Short Answer - Yes ___________ (In some cases, wineries are requiring tasting fees in advance and have cancelation policies especially for larger groups)
Long Answer - Due to the high degree of customization our tours include, guests will often choose wineries which charge a fee. As the wine region grows in popularity most, if not all, wineries are charging tasting fees to cover the cost of the additional staff required and the wines they pour. Fees generally range from $15 to $65. The average is approximately $25.00. Many will waive this fee if you purchase wine or join their wine club.
LARGE GROUPS - Check with the wineries to see if they have bottle service. It may be cost effective to purchase a bottle of each wine in the flight instead of paying tasting fees. Often there will be some extra in the bottle for the 'After Party'
Please Note: We do not accept any gifts, kickbacks or compensation of any kind from wineries to bring you to them. Your guide is dedicated to catering to your requests or interests only.
Please book a tour with an open and adventurous spirit.
Reservations are being required for most all winery stops. Please keep requests to a minimum and include types of wines (red or white, cabs or zins, large or boutique or just surprise us!) as we cannot guarantee availability at any one specific winery.
Thank you in advance for your understanding.
Short Answer: All tours encourage requests from our guests .
Long Answer: A little background first: Many tour companies will choose the wineries for your visit without your input... OR They will limit the wineries available to only a selection in close geographic proximity. (Paso Robles has highly traveled corridors called Highway 46 East or West). To be sure, there are great wineries on these routes and they should not be ignored, however, to limit your day to only small selections of the 200 + wineries available in Paso may not be in YOUR best interest.
We are different - This is what makes The Wine Wrangler the BEST in the business!
Our First Consideration IS YOUR INTEREST. Every individual has their own likes and dislikes for their own palate.
We accept your suggestions and requests when you board the vehicle. Our Tours are kept small and intimate so we can customize them to you and the others on the tour.
ALL TOURS RUN DAILY
Full Day Tours
1/2 Day Tours - Allow 3 hours pick-up to drop-off
Private Tours - Small ~ Medium or Large Group
Saturdays and Holiday Weekends are generally very busy -We recommend booking ASAP
********CURRENTLY - ALL WINERIES ARE REQUIRING RESERVATIONS IN ADVANCE. *********
THERE IS LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE AT THE MOST POPULAR WINERIES so Substantial ADVANCE RESERVATIONS ARE SUGGESTED
Reserve your tour here: Book Now
Reservations for Solo Travellers must be made by calling our office. 805-238-5700..
Short Answer - Yes
Long Answer - For our Full Day and Private Tours, we pick up from most ALL San Luis Obispo communities. You can view pick up times for our other cities here
An additional fee may be required depending on the location.
We only pick up for 1/2 Day tours in Paso Robles.
Short Answer - Yes
Long Answer - Yes we can pick you up at the lodging of your choice in most instances. An additional fee may be required depending on the location.
Short Answer: Anything outside Paso Robles City Limits.
Long Answer: The Town of Paso Robles is a small area, but the greater region as defined by the designated Paso Robles American Viticultural Area (AVA), is huge. The area outside city limits has many fantastic B & B locations and Vacation Rentals; so many in fact, in more than 17 years of business we have not yet picked up at all of them. We are dedicated to keeping our on-time arrival and starting times for each group to serve customers in the best way possible. Therefore, our standard pickup window for Rural Paso is 10:30 - 10:45AM. This allows us the time needed to meet, greet and board all of our guests in an efficient and orderly manner.
Mixed Group or "Public" Tours
Private Tours
Short Answer: Very Likely
Longer Answer:
When planning your itinerary, we take the following into consideration:
There are two possibilities:
1. Itinerary Planning can be completed by the guest (best if you are members of the club at specific wineries)
At your request: We will send you an Itinerary Planning Guide which will assist you in organizing your day.
or
2. The Wine Wrangler can take all of the extra work away and make all of the arrangements based on your input.
In this case: We will send you an Itinerary Planning Guide so you can assist us in organizing your day.
It helps to know:
Itinerary planning is included in all tours!
Our tour professionals are very knowledgeable about the wineries and wines available in Paso Robles. Your guide for the day is your driver also and can add commentary and information along the tour route. The price per hour includes the hourly rates for the vehicle, all taxes, basic gratuities to the guide, and a complimentary consultation with you regarding a route and timing.
Many guests will have a specific route and reservations already made before reserving our tour. When that has not happened in advance, we offer the service of making reservations based on the consultation with you. We will plan the itinerary, and make the reservations. If reservations at specific wineries are not available then we must discuss with you the options and continue to create the schedule as appropriate.
Tasting fees themselves are decided by the wineries of your choosing. There are more than 200 wineries in the region and the tasting fees vary between $15 and $80+ per person.
Mixed Group Tours: Gratuities are not included. Your guide will make every effort to create a memorable day and if you feel she or he did a particularly wonderful job for you, any display of appreciation is cherished.
On Private Group Tours: Gratuities are included in our hourly rates. Again, if you feel your guide did a particularly wonderful job for you, anything additional is gratefully accepted.
