The number one thing people always ask us is, can you do wine country on a budget?
With the Napa Valley wine experience becoming more and more expensive, with wine tastings regularly costing upwards of $10, can you visit this incredible wine mecca without blowing a small fortune in the process?
We, the Marys, say yes! You can be bougie on a budget in Napa Valley. We’ve got the inside scoop on the wine tastings for $50 or less, hotels in the $200 or less range, and restaurants that won’t break the bank. We even got some freebies!
Here’s the list of all the places and experiences we mention. But you’ll have to listen to the pod for all the great details and tips – you won’t want to miss any of them!
A caveat – none of the prices that we mentioned are fixed – It’s just what we found currently. And also, we’re not getting paid to promote any of these places. They’re just what we discovered on our quest to find some bargains among the wine barrels.
Photo credit: David Collier (Visit Napa Valley)
Wine Tasting for $50 or less
- Clif Family Winery & and Farm, 709 Main Street St. Helena; (707) 968-0625
- Beringer Vineyards, 2000 Main St, St Helena; (707) 257-5771
- Sutter Home Family Vineyards , 277 St. Helena Hwy South (Hwy. 29); (707) 302-3296
- Mumm Napa, 8445 Silverado Trail, Rutherford; (800) 686-6272
- Rombauer Vineyards, 3522 Silverado Trail N, St Helena; (866) 280-2582
- Hall Winery, 401 St Helena Hwy South, St Helena; (707) 967-2626
Thing To Do For (Mostly) Free
- Hiking – VisitNapaValley.com has a helpful trail finder. Some of our favorites – Boothe Valley Napa State Park, Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, Skyline Wilderness Park. You can also play frisbee disc golf on the course at Skyline for free.
- Napa Valley Vine Trail for biking, walking or running. 12.5 miles from Napa to Yountville. Bike rental companies – listed on VisitNapaValley.com
- Olive oil tasting – Free at The Olive Press at Oxbow Public Market. You can taste the entire line of olive oils and vinegars.
- Napa Valley Distillery has two options for tasting their libations: The Oxbow Public Tasting Room ($25 brandy tasting only) and the Distillery (1-hour $45 tour and tasting) at 2485 Stockton St, Napa.
- CIA at Copia, the Culinary Institute of America’s food and beverage center, has free exhibits, including more than 4,000 pieces of cookware, appliances, food preparation tools and more, plus extensive gardens you can walk through.
- The Napa Art Walk is a free rotating exhibition of multiple works throughout the city. Download a walking art map at Napa Art Walk.org
- Rail Arts District – RAD Napa – is a free outdoor contemporary art museum showcasing murals, sculptures, installations and more by local and international artists.
- Napa Valley Museum, 55 Presidents Circle, Yountville; (707) 944-0500
Where to Eat
- Tacos! From Visit Napa Valley, the Napa Valley Taco Trail – Taqueria and taco truck list and map here: www.visitnapavalley.com/blog/post/the-napa-valley-taco-trail
- Rancho Gordo founder Steve Sando’s where to eat list includes taco trucks.
- A taste of Thomas Keller for less! Forget the French Laundry, try these more budget-friendly eateries, all in Yountville:
- Gott’s Roadside – the OG St. Helena location and at Oxbow Public Market.
- The Station Bakery + Provisions, St. Helena.
- Christopher Kostow, chef of the 3—Michelin starred Restaurant at Meadowood Napa Valley has three eateries that are bougie on a budget:
- Loveski Deli, Napa
- The Charter Oak, St. Helena
- Ciccio, Yountville
- The Pavilion at FARM at the Carneros Inn, Napa.
- House of Better, located at Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort and Mineral Springs, Calistoga.
- Travigne Pizzeria, St. Helena
- The Lincoln gastropub, Napa
- Folklore – restaurant, wine and cocktail bar and record store, Napa.
- Lunchbox at Copia, featuring the Summer of Pies, a world pizza tour, Napa.
- Brasswood Bar & Bakery, St. Helena.
- Picnic provisions:
- Sunshine Foods Market, St. Helena
- Oakville Grocery, Oakville
Where to Stay
- Bel Abri Napa Valley Inn, Napa. Free breakfast.
- Knoll Hotel Napa Valley Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Napa. Has a gym.
- UpValley Inn & Hot Springs, Calistoga. Rates include mineral water pool, sauna and steam room.
- Hampton Inn & Suites Napa. Free breakfast.
- Hilton Garden Inn Napa
- DoubleTree by Hilton Napa Valley American Canyon. Inquire about Hilton Honors rates.
- El Bonita Motel. Great location in St. Helena.
Our Insider Tips for Visiting Napa Valley on a Budget
- General Tips
- Visit midweek. Staying on weekends often means a two night minimum.
- Visit during the off season or shoulder season. Try the winter months, or between Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
- Make reservations. Not every tasting room is open 7 days/week.
- Plan no more than 2-3 winery visits a day.
- Do some things other than wine tasting.
- Have a designated driver or plan to use Uber or Lyft. Some wineries, such as Beringer Vineyards in St. Helena offers a $15 fee for visitors who are not drinking alcohol. Ask ahead of time about designated drivers – if they have to pay a tasting fee or not.
- Save money on dining by getting picnic supplies or eating at places like the Oxbow Public Market.
- Ask ahead of time if you can split a tasting. Most likely this works at places where you can do a walk-in tasting. Never hurts to ask though, as more and more people are choosing to drink less alcohol.
- Stop by visitors centers in downtown Napa, Yountville where else for maps, suggestions, access to EV charging and more.
- In Napa – Napa Valley Welcome Center
- In Yountville – Yountville Welcome Center. Check out the virtual visitors center to help plan your trip in Yountville.
- In St. Helena – St. Helena Welcome Center
- In Calistoga – Calistoga Welcome Center
- Stop by visitors centers in downtown Napa, Yountville where else for maps, suggestions, access to EV charging and more.
- Ask ahead of time if you can split a tasting. Most likely this works at places where you can do a walk-in tasting. Never hurts to ask though, as more and more people are choosing to drink less alcohol.
- Check out VisitNapaValley.com for more lists and guides. Napa Valley Vintners has a winery finder that helps you discover wineries that welcome walk ins, with art displays, barrel tastings, gardens and more.
- How to get around without a car or rental car? Public Transportation.
- VINE Transit is the fixed-route bus system in the County of Napa.
- Shuttles Up Valley. On-demand transit services within its city limits for the general public. These shuttles are wheelchair accessible.Calistoga Shuttle: Call to schedule a pick-up. Cost: Free for lodging guests.St. Helena Shuttle: Call to schedule a pick-up. Cost: $1The Yountville Bee Line : Call for a pickup. This service is free.