If you really want to explore the world, you do not need a travel partner to do so. While I haven’t done a fully solo wine trip from start to finish, some of my favorite wine memories come from the solo days I’ve carved out of bigger trips.
I’ve had solo days in both Sonoma and Bordeaux, usually as a day to myself after a group tasting experience, and I loved it every single time. Both regions have tasting rooms right in town, so you can walk from spot to spot without worrying about driving (Healdsburg, in particular, was fantastic for this). If a full solo wine trip has been on your mind, consider this your permission slip — and, as someone with a WSET Level 2 certification, my guide to actually planning one.
How to Plan a Solo Wine Trip
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Is a Solo Wine Trip Right for You?
If you’ve ever hesitated to plan a wine trip just for you because it felt intimidating, unnecessary, or like something you should only do with a group — I promise, it’s none of those things. Some of the best wine conversations I’ve ever had happened because I was sitting at a tasting bar alone with nothing to do but chat with the person pouring. If you’re nervous about committing to a full trip, start the way I did: carve out one solo day during your next group trip and see how it feels.
Choosing a Region
For a solo trip, I’d steer toward a region with a real walkable downtown — somewhere you can get from tasting room to tasting room (and dinner) on foot, without needing a car for every single stop. My picks:
- Healdsburg / Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley — my top solo recommendation. Walkable, welcoming, and easy to string together a full day without a car.
- Napa — more polished and a bit pricier, but downtown Napa is very walkable.
- Carmel Valley — quieter and more low-key, a great fit if you want a slower solo pace.
- Solvang — the Danish-inspired town at the heart of Santa Ynez Valley; plenty of tasting rooms within walking distance of most hotels.
- Paso Robles — full guide coming soon, link to follow once it’s live.
- Bordeaux, France — if you’re up for going international, this is where I had one of my favorite solo wine days ever.
Once you’ve settled on a region, search Booking.com for something walkable to downtown tasting rooms — that one detail makes more difference to a solo trip than almost anything else on this list.
Transportation & Safety
Please, please hire a driver. I cannot stress this enough.
Rideshares can be unreliable out at remote wineries — you might be waiting a long time for a car to find you, if one comes at all. A driver from a reputable company who’s expecting you and waiting when you’re ready to move on is a much safer, much less stressful bet. Check TripAdvisor reviews before booking one, the same way you’d vet a winery or a restaurant.
If you’re in a region with a flat, paved path connecting downtown to nearby wineries (Napa’s Vine Trail is a good example), a bike rental can be a fun, safe way to get around during the day — just save the driver for the tasting-heavy stretches, not as a full replacement.
A few more things I’d always do on a solo wine trip:
- Share your itinerary with someone before you go — where you’re staying, which wineries you’re visiting, and roughly when.
- Take advantage of daytime tastings. Most tasting rooms are open during the day, which naturally works in your favor when traveling alone.
- Consider a sip-and-spit approach, especially if you’re hopping between multiple tastings in one day. It keeps you sharper and more aware of your surroundings.
Booking Solo
Most tasting rooms are used to solo visitors these days, but I’d still recommend booking ahead whenever possible — call or reserve online, and let them know it’s a party of one. Some smaller wineries will seat you at the tasting bar rather than a table, which honestly tends to be the better experience solo anyway (more on that below).
One more tip: when you arrive, stop by the local welcome or visitors center if the region has one. Most have free maps and staff who’ll give you real, personalized recommendations based on what you’re actually in the mood for that day — a nice head start before you commit to a full itinerary.
Solo Tasting Room Etiquette
Sit at the bar if you have the option — it’s the easiest way to end up in conversation with the person pouring, and often with other guests too. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; most staff genuinely love talking through the wines with someone who’s actually curious. And if you’re not in the mood to chat, that’s fine too — nobody’s going to make you.
How to Meet People
If striking up conversation with strangers isn’t really your thing, or you’d rather not go fully solo but still want some independence, joining a small-group wine retreat is a great middle ground. I’d highly recommend Lexi’s wine retreats — I know Lexi personally, and she knows her stuff. If you’d rather book something more on-demand, GetYourGuide has small-group wine tours in most major regions, which is a nice way to get some built-in company without needing a personal connection to the host.
Wine club events and tasting room happy hours are another easy way to end up chatting with people who share your interests, without the pressure of a big group setting. And it doesn’t have to be all wine, either — building in one non-wine activity, like a hot air balloon ride or a cooking class, is another easy way to end up bonding with strangers over something other than what’s in your glass.
Solo Dining
Stick to the same logic as your tasting rooms: sit at the bar. It’s a much more natural solo dining experience than a table for one, and in a lot of wine regions, the bartender is more than happy to point you toward the best pours on the menu.
Real Cost Estimates
Tastings typically run $25–70 per person, depending on the region and the winery, and whether you spring for an upgraded or reserve tasting. Expect the higher end of that range in Napa, and lower if you’re tasting overseas. One thing worth keeping in mind with a solo trip specifically: there’s no splitting costs with a travel partner, so budget a little more generously than you might for a group trip.
How to Plan a Solo Wine Trip: FAQ
Is it weird to go wine tasting alone?
Not even a little. Tasting rooms see solo visitors all the time, and sitting at the bar makes it easy to strike up conversation if you want it.
How do I meet people on a solo wine trip?
Sit at the tasting bar, ask questions, and consider joining a small-group retreat (like Lexi’s) or booking a tour through GetYourGuide if you want some built-in community without giving up your independence.
What’s the safest way to get around wine country alone?
Hire a driver from a reputable company rather than relying on rideshare — remote wineries can make rideshare unreliable, and a driver who’s expecting you is a much safer bet. Check reviews before you book.
Which region is best for a first solo wine trip?
Anywhere with a walkable downtown, so you’re not dependent on a car for every stop. Healdsburg is my top pick.
Closing
A solo wine trip isn’t something you need a special occasion — or a full week off — to justify. Even a single solo day, tucked into a bigger trip, can be one of the best parts of it.
If you want more inspiration for where to go next, check out my Ten Best US Wine Vacations roundup, or if you’re planning a bigger group trip instead, my California Wine Road Trip for Fall guide has a full region-by-region breakdown.
Have you ever gone wine tasting solo? I’d love to hear how it went — let me know in the comments!
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