Wine Country Tour News

2009 Napa Valley Wine Train Gets a Big Birthday

If you have been in Northern California’s wine country and taken a Napa Valley wine country tour you’ve likely seen the Napa Valley wine train passing through the valley, wending its way passed the myriad of vineyards and wineries with its two engines and nine cars consisting of kitchen, dining, and lounge cars. And if you’ve been going on those wine country tours for the last twenty years, you’d realize that this year the Napa Valley wine train is celebrating its twentieth birthday.  

While some Napa Valley residents initially protested the project, believing that it would bring more disruption than good, likely look upon the wine train these days as an integral aspect of Napa Valley’s character and couldn’t imagine the wine country without its wine train in the background. In fact the train has become popular enough to more than double the number of cars that it pulls and increase the number of trips it offers. This summer the wine train is destined to celebrate its two millionth rider with an undisclosed celebration due that will honor that event. The anniversary will be marked throughout the year with various give-a-ways, drawings, and discounts. The next time you’re on a wine country tour through Napa Valley and see the train lumbering along at a stately pace of about twelve miles per hour, you can raise a glass in its honor as you watch it pass, with a “happy birthday” and a wish for many more to come.