The 10 Best Sonoma Wine Tours to Book in 2024

Sonoma the heart of California’s wine country, a region where the soil is rich and the grapes are ripe for the picking. And to make the most of it, you’ll want to consider one of the best Sonoma wine tours.

Sonoma County is home to gorgeous rolling hills and countless vineyards, and it’s more than just a wine lover’s paradise; it’s a journey for the senses.

Whether you’re an expert or a curious novice, there’s a wine tour in Sonoma that you’ll love.

In this guide, we will go through the best wine tastings in Sonoma you can book and that include several activities, such as biking or the Muir Woods. Make sure to read until the end before going!

Sonoma Wine Tours – Summary

Before discussing all the tour options, let’s answer some questions that you may have as a first timer on one of these day trips to Sonoma.

What Do Sonoma Wine Tours Include?

Sonoma wine tours typically include several essentials, such as transportation, lunch, and entrance fees to wineries.

That being said, the actual wine tasting fees might be additional, varying by tour, so make sure to check the details before booking.

How Much do Wine Tours in Sonoma Cost?

The cost of wine tours in Sonoma can vary based on several factors. Prices range from about $100 per person to $700 per group, depending on whether you book a shared or private trip.

The lower end typically covers group tours, which include transportation and a guided tour but might not include tasting fees.

On the higher end, private tours offer a more personalised experience, often with luxurious touches like gourmet meals, and sometimes even custom wine tastings tailored to your preferences.

Best Time for Wine Tastings in Sonoma

The best time for wine tastings in Sonoma is from late spring to early fall, with peak times in September and October during the grape harvest.

This period offers warm, pleasant weather ideal for touring vineyards and enjoying outdoor tastings. The scenery is particularly beautiful in the fall when the vineyard foliage changes colours.

Also, wineries are less crowded outside of the harvest season, making spring and early summer ideal for avoiding larger groups.

10 Best Wine Tours in Sonoma, California

We’ve discussed a few points about Sonoma here above, and here below, we’ll go through the absolute best wine tours in Sonoma, California.

We’ll cover both private and guided tours to suit everyone’s preferences!

Muir Woods with Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour

Inclusions:

• Expert Guide
• Transportation
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Wine tastings at two wineries

If there’s a wine tour in Sonoma that you’ll want to consider, this is surely the one, and you’ll remember it for a long time.

Start your day with a scenic drive over the Golden Gate Bridge as you head towards Muir Woods National Monument.

Here, you can enjoy a peaceful walk under the canopy of towering redwoods, which provide a calm, cooling escape from San Francisco.

The park offers several trails that cater to all levels of hikers, each offering a unique view over the forest, and that is a great way to enjoy the morning before heading to California’s wine country.

After hiking, around noon, you’ll get back on the van and head to Sonoma for lunch and to taste some glorious wine! This is your chance to learn about wine making from the experts and see what goes into crafting the perfect blend.

Other than sampling different wines, you can buy some bottles to take back home, and I’m confident you’ll love the day out if you’re a wine lover!

Sonoma County Wine Segway Tour

Inclusions:

• Helmet
• Local guide
• Segway tour
• Lunch and water
• Storage for a medium-size purse, or 2-3 bottles

Discover Sonoma’s wine country in an innovative way by joining a half-day Segway tour. The tour kicks off at Sonoma Plaza where you will learn how to navigate your Segway.

Once you’re comfortable, you’ll set off on quiet country roads, visiting some of California’s most popular wineries.

Ride through the vineyards and make stops to taste various wines. A highlight of your tour will be a picnic lunch packed with tasty local products, and that’s a great addition to the day.

Apart from that, you’ll get a chance to stop by the Vella Cheese Company for a quick tour and perhaps buy some of their renowned products.

This small-group tour ensures a personalised experience, making your ride smooth and enjoyable, and I recommend booking now!

Sonoma County Join-In Group Wine Tasting Tour

Inclusions:

• Lunch
• Water
• Local guide
• Transportation

Join a guided tour of Sonoma County’s wineries for a delightful day of wine tasting without any stress about which wineries to choose or the need to drive.

This five-hour tour allows you to relax and enjoy the scenery as you visit three wineries with exceptional wine.

Each location provides a unique tasting experience, from Sonoma Valley to Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, and Dry Creek Valley. Doesn’t it sound like the ultimate day out?

The tour starts with a convenient pickup from various locations around Sonoma County, including Santa Rosa. You’ll travel in comfort, mainly focusing on the experience and the wines.

At each winery, enjoy a traditional tasting flight that includes a selection of 4-6 wines, thoughtfully chosen to showcase the best of what each winery has to offer.

Midway through the tour, your guide will offer a charcuterie box, prepared with your dietary preferences in mind. This thoughtful touch adds to the enjoyment as you sample local reds and whites.

It’s one of the best Sonoma wine tours, and I highly recommend booking it now before they sell out!

Sonoma Valley Bike and Wine Ebike Tour

Inclusions:

• A local guide
• Comfort rental bike & helmet
• Transportation of any wine bottles
• Delicious picnic lunch and bottled water

Experience the charm of Sonoma wine country from a fresh perspective with this 6-hour bike and wine tour.

You’ll be cycling through the stunning Californian landscapes on a comfortable bike, complete with all the gear you need, including a helmet and a handlebar bag.

Your local guide will lead the way, sharing insights into the rich history and culture of the area as you pedal between the wineries.

At each stop, you have the option to taste wines or simply soak up the beautiful vineyard views.

This tour isn’t just about wine; it also includes an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the Vella Cheese Factory, where you’ll learn about cheese making and taste some samples.

