11 Wine Tasting Tours in the USA to Build an Afternoon Around

1.Belle Meade Guided Mansion Tour with Complimentary Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,189 reviews · 45 minutes (approx.) · from $33Our pick

Spend about two hours at Belle Meade Historic Site, beginning with a 45-minute guided mansion tour and ending with wine tasting for visitors 21 and older. Guides such as Tegan, Melissa, Andie, and Jason bring the house and its horse-racing past to life. Grounds, outbuildings, shops, games, and a Southern restaurant are included.

“Loved our tour guide. She knew so much about everything. The only thing I was disappointed in was that we could not take pictures and that was not disclosed. In late January they will allow pictures again.”

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2.Wine Tasting Cruise in St. Augustine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 426 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $49Top rated

Spend 90 minutes aboard Florida Water Tours’ shaded 45-foot pontoon, sampling six rotating wines as your crew shares St. Augustine sights and wildlife tips. Guides such as Rose, Marcel, Captain AJ, and others have earned praise for warm, funny commentary. Expect dolphins, fort views, and small snack bites, but modest pours.

“It was extraordinary, I really enjoyed, Hope to repeate the experience next year, thanks guys for such a good service”

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3.Temecula’s Premier Wine Tasting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 363 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $139

Spend about five hours visiting South Coast, Maurice Car’rie or Oak Mountain, and Somerset wineries by party bus. Your driver handles the roads while you taste 18 ounces of wine, enjoy music and views, and tour Somerset’s ancient clay-vessel production method. Guides include Mark, John, Boris, Calvin, and Emanuele.

“Had a great time celebrating the future bride! The 3 wineries were awesome and staff were all very friendly. The bus was nice and clean. We had bottled water in the bus.”

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4.Luxury Private Wine Tasting Tour to Guadalupe Valley from San Diego

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 171 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $269

You’ll leave San Diego at 9 a.m. with a private guide such as Mario or Rene, cross into Baja, visit three wineries in Valle de Guadalupe, and enjoy a five-course BajaMed lunch at Finca Altozano. Pickup is available south of Mission Valley, with tastings, transport, and lunch included.

“Of all the wine tour options, I'm glad we picked this one. Mario was awesome. He picked me and my four friends up at our hotel and curated a great day for us. We had a private tour which was great. Mario knows so much about the area, its history, and the wines and he has plenty of stories to tell. The tour was relaxed and informative, lunch was amazing. Mario took many photos during the day that he shared with us. We were already in Guadalupe and so I can't comment on how things worked going back and forth from San Diego but I would have full confidence that…”

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5.Branson VIP Wine Tasting and Dinner Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 162 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $121

Meet at the Branson Event Center for a five-hour outing in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van. Guide Michael or another local guide takes you to three tasting stops, usually wineries or a mix of wineries and a distillery, with about 15 samples, then a three-course dinner at Black Oak Grill.

“The tour was very fun and informative. Our driver, Michael, made the trip very enjoyable for us. He was very accomodating and provided information on our excursion. We enjoyed all the stops and would recommend it for future visitors.”

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6.Charleston: Wadmalaw Island Wine Tasting and Tea Garden Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 94 reviews · 5h 30m · from $149

Ride from Charleston in a comfortable Mercedes Sprinter with a guide such as Leanne Walasek or Jay. See Angel Oak, tour Charleston Tea Garden by trolley, sample fresh tea, and taste wine at Deep Water Vineyard. The 5.5-hour outing includes snacks, water, and a small group of up to 10.

“Our guide Leann was so knowledgeable, friendly and easy going. She was very friendly with the owners of the venues we visited, I feel like we got special treatment because of her connections. We would highly recommend this tour.”

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7.Hike Matanuska Glacier w/Alaska Local Honey, Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 89 reviews · 8 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $310

Spend about 8.5 hours traveling from Anchorage to Matanuska Glacier, where a professional guide leads you across blue ice, crevasses, and uneven glacial ground. Crampons and snow pants are provided. The day also includes Glenn Highway scenery, a Palmer stop, and a brief local honey and wine visit.

“The glacier was AMAZING! The crew at glacier that guides you were super nice and basically rockstars. I will say, the drive there is pretty tough. It’s a lot of winding, beat up bumpy roads, and if your driver hits those turns going too fast then slams on the breaks like we had, bring some Dramamine…but she was very nice! The shop for the local honey and wine tasting is a cool little place. Not a true tasting but worth the stop! We didn’t get to try the wine, but the honey was really good and the woman making the coffee was very sweet. This glacier hike is a once…”

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8.Lake Tahoe: Emerald Bay Sunset Wine Tasting Yacht Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · 2 hours · from $150

Board the 1953 Golden Rose at Tahoe Keys Marina for a two-hour sunset cruise around Emerald Bay, Fannette Island, and Vikingsholm. You’ll taste eight Northern California wines, hear local stories from the captain and wine host, and have time to buy bottles or glasses afterward.

“Great overall experience, had a wonderful time with the crew and other passengers! Highly recommend this wine tasting. Very intimate and just a great experience”

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9.Half-Day Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 74 reviews · 5 hours · from $129

Leave Fisherman’s Wharf around midday for a guided bus ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, through Sausalito and Marin County, and into Napa and Sonoma wine country. You’ll visit two wineries, taste their wines, and hear about fermentation, barrels, and bottling. Guides such as Lester, Grady, Jerry, and Lance have been praised for warm, funny commentary.

“Our tour bus driver, Lester, was Great! He shared his knowledge of places on our route with history and humor. The wineries had different offerings, which made the overall experience more enjoyable.”

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10.Napa Valley: Wine Tasting Tour by Open Air Trolley & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 71 reviews · 6 hours · from $135

Spend six hours riding an open-air wine trolley from Napa’s Oxbow Public Market to three regional wineries. Guides such as Paul, Richard, and Dennis add lively commentary, while lunch is served at a scenic winery. Tasting fees cost extra, and the trolley can feel chilly or warm depending on the weather.

“Very nice tour and a really great way to get arround”

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11.Wine Tasting on the Bay

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 48 reviews · 1h 30m · from $85

Set out from Pier 39 on a small boat with indoor seating, a tiny bar, and a 360-degree outdoor walkway. An English-speaking captain points out Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, the skyline, and bay wildlife while you choose from local wines. Sunset departures include one complimentary beverage.

“We loved the tour! We went from the pier to the Golden Gate Bridge. We got very close to the Golden Gate Bridge and we were able to get some great photos of the city as the book turned around and headed back. We also got first row seats to Alcatraz Islands and were able to take up and close photos. We'd highly recommend this intimate boat tour if you're looking for a smaller setting to tour the bay and would enjoy some wine while you're at it. Note, it did get a bit windy and the waters got a bit choppy at the start but after that it was…”

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