12 Wine‑Country Memorial Day Weekend Tours For 2025

Sunshine, rolling hills, and a glass in hand—what better way to spend Memorial Day weekend? Wine country wakes up this time of year, and the vibe is all about sipping, strolling, and soaking in the good life.

Even if you don’t know your tannins from your terroir, these tours aren’t just for wine snobs. They’re for anyone who wants a taste of summer at its finest. So, ready to swap the city for the vineyard?

1. Napa Valley Helicopter Tour

Flying above sprawling vineyards gives you a breathtaking perspective of Napa’s famous landscape. The pilot points out iconic wineries while sharing fascinating stories about the region’s history. Each tour includes stops at three exclusive estates not typically open to the public.

Your adventure begins at sunrise when the valley glows with golden light. After landing, enjoy a champagne breakfast before visiting family-owned wineries for private tastings. The experience concludes with a farm-to-table lunch paired with reserve wines you can’t find anywhere else.

2. Sonoma Sustainable Wine Route

Eco-conscious travelers will appreciate this tour focusing on organic and biodynamic winemaking practices. The journey takes you through Sonoma’s diverse microclimates where sustainable farming thrives. Each winery demonstrates different approaches to environmental stewardship while producing exceptional wines.

Throughout the day, you’ll walk through vineyards with farmers who explain their commitment to preserving the land. Many stops include garden-to-glass experiences where ingredients for lunch come from on-site gardens. Did you know? Sonoma County aims to be the first 100% sustainable wine region in the world by 2027.

3. Willamette Valley Pinot Passport

Oregon’s premier wine region shines with this specialized tour centered around its world-famous Pinot Noir. Your guide provides a custom passport that gets stamped at each boutique winery you visit. The intimate experience includes meeting winemakers who share their passion for crafting the perfect Pinot.

Between tastings, you’ll stop at panoramic viewpoints overlooking the valley’s rolling hills. The tour includes a special barrel tasting where you can sample upcoming vintages directly from oak barrels. By day’s end, your completed passport serves as a memento and offers discounts on future visits to these family-owned estates.

4. Finger Lakes Waterfront Winery Cruise

Gliding across crystal-clear waters while tasting award-winning Rieslings creates an unforgettable Memorial Day experience. This unique boat tour takes you to four wineries situated along the shores of New York’s beautiful Seneca Lake. Each stop showcases the region’s specialty: crisp white wines that perfectly reflect the cool climate.

The captain shares local legends and points out stunning geological features formed during the ice age. At midday, enjoy a picnic lunch at a lakeside vineyard with views that stretch for miles. The afternoon brings a special ice wine demonstration, showing how these sweet treasures are produced from naturally frozen grapes.

5. Paso Robles Rhône Ranger Experience

California’s Central Coast offers this specialized tour highlighting wineries that focus on Rhône-style varieties like Syrah and Grenache. Your journey weaves through Paso Robles’ distinctive west-side hills where limestone soils create wines with incredible depth and character. The experience includes meeting pioneering winemakers who brought these French varieties to California.

Along the route, you’ll stop at scenic overlooks perfect for photos of the oak-studded landscape. The tour includes a blending session where you create your own Rhône-style wine to take home. For lunch, enjoy authentic French cuisine paired with limited-production wines rarely available outside the winery.

6. Walla Walla Vintage Underground Tour

Hidden beneath Washington’s charming wine town lies a network of historic cellars and caves. This exclusive tour grants access to these underground winemaking facilities not typically open to visitors. The cool, dimly lit environments provide perfect aging conditions for the region’s renowned Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

Your guide reveals how these spaces were originally used during Prohibition. Some cellars date back to the 1850s when Italian immigrants first settled in the area. The experience culminates with a candlelit tasting in a century-old cave, where library vintages are paired with artisanal cheeses from local farms.

7. Texas Hill Country Barbecue and Wine Trail

Combining Texas’s two beloved traditions creates an unforgettable Memorial Day experience. This tour connects the dots between award-winning wineries and authentic barbecue joints throughout the picturesque Hill Country. You’ll taste how Tempranillo and smoky brisket create perfect harmony.

The journey winds through wildflower-lined roads between Fredericksburg and Johnson City. Each winery showcases how Texas terroir produces distinctive versions of Mediterranean grape varieties.

A highlight includes meeting a third-generation pitmaster who explains the art of slow-smoking meats while you sample wines specifically crafted to complement barbecue’s rich flavors.

8. Leelanau Peninsula Ice Wine Adventure

Michigan’s northern wine region offers this specialized tour focusing on its internationally acclaimed ice wines. The experience highlights how extreme winter conditions create these luxurious dessert wines. You’ll visit three wineries that have mastered the challenging art of harvesting and pressing frozen grapes.

Your guide explains the precise weather conditions required for this labor-intensive process. Each tasting includes food pairings specifically designed to complement these sweet, concentrated wines. The tour culminates with a visit to a production facility where you can witness the special presses used exclusively for ice wine production.

9. Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail

Beach vibes meet world-class wines on this walking tour through downtown Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone district. Unlike traditional vineyard tours, this experience showcases urban wineries housed in converted warehouses and historic buildings just steps from the Pacific Ocean. The casual atmosphere makes wine tasting approachable for everyone.

Between tastings, you’ll discover colorful street art and artisan shops that give the neighborhood its unique character. Many winemakers source grapes from nearby Santa Rita Hills, known for exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

The tour concludes with a sunset beach picnic featuring wines selected during your journey through this vibrant coastal wine community.

10. Virginia Horse Country Wine Carriage Tour

Clippity-clop through Virginia’s historic countryside in a horse-drawn carriage while visiting three distinctive wineries. The elegant journey through Middleburg’s rolling landscape offers a glimpse into both Virginia’s equestrian heritage and its thriving wine industry. Each estate specializes in different varieties, from Viognier to Cabernet Franc.

Your carriage driver shares fascinating stories about the region’s Revolutionary and Civil War history. The tour includes a stop at a historic stone manor house where Thomas Jefferson once stayed while exploring Virginia’s winemaking potential.

For lunch, enjoy a gourmet picnic basket filled with local delicacies served alongside the carriage in a picturesque vineyard setting.

11. Columbia Gorge Waterfall and Wine Tour

Nature’s majesty meets winemaking excellence on this tour combining Oregon’s dramatic waterfalls with boutique wineries. The journey follows the historic Columbia River Highway, stopping at thundering cascades before visiting wineries perched on scenic bluffs overlooking the gorge. This microclimate creates ideal conditions for cool-climate varieties.

Your guide explains how volcanic soils influence the wines’ distinctive mineral character. Between winery visits, short hikes lead to viewpoints offering spectacular vistas of Mount Hood and the Columbia River.

The experience concludes at a winery with an outdoor tasting deck directly above a 100-foot waterfall, creating a multisensory finale to your Memorial Day adventure.

12. Temecula Valley Hot Air Balloon Wine Safari

Floating silently above Southern California’s wine country as the sun rises creates magical memories. This early-morning adventure begins with a champagne toast before your balloon gently lifts off, providing aerial views of Temecula’s Spanish-style wineries and perfectly aligned vineyards. The pilot points out landmarks while explaining how the region’s unique microclimate benefits winemaking.

After landing, a luxury van transports you to three premium wineries for private tastings. Each stop showcases different aspects of Temecula’s diverse wine production, from sparkling wines to bold reds. The experience includes a Mediterranean-inspired lunch served on a winery terrace overlooking the valley you just floated above.