Napa Wine Train Versus Laces + Limos Tour
Local Wally
Which is MORE WORTH IT? Napa Wine Train or Laces + Limos
Napa Valley Wine Train
Laces + Limos
If you’re coming to Napa most likely you’ve stumbled upon a number of unique experiences that have you wondering if they are WORTH IT. There’s hot air balloon rides, bike rentals, custom tours, but the two biggest and most popular attractions are the NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN and LACES + LIMOS. Both promise a once in a lifetime experience and both deliver on that promise, but which one is worth your time… and money?
Napa Valley Wine Train
What a lot of people get wrong about the Wine Train is that they think it’s a sort of hop on, hop off sort of transportation. It’s not. Well, sort of not. There are a number of experiences -
LEGACY EXPERIENCE: Taste on the train, stop for a photo op in front of the Napa sign, have lunch on the train, then stop at Charles Krug and V. Sattui for tastings. Pricing varies depending on the season but currently it’s $645 per person. Get $30 off per person with a Priority Wine Pass (pass is $39 and you only need one for every 4 people for this discount).
GRGICH HILLS TASTING: Lunch and a stop at Grgich Hills. Currently $380 per person.
VISTA DOME LUNCH: Lunch on the wine train, no getting off. Currently $380 per person.
GOURMET EXPRESS LUNCH: Lunch in the standard car, no getting off. Currently $225 to $275 per person. Get $20 off per person for up to 4 people with one Priority Wine Pass. Get Pass Here.
TASTING ON THE RAILS: Elevated lunch experience, no getting off. Currently $645 per person.
AFTERNOON TEA: Chandon bubbles, then teas and tea time snacks, no getting off. Currently $225 per person.
VISTA DOME DINNER: Dinner, no getting off. Currently $360 per person.
GOURMET EXPRESS DINNER: Dinner in their standard car, no getting off. Currently $215 per person. Get $20 off per person for up to 4 people with one Priority Wine Pass. Get Pass Here.
TASTING ON THE RAILS, DINNER: Elevated dinner with wine pairings. Currently $425 to $475 per person.
Laces + Limos Tuk Tuk Tour
Getting to the wineries is half the fun when your ride is a 3-wheeled Tuk Tuk and the path you take is a back country Napa road. Expect a truly gourmet lunch set up in the vineyards with every experience. Tasting fees paid at the wineries.
NAPA WINE SAFARI: Join a small group on a full day experience includes stops at hidden gem wineries, a private chef driven picnic lunch served right on the vineyards, an a complimentary digital photo album. $250 per person.
JUST US 2. Private full day experience, stop at various hidden gem wineries (winery selection can be customized based on your preferences), chef driven gourmet picnic lunch served right in the vineyards, complimentary digital photo album. $695 total for 2 people.
WHAT’S FOR LUNCH? Half day adventure with visit to one winery and the same gourmet picnic lunch in the vineyard. Complimentary digital photo album. $189 per person.
LOCAL WALLY DOES THE MATH AND HELPS YOU DECIDE WHICH IS WORTH IT!
So the Napa Wine Train is super expensive… but is it worth it? With prices that will set. you back more than dinner at THE FRENCH LAUNDRY and food quality that’s good but not Thomas Keller good, you’re really paying for the ambiance of a train ride. There are only two experiences that actually include winery stops.
THE NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN IS NOT WORTH IT IF…
If you only have one day in Napa and want to immerse yourself in wines and winery experiences then it’s NOT worth it.
If you are a foodie looking for the best food Napa has to offer you can get better food for less at an actual restaurant.
THE NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN IS WORTH IT IF…
If you have tons of money so dropping a thousand bucks to ride a train is no big deal.
If you have multiple days here and want an adventure to tell everyone back home about.
If you really, really like trains.
My take - I’ve done the wine train and thought it was OK, certainly a good experience but one that had me trying to justify the cost. Friends who have recently experienced the wine train have had much more positive feedback and loved the party atmosphere on the experience they were on (disco ball, dancing, etc). So it could go either way but no doubt about it, it’s pricey.
LACES + LIMOS IS NOT WORTH IT IF…
If you’re a first timer and only have one say and want to see the big names like Castello di Amorosa or Sterling. Laces + Limos tries to find the more unique wineries with more personal hospitality.
LACES + LIMOS IS WORTH IT IF…
If you want a picnic in the vineyards (and a gourmet picnic at that), this is the ONLY way to do it. Absolutely a stellar experience.
If you want authentic winery experiences that might include private tours and barrel tastings, if you want a more relaxed winery with more private experiences, they excel in this.
If you want to experience Napa and the country back roads with the wine and sunshine in your face, it’s an elegant way to travel.
My take: I really like Laces + Limos. It’s owned by a husband and wife team and hubby is a trained gourmet chef who prepares a gorgeous instagram ready lunch spread that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. If a picnic in the vineyards is on your bucket list this is the way to do it. Plus the wineries are unique and special and far away from the hoards of tourists. You can do the touristy wineries another day. With Laces + Limos you get winery experiences like a local.