The Price of Tasting California Wine: What Are Wineries Charging?
Visiting a California winery can sometimes lead to bottle shock: prices for tasting have increased since Covid-19’s destructive run through our economy.
In days of yore (back in 2015) you could sip a little wine for $5-$10 in many California wine regions. Prior to that, back in the good old days of 2005 you could taste for free and receive a complimentary branded wine goblet for your collection.
But times have changed and it’s not so free any longer.
Along with that increase in pricing, value has increased with changing tasting formats. Prior to Covid you needed sharp elbows to find space at a standing room only bar where a host poured for dozens of fellow wine lovers. Tasting was a fast and furious process.
Things have slowed down dramatically. Most wineries elevated their tasting experience to table setting, usually in a garden or other beautiful environment. Music is often part of tasting experiences with a much slower pace. What used to be a 45 minute adventure is now 1-1/2 hours or 2 hours. All of this service comes with a price. The more labor, music & gardening, the more expense.
We’ve tasted in barns, the winemaker’s dining room, quonset huts & greek inspired villas at a variety of prices. As you plan your California wine tasting journey we’ll take a look at the cost of tasting today.
It’s no surprise tasting wine in Napa County cost the most, while tasting wine in Gold Country will cost less. Some of our listings include the cost of a basic taste versus a premium taste. Premium tasting is an ongoing trend in wineries. Like everything consumable there is good, better and best. You pay more for the best and less for the good.
California’s Average Cost of Tasting: Basic Taste (vs. Reserve Taste)
Napa – $60-$75 vs. $125-$138 premium
Alexander Valley $84
Sonoma – $35-$43 vs. $71-$81 premium
Santa Barbara – $41
Temecula $35
Foxen Canyon/Santa Maria $33
Monterey $27
Central Coast/Paso Robles – $25-$30 vs. $44-$60 premium
Livermore $22
Gold Country $19
Lodi $12
All California Average – $20-$22 vs. $35-$39 premium
Remember these are averages and price points for wineries in ‘tourist’ zones will drift higher. As well, perceived quality will change pricing. Another thought to remember, a wine region’s proximity to a large metro area (think SF, SD & LA) will increase pricing.
All these areas create interesting wine. You be the judge on where you visit and enjoy California vino.
Some of this information is reported by WineBusiness.com reports and the First Citizens Bank wine business reports. Other prices were culled from the wineries themselves.
Some notes on our wine ranking system.
Bill & Erin Hodge write about California Wine, the estates & winemakers producing them and educational information about Vino. Living in California Wine Country provides a front row seat to the places you want to visit the most here in the Golden State.
– -✰ means -What’s next on your list of wines
-✰ means -Not liking it too much
✰ means -We’ll drink this wine, especially if it’s hosted!
✰+ means -You’ve got our attention and we might buy this wine.
✰+ + means -We’re hooked and we’re going to buy this wine.
When you see -✰/✰+ with a slash, it means we disagree.
