Wine tour bus and Sprinter rental
A wine tour by bus or Sprinter is a day of short drives and long stops. The vehicle waits more than it moves, so the plan is about the stops.
Wine tour bus or Sprinter: Napa, Sonoma and Temecula
Napa and Sonoma each sit about 46 miles from San Francisco, and Temecula wine country about 58 miles from San Diego. For 19 or fewer, a Sprinter van is the usual choice. It is easier to park at a small winery than a bus. For larger groups, a midsize coach. Ask each winery whether it takes buses before you plan the route. Some small wineries have no room for a coach, and a bus turned away at the gate wastes a tasting slot.
What the rules require
- Open-container rules for passengers in hired vehicles are set by each state.
- Federal minimum liability: $1.5M for vehicles seating 15 or fewer.
Planning the stops
Book tastings before you book the vehicle. Most groups manage three wineries and lunch. Four is ambitious. Build 20 minutes between stops for getting everyone back on board. The driver waits the whole time, and the hours are what you pay for.
Name one person to keep the group moving. The driver cannot leave anyone behind, and the driver cannot hurry a group out of a tasting room.
Alcohol on board
Each state decides how open-container rules apply to passengers in hired vehicles. Ask what applies before you plan a bottle on board. Drivers may not drink in the 4 hours before driving. On interstate passenger vehicles, smoking is prohibited. Assume no smoking on any trip unless the quote says otherwise.
Questions
How many wineries fit into one day?
Three plus lunch is realistic. Four is possible with an early start and a tight group.
Can we bring wine back on the bus?
Tell us when you book so the operator knows to leave room for purchases. Open containers are a separate question, set by state rules.
What size vehicle for 20 people?
A minibus. Check with each winery that it can take one.
Can we go from San Francisco to both Napa and Sonoma in one day?
Yes, if you keep the stops few. Each is about 46 miles from the city, so most of the travel is the drive up and back. Start early and plan three tastings, not five.
Cities
Vehicles
- Motorcoach (49-81 passengers) — 49-81 seats
- Midsize coach (35-passenger) — 29-35 seats
- Minibus (16-19 passengers) — 16-19 seats
- Sprinter van (17-19 passengers) — 17-19 seats
- Party bus / limo van — Varies by build (Sprinter limos up to 14)
- Sedan / SUV car service — SUV up to 6 passengers with luggage
Plan your wine tour
Send the date, region, head count and wineries. The quote covers the vehicle with its driver. You pay only on acceptance.
Request a quote or call 15722344442