A Napa Valley Wine Train trip makes for a day filled with tasty food, delicious wine, great conversation, and incredible scenery.
The Napa Valley Wine Train was once named the Napa Valley Train. The railroad, built in 1864 by San Francisco’s first millionaire Samuel Brannan, has a long and arduous history. Today, the Napa Valley Wine Train is one of only a few active historic passenger railroads in the United States. My friend Alyson and I spent an afternoon on the train dining on a gourmet four-course lunch, sipping wine, and passing through the stunning Napa Valley vineyards.
Open-air car. Photo courtesy of Napa Valley Wine Train Inc.
History of the Napa Valley Train
Brannan constructed the rail line to transport guests to his spa in Calistoga. Not long afterward, he went through an expensive divorce and had to sell off many of his holdings. The rail line became the property of the California Pacific Railroad. In 1885, Southern Pacific bought the Napa Valley Railroad. For many years—into the early part of the 20th century—the railroad aided the agricultural development of Napa Valley and provided passenger service throughout the local communities.
The 1930s introduced a brand new means of transportation—the automobile. Soon the luster and glory of train travel diminished. In 1960, Southern Pacific forsook the right of way between two major towns in Napa Valley—St. Helena and Calistoga—and soon, only one freight train traversed the tracks each week.
To make a profit on the waning rail line, Southern Pacific attempted to sell the property in 1984. Several Napa Valley residents wanted to rebuild the rail line. Lou Schuyler, a retired Southern Pacific engineer, built a group called “The Society for the Preservation of the Napa County Railroad,” hoping to revive the beautiful and historic rail line.
A night tour on the Napa Valley Train. Photo courtesy of Napa Valley Wine Train Inc.
After one failed attempt, another group of citizens, led by Dr. Alvin Lee Block, formed Napa Valley Wine Train, Inc. This group worked to create a railroad to preserve the transportation corridor for future use. The group sought out investors, and finally, Vincent DeDomenico, the inventor of Rice-A-Roni and former owner of Ghiradelli Chocolate and Golden Grain Pasta, purchased the entire operation. DeDomenico loved the wine train idea and purchased most of the shares.
Rebuilding the Napa Valley Train
DeDomenico helped buy the line from Southern Pacific. He hired experienced railroad personnel, maintenance staff, and food service professionals. He began to rebuild the Napa Valley Wine Train from the ground up by purchasing antique Pullman rail cars and restoring them with Honduran mahogany paneling, brass accents, etched glass partitions, and luxurious armchairs. On September 16, 1989, the Napa Valley Wine Train took its first passenger trip, which continues today.
Professional servers on the Napa Valley Wine Train. Photo courtesy of Napa Valley Wine Train Inc.
Experience the Glory Days of Train Travel
The Napa Valley Wine Train offers memorable experiences. Guests can book three- to six-hour trips with wine-tasting stops, gourmet lunch tours, and evening dining excursions. There are numerous options, including choosing which luxury car to ride in while enjoying your experience.
Wine tasting on the Napa Valley Wine Train. Photo courtesy of Napa Valley Wine Train Inc.
Many people like to celebrate special occasions with a trip on the train.
Special occasions on the Napa Valley Wine Train. Photo courtesy of Napa Valley Wine Train Inc.
Our Train Ride
Alyson and I opted for lunch in the 1085 Pullman Standard Vista Dome car for our three-hour, 36-mile round-trip journey from downtown Napa to St. Helena and back. We walked out of McKinstry Street Station and boarded the train. A host escorted us up a short flight of stairs to our seats in the two-story Vista Dome car built in 1952. This car was one of the first ten full-dome cars built by Pullman Standard.
Alyson in the Vista Dome car. Photo by Tracy Ellen Beard
We sat back in the lush booths, sipped on the bubbles waiting for us at the table, and took in the 360-degree view. Rick, our server, came by to tell us about our lunch selections. Alyson and I discussed what to have for lunch, and we discovered that wine was not included in the package price. The bubbles were tasty, but we wanted to enjoy some of Napa’s finest, so we let Rick know that we would like to add the Deluxe Flight to our tab. Guests who do not want the Deluxe Flight can order the Standard Wine flight or individual bottles of select wines available on the train.
Wines for purchase. Photo by Tracy Ellen Beard
The train began to rumble, and soon we were traveling through the spectacular scenery of Napa Valley. This area boasts some of the most famous vineyards in the world and some of the most expensive real estate.
Real estate in Napa Valley. Photo courtesy of Napa Valley Wine Train Inc.
The Gourmet Four-Course Lunch
The Deluxe Flight began with one of my all-time favorites, Rombauer Chardonnay. I love the oak and butter notes and the vanilla spice. This wine paired wonderfully with Alyson’s appetizer of figs, prosciutto, and balsamic glaze and my White Bean Ragout with duck sausage, bacon lardons, and Italian salsa verde.
Servers on our train. Photo by Tracy Ellen Beard
As we traveled through the valley, passing famous vineyards like Opus One and Robert Mondavi, our second course arrived at the table. Alyson ordered the Roasted Beet Salad with frisée, arugula, goat cheese, pistachios, and a honey-citrus vinaigrette, and I had the Broccoli Cheddar Soup. Both dishes paired well with the cherry jam, vanilla, black raspberry, and plum notes in the Markham Merlot.
I ordered the Ricotta Cheese Gnocchi as an entrée. The creamed leeks, forest mushrooms, porcini cream, and Parmesan cheese were rich and luscious, and the solera vinegar brought brightness to the dish.
Gnocci. Photo by Tracy Ellen Beard
Alyson chose the Fresh Catch, salmon over polenta with sundried tomatoes and basil oil. Both dishes were tasty and paired famously with the soft tannins, blackberry, and clove notes in the Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon.
Salmon and polenta with basil oil. Photo by Tracy Ellen Beard
A Tour of the Train
We decided to take a break from eating when we reached the turning point of our round-trip journey. We took a walk to inspect the kitchen and to visit the open-air car. The train started again, and we let the wind blow through our hair as we passed more famous wineries and vineyards like Louis Martini, V. Sattui, and Beaulieu Vineyard.
Winery stop on the Napa Valley Wine Train. Photo courtesy of Napa Valley Wine Train Inc.
We chatted with a few other passengers and then returned to our seats for dessert.
Stanley and Shanell were passengers on our train. Photo by Tracy Ellen Beard
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A Sweet Finish
Alyson and I ordered one of each of the two desserts available so we could share. We had finished our wine flights, and I asked Rick if they had dessert wines or ports. We were in luck. Rick poured both of us a glass of ten-year-old Sandeman Old Tawny Porto. The vanilla crème brûlée was sweet, crunchy, and creamy.
Crème brûlée. Photo by Tracy Ellen Beard
The lemon tart made me pucker. It had just the right sweetness with a lemony punch, and the tawny port went fabulously with both desserts.
Lemon tart. Photo by Tracy Ellen Beard
The End of the Line
We continued to watch the gorgeous vineyard landscapes as we passed by and soon found ourselves back at the station in Napa. It was a lovely day filled with tasty food, delicious wine, great conversation, and incredible scenery. When planning a train trip, whether you choose the Napa Valley Wine Train or decide to venture out on other train travel in the United States, Mexico, or abroad, let Wander With Wonder be your guide.
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