Short Answer - Yes!
Long Answer - We offer our Public Tours ( Full Day or 1/2 Day Wine Tours ) on a Per Person Basis and as such have limited seating capacity. Since there needs to be a seat for each individual we charge for each of the seats being taken. Seat Requirements: Children under 5 must be in a car seat or booster and older children may require a booster based on their physical size.
Our Private Wine Tours are billed on an hourly basis, not on a per-person basis, therefore the number of seats needed dictates the hourly charges. For these tours, the Seat Requirements noted above remain the same.
ALL TOURS: If there are any individuals under the age of 21, open containers of alcohol or consumption of alcoholic drinks are NOT allowed on the vehicle at any time.
Also, please be aware young children generally get bored on our wine tours because there is not much for them to do. We expect them to be respectful of any other guests who may be on the tour.
The Wine Wrangler is not responsible for any items lost or stolen on our tour or in the wineries. Please take care to gather all of your belongs when you leave, including any wine or merchandise purchased throughout the day.
Items taken to our lost and found will be returned to the guests at their request and expense.
Some of the wineries our members have requested transport for include: Tobin James Cellars, Eberle, Le Cuvier, Castoro, Justin, Silverhorse, Calcareous, Villicana, Opolo, Mondo, and many more!
Other local events our members enjoy: Brewery events for Firestone Walker Brewing and Barrelhouse Brewing, along with Wine Country Events for the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance and Vina Robles Amphitheater Concerts
Please send an email or use our online chat for additional information.
Yes. We are registered, regulated, and licensed by the State of California Public Utilities Commission(CPUC). The CPUC requires insurance and vehicle inspections as a condition of licensing.
Our license # is TCP18003A.
Drivers Licenses in CA
In California, vehicles that carry less than 10 passengers including the driver do not require a special license. Vehicles carrying more than 10 passengers including the driver require a Class B Commercial Drivers License and a Passenger Endorsement. Testing is completed through the California DMV.
We focus on your enjoyment of fantastic wine and tour experiences by keeping your interests at heart. With over 50 years of local history and knowledge, we offer the most extensive selection of tours in the region. We have a tour that will fit your needs. All our tours offer exquisite experiences, by cost, customization, or time restrictions. Our staff is immersed in the local wine culture and we are locally owned and operated. The company has dedicated the time and energy to create a world class tour company. We strive for 100% customer satisfaction. Don't just take our word, ask around locally....
“Once again we wish to thank you for your warmth and courtesy during our tour yesterday. You made it seem as if we were old friends. I would certainly recommend you and your tour group to others. ”
- The Keils
“Yes everything went very smooth and my Mother is very happy about her trip. We will write up a great review for others to read and how excellent your customer service is. We will also advise our family and friends of the Wine Wrangler when they are up in the area. Many thanks!”
- DW
“Hello there- My husband and I went on your tour on Saturday July 9th and I just wanted to thank you for such a wonderful time. The guide was great! He knew a lot about the area and was really informative and super super nice!!! We will definitely be on your tour again and I've already referred a few friends! Thanks again for such a great day! ”
- L. Cherwin
“The tour was so much fun. Our guide, was great! We were celebrating our 17th Wedding Anniversary and had never been wine tasting before. What a fun and memorable thing to do! ”
- S. Richie
“Just wanted to say what a fantastic time we had. A great guide and a lot of fun. Her knowledge of the area and specific wineries was of great value to us. My husband does not drink so we have never hired a guide before but I have told everyone what a great time we had and it is so worth it. Hope some of my friends make their way up to Paso and use your service.”
- Bob & Tracy D
“You guys were great! Had a wonderful time. More fun, sun, and great wines than Napa and without the snootiness and high prices!”
- H. Hernandez
“Thanks - we LOVED our guide. He was fantastic! ”
- A. Smith Jenks
“We used your tour last Monday - Jim was our guide. He was excellent! He adjusted our tour to accomodate our request for wine with lunch. I highly recommend your services. ”
- J. Quinn
“Really had a blast on your tour. Our guide was fantastic - none better. Lunch was served right on time and delicious. Thanks again for the fun.”
- Joyce & Karen
“We just completed a tour with Paulie. Great guy, perfect choices thank you. Would highly recommend”
- P. Espinosa
“I have to tell you that we had the most wonderful time on our tour this past Friday. Jim was a great guide and was also a very interesting person. He enriched our little adventure by knowing all the right places and people and stories. Thank you for the great time and we have decided to make this a definite new tradition during our fair visits from now on.”
- C. Gardener
“We had such a great time with Jan on Saturday! She was a wonderful guide and we all loved her and the tour. Once again, the Wine Wrangler was PERFECT! You guys are amazing! ”
- W. Fallon
“I just wanted to email you to say thanks and that my fiancée and I had a great time on our tour on Friday. Jim was a great tour guide, very knowledgable about the area and was an all around great guy to be around. He even gave us some suggestions as to what we can do in the area for fun. With his suggestions, the weekend was full of more fun and we actually ran out of time before we got to check out all the things we wanted to do. The wineries he showed us were great…we would definitely come back again.”
