The Napa Valley Wine Train (1915 Pullman Cars) & the Open-Air Napa Valley Wine Trolley

Want to sip Napa Valley wines all afternoon while watching the vineyards roll past your window, without anyone in your group having to be the designated driver? Two classic rails-and-wheels experiences depart every morning: the Napa Valley Wine Train and the open-air Napa Valley Wine Trolley.

1. The Napa Valley Wine Train (Departs McKinstry Street Station in Downtown Napa)

Originally built in 1864 by Samuel Brannan to carry steamboat passengers from the Napa River up to his hot-springs resort in Calistoga, the railway now operates vintage trains on a 58-kilometre (36-mile) round-trip right through the middle of the vineyards from Downtown Napa to St. Helena and back. Check current fares and schedules on the official website before booking:

• Option A, The 3-Hour 'Gourmet Express' or 'Vista Dome' Lunch (No Winery Stops): board before midday for a continuous 3-hour round-trip journey with a freshly prepared multi-course gourmet lunch cooked to order inside three onboard kitchen cars. Choose either the vintage 1915 Pullman Lounge and Dining Cars or upgrade to the 1952 two-storey glass-topped 'Vista Dome' car for elevated 360-degree views over the vines, and walk back to the open-air observation platform at the rear of the train for photos.
• Option B, The 6-Hour 'Grgich Hills Tour' or 'The Legacy Experience' (Includes Winery Stops): the basic 3-hour train does not disembark at wineries, so choose a full-day tour if you want the train to stop directly in front of historic estates like Charles Krug, V. Sattui or Grgich Hills Estate for private seated tastings.

2. Visiting 3 Wineries by Cable Car: The 'Napa Valley Wine Trolley'

If your priority is visiting three different wineries with a social group and a local guide at a lower ticket tier than the train, book the 6-Hour Napa Valley Wine Trolley (departing in the morning from Oxbow Public Market in Downtown Napa, or book their Castle Tour departing from Yountville that includes Castello di Amorosa). You ride in an open-air, motorised hand-built replica of an 1890s San Francisco Cable Car to three curated wineries with a catered picnic lunch included in the ticket fare (tasting fees are paid separately at each estate).