Napa, Somona, and Covid FAQ's: Frequently Asked Questions about Visiting During Covid 19, Fall 2020

Sterling Vineyards: Yes, I still give away my exclusive $10 off code - More info below!

Is Napa Open? How about Sonoma?

Yes, wineries in both Napa and Sonoma are open! The two areas have different restrictions so don’t make any assumptions and call every winery you want to visit before you arrive. Some have more limited hours and some who don’t have outside tasting areas are still closed, especially in Sonoma.

OCT 21 UPDATE: Napa wineries are back to allowing some indoor tastings! Obviously not exactly back to normal but getting there. Call the wineries to make sure as we approach cooler weather.

Didn’t Napa Burn Down? Is it Even Worth it To Visit?

Not going to lie, Napa has been hit hard by fires. But as I write this update in October the fires are out, the skies are clear, the air quality perfect. But yes, some of our favorite wineries have been destroyed or damaged, notably Sterling (still not open as of Oct 21 but will reopen soon), Burgess (sadly gone), Dutch Henry (damaged but will reopen shortly), and the castle, Castello di Amorosa (partially damaged but open). The bulk of Napa’s wineries are open for business and Napa on the whole needs tourist dollars to stay afloat so a trip to Napa is not only good for you, it’s good for everyone. When the damaged wineries reopen make sure you visit as 2020 has been a tough year for everyone and the damaged wineries especially - And Buy Wine! I know you’re thinking “wine tasting” but buying wine is what keeps the wineries in business.

Do I Need Reservations for Wineries?

Absolutely - every winery requires reservations. Some will say the are “reservations preferred” but what they are really saying is that those walking in will only get in if the winery has space - which may not be very often since the wineries now have more limited space to do actual tastings. So plan ahead, make reservations.

I’m Coming During CRUSH 2020 and Want to Stomp Grapes! Where Can I Go?

Well Lucy, some bad news. From what I’ve been told by the wineries all events like grape stomps or harvest dinners or whatever are cancelled or on hold. You can check Grgich Hills’ website in case things change as they are the most popular so if anyone does it it will be them.

What About Cave Tours in Napa?

As of right now most of the traditional group tours are on hold, though you might find wineries who have found a way to do it safely. Things are changing all the time so call and ask, don’t assume.

Do I Really Have to Wear a Mask?

Yes. Once seated you can remove your mask but for the health and respect of those around you and serving you, follow the mask mandates which right now say you must wear masks.

Is it SAFE to Go Wine Tasting in Napa?

Yes, wineries are being very careful. Masks going in, servers with masks, drivers with masks, tons of social distancing. So yes, pretty darn safe. And yeah, I know, it’s not quite the same as it was way back in January but it’s still Napa, you’re still drinking Napa wine, it’s still more fun than sitting at home watching Netflix.

Is Uber Still Running in Napa?

Yes - But I don’t recommend any ride share service since you now must be ON TIME to your winery appointment. Many wineries require your credit card to save your spot and if you don’t show, guess what? Don’t waste your time, hire a driver. I have a small number of drivers who I can recommend who have a long track record of driving my readers and doing a great job. Some can legally drive your rental (do your own due diligence to make sure), others have vehicles that can seat up to 14 and beyond. EMAIL ME for names of drivers I trust. And don’t think you can sip responsibly and still drive. Trust me on this - when someone puts a delicious $100 bottle of wine in front of you and asks if you would like a sip it is nearly impossible to say NO, especially if you’ve already have had wine. Does your dog ever turn down treats? No, and no one ever has enough will power to turn down Napa wine.

I Have a Big Group and Can’t Find any Wineries!!

That’s one of the big problems these days in both Napa and Sonoma - regulations suggest that the wineries limit groups to 6 or less. In fact, I believe the regulations also suggest that those in each party be from the same family or pod or whatever. Basically, 6 is the limit and most wineries are holding true to this.

But…. How About if We Break Up into Smaller Groups??

Some wineries will allow you to form smaller groups but once you sit down at your table you cannot get up and mingle. But don’t worry, I can help you. I have a small handful of wineries that I can refer you to who can safely take larger groups. Just email me and I’ll help you out - but be flexible! Forget about your bachelorette party invading Castello di Amorosa, the castle, or stomping grapes at Grgich Hills. Many of these wineries are a bit off the beaten path - which is actually good if you are looking for a place your group can forget about Covid for a few hours and safely taste wine and enjoy your time together.

