The trolley is the gimmick for this tour. Sitting outside and facing the vineyards adds character to what could otherwise be accomplished in a closed bus. There were only ten of us on the tour so there was no crowding issue. The padding on the benches doesn't quite absorb the bouncing and sometimes jarring bumps. Sounds a bit negative, but it is just the way it is.
Guy, our driver provided very good commentary as we arrived at the various wineries and played awesome classic rock as we travelled between the wineries. He is the type of driver/tour guide you want for an all day tour.
Now for the real reason to take this tour - the wineries. I suggest the Monday, Wednesday and Friday itinerary which has the better wineries. Our Wednesday tour visited Ravenswood, Buena Vista, Imagery and Mayo. All of the wineries have minimally good tasting wines. As wine palette differs among individuals I leave the reader to their own likes and dislikes.
Ravenswood - we toured a small area of the vineyard while tasting five different wines. Only the Zin can be found in stores. The others we tasted are for wine club members or restaurants. In my opinion the wines were between 85 and 93 points on my scale.
Buena Vista - This was my favorite of the four. I found the wines to be extraordinary and in the 90 to 97 point range. The buildings are tastefully appointed and the outside patio provides a great venue for relaxing with a bottle. The only negative was the lack of foodstuffs to compliment the wines. As part of this tour we ate a prepared lunch from one of the local restaurants, The Lady and the Fig.
Imagery - I wasn't a big fan of the wines here, but that is my opinion and taste. I found them to be less full bodied. Low 80s at best.
Mayo - a pleasant surprise for a small family owned winery. The whites were a bit too acidic for me but the reds had body and good bouquet. My ratings are in the mid to upper 80s.
Overall the tour was a great way to sample a few of the wineries and see the countryside. The hotel pickup was an added bonus.
Five Stars