San Francisco Travel Forum

Can anyone recommend any good quality wine tours from San Francisco to either Sonoma or Napa? I do not want to sit on a large bus with 50 other people and be hearded through a couple of mega-wineries. I also cannot afford a private limo.
I've read about a few companies with small mini vans--has anyone done any of these tours? I could rent a car and visit a few myself, but then I would have to severely limit the sampling of wines. We're leaving in a few days...can anyone help? thanks

Those group tours tend to be very touristy like you said. Avoid them as much as possible. I've never done them myself, but only have done winery tours via self-drive. Napa is overrated, overcommercialized, very crowded, and touristy. I, personally, love Sonoma/Sonoma County because these areas offer a more genuine and quaint atmosphere. I suggest that you do a self-drive in Sonoma proper & Sonoma County, get a taste of wines in the many wineries around (e.g., Buena Vista--one of the oldest in the Carneros region close to Sonoma proper, Ledson in Sonoma county, Ferrari Carano in Sonoma county towards Geyserville, etc.), limit the wine sampling, and bring home several wines for your future consumption. Goodluck & do enjoy the wine country!

Risse is right.
I'd much prefer to go to Sonoma. There you have not only the wineries but a charming small downtown with a Mission and other historical buildings. The town of Sonoma has kept its main square typical of the Spanish towns. Nice shops and restaurants all around the square.
Napa is not as interesting, in my opinion.
I don't know of companies that use small vans but you are right about wine tasting. You DO NOT want to drive if you're going wine tasting.
If you don't get any answers her, you may want to check other travel sites like frommers.com.
Have a great trip
Jeannette

i have heard that sonoma is nicer too.. friends of ours have rented a large van and biked... one of the group would drive... and people would ride as far as they wanted and then ride... apparently very fun

I visited San Francisco last year and although did not have the time to take the wine trip - our hotel was full of info on a Day Wine TRAIN trip to the Napa Valley - check out your hotel reception on arrival or tourist info centre. Also if you have not been to San Fran before try and check out the Cliff Tops Restaurant in Ocean Beach for brunch as a special treat - you wont forget it!