And yes, I can arrange transportation for you as well, even if you want a pick up in the Bay Area.

Are Restaurants Open?

Yes! Though seating is more limited so make sure you make reservations. I mean, make them as soon as you know your dates as the popular restaurants book up far in advance.

Should I Tip at Wineries?

Yes, especially during these Covid times. These people working the wineries need all the support they can get. They have families, they have rent due, and they’re risking their health to serve you. So yes, the standard 20% tip for good service should be adhered to.

Additionally, if you are visiting a smaller winery not owned by a giant corporation you should always buy wine. Just go to each winery with the idea that you will take home at least a couple of bottles. Many small boutique wineries used to make their money selling wine to restaurants and with that industry in turmoil it’s up to the winery to close the gap. So while in the past it was fine to taste and move on, today you should buy wine whenever possible.

Does the Priority Wine Pass Still Work?

Yes - the popular “two for one” pass still works at dozens of wineries in both Napa and Sonoma so I still recommend it. Figure the pass is $39.99 for two people but you can get $45 off at Grgich Hills, $45 off at Charles Krug, $30 off at Beringer, etc - I mean, you don’t even need to do the math to see how it pays for itself and saves most people on average a hundred bucks a day. And yes, if you get the pass I still offer FREE advice and will help you pick the best wineries for your wine tasting experience. To buy the wine pass go to this link so you get my discount and remember, only get one pass per couple. You will find all of the deals here.

OK, How About that FREE Sterling $10 Off Code?

YES, I still give away the free $10 off code. All you have to do is email me and I’ll send it to you within 24 hours. No catches, no gimmicks, totally free for my readers. You do know my email by now, right? wally@napatouristguide.com

Planning a Trip to Napa Summer or Fall 2020 - Are Wineries Open After Coronavirus and Are There Deals?

No Social Distancing Required in 2017 - What About 2020?

June 6 Update: Napa Poised to Re-Open!

Big News - As of June 6, 2020, Napa has been given the green light to reopen. However, that’s not to say that you and your buddies should jump in the car this weekend and willy-nilly hit the wineries. Many of the wineries are not set to reopen until sometime next week and when they do there will be these new rules in place:

1. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: Assume you will need reservations at every stop.

2. GROUP SIZE LIMITS: Depending on the winery, assume that group sizes will be limited. Many are saying they cannot accept groups over 4 or 6.

3. MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING: You know the drill by now. Napa wineries are not a free for all, things are not “back to normal”, but you can still have fun. Just respect the rules and keep everyone safe.

I will be contacting the wineries next week to check on deals and discounts but for now if you are planning on using your Priority Wine Pass I recommend you ask the wineries what their offers are. My site was written pre-Cornona and wineries can change their deals at any time so don’t assume the deals are still the same.

ALSO - BUY WINE! Wineries have been deeply hurt by Covid-19 so buy wine, as much as you can! It’s a solid win-win. You get great wine, the wineries get some revenue, I see no downside here.

More to come - The articles below will be updated later this weekend.

Wally

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What to Expect in Napa in Summer or Fall 2020

I’m writing this April 9, 2020. Right now the entire planet is basically on hold with most of the US in lock down. But it doesn’t take a genius to predict that someday this will all be over and when it is you will want to be in Napa, drinking wine, wine, and more wine. I will be the first to tell you that I have no crystal ball but I will say that it’s safe to assume that Napa will be as packed as Castello di Amorosa on a busy Sunday when the virus is over. So that means you need to plan. Here are my predictions on what to expect in Napa if you come in Summer or Fall 2020.

MAY 17 2020 UPDATE: NEW GUIDELINES JUST PUBLISHED - It’s as you might guess, 6 feet apart, face masks, etc. The biggest impact though appears to be on group size - 6 or less - as well as wineries being required to move to RESERVATIONS ONLY. More info coming as I get it.

