Flex Wine Tours
Flex Wine Tours
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About
Flex Private Wine Tours focuses on the total wine country touring experience. Whether a seasoned veteran of wine tasting or beginners wanting to learn, our local Sommelier curated tours has something for everyone. From our ultra-exclusive 'Sommelier for Day' to our first-timers tour, we custom design your day to fit your needs. Don't waste your time or money anywhere else...James at FWT will personally guide you through all aspects of your trip out so you can make the most of your short time here with a complete master plan. We'll also work within any budget and assist on all your activities for the rest of your trip. Relax...you're in wine country. Book us now!
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
503 reviews
Excellent
491
Very good
11
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Kimberly B
Edgewood, FL8 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
I selected Flex Wine Tours when referred to me by a work friend. What a treat. Extremely knowledgeable. Was not sure where to start. James spoke to me about what we wanted and then tailored the day. Great variety, starting from bubbly and building up to the power reds by end of day. Barrel tastings, unique wineries, and he took pictures the entire time. We did not have to think about a thing! Great tour!!
Written June 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beth R
Washington DC, DC42 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
This was our second tour with Flex and our first with James. We wanted our daughter to experience the uniqueness that is Napa and its small wineries. As expected James took us to four wineries that complemented each other but showed how different each winery/vineyard can be. Getting to talk to folks who experienced the fires right in their back yards was truly frightening. James has so much knowledge to share, the entire day is easy, we learned a lot, drank great wines and made new friends. I look forward to our next trip! I highly recommend James and Flex!
Written January 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beth R...always good to have people back after a long drought of experiencing the wine country lifestyle. I was glad we were able to show you some new things and areas as well. Hopefully people will realize that the fires only affected only a very small amount of where we go and that 99% is completely normal. Great to show you around again in style.
Written March 12, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
DaveMM11
Park City, UT4 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
I highly recommend James and Flex Wine Tours. They are fantastic. As a professional Sommelier, James is very knowledgeable on the Napa/Sonoma regions, wines and wine and food pairings. During our 3 day visit, he introduced us to 12 different small-medium sized wineries. Each winery treated us special, like royalty and not like a generic, walk-in retail client. James made our trip an experience of a lifetime and we've decided to book another trip next year with James and Flex Wine Tours.
Written June 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1Suzuki1
1 contribution
We read all the fab reviews but our day with James was a total disappointment. We found him very knowledgeable but unable to impart his knowledge without being condescending and a tad arrogant. We had a very basic wine tour experience. 4 wineries visited. No caves or winemaking demos. Nothing behind the scenes. Definitely not fun or fun loving. Would not recommend this overpriced tour to anyone.
Written June 18, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
In sending various requests to both the customer and Trip Advisor management, we are unable to verify who this customer is and/or the actual tour they are referring to on our end. I have no reference to go by on this review and can only determine at this time that it is an erroneous review. We do our best to accommodate customers for any reason if they are unhappy at any level, but we have not received any complaints whatsoever during or after this supposed tour.
Written June 26, 2012
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
kimbocorona
Corona, CA17 contributions
Feb 2015 • Friends
Me and my 2 friends had planned a trip to Napa and it was our first time so we had no idea where to go. I found Flex on Trip Advisor and I am so glad. James is so easy to plan with. I just gave him an idea of what we wanted and he planned the rest. I had one request and he accommodated that request. He took us to wineries that we would not have found and ALL were wonderful, trust James judgment he did not go wrong with one pick...... I came home with 16 bottles of wine and joined a wine club. Amizetta was all 3 of our favorite, I writing their review next!!!
So moving on to Holden our driver, he is amazing. We love Holden, he is full of great information of the valley, the wineries, grapes and wine. He took amazing care of us. My friend got a really small salad at one of the delis, it was disappointing but no fear Holden bought an extra sandwich just in case she got hungry later in the tour.
I love that Flex takes pictures of your group through out the trip. Holden had great photo spots and he took amazing pictures for us.
There are snacks and waters along with other drinks. We needed Advil, Holden had it for us.
This company made our trip one that we will never forget. James and Holden we thank you both so much!! We had an amazing trip...... I recommend this company to everyone!!!! I cant wait to come back and I will use Flex tours again!!
So moving on to Holden our driver, he is amazing. We love Holden, he is full of great information of the valley, the wineries, grapes and wine. He took amazing care of us. My friend got a really small salad at one of the delis, it was disappointing but no fear Holden bought an extra sandwich just in case she got hungry later in the tour.
