Ticket to Ride in The Napa Valley

Although you are not confined to your seat during the three-hour journey, you are pretty much confined to the train. The wine train currently does not allow passengers to disembark except for the Yountville station (there has been a nineteen-year court battle between the city of St. Helena and the train company, which wants to set up a station in the small town). This drop off, however, is only allowed for those who have chosen the Grgich Hill Winery Tour (three course lunch and private tour and tasting $113) or the Domain Chandon Sparkling Winery Tour (three course lunch, private tour, and tasting $128). If you really want to get out and visit wineries, you may want to have your own wheels; a car or bike is a better bet than the train.

The train is owned by Vince DeDeminico, who also owns Golden Grain Macaroni Company and Ghiradelli Chocolate Company in San Francisco. He purchased the line from Southern Pacific Railroad Company in 1987 and salvaged nine Pullman cars, restoring them to mimic the “bygone days of fine dining on an elegant rail.” The gourmet express cars are decorated in a 1915 “Orient Express” style, while the Vista Dome car is circa 1950s. The Silverado Car has casual wooden décor; some of the wall hangings include a collection of “Hollywood Western Movie Star” photos donated by Robert Redford.

Although the train is a unique way to see the valley, and the food is great, I would say that price and the somewhat confining environment limit this railway to an older, wealthier crowd. Plus, a three-hour journey is a bit long for lunch, so you may end up spending more time, and money, in the wine tasting car than you had originally planned. Perhaps that is not so bad after all.

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