Plan your day in wine country

When traveling to visit the wine growing regions of Northern California it is important to first define what you want to get out of your trip. There are literally hundreds of places to go, but if crowded tasting rooms and impersonal service is something you want to avoid, Wilder Napa Valley may be just what you desire. Every excursion is personally planned and led by Doug Wilder, an expert in California wine since 1990 and author of dougwilder - the purely domestic wine blog.

Our clients generally have been to wine country before and now realize they want to experience it from an insider perspective. Because our groups are limited to eight or fewer, and comprised of those who are yearning for new experiences, we generally bypass the front door of the winery and meet with the proprietor or winemaker privately by appointment (many places we visit don’t even have tasting rooms) We often will taste at their home, and meet at a local restaurant for a winemaker lunch.

All excursions are strictly private and custom tailored to your desires. If you want your trip to wine country to be truly memorable and deliver uncommon value in privacy, access and exposure to new producers as well as be guided by one of the world’s top California wine experts, then Wilder Napa Valley is your only choice. 

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    Places I like in Wine Country

    About Doug Wilder and Wilder Napa Valley

    Wilder Napa Valley was founded in 2004 by Doug Wilder to serve the needs of the visitor who wants to experience Napa Valley and the northern california wine country in exquisite privacy with uncommon access few people will ever experience. I take you behind the scenes of the emerging wineries and offer a flexible suite of services to uniquely suit your desires. I do everything from day trips for couples to multi-day events featuring private villas with chef prepared meals featuring winemakers and world-class wines.

    Napa Valley Summer

    Summer has arrived and the vines have leafed out their canopies nurturing and protecting the developing fruit underneath. It only becomes busier now for those who want to visit and planning for the next six months is something you can’t delay too much longer.

    Many of my clients choose to visit with a small group of friends, or family and they find a small private villa compound offers value, flexibility and privacy hard to duplicate at even the finest hotels. Wilder Napa Valley brings the wine country to you, with wine dinners paired with the cuisine of a private chef.

    My clients are those who appreciate that Northern California is among the most important wine destinations in the world and want to experience it with a small group of their own choosing with an itinerary arranged and led by one of the top domestic wine experts. As a specialist in the wines of California since 1990, I am dedicated to providing one-of a kind private excursions and events for small groups of adventurers.


     

    Among the services I offer:

    Private Wine Tasting or Wine Dinner wherever you would like to gather friends or family

    Wine Country Excursions: Led by Doug Wilder including a private winemaker lunch

    Wine and Villas: Stay in a spacious, secluded villa complete with wine and private chef

    Wilder Napa Valley creates a complete all-inclusive experience for you and guests during your visit from the time you leave home until you return.

    My wine experiences are not for everyone. They are intended for the adventurous connoisseur who appreciates the difference between ordinary and extraordinary and want to go off the beaten path. No crowded tasting rooms await you here. We bypass the tour buses and virtually every public winery experience. Set off with a small number of friends, clients or family for a day in the beautiful Napa Valley and enjoy the most intimate experience of wine, scenery, food and access you can possibly imagine.

    Experience the difference

    Why choose Wilder Napa Valley? We are certainly not the biggest and don’t aspire to that. Clients contact us because there are no other companies who offer the insights from nearly two decades of discovering and writing about outstanding wine experiences and the people behind them. As a wine writer and specialist in California wine since 1990, I am fortunate to be on the leading edge of many phenomenal wines upon release, publishing the first influential reviews on such wines as DuMol, David Arthur, Auteur, Diamond Terrace, Scarecrow, Blackbird, Drinkward Peschon, Meteor, Seven Stones, Corra, Buccella and many more. My clients know they will have intimate exposure to wines of exceptional quality and have direct contact with the winemakers/proprietors for their allocation lists.

     

    What is a typical trip like?

    Although no two days are alike, consider this as an example:

    The day starts early as our first private visit begins at 10 AM sharp deep in the cave of one of the newest wineries in the valley for our first barrel tasting with the proprietor. followed by a tasting of current releases. Then it is on to a winemaker lunch at one of the top restaurants in the valley. The experience will emphasize the harmony of wine and food. Either the owner or winemaker will join us for a leisurely lunch with new release and often wines from the library. Our remaining afternoon visits will provide a continuation of intimate access to the top producers in Napa or Sonoma.

     

     

    Uniquely private access to everything you want

    Because of the intimate nature of these events, they are restricted in size to no more than eight people for your comfort, privacy and access to the true boutique properties of Napa Valley. We bring over 18 years of California wine experience and trusted working relationships with wineries notopen for the general bus or limo tours. Unlike other tours, you will not be paired with another group, nor will you be left at the curb by your driver. We dine with the winemaker or winery owner. You have direct access to the winery mailing list. Wine pickup and storage are also available. In addition, we can help arrange a stay in luxury villa estates where you may have private wine tasting as well as services of a private chef.      

    Please contact me at doug@wildernapavalley.com to plan your trip.

    Tell us when you would like to come, how many in your group, and whether you want to visit Napa or Sonoma during your visit. Some guests opt for a two day trip that covers both regions. If you are coming with a large group, ask about Wines and Villas, a program that includes large villa estates, and the services of a private chef for winemaker dinners.