California's Vintage Train Is A Luxe Napa Wine Country Favorite With Gourmet Bites

For wine lovers, Napa is synonymous with the American version of dolce vita. The Napa Valley has earned a reputation as iconic as Tuscany, without the need for a transatlantic flight. Golden, rolling vineyards blanket the landscape with a cinematic view, many of which are part of legendary estates that have been producing wine since the mid-1800s. For all its fame, the tasting rooms can start to blur together after a few stops, but the Napa Valley Wine Train reinvigorates a Napa wine trip with the romance of old-world travel. The train whisks you through California's most celebrated vineyards, paired with gourmet dining and onboard tastings.

Departing from downtown Napa, the train runs along a 36-mile round-trip route to St. Helena, a wine country city with lavish views and art. The train route is older than most of the vineyards themselves: It follows the Napa Valley Railroad, which was laid down in the early 1860s. When the line faced abandonment about a century later, it was salvaged and restored by a local entrepreneur, who turned it into the Wine Train. Not only does the train follow a historic route, it's also set in historic Pullman cars — one dating back to 1915 – adorned with burgundy carpets, plush seating, and wood-paneled windows, out of which you can watch the verdant valley roll by.

The Napa Valley Wine Train journey begins at a station on McKinsy Street, about a 15-minute drive from the Napa County Airport, which has flights connecting to many U.S. cities. You can also drive there from San Francisco in about an hour. Rather than buying a ticket for only the train ride, you book a package that includes the ticket plus meals, wine tastings, and other special amenities for the experience you choose. As of this writing, packages start around $200, while more luxurious trips can exceed $600. The non-enforced dress code is smart casual.

As the train chugs off from the station, you are greeted with a glass of sparkling wine. Passengers can roam between train cars, each uniquely decorated, and some experiences offer special activities — the Legacy Experience, for example, has dancing in one of its open-air cars. The majority of journeys follow a 2.5- to three-hour schedule; the exception is the Legacy Experience, a six-hour indulgent voyage with stops for seated tastings at some of Napa Valley's best wineries, including Charles Krug Winery and V. Sattui Winery. The Grgich Hills Estate Tasting package also makes a stop at a winery, while others serve you onboard without disembarking.

The Napa Valley Wine Train experiences come in two formats: daytime and evening excursions. One of the popular daytime outings is the Vista Dome Lunch package, which serves a four-course meal set in a glass-domed car, with items like grilled beef tenderloin, penne primavera, and ricotta gnocchi on the menu. One Tripadvisor reviewer raved: "Such beautiful scenery from the Vista Dome. The food was gourmet quality and the staff gave lots of attention to everyone." Note, however, that the Vista Dome package does not include wine tastings, though you can buy wine, cocktails, and other drinks on board.

Throughout the year, the Wine Train offers a few special, timely experiences. One is the Murder Mystery Dinner, with different mystery themes for set dates, including settings such as a mafia wedding, Old Hollywood, and a masquerade. A Tripadvisor reviewer described the Murder Mystery train as "a great experience for the train enthusiast, excellent food and drinks, be ready for a loud and entertaining ride though." Around Christmas, the train offers a few festive holiday journeys, pairing the ride with hot cocoa, carolers, and visits from Santa Claus.