wine Tours. Owner Scott Bull invites guests to cruise the back roads in a Tesla Model X or a luxury Mercedes coach, making curated stops to walk the vineyards, tour production facilities, and taste small-production wines alongside the owners and winemakers.
Santa Barbara Adventure Company
Sometimes you just want to choose your own wine adventure and hire a friendly, expert driver to take you there. With Santa Barbara Adventure Company, you can book their private van service to tour Santa Ynez Valley wineries at your own speed, or choose a set excursion that includes three winery visits and lunch. For an extra-sweet experience, opt for the “wine and cupcakes” add-on. For adventurous types, the company also offers separate kayaking tours and surfing lessons.
Solvang Wine Tours
Solvang Wine Tours has been in the Santa Ynez Valley for years cultivating relationships with local vineyards, Los Olivos, Solvang, and crafting an absolutely delightful box lunch. Run by owner Nikki Hoobyar, this transportation company offers reliable rides across the area, but their private wine tours are where they really shine. Let the tour guide know what you’re interested in, and they can steer the way based on your wine preferences. Their comfortable minivans can seat up to seven guests, but they also provide luxury SUVs for six passengers.
Temecula Winery Tours
Grapeline Wine Tours
Grapeline Wine Tours has been helping visitors discover Temecula’s up-and-coming wineries for more than two decades. Highly trained, expert guides lead private tours that include tastings, behind-the-scenes vineyard walks, and lunch—with themed options like Craft & Cork—a wine-beer combo tour—and Vine & Dine, which features a three-course lunch. Along with luxury SUVs, limos, and touring vans, the tour fleet includes a convertible Mercedes bus that offers lots of fresh air and unobstructed vineyard views.
Tour del Vino
For small groups looking for an upscale touring experience, Tour del Vino crafts fully customized itineraries with a variety of premium add-ons to take your tour to the next level. Interested in a vertical tasting or a fancy picnic? A blind tasting, lunch in a vineyard, or a full-on dinner with wine pairings? Done and done. Owners Rich and Sue Reyes also offer hourly transportation services for folks who like to plan their own stops and activities.
More Wine Excursion Inspiration
Looking for a vineyard experience by motorcycle, tuk-tuk, or even on horseback? Or maybe a top-notch meal with your wine tasting, or an adventure that winds through some lesser-known wine regions? Check out 14 Surprising Ways to Tour Wine Country, 18 California Wineries with Great Food, and Road Trip: Undiscovered Wine Regions.