THE IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS ON THE WINERIES

Napa has both big wineries owned by giant corporations and small family run wineries and all of them will be greatly impacted by the lack of tourism by the time they open. We know that Napa struggled to rebound after the recent fires in 2017 and 2019. The Convid-19 will have even greater impact. Napa wineries rely on visitors, people like you, tasting and buying wine. They also rely on restaurants who buy and serve their wines. Both of these are shut down right now. Big wineries will show low profits this year but small wineries will be hanging on for dear life. If you are coming after the Coronavirus please focus on the smaller wineries first and BUY WINE - I can help you pick, that comes later, but know that while all the wineries will be hurting the small wineries really need your help.

WILL WINERIES BE OPEN IN SUMMER OR FALL 2020? JUNE, JULY, OR AUGUST 2020?

The second the social distancing ban is lifted you can expect the wineries to all reopen. I have not heard of any wineries closing their doors as of today - but a lot can happen before Summer. I also suspect there will be plenty of deals once Napa is reopened. If you have not followed my site until now then know that I was the first guy to put all of the Napa deals on one site, the guy who wrote the original TripAdvisor articles on Napa, and your best source for all of the two for one or discount wine tasting deals in Napa. I know all the deals and happy to send them your way - including the exclusive and free $10 OFF Sterling Vineyard tram ride and tasting offer. Email me for deals, it’s that easy.

However, you can assume that some of the wineries will be changing their deals and offers (and tasting fees) once Napa reopens. We do know they will be moving to a Reservations Only model based on the new regulations I got to preview.

WILL IT BE SAFE TO GO TO NAPA OR SONOMA IN SUMMER OR FALL 2020?

My guess is that Napa will only reopen when it is safe enough for everyone to feel secure. I mean, wine tasting isn’t going to be any fun if you are thinking it might be your last hurrah, right? But I have confidence based on Gov. Newsom’s plan that opening Napa or Sonoma for wine tasting is not going to be a quick decision so when it does open, well, you can assume it’s because those in charge believe it is safe.

That said - and remember, I am no doctor - staying safe will rely on decisions you make as to what sort of Napa experience you take. Personally, and I err on the side of safety, I would go with a private driver in their largest vehicle to mitigate any social distancing issues in transportation. If that means hiring a 14 person vehicle for your group of 6 I would consider it. The cost difference isn’t huge between hiring an SUV or a large shuttle van, especially when split up between the group. Second, until I see how the big wineries will handle crowds I would stick to the boutiques, the private tastings where crowd control is a given. This is all very fluid - I am writing this on May 5, 2020 - but if I am working with Nick who drives a lot of my readers and we are brainstorming a Napa adventure where you safety is the main concern and focus. You’ll be picked up in a just-cleaned van, you’ll be taken to select wineries who are on-board with our plan, you’ll dine in a picnic area away from others, and all wine purchases will be wiped down and disinfected before you pick them up. If you are interested just email me and we can work out the details.

WILL NAPA BE BUSY IN SUMMER OR FALL 2020?

With rampant unemployment it’s very likely that all tourist destinations will be down in 2020. But a huge part of Napa tourism are locals from the Bay Area or other parts of California and a quick day trip or weekend in Napa will be a very popular escape from recent reality. I predict that Napa will bounce back faster than the Stock Market and tourism will be huge once it is reopened.

HOW WILL CORONAVIRUS IMPACT TASTING ROOMS?

Until there is a vaccination the need for social distancing will be a part of the “new normal”. This most likely means that the massive, crowded, party atmosphere of the popular wineries will most likely give way to smaller tasting room experiences and crowd control. I predict that most wineries will move to a “reservations required” mode to control the total number of people entering the winery. This isn’t bad - anyone who has tried to go to Domaine Chandon or Castello di Amorosa only to find Disneyland sized crowds will appreciate a bit of crowd control. And yes, I can help you pick - it’s what I do and I never charge for advice.

BUYING WINE, TIPPING THE SERVER

Before the virus if you asked me whether you need to buy wine I would have told you that it’s not mandatory. Today, I suggest that if you are visiting Napa after the Coronavirus that you plan on buying wine, at least a bottle or two at every stop, especially if you are going to the smaller wineries. Join their wine clubs and make sure you tip the server. The server doesn’t benefit much from wine sales but a $5 tip for their time really helps them bridge that gap. I wrote this article on tipping recently and now more than ever it’s required reading if you are coming to Napa or Sonoma.

