We had learned about the wine train from several couples in our wine club. They had really enjoyed their experiences on the train and had recommended it to us. We are grateful for their recommendation, without which we would not have known about the train in time to make reservations.
The Napa Valley Wine Train travels through the heart of the Napa Valley between the towns of Napa and St. Helena. The rail line on which the train travels was established in 1864. In the 1980s, Southern Pacific, which owned the right of way and the line, planned to abandon the line and sell the property. However, various efforts to preserve the line led to the creation of the wine train. The most important financial player in the effort was Vincent DeDomenico, who had created Rice-a-Roni and who had owned Ghirardelli Chocolates and Golden Grain Pasta. A detailed history of the line can be found at: http://winetrain.com/about/our-train.
There is a single train with two engines and nine beautiful, early 20th century rail cars. The train makes two trips per day:
There is a single train with two engines and nine beautiful, early 20th century rail cars. The train makes two trips per day:
1. A mid-day trip that departs at 11:30 am and returns at 2:30 pm.
2. An evening trip that departs at 6:30 pm and returns at 9:30 pm.
There are a variety of options one can choose for the train experience, including:
- A trip with lunch
- A trip with lunch and a visit to a winery
- A trip with dinner
- A trip with dinner and a winery tour
There are also special trips such as a Murder Mystery trip and a New Year’s Eve Ball trip.
In our opinion, it is best to take the mid-day trip in order to get a nice view of the Napa Valley.
It is important to make advance reservations because the train is very popular.
I made our reservations on the train’s web site about a month in advance. I wanted to take the mid-day trip without the winery tour. However, that option was sold out, so I reserved the lunch with winery tour at Grgich Hills Winery. I’m glad I did, because we had a very interesting tour and had the opportunity to meet Mike Grgich, a very historic figure in the California wine industry. (His Chateau Montelena chardonnay won a world-class blind tasting against French competition in 1972.) Our ticket cost for the train trip, lunch, and the winery tour was $124 per person. I understand that prices are to increase in 2012.
Check-in at the train station was an hour before departure. Prior to departure, there was a presentation on wine tasting, including the tasting of a wine. The wine we tasted was a 2009 Vino d’Angelo Rescue Red - a combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Merlot. It is produced by veteran Napa Valley firefighter Dan D’Angelo and sells for $11 per bottle in the train station’s wine store. It was decent, and no more.
When we boarded the train, we were seated in Car B, a dining car. The car had tables for four separated by an aisle. Our table was on the left side of the car, giving us a good view toward the west side of the valley after we left the town of Napa. The car was nicely appointed and the tables were beautifully set. We were seated across from two nice younger women, with whom we enjoyed chatting.
Dining Car B
There are three different types of dining cars, each with its own kitchen and its own menu. Our luncheon menu was entitled the Gourmet Express Lunch. The first course was a choice of one salad or the soup du jour. There were five choices for a main course, including a vegetarian dish. There were at least two dessert choices. All beverages except coffee and water were extra.
My wife and I had the same first two courses:
- Baby lettuce salad with candied walnuts and smoked goat cheese in a honey cider vinaigrette
- Grilled & roasted beef tenderloin with sautéed potato topped with roasted mozzarella & artichoke hearts
For dessert, my wife had Tiramisu Truffle and I had Vanilla Bean Crème Brulée with Blueberries.
Both of our meals were very tasty.
Wine was not included with the lunch, but was available for purchase.
Our server was Meredith. She did a good job.
As we ate our lunch, we enjoyed beautiful views of the Napa Valley and its vineyards.
Near Rutherford, about 14 miles north of the Napa train station, the train stopped, and those of us who were going on the Grgich Hills winery tour got off the train. Then the train continued north about 4 miles north to the end of the line at St. Helena. It would return to pick us up en route back to Napa.
(I will discuss our tasting at Grgich Hills in a separate posting.)
When we reboarded the train about 1:30 pm, we were seated in easy chairs in a lounge car. The chairs faced the windows and were very comfortable. This car was also nicely appointed. We were seated on the same side of the train. Since it was now going in the opposite direction, we enjoyed views of the east side of the Napa Valley as we returned to Napa.
The Lounge Car
A View of the East Side of the Valley
Another View of the East Side
While in the lounge car, we were served our dessert and coffee. The dessert was great, but the coffee was cold.
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