- Dan & Jenny
“Our tour guide was the best! He has a wonderful sense of humor. We had many conversations with him and enjoyed them all. He is reliable, honest, and we were honored to have him as our driver. He really made our party a terrific celebration! You are fortunate to have him as a driver. Thank you and please pass on our thanks directly to him. ”
- C. Steigelman
“My mother and I had a great time and learned a lot about wine. Our guide, was great. Also wanted to tell you how great the lunch was. Thank you so much for a wonderful time. I look forward to going again on my next trip to Cambria. ”
- B. Slaughter
“Your service was excellent and I will use you again and refer The Wine Wrangler to friends and family coming to the Paso Robles area.”
- J. Koutz
“Without a doubt, we would do it again. Everything about the tour was fun, informative and first class. We are ready to book another wine tour. Thank you for arranging the perfect weather and we will be sure to tell our friends that this is a great way to experience Central Coast wineries. Take care and hope to see you soon. ”
- T. & R. Lang
“My husband and I had our first tour with the Wine Wrangler this past Saturday the 1st. Jim was our guide and he was outstanding. This was by far the best tour we have ever had. Not only was Jim a wonderful guide, he picked wonderful wineries and allowed us to hand pick a few also. This was something we weren't used to as most other tour groups limit personal input. We cannot wait until next year to go on another Wine Wrangler tour. Thanks so much for making our Anniversary extra special!”
- M. & L. Beesley
“Just wanted to say THANK YOU!!!! We had a wonderful time, everything was perfect—on time professional – comfortable Wendy our guide, was the BEST!!!! Thanks for a terrific tour!!”
- L. Sandoval
“We thoroughly enjoyed our wine tour last Saturday. In spite of the record heat in the Paso Robles area, Dave kept us cool by being prepared, thoughtful and knowledgable. Lunch was delicious and special requests were honored. What a fun and "tasty" way to spend a great day with thirteen new friends! We will definitely book a tour with you again. Thank you.”
- Marc & Pat
“Booked a tour for myself and 5 friends and we had a BLAST! Our guide was awesome, he was on time, knowledgeable and fun. We enjoyed each of the tasting rooms that the guide introduced us to, especially Pear Valley. I highly recommend booking your tour with The Wine Wrangler!”
- Anonymous
“I have highly recommended your company - The Wine Wranglers - the only way to go! Coy, you know your wine. The service was outstanding & impeccable! ”
- D. & N. Conway
“We'd like to thank you and our guide for a great experience during our private wine tasting tour on July 24, We had never been wine tasting in Paso Robles before, and our guide was a knowledgeable and pleasant guide! We're recommending The Wine Wrangler to all our friends and family, and will utilize your services again in the future! Thank you.”
- Kay & Lewis M.
“I was talking to my mother and remembered that we wanted to thank you for the wine tour you took us on. We really enjoyed your company and hospitality. Thanks again.”
- J. Stewart
“You guys are the greatest. I love great customer service. You guys are the epitome of customer service. That is why I don't hesitate to refer you to our friends. ”
- Nic
“We had a great time with our guide on Sunday. She was very professional and knowledgeable. Thanks again and for the champagne for our anniversary.”
- Larry & Bobbie C.
“I just wanted to pass along our thanks for putting together a fantastic weekend for us. We all had a great first visit to the Paso area and are already talking about coming back. You guys have a great operation and when we come again you know we will arrange it with you. We will also do whatever we can here to promote you for any of our colleages heading your way. My only regret is that we did not listen to your recomendations more for which wineries to visit. Live and learn - next time we let you call the shots! Cheers.”
- Bruce N.
“What a great way to see beautiful Paso Robles and experience great-tasting wines! Our Wine Wrangler guide was knowledgeable and friendly and we all had a wonderful time. It was really fun meeting people from out of town, and seeing them appreciate our little bit of "paradise."”
- Ann Peterson
“The tour was wonderful. So glad you were able to accommodate us. Mike was a great tour guide, just as I remembered, and we had a fantastic time. There are so many great wineries in the Paso Robles area that it's hard to pick a favorite!”
- P. Salinas
“I actually wanted to call the manager to let him know what an awesome job the young lady who helped us did. I apologize that I don't recall her name, very friendly dark haired young lady who took my reservations on Thursday, Feb. 11 and waited on us before and after our wine tour (even calling because we were late). She was the only one working that day due to some emergencies and it was after 5 when we returned from our tour and she had not even had a lunch break. As it was also Valentine's weekend she still had all her confirmations and gifts to prep for the next day. She did it all with a smile and very cheerful attitude. The manager should know what a real asset she is to the business and how pleasant and comfortable she made us. I had really planned on calling the manager to let him know what a great job she did. Far too often we only hear the negative from customers and fail to hear/applaud great service and experiences.... I truly hope she was rewarded for her hard work. Thank you again we enjoyed our tour and will recommend you to others.”
- P. Peckham
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