Wine Country Tours: Napa Valley Sparkling Wine Tours

To many Americans, Napa Valley is synonymous with wine country. Since the 1960's, when premium wine production began in the United States, the wineries of Napa Valley have been producing America's finest wine.

Millions of people embark on Napa Valley wine tours each year. Surprisingly, the wine tours are inexpensive, and they make for an affordable date with style.

Mumm Napa Tour

In 1765, Peter Arnold Mumm started modestly producing wine in Cologne, France. Today, the House of Mumm (G.H. Mumm & Co.) produces wine all around the world. Mumm Napa was the first to extend the legacy into the United States.

The Mumm Napa tour is slated to last about 45 minutes, and it includes a trip through the demonstration vineyard, the fermentation room, the bottling line, and a tour of the riddling room. The tour ends with a leisurely stroll through the fine arts photo galleries.

The wine tasting experience offers more of a restaurant style atmosphere. You and your party will be seated in either an enclosed tasting salon, or outside on the brand new oak terrace. Either choice offers stunning views of the surrounding valley.

The tour and wine tasting experience begins daily at 11, 1, and 3 p.m. They also offer a complimentary tour every day at 10 am (sans wine tasting). The cost of the tour is currently set at $20 per person, and $10 for those under 21. Reservations are required only for groups of six or more.

*For an interesting primer, take the virtual tour at the Mumm Napa website - Also, you can usually find a tasting room coupon on their website. The winery is located at 8445 Silverado Trail, Rutherford, California - 800.686.6272 .

Schramsburg Vineyards Tour

Jacob Schram established Scrhamsburg Vineyards in 1862. Jack and James Davies purchased the vineyards in 1965, and the vineyard has been producing world renowned champagne method sparkling wines ever since.

The wine tour at Schramsberg offers an elaborate and interesting history of wine making in the region, and a pleasant walk through a historic cave where you will find at least half a million bottles of sparkling wines in various stages of the aging process. Your tour comes complete with a hand demonstration of the riddling process. After the tour, there is an atmospheric candlelit wine tasting session

In order to tour Schramsberg, you will need to make reservations by calling or utilizing their user-friendly online reservation tool.

The cost of the tour is currently set at $40, and only guests ages 21 and up are allowed to participate. The entire tour and wine tasting lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. The vineyard is located at 1400 Schramsberg Rd., Calistoga, California 94515 - 707.942.4558.

Domaine Carneros Tour

The breathtakingly beautiful Carneros Estate was founded in 1987 by Claude Tattinger. Tattinger is the head of The Tattinger Group (Groupe Tattinger), a name that is synonymous with French luxury and decadence. The Tattinger family has been in the wine-making business abroad since 1932.

The centerpiece of Domaine Carneros, besides the incredibly delicious wine, is the Carneros Estate chateau. The Chateau was built in 1989, and it is reminiscent of the 28^th Century La Marquetterie Chateau in Champagne, France. The La Marquetterie Chateau is a French historical landmark, and it is also owned by the Tattinger family.

The "Art of Sparkling Wine" tour is begins with a lesson on the traditional process of creating fine sparkling wines, and a tour through the vineyards. Next, you will take a leisurely stroll through the Chateau while you enjoy a tasting of some of their finest wines. Finally, the tour will end with a seated tasting of a selection of red wines.

The 90 minute tour is $25, and $10 for children 12 years and up. The tour is offered daily at 11, 1, and 3 pm. Reservations are suggested for the weekends, and parties of nine and up require a reservation. Children are welcome and those 12 and up will require a $10 admittance fee. Domaine Carneros Vineyard is located at 1240 Duhig Road, Napa, California - 800.716.BRUT (2788).