FAQs

• How are we different and what sets us apart?

1. We host small groups on our standard wine tours.
2. We choose wineries with premium wines, excellent customer service, beautiful & unique atmosphere, our customer's feedback, and selected based on route & driving time.
3. Our tour hosts have extensive wine experience and they are extremely knowledgeable of the local area, they are also our close friends and family.
4. We provide a delicious "Wine Lover's Lunch" made by a local catering company, not a sandwich and bag of chips.
5. We are a professional tour company with over 10 years experience. We create structured tours and interact with our customers to provide amazing experiences in wine country! We are not a limo company.
6. We are all extremely passionate about wine and the Santa Barbara wine industry!
7. We are 100% focused on wine tours, this is our expertise. We do not offer other types of tours or excursions.
8. We are #1 on tripadvisor! We are the best! See our reviews!
   

• How many wineries do you go to?

1. 4 wineries on a Standard Tour. A sample winery list is on our tours page.
2. Larger groups (14+) generally visit 3 wineries (sometimes 4). We do not like to rush our customers, these groups take more time loading, unloading, purchasing, etc.
3. On Private Tours more wineries can be requested but may incur additional fees.
4. Some Private Premium Tours only allow time for 3 wineries due to the length of these amazing experiences.

• Do you choose the wineries? Yes, on our Standard Tour. For private tours we customize based on your level of sophistication. Again, trust us, we've done this before! A sample winery list is on our tours page.

• How do you choose the wineries? Based on 10+ years expertise and two main reasons. Customer feedback has been the number one driver to help us choose our wineries. Secondly, things change year-over-year in wine country and we adapt to best accommodate our customers and make sure they receive the very best wine tours possible.

• Do we have to buy wine? We never force you to buy wine but etiquette suggests that you should consider purchases. Wineries are in the business to sell wine. Look for discounts, wine clubs, and specials. Always remember, wine makes the perfect gift for a special occasion, anniversary, birthday present, special dinner guests, or your boss that loves good wine!
  
  
• What vehicles do you use? For our standard tour we use our Ford touring vans, 8-10 people max. Our vehicles are spotlessly cleaned and maintained daily! For private wine tours we have Escalades, a Yukon XL, and a Towncar. Larger private groups use 14 pax Vans, 21-23 pax mini-coaches, or 47-55 pax coaches. Check out our vehicles page.
  
  
• How long is the wine tour? The typical tour lasts about 5 1/2 Hours. Driving time from Santa Barbara area adds about 45 minutes to 1 hour each way if you originate there.
  
  
• What time do the tours start? Standard wine tours start at 10am from Santa Barbara and 11am from the Santa Ynez Valley area. Private tours are more flexible as it is your day but leaving later or coming back early may limit your possibilities.
  
  
• How much do the wineries charge for tasting fees? All tasting fees are included in our tour prices. Each winery charges between $10-$20 per person.
  
  
• Do you offer group discounts? Group discounts don't apply in the wine industry. As a rule of thumb, wineries charge more for groups of 10+. However, do not let this intimidate you, contact us for pricing with any size group.
  
  
• Where do we go to meet the tour? We come to you. We offer service from hotels and private residences all over the Santa Barbara area and the Santa Ynez Valley. We can also pick you up at the visitor centers or Santa Barbara Train Station if you are not staying in the area.
  
  
• Is gratuity Included? We add 15% gratuity (billed to your CC if you are paying that way). We are confident that our team works very hard, we guarantee gratuity because we believe in them. In fact, many times our tour hosts receive above 15% because our guests think they did a magnificent job. You'll see, give us a shot! Remember our team are not just drivers anyone can drive people around.
  
  
• How many wines will we taste? Each winery is different but on average you taste 1 ounce of each wine they have to offer, Most wineries serve between 4 - 8 wines per flight. On the average tour you will imbibe approximately a bottle of wine if you choose not to dump or spit. With that being said, we encourage you to have a good solid breakfast before the tour and recommend going easy the night before.
  
  
• What time is lunch served? We typically serve lunch at the 2nd or 3rd stop. This is usually 12:30pm or 1:30pm respectively.