I love that Flex takes pictures of your group through out the trip. Holden had great photo spots and he took amazing pictures for us.
There are snacks and waters along with other drinks. We needed Advil, Holden had it for us.
This company made our trip one that we will never forget. James and Holden we thank you both so much!! We had an amazing trip...... I recommend this company to everyone!!!! I cant wait to come back and I will use Flex tours again!!
Written February 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the kind words and the compliments to Holden...he is our go-to guy and takes very good care of our peeps. The pictures came out great and looks like there was plenty of fun to be had. We appreciate you taking the time to review us and our partners. See you again soon!
Written February 26, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
wholden
Puerto Rico107 contributions
May 2012 • Couples
My wife and I traveled to Napa Valley from Florida for a 4 day trip. I had really paralyzed myself sorting through all the reviews relative the lodging, food, wine and tours for weeks and weeks. Once I got lodging out of the way, I started to solidify our plans for wine tasting. Being completely overwhelmed by the 500+ wineries in Napa and bland car services, I reached out to some fellow TA's who wrote reviews on James' company, Flex Wine Tours. The response was shocking: "get rid of the Escalade and book James NOW".
Following the advice, we booked James for 2 days of wine tasting and gave him carte blanche to put our itinerary together. After a few consultations relative to our tastes and desired experiences, we were emailed an itinerary prior to our departure to Napa. At first glance I only recognized one name on the list, but then I started seeing notes such as "private family estate cellar", "private family vineyards", "private family cave tasting", and "private home & vineyard estate". The night before our first day of touring, I was having dinner with my cousin who lives outside of Napa. He asked where I was going tasting, so I pulled up the itinerary on my phone and showed it to him. His response, "looks like you are getting the VIP treatment this weekend!" This was a prelude to a very good decision that I made..
You have read it (or are going to read it in all of Flex's reviews) that the Flex SUV is great and really an innovative way to tour. It is well stocked with snacks and beverages, which come in very handy over the course of the day. And when I say well stocked, I mean "would you like a Red Bull, Starbucks Espresso Shot, palette refresher, bottled water, mixed nuts, sun chips, etc" while we drive between private estates? It really made me laugh to myself because I can't tell you how many limos I have been in that have a dusty bar with nothing in it, or a black town car with a dry driver. The Flex is progressive, comfortable and refreshing in a valley full of boring town cars.
Then comes another part of the sauce, James takes photos for you throughout the day and emails them to you at the end of your trip. Yep, I really just said that. You can focus on the tastings, tours and conversations with the estate owners where the moment is captured for you.
From the first tasting to the last, it was all very well thought out and methodical. The experiences were really personal, and we meet some great winemakers at boutique wineries that produced some absolutely fantastic wine. I really don't want to divulge where we went, because I am sure that is part of the "secret sauce", and I want to make sure the wine does not sell out! But what I can tell you is that our two day tasting experience was COMPLETELY different that several other couples we know who planned their own tours. The grand finale for me was one of the estate owners showing me his personal Porsche race car collection in his barn garage which was so amazing we missed our reservations at Bouchon!
James made a very complicated and stressful weekend of tasting very enjoyable and entertaining. How many reviews are you going to read before you make your decision? Let me pass along some of the best advice I have received in the last year, get rid of the car and book James NOW!
Following the advice, we booked James for 2 days of wine tasting and gave him carte blanche to put our itinerary together. After a few consultations relative to our tastes and desired experiences, we were emailed an itinerary prior to our departure to Napa. At first glance I only recognized one name on the list, but then I started seeing notes such as "private family estate cellar", "private family vineyards", "private family cave tasting", and "private home & vineyard estate". The night before our first day of touring, I was having dinner with my cousin who lives outside of Napa. He asked where I was going tasting, so I pulled up the itinerary on my phone and showed it to him. His response, "looks like you are getting the VIP treatment this weekend!" This was a prelude to a very good decision that I made..
You have read it (or are going to read it in all of Flex's reviews) that the Flex SUV is great and really an innovative way to tour. It is well stocked with snacks and beverages, which come in very handy over the course of the day. And when I say well stocked, I mean "would you like a Red Bull, Starbucks Espresso Shot, palette refresher, bottled water, mixed nuts, sun chips, etc" while we drive between private estates? It really made me laugh to myself because I can't tell you how many limos I have been in that have a dusty bar with nothing in it, or a black town car with a dry driver. The Flex is progressive, comfortable and refreshing in a valley full of boring town cars.
