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California wine country has always been the perfect destination for an elevated escape. With beautiful views, world-class vineyards, and Michelin-starred restaurants that led the charge in the farm-to-table movement, this Northern Californian paradise is clearly a dreamy place to get away. For anyone getting married, it also can be an excellent choice of where to host your bachelor or bachelorette party. Rather than spending a wild couple of nights in Vegas or Nashville, Napa and Sonoma can offer an elevated, curated party experience—that can still get a little bit rowdy if that’s your thing.
Since wine country is filled with a number of towns, wineries, hotels, and restaurants with their own aesthetic and vibe, it’s best to find what area fits your vibe and budget. Ahead, see all the details you should know to get a taste for your own celebration.
Where to Stay
Your decision on where to stay on your trip is an important one as it will define the vibe and destinations for your bachelorette activities. Napa and Sonoma are not as close as you might think, so once you decide on a certain county on where to stay, you should likely craft your itinerary around that area. It absolutely makes sense to book an Airbnb that allows you to divide between bedrooms, have a kitchen for meals, and a more private space for celebrations. However, if you have the desire and budget to stay at a hotel, see some of our favorites ahead.
Nestled amongst the vineyards at the border of Sonoma and Dry Creek Valley is the Montage Healdsburg, a luxe resort with amazing dining options, a beautiful spa, and two pools with cabanas that are perfect for a chill day relaxing in between tastings. While the rooms and suites are an amazing option, we particularly recommend bachelorette groups checking out their three- and four-bedroom Harvest Homes, which allow you to have a private retreat with all the amenities of the resort.
Want your trip to take place on a stunning estate? The Madrona is a favorite location to visit for a stay or a weekend brunch just off the main town of Healdsburg. With beautiful, moody interiors, a great food and beverage program, and thoughtful accommodations, The Madrona will make your bachelorette experience feel truly special and curated. Another plus? Guests have access to electric bikes for adventures around town and a pool to cool off in warmer months.
Located in Napa Valley’s Yountville, North Block Hotel is a boutique resort with just 20 guest rooms that are perfect for a retreat amongst friends. Your group can enjoy a fireside bottle of wine in its well-appointed courtyards, hang by the year-round heated pool and hot tub, or enjoy spa services for a little extra relaxation.
If you want to be based in the northern Napa town of Calistoga, the Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection is the perfect choice if you want to lean into luxury for your bachelorette. Set on its own vineyard, the resort has everything you’ll need for a getaway from beautiful rooms to a stunning spa to grounds that are perfect for kicking back with your closest circle over a glass of wine and gourmet food.
Looking for a great Napa hotel with a more approachable price point? Calistoga Motor Lodge Spa is a perfect fit. Groups can enjoy their modern accommodations, relaxing courtyards, and massive pools.
Nestled among the vines, Carneros Resort Spa is a perfect choice for a small group thanks to its beautiful cottages and residences on the property. Keep your group all together and even enjoy your own private hot tub, while also having access to the guest-only spa and pool.
Where to Go Wine Tasting
With over 800 wineries in the region, it’s not so easy to decide on what tasting rooms to visit. See a few of our favorites by region.
With its delicious sparkling wines and beautiful château, Domaine Carneros is an easy choice for a Napa winery tour. Make sure to plan a tasting on the château patio to enjoy beautiful views of the vineyard.
Want to visit a location that doesn’t feel as if you’re in the United States? Visit the palatial Darioush Winery. In addition to its manicured grounds, the winery offers unique tastings, including pairings with cheese, mezze, and even caviar.
A newer winery opened by Far Niente, Bella Union puts design to the forefront. Both clean, California interiors and comfortable outdoor spaces make this the perfect stop on your winery tours.
Yountville-based Stewart Cellars is a perfect spot to put on your Napa tasting itinerary. The family-owned property features lovely courtyards and interiors by Ken Fulk, as well as a large portfolio of wines to try.
Stags’ Leap not only is a classic winery with incredible cabernets, their historic property is a stunning place to visit as well. Get a tour of their wines and the 19th-century manor when tasting at this timeless vineyard.
