California wine country is one of the most beautiful regions within the United States to visit. With beautiful wineries, lots of vineyard tours, and incredible wines, there is always a lot to do on a wine tour in California. The best part of these wine tours is that you can take the tour with whomever you like and however you wish.

These wine tours in California can be the perfect getaway for whoever enjoys adventure, beauty, and great food. For those less inclined to hair-raising adventures, tours are offered via car, train, or carriage--perfect for a retired getaway or even a peaceful holiday. On the other hand, if you are looking for the more adventurous tours, check out some of the kayaking, horseback, or hot-air balloon tours which are offered throughout the Napa Valley. For the exercise fanatics, there are always the age-old methods of transportation like biking, running, hiking, or just walking around the various vineyards.

The history of most wine tours in California go back to the mid 1800s, when European settlers brought grapes to the valleys as a method to remember the country they left behind. After only several years, the surplus of grapes and the arrival of grape vine diseases brought tough financial times to the planters. Despite these setbacks, a number of wineries were able to continue production, even through the even tougher times of the Prohibition. They remained solvent by turning their production into the producing of wines for sacramental and religious purposes. After the Prohibition was repealed, growers yet again flocked to this area that was perfectly suited for wine-making. The industry quickly took off and grew to become what's today acknowledged as one of the most popular industries on the West Coast.

The initial step in selecting your own California wine tour is to determine where you want to go. Napa Valley is a well-liked destination amongst wine lovers, and offers more than three hundred wineries that are some of the world's top producers of cabernets, zinfandels, and pinots. The Sonoma Valley is yet another highly-acclaimed spot in the middle of California wine country. When you start to plan your tour, check out the various regions' websites to ensure that you'll have a better idea of where you're going.

Second on your list of planning your own wine tour would be to determine if you would like to go on a guided tour or set off by yourself. Guided tours, while more costly, provide tours of some of the finest vineyards in the country, and often have exclusive passes to those vineyards. Even within the confines of a guided tour, you will find lots of different tours to pick from. However, in case you are a free spirit who likes to make spontaneous decisions, you may prefer to set out on your own tour. This will take much more planning, however it may permit you to check out each of the places you want to visit instead of a set itinerary. Knowing what you want out of your tour will help you plan the California wine tour which is ideal for you.

Next, you ought to make a decision in regards to your lodging. If you are taking a guided tour, chances are that you will want to get a nice hotel room to stay in following a long day of touring. Instead of a hotel room, you might want to take into consideration a bed-and-breakfast inn or even a RV park or campground. Whatever your preferred place of lodging, California wine country offers a wide variety of locations to stay during your trip.

The final step in arranging your wine tour in California is to reserve your lodging and tours. Keep in mind that the wine country's tourist season is during the summer time and fall, when the grapes are getting harvested. In the event you plan to go in the course of this season, you must count on reserving your lodging no less than three months before your trip. The same goes for tours. Due to the fact that large tours are offered especially during the tourism peak seasons, make sure to either (1) book your guided tour as soon as you know what you want; or (2) plan out your individual self-tour quickly and reserve each individual adventure as soon as possible. If you plan to do your own tour, you'll need to reserve every stop on your own. Either way, you should pick or plan a tour that fits your personality and style of touring.

Needless to say, the final step in planning a wine tour in California is to get there. After you have reserved your ticket, packed your bags, and boarded the airplane, you can look forward to one of the most lovely tours in California. Regardless of which tour you decide on, you will experience the tour of a lifetime during any wine tour in California.