ARE THERE WINE TASTING DEALS I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

There are always deals in Napa. The bulk of them will be on my site but it’s too early to tell what the deals will be once the Coronavirus is over (or the social distancing ban relaxed). Right now we are working with the wineries to be ready for the day that Napa is reopened and to help them get their post-virus deals ready to go. Email me - I’ll give you everything I have so you can visit Napa without going broke.

WHAT EVENTS ARE HAPPENING IN NAPA IN SUMMER OR FALL?

Assuming Napa is reopened there will be plenty of events happening to lure people back in. Subscribe to my newsletter and I’ll keep you up to date on the best events and dates. BottleRock has been moved to Oct 2 - 4 so avoid that weekend unless you have tickets. And fall is the time for Grape Stomps - Grgich Hills has an annual stomp as do other wineries - I’ll know more when we get closer to Fall so make sure you subscribe or email me to stay up to date.

I’M TRYING TO PLAN A BACHELORETTE PARTY - HOW DOES CORONAVIRUS IMPACT MY PLANS?

Assuming Napa is back in business, you’ll want to take extra precautions if you are planning a bachlorette party or corporate event. First, knowing that people are drinking and that social distancing will still be the responsible thing to do you will want to make sure that every winery you pick is PRIVATE and offers you your own space and server. You’ll also want to make sure that the transportation you select has the same level of concern that you do. Look, let me just toss this out there - I have helped a lot of people plan big events so let me help you. I would avoid all wineries that have big crowds and focus on wineries that will give you personal attention and your own space. And I can get you deals, of course. Just reach out to me. I don’t charge to help and happy to give you my contacts at the wineries to set this up.

MAY 17 UPDATE: I just heard that wineries will be limiting groups to 6 or less - but not sure whether this applies to wineries who do private tastings. I am working on this! If you have a bachlorette party coming reach out to me and I’ll work with you personally as the details unfold.

WHEN SHOULD I START PLANNING AND BOOKING HOTELS?

As long as the hotel offers a fully refundable rate I would book right now. Below is a screen shot of a very popular hotel in Napa that normally charges $600 a night during the Fall. Rates right now are in the $209 range. Rates have not been this low since 1990. So book it and cross your fingers and you might end up with a killer deal.

As for wineries, it’s not too early to reach out to me and I’ll help you at least start building a short list of wineries you might want to visit. I can show you what the deals are right now and you can book your reservations with the wineries. I predict more deals once Napa reopens so just be on top of it, watch the deal list on my site, sign up for my newsletter where I’ll provide deal updates.

Remember, a big part of what I do is help people plan their trips. I don’t charge, all of my advice is free, and right now I’m doing nothing so it’s a good time to start a conversation.

ONE LAST QUESTION - WILL NAPA TOURIST GUIDE BE AROUND AFTER CORONAVIRUS?

Yes, I will be here. Luckily my overhead is very low so as long as I don’t die from either the virus or boredom I plan to be here when this is all said and done. I do have bills to pay, however, so I’ve used my spare time to reopen my online store.

NAPA VALLEY HOME + GARDEN

Visit my online store to purchase Napa items that I personally love and use. All items are fulfilled by Amazon and the cool thing is if you go to Amazon through my site and then buy anything, even products that are not in my store, they will pay me a tiny little marketing fee. I am hoping that these pennies all add up to pay for my hosting fees. And you don’t pay more, you just shop Amazon like you always do and know that you are helping Local Wally stay in business whenever you buy something.

Also, you probably know that I support the Priority Wine Pass on my site. I know the owner and she is also a small micro business. The wine pass gets you two for one’s and is good for a full year. I’ve worked out a deal with the owner that if you purchase a pass today and cannot use it due to the Coronavirus that she will extend it for another year for no additional charge. When you buy a pass from me I not only give you a $20 discount but I get paid a referral fee - so buy a wine pass now if you can and know that we will totally take care of you if something comes up. Remember, you only need one pass for every two people. It’s $39.99 after my discount and you’ll save $25 to $50 per winery stop so it pays for itself many times over.