Wine country · CITY TOURS
Good city tours with a winery stop fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 8 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Start beside Porto Cathedral with a city train ride, then tour Real Companhia Velha, Portugal’s oldest port cellar, and taste two wines. Finish with a one-hour Douro cruise. You can split the train and boat over two days, which helps you avoid rushing.
“Very full experience to get the most from the city within 4-5 hours.”
Spend about five hours visiting four Old Mission Peninsula wineries by premium shuttle from Traverse City. Guides such as Scott, Todd, Andy, and Jonathan keep the day moving, while you sample local wines, buy small snacks, and enjoy views of Grand Traverse Bay. Tastings cost extra.
“It was a barrel of fun - or maybe a cask! We stopped at four wineries and all were well worth a visit.”
Ride from downtown Traverse City in a luxury GMC Yukon, Suburban, or Cadillac Escalade to four Old Mission Peninsula wineries. Guides such as Mike, Cody, Clover, and Tracy adjust the route to the group, with bay views, wine tastings, and about four to five hours on the road.
“Jason was our tour guide. It turned out that it was just my wife and I which led to a very personal experience. Jason was friendly and informative. Highly recommend this tour.”
Spend about five hours visiting three Leelanau Peninsula wineries in an air-conditioned Magic Shuttle Bus. Your driver handles winery appointments, you buy tastings separately, and you can bring snacks for the ride. Expect scenic views, changing stops, and a public group of up to 14 people.
“Carol, our tour guide, was excellent!! The whole tour was first class and we will definitely be doing it again. Thank you for a wonderful experience!”
Spend about four hours visiting three Old Mission Peninsula wineries by air-conditioned limo-style bus. Guides such as Scott, Todd, Pete, and Andy share local background, suggest pours, and time the route for sunset. Wine flights and glasses cost extra, and stops can change.
“We came to celebrate my daughter's 25th bday. We was lucky to have Mr. Frizzle as our driver. He was funny, attentive and gave us a great lesson about the vineyards and surrounding areas. He made the trip a great experience. I would do this trip again if I could guarantee we get him again.”
Meet at Chateau de Bellet for a 90-minute English-language tour led by a friendly guide such as Julia. Walk through the vines, visit the modern cellar, hear how Bellet wine is made, then taste three local wines, white, rosé, and red, in a former chapel.
“Guide in english was informative, got to know some bit about the vineyard's history, the terroir and the products produced at the vineyard. The whole process from start to end product was explained step by step throughout the tour. The wine tasting at the end in the cellar of an old chappel was the highlight of the tour.”
Walk downhill through Porto with guides such as Nuno, David, or João, stopping at São Bento station, the cathedral, old neighborhoods, and the lower Dom Luís I Bridge. Finish in Gaia with a visit to a port producer and a tasting of three ports. Expect history, stairs, views, and a small group.
“A great experience with Nuno for a city walking tour and port wine tastings. He was very informative and great energy.”
Spend about 6.5 hours visiting three Santa Ynez Valley wineries with a host such as Cary, Anthony, Kris, or Steve. Tastings, a seven-choice deli picnic, bottled water, hotel pickup, and transport for up to 18 people are included. Winery choices vary by day.
“Steve was an excellent guide for the day! Very knowledgeable and personable. I enjoyed the pace of the day and variety of wineries.”
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