Then comes another part of the sauce, James takes photos for you throughout the day and emails them to you at the end of your trip. Yep, I really just said that. You can focus on the tastings, tours and conversations with the estate owners where the moment is captured for you.
From the first tasting to the last, it was all very well thought out and methodical. The experiences were really personal, and we meet some great winemakers at boutique wineries that produced some absolutely fantastic wine. I really don't want to divulge where we went, because I am sure that is part of the "secret sauce", and I want to make sure the wine does not sell out! But what I can tell you is that our two day tasting experience was COMPLETELY different that several other couples we know who planned their own tours. The grand finale for me was one of the estate owners showing me his personal Porsche race car collection in his barn garage which was so amazing we missed our reservations at Bouchon!
James made a very complicated and stressful weekend of tasting very enjoyable and entertaining. How many reviews are you going to read before you make your decision? Let me pass along some of the best advice I have received in the last year, get rid of the car and book James NOW!
Written May 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GeeBee
Santa Barbara, CA10 contributions
May 2011
I'm a frequent wine taster & tourer and FlexTours is very unique, one of a kind experience. I've done tours and tastings in Australia, Europe, South America and all over California and James (proprieter) provides the most knowledgable, comprehensive and custom built itineraries for touring and tasting based on your tastes, mood and preferences.
As a veteran Events Professional (Corporate & Hospitality Events) I work with alot of great and reputable vendors who partner with tour companies, etc. and without a doubt, can endorse James and Flex Tours for their services: the value, professionalism, knowledge of the area, wine, comfort of vehicle and the overall experience were memorable and fun.
How many wine tour drivers have Sommelier training/certification? You usually get a driver who has preferred wineries and a Go-To list, who sticks to that list of wineries and you feel herded and a bit confined to that itinerary. However, with FlexTours, James assesses the needs and preferences of the clients/guests and works with them to build your tour.
If you want cookie-cutter, run of the mill tours where the wines are worse than the wines, go to another Tour, but with Flex Tours, you get concierge-style, custom tours that leave you wanting to come back sooner than later!
As a veteran Events Professional (Corporate & Hospitality Events) I work with alot of great and reputable vendors who partner with tour companies, etc. and without a doubt, can endorse James and Flex Tours for their services: the value, professionalism, knowledge of the area, wine, comfort of vehicle and the overall experience were memorable and fun.
How many wine tour drivers have Sommelier training/certification? You usually get a driver who has preferred wineries and a Go-To list, who sticks to that list of wineries and you feel herded and a bit confined to that itinerary. However, with FlexTours, James assesses the needs and preferences of the clients/guests and works with them to build your tour.
If you want cookie-cutter, run of the mill tours where the wines are worse than the wines, go to another Tour, but with Flex Tours, you get concierge-style, custom tours that leave you wanting to come back sooner than later!
Written May 31, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TVDad
Tampa, FL1,875 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
These guys are pricey, charging $80 an hour plus tips. And that does not include tasting fees, which are also additional. They also expect you to pay for gas ($25 a day), which I find irritating for a car service.
However, if you get over the cost, they do provide a 5 star winery experience in Napa Valley. They suggest four wineries a day with a stop for lunch in between stops two and three.
Tell them the wines you like (cabs, Pinot, etc. ), the experiences you want (cave tasting, wine pairing, barrel tasting) and your favorite wine labels (we love Silver Oak and Tattinger). They will customize a tour just for you!
We used Flex tours for two days and were very satisfied with the service and knowledgeable drivers. They all know wine. One is even a sommelier! That's a great plus on a wine tour!
I recommend these guys despite the steep price.
However, if you get over the cost, they do provide a 5 star winery experience in Napa Valley. They suggest four wineries a day with a stop for lunch in between stops two and three.
Tell them the wines you like (cabs, Pinot, etc. ), the experiences you want (cave tasting, wine pairing, barrel tasting) and your favorite wine labels (we love Silver Oak and Tattinger). They will customize a tour just for you!
We used Flex tours for two days and were very satisfied with the service and knowledgeable drivers. They all know wine. One is even a sommelier! That's a great plus on a wine tour!
I recommend these guys despite the steep price.
