“He who knows how to taste, does not drink wine, but savors secrets.” – Salvador Dalì

There is something special about spending the day wine tasting your way through the valleys of Napa and Sonoma Counties – located just a short drive north of San Francisco. It’s the perfect weekend away for travelers looking to enjoy sunshine, beautiful scenery and memorable wines. With more than 800 wineries located throughout California’s North Coast wine region, visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to sampling some of the world’s finest wines, particularly the cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and chardonnay varieties. Friendly locals, farm-to-table restaurants and luxury accommodations also add to the destination’s allure. But, what if you can’t make the trip to northern California? Now, wine enthusiasts can enjoy the best virtual wine tastings from northern California from the comfort of home.

The Best Virtual Wine Tastings from Northern California

Bouchaine Vineyards in Napa, California

Courtesy of Bouchaine Vineyards

Bouchaine Vineyards offers B Live, a selection of online wine tasting packages. Virtual visitors can select from three different experiences, each with its own set of wines available for home delivery. The first option, Winemaker 101, includes vin gris, chardonnay and pinot noir. Discussions include wine basics, such as wine coloring, winemaking techniques and grape varietals. The second option, Winemaker 201, includes pinot gris, chardonnay and (2) pinot noirs. Discussions include taste differences in white wine, comparisons between younger and older pinot noir and flavors produced by oak barrels. Experiences include a hosted tasting with views overlooking the beautiful estate vineyards.

Duckhorn Vineyards in St. Helena, California

Courtesy of Duckhorn Vineyards

Duckhorn Vineyards offers an online chef series along with their virtual wine tastings, which is ideal for those who like to experiment in the kitchen. Check out Duckhorn Vineyards’ Private Virtual Chef Demonstration & Wine Pairing with Natalie Niksa, the chef at La Saison in Napa Valley. Natalie shares seasonally-inspired recipes that pair perfectly with Duckhorn wines. Featured meals have included pinot noir paired with pan-seared pork chops, balsamic glazed onions and roasted potatoes, merlot paired with stuffed mushrooms and ratatouille and cabernet sauvignon paired with maple-glazed bacon meatloaf and sweet potato mash. A selection of their wines are available in full (750ml) and half-bottle (375 ml) options, and all orders receive $5 shipping.

Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville, California

Courtesy of Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Francis Ford Coppola Winery offers two options for virtual wine tastings: happy hours and private tastings. If you’re in the mood to socialize online with friends and family, the happy hour option accommodates up to eight people. During the virtual event, a winery host guides the group through the tasting of three pre-selected (and pre-shipped) wines while sharing estate stories and answering questions about the winemaking process. If you prefer a more personalized experience, the virtual private tasting includes four pre-selected wines, and the host shares stories about the winery’s history, production process and winemaking philosophies. Tasters also learn about the Coppola family’s passion for wine and its connection to the films directed by Francis Ford Coppola, including the Godfather and Apocalypse Now.

Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery in Healdsburg, California

Courtesy of Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery

Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery offers virtual tasters a Russian River Valley “neighborhoods” package, which features a sommelier-curated 6-pack of limited production single vineyard wines from the area. Tiffany Kuhn and Kevin Patterson, Gary Farrell’s estate sommeliers, lead tasters through the online experience while providing context for understanding the aromas and flavors of each wine. Pre-selected bottles include the 2016 Olivet Lane Vineyard Chardonnay, 2016 Rochioli Vineyard Chardonnay, 2016 Bacigalupi Vineyard Pinot Noir, Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2016 McDonald Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir and 2016 Rochioli Vineyard Pinot Noir. Wines are shipped in advance of the online tasting reservation.

Alpha Omega in St. Helena, California

Courtesy of Alpha Omega

Alpha Omega offers a series of virtual wine experiences featuring estate winemaker Henrik Poulsen. The winery’s interactive tastings offer digital live-stream sessions were participants can ask questions about the wines in real-time. For those who prefer to taste and learn at their own pace, check out Alpha Omega’s pre-recorded wine tasting videos by Bob Bath, the winery’s master sommelier