Love art? Make a stop at Artesa Vineyards and Winery, which has its grounds scattered with avant-garde sculptures and fountains. The winery also produces incredible small-lot Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet for tasting.
Just off the main town of Healdsburg is a winery that lives up to its name. Flowers highlights its incredible selection of Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and rosés in a beautiful winery filled with lush gardens and well-appointed interiors.
Need a spot on your itinerary that covers wine and lunch? Reeve Wines offers an incredible selection of bottles to try in its cool tasting room and patio, as well as delicious pizza to help soak up the alcohol from your stops. The eco-friendly Dry Creek Valley winery even has its own villa to rent on the property if you’re looking for a cool place to stay.
If you love rosé and Pinot Noir, you need to make a visit to Scribe Winery. Beautiful gardens surround an adobe hacienda that will play host to your tasting experience of terroir-driven wines. Membership to the wine club is required to make a reservation, but it s worth it.
Want to enjoy a walk through the vines? Check out Ridge Vineyards, which offers tours of its grounds along with pairings of its refined single-family vineyard wines.
Sit out in the gardens and enjoy a round of bocce ball with your party on your stop at Landmark Vineyards. We love this stop to sip on Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays of the Russian River Valley.
The architecture of the modern tasting room decorated with Andy Katz photography is just one reason to visit Aperture Cellars. Matched with their delicious Bordeaux-style wines, it’s a winning combo.
Other Fun Wine Country Bachelorette Activities
Want to put some more activities on your agenda than a traditional tasting? Check out some amazing activity options ahead.
Want to skip the hassle of arranging tons of tasting room visits for your bachelorette and also get some bang for your buck? Plan your bachelorette during Passport to Dry Creek Valley. This two-day spring celebration in the Dry Creek Valley wine region in Northern Sonoma gives you access to over 25 wineries that are open to ticket holders for events with food pairings, live music, and unique behind-the-scenes property tours.
You may be surprised that a train wine tour is actually one of the best tastings in the region. The Napa Valley Wine Train is a favorite thanks to it offering scenic views, great pairings, and stops at some favorite wineries in the region. It also will make for some great photo moments with your group.
While a tasting at the winery owned by famed director Francis Ford Coppola is always a great time, you should consider booking a timeslot at the property’s pool on your visit. You can enjoy a resort-like experience while sipping on cans of Sofia sparkling rosé and cooling off from the wine-country heat.
Does the bride-to-be love a good concert? Consider coordinating your bachelorette around the Bottlerock music festival. Hosted annually in May, the Napa-based festival has more of a wine-country feel than Coachella vibes, with a diverse mix of music as well as a focus on great food and wine pop-ups. With one-day and three-day tickets available, you can make it a part of your trip or the main event.
Transportation in Wine Country
Anyone who has ever served as a maid of honor will tell you that logistics are one of the most important parts of planning a bachelorette. Understanding how to get to wine country and then move around it with a group is unfortunately not as easy as booking an Uber or Lyft whenever you want. First off, driving from either the San Francisco Airport or Oakland Airport to the area can take a minimum of two hours with traffic, so either renting cars, scheduling a shuttle, taking Vine public transit, or booking a private chauffeur like Blacklane is the only way you can make it north towards Napa. There is also an airport in Sonoma, with flights available from major cities like Los Angeles, Dallas, and Portland.
Once you’re settled at your accommodations, it’s important to coordinate your designated drivers for wine tasting and excursions. While you might have a friend or two that will abstain from drinking for the weekend that can chauffeur the group around, it’s best to arrange professional drivers for the group that can traverse windy roads with a clear head. While ride shares can be found, they aren’t always reliable when trying to make a reservation in time with a big group. Consider booking a driver for the day or even a bus if you have more than a carload of bridesmaids. Sonoma Sterling Limousines is a great transportation option that not only has luxury SUVs and sprinter vans, but also limos and party buses if you want to really take your trip up a notch.