Written July 31, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TVDad...thanks for the review and you guys were great to take care of for 2 days. We really enjoyed the 'banter' along the way. We do state for all of our tours we have a standard local $25 fuel fee and that is just to cover our drivers and/or the pick-up/drop transport throughout the day. And since we do not add any other taxes, fees or gratuity to the flat hourly rate, it does end up fairly reasonable...especially for 4 people where it will average out to about $150/pp which is just about what you'd pay for a tour group bus. We are very in-line (or less) with most pricing here for our level of services. And, as you state, a much more personal, flexible and professional experience to premium spots. We appreciate your business and look forward to having you back...and I'll work something out for you to save on the $25 fuel fee next time. Cheers!
Written August 1, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TXtraveler04
Houston, TX10 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
We toured twice during the week of February 22 with Flex. This was the 3rd and 4th times we have toured with James, Diane and/or their associate, Holden. This is a great way to find the intimate boutique wineries, learn more about wine and wine business from the guide, and enjoy a day free from driving. We will continue to use them each time we visit Napa or Sonoma.
Written March 3, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Now doing this for 5 seasons we feel we've hit our stride in accommodating our customers even better. Given you were a larger group and didn't mind sharing two vehicles, it worked out swimmingly and everyone seemed to have a great time. It was nice to meet the rest of your "gang of thieves" so to speak and we'll surely see you again next year.
Written March 13, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MrandmrsjonesCa
Huntington Beach, CA9 contributions
Feb 2015 • Friends
My friend booked this tour for a girls weekend. We were given an itinerary ahead of time which took into account our preferences. Day one driver Holden picked us up at the appointed time and we were on our way. The car comes stocked with all the goodies to get you through a day of wine tasting, drinks, snacks, etc. Holden was a great guide who was super knowledgeable and fun to talk to. He was informative but somehow not at all boring, which is a fine line! He took lots of pictures of us, which was really nice, so we won't be stuck with only selfies. Note #cattyb!tche$ need not apply for this ride. It's for laid back fun loving people!!
Written February 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the notes on your experience. I was also glad to be able to meet you guys at your first stop...I like to personally meet all my guests whenever possible. Holden had a great time with you ladies as well and seemed to have quickly built up a nice rapport with you early on. Hope to see you out again soon.
Written March 13, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi, I'm soon coming to Napa by late Jan 2018 with total 10 people.
May I know whether you can arrange a private day tour for Napa?
And any transportation from San Francisco to Napa?
would you please let me know how I should contact you for further discussion?
thanks!
Written December 18, 2017
Greetings...thank you for your inquiry. We'd welcome showing you around. The best way to follow up is to send an online request from our site at Flex Wine Tours. That will ask all the necessary questions and I can then respond with the details to secure your trip out. Also check out our FAQ page online as well. Cheers!
Written December 19, 2017
Hi! will be in Napa on late march. Willstay at the Withehouse Inn. How much is a tour for 2? How many winieries and which ones do you visit? Thank you!
Written December 7, 2017
Thank you for your inquiry. Most all of the information can be obtained directly from the website at Flex Wine Tours. The best method is to send a request from the site and then all of our tours are customized per couple after further conversations.
Written December 8, 2017
How much is a day with Flex Tours? How many wineries do you go to? Is lunch included? We have 4 people.
Written November 2, 2017
Lunch not included. They bill by the hour. $80-$95 depending on season. They recommend four wineries a day. We did Five one day and it was too much.
Written November 18, 2017
can you take kids on a tour? ages 8 and 10, well behaved
Written June 29, 2017
Greetings...yes, we can take kids but much depends on what you are looking to do and the date you are looking to book. You also need to keep in mind that only certain places allow and/or are appropriate for under-age guests so you will be limited to those spots that are deemed 'family friendly'.
Written June 30, 2017
Hello, I am planning for a group of 6-8 people. Can you fit us all in one vehicle?
Written August 2, 2015
We can only accommodate up to 6 persons per SUV. For groups of 8 we do two SUVs (4/4) all the time and it is much more manageable and comfortable. Depends on the date for availability as we book up very early in season.
Written August 3, 2015
si tienen tours en español
y cual seria el costo somos 3 adultos y visitaríamos el valle de NAPA en agosto
muchas gracias,
saludos
Written June 8, 2015
Hola, possible tours en espanol o vamos a 'wineries' ese tienen tours en espanol y personas ese hablas espanol.
Que fecha y donde estas hotel aqui?
Written June 8, 2015
Much depends on the day of the week. We can pick up in SF city or you can take the ferry to Vallejo in south Napa for pick up. Also depends on how many persons. You'll need to account for an extra 2-3 hours drive time to/from the city and there is also an extra transfer fee to be picked up there.
Written February 21, 2015
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.