A delicious picnic lunch is served at one of the wineries, allowing you to relax and enjoy the local flavours at the vineyards. Whether you’re sipping wine or enjoying the ride, this tour is a day full of fun in the heart of Sonoma Valley!

The Ultimate Napa and Sonoma Wine Tour

Inclusions:

• An expert guide
• A stop at the Oxbow Food Market
• Stop for photos of the Golden Gate Bridge
• Sonoma and Napa wineries with food tasting
• Extended lunch break in the famous Sonoma Square

Next on this list of wine tours in Sonoma is an ultimate 9-hour trip to Northern California’s Wine Country that covers both Napa and Sonoma.

Start your day with a scenic stop at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco for some memorable photos, then head to the Oxbow Public Market for breakfast.

Here, you can enjoy a coffee or a bite from local favourites before starting the wine tasting trip.

The tour features visits to two premier wineries where you’ll learn about wine making and sample the fine products that make Sonoma famous.

Enjoy the rolling hills and scenic beauty of Napa Valley, and then spend a leisurely lunch break in the historic Sonoma Square.

Here, you have the flexibility to choose from various dining options, whether it’s a picnic style lunch with a bottle of local wine, a meal at a Michelin star restaurant, or more wine tasting in Downtown Sonoma.

With an intimate tour setting, this experience is the perfect mix of luxury, relaxation, and food scene, all set against the backdrop of Northern California’s wine regions.

Sonoma Plaza Food and Wine Pairing Tour

Inclusions:

• Professional guide
• Food and wine tastings

This affordable food and wine pairing tour is a great way to have a delicious meal with a local guide.

Perfect for food lovers, this tour combines world-class wines with farm-to-table cuisine, offering a palate-pleasing moment in downtown Sonoma.

With a group limited to six people, you’ll enjoy the experience as you visit local hotspots for gourmet food paired with fine wines.

The guided tour includes sampling olive oils, artisan cheeses, and enjoying dishes at secret foodie spots that you wouldn’t know as a tourist.

Last but not least, the tour also takes you through historical landmarks, providing insights into Sonoma’s past and present, giving it an interesting touch.

Napa Valley and Sonoma Wine Tour

Inclusions:

• Wine tastings
• Professional guide
• Food and bottled water

Ready for a private wine tour in Sonoma? This is easily one of the best you can consider.

This exclusive 6 to 7-hour trip is designed for small groups of up to six to keep the tour around Napa Valley and Sonoma as intimate as possible.

This tour is flexible, giving you the opportunity to choose from a selection of renowned wineries along the way.

Other than that, you will learn about the rich history, culture, and wine-making practices that have made these regions world-famous.

Enjoy the comfort of being driven through Sonoma and Napa Valley, which will make your day relaxing and educational in one of the world’s premier wine regions.

Napa Valley Wine Trolley Classic Tour

Inclusions:

• Lunch
• Tour of different wineries
• Guided tour of Napa Valley
• Transportation on the San Francisco Cable Car Trolley

Experience the picturesque Napa Valley in a unique and exciting way aboard the Napa Valley Wine Trolley.

This open-air cable car is a replica of the historic San Francisco trolleys, and it offers unobstructed views of the vineyards as you travel through the wine region.

Starting and ending at Oxbow Market in Napa, this tour blends scenic beauty, educational wine tasting, and gastronomy, and you’re guaranteed a great time!

The tour includes stops at three or four handpicked wineries, where you have the opportunity to taste various local wines.

You’ll spend the day with a knowledgeable guide who will tell fascinating anecdotes and insights into Napa’s vibrant wine culture and history, and I can’t recommend this day trip enough.

Sonoma Valley Pedal Assist Bike Tour

Inclusions:

• Expert guide
• Bottled water
• Bike rental and helmet
• Picnic lunch at a winery
• Transportation of wine purchases

We already discussed a wine tour in Sonoma by bike, but this one is a little different, as it’s an e-bike, which means little effort but still lots of fun!

This half-day adventure covers approximately eight miles (12 kilometers) of picturesque country roads. Along the way, you’ll have expansive views of Sonoma’s vineyards and rural landscapes, making stops at two wineries where you can taste wine.

There’s more: The tour is not only about wine. In fact, you’ll spend the day with a local guide that knows everything about the area and you’ll learn about local history and culture.

Plus, the bike rental extends through the full day, so after the official tour ends, you’re free to keep exploring the area at your own pace.

Included in the tour are a helmet, transportation of any wine purchases, bottled water, a handlebar bag, and a delicious picnic lunch served at one of the wineries. Simply put, it’s one of the best Sonoma wine tours!

Sonoma & Healdsburg Wine Tours

Inclusions:

• Bottled water
• Private transportation
• Car, driver, concierge service, all fees

This list of wine tours in Sonoma wouldn’t be complete without this private trip, a custom wine tasting designed specifically for groups of up to six people.

This tour offers an intimate exploration of Sonoma and Healdsburg, two of Northern California’s most famous wine regions.

You’ll stop at different boutique wineries, each offering guided tastings that provide a deeper understanding of the local wines.

You can design the itinerary to suit your tastes by focusing on your preferred varietals, appellations, or unique wine tastings.

As you would expect, your guide will take you around, allowing you to fully enjoy the scenic vineyards and taste exquisite wines without the worry of driving.

This is a more premium, expensive tour, but it’s worth every penny, and you’ll want to book now!

Conclusion

These were the best wine tasting tours in Sonoma you can book, and as you can see, it’s more than just tastings; they’re experiences to understand local traditions and have a great day out to Napa Valley.

Thank you for reading this guide until the end. I hope this guide helps you make a decision. In addition, I hope you will feel that warm Sonoma welcome, soak up some sun, and found a new favourite wine to take home. Enjoy your time in California!