Our Top Tips For Visiting Napa Valley on a Budget, Ep. 85
A More Affordable Napa is Within Reach
Listen now to Our Top Tips for Visting Napa Valley on a Budget on Sip Sip Hooray Podcast.
The number one thing people always ask us is, can you do wine country on a budget?
With the Napa Valley wine experience becoming more and more expensive, with wine tastings regularly costing upwards of $10, can you visit this incredible wine mecca without blowing a small fortune in the process?
We, the Marys, say yes! You can be bougie on a budget in Napa Valley. We've got the inside scoop on the wine tastings for $50 or less, hotels in the $200 or less range, and restaurants that won't break the bank. We even got some freebies!
Here's the list of all the places and experiences we mention. But you'll have to listen to the pod for all the great details and tips - you won't want to miss any of them!
A caveat - none of the prices that we mentioned are fixed - It's just what we found currently. And also, we're not getting paid to promote any of these places. They're just what we discovered on our quest to find some bargains among the wine barrels.
Wine Tasting for $50 or less
Clif Family Winery & and Farm, 709 Main Street St. Helena; (707) 968-0625
Beringer Vineyards, 2000 Main St, St Helena; (707) 257-5771
Sutter Home Family Vineyards , 277 St. Helena Hwy South (Hwy. 29); (707) 302-3296
Mumm Napa, 8445 Silverado Trail, Rutherford; (800) 686-6272
Rombauer Vineyards, 3522 Silverado Trail N, St Helena; (866) 280-2582
Hall Winery, 401 St Helena Hwy South, St Helena; (707) 967-2626
Thing To Do For (Mostly) Free
Hiking - VisitNapaValley.com has a helpful trail finder. Some of our favorites - Boothe Valley Napa State Park, Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, Skyline Wilderness Park. You can also play frisbee disc golf on the course at Skyline for free.
Napa Valley Vine Trail for biking, walking or running. 12.5 miles from Napa to Yountville. Bike rental companies - listed on VisitNapaValley.com
Olive oil tasting - Free at The Olive Press at Oxbow Public Market. You can taste the entire line of olive oils and vinegars.
Napa Valley Distillery has two options for tasting their libations: The Oxbow Public Tasting Room ($25 brandy tasting only) and the Distillery (1-hour $45 tour and tasting) at 2485 Stockton St, Napa.
CIA at Copia, the Culinary Institute of America’s food and beverage center, has free exhibits, including more than 4,000 pieces of cookware, appliances, food preparation tools and more, plus extensive gardens you can walk through.
The Napa Art Walk is a free rotating exhibition of multiple works throughout the city. Download a walking art map at Napa Art Walk.org
Rail Arts District – RAD Napa – is a free outdoor contemporary art museum showcasing murals, sculptures, installations and more by local and international artists.
Napa Valley Museum, 55 Presidents Circle, Yountville; (707) 944-0500
Where to Eat
Tacos! From Visit Napa Valley, the Napa Valley Taco Trail - Taqueria and taco truck list and map here: www.visitnapavalley.com/blog/post/the-napa-valley-taco-trail
Rancho Gordo founder Steve Sando's where to eat list includes taco trucks.
A taste of Thomas Keller for less! Forget the French Laundry, try these more budget-friendly eateries, all in Yountville:
Gott’s Roadside - the OG St. Helena location and at Oxbow Public Market.
The Station Bakery + Provisions, St. Helena.
Christopher Kostow, chef of the 3—Michelin starred Restaurant at Meadowood Napa Valley has three eateries that are bougie on a budget:
Loveski Deli, Napa
The Charter Oak, St. Helena
Ciccio, Yountville
The Pavilion at FARM at the Carneros Inn, Napa.
House of Better, located at Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort and Mineral Springs, Calistoga.
Travigne Pizzeria, St. Helena
The Lincoln gastropub, Napa
Folklore - restaurant, wine and cocktail bar and record store, Napa.
Lunchbox at Copia, featuring the Summer of Pies, a world pizza tour, Napa.
Brasswood Bar & Bakery, St. Helena.
Picnic provisions:
Sunshine Foods Market, St. Helena
Oakville Grocery, Oakville
Where to Stay
Bel Abri Napa Valley Inn, Napa. Free breakfast.
Knoll Hotel Napa Valley Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Napa. Has a gym.
UpValley Inn & Hot Springs, Calistoga. Rates include mineral water pool, sauna and steam room.
Hampton Inn & Suites Napa. Free breakfast.
DoubleTree by Hilton Napa Valley American Canyon. Inquire about Hilton Honors rates.
El Bonita Motel. Great location in St. Helena.
Our Insider Tips for Visiting Napa Valley on a Budget
General Tips
Visit midweek. Staying on weekends often means a two night minimum.
Visit during the off season or shoulder season. Try the winter months, or between Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Make reservations. Not every tasting room is open 7 days/week.
Plan no more than 2-3 winery visits a day.
Do some things other than wine tasting.
Have a designated driver or plan to use Uber or Lyft. Some wineries, such as Beringer Vineyards in St. Helena offers a $15 fee for visitors who are not drinking alcohol. Ask ahead of time about designated drivers - if they have to pay a tasting fee or not.
Save money on dining by getting picnic supplies or eating at places like the Oxbow Public Market.
Ask ahead of time if you can split a tasting. Most likely this works at places where you can do a walk-in tasting. Never hurts to ask though, as more and more people are choosing to drink less alcohol.
Stop by visitors centers in downtown Napa, Yountville where else for maps, suggestions, access to EV charging and more.
In Napa - Napa Valley Welcome Center
In Yountville - Yountville Welcome Center. Check out the virtual visitors center to help plan your trip in Yountville.
In St. Helena - St. Helena Welcome Center
In Calistoga - Calistoga Welcome Center
Check out VisitNapaValley.com for more lists and guides. Napa Valley Vintners has a winery finder that helps you discover wineries that welcome walk ins and wineries with art displays, barrel tastings, gardens and more.
How to get around without a car or rental car? Public Transportation.
VINE Transit is the fixed-route bus system in the County of Napa.
Shuttles Up Valley. On-demand transit services within its city limits for the general public. These shuttles are wheelchair accessible.
Calistoga Shuttle: Call to schedule a pick-up. Cost: Free for lodging guests.
St. Helena Shuttle: Call to schedule a pick-up. Cost: $1
The Yountville Bee Line : Call for a pickup. This service is free.