A Ride on the Napa Valley Wine Train

There are lots of different options when booking the Napa Valley Wine Train. There are lunch and dinner dining times, half day or full day winery tour options, and specialty cars and event. We did the Gourmet Express option for lunch.

About the Wine Train

The Wine Train has been in business since 1989. The train itself was originally built in 1915.

wine train lounge

The train station is in downtown Napa and the route ventures north up to St. Helena and back. It’s a 36-mile round trip journey that takes about 3 hours.

wine train

The views are beautiful as you pass by miles of scenic wineries in the Napa Valley.

wine train pink house

Before Boarding

After your check-in, you can get started with a glass while you wait in the train station.

wine train station

Bring a lock if you’d like to leave behind a symbol of love on the love lock bridge as you make your way to board.

wine train love lock bridge

Gourmet Express

You have the option of early seating or late seating for lunch. We did the late seating. On the way up, you get a fruit and cheese spread to enjoy while taking in the view.

wine train cheese plate

If you do the early seating for lunch, you miss out on this delicious appetizer place. Instead, you get the dessert and coffee or tea on your way back.

One complimentary glass of sparkling wine is included with your ticket.

wine train champagne

Our lounge car was also the caboose. At the back, there’s an outdoor deck you can go out on for some fresh air and more views.

Once we made it up to St. Helena, we moved over to a dining car for our 3-course lunch meal.

wine train lunch

You don’t actually get off the train, unless you choose one of their wine tasting tours which includes a stop at a winery.

You can bring your own bottle of wine for a $20 corkage fee.

To start, I had a delicious lobster bisque. By the time the main course came around, I was already stuffed by from the appetizers, soup, and bread. I had a tasty tenderloin of beef. The dessert options were fancy and I wasn’t quite sure what either of them were, but I had some sort of mousse in a pastry-like shell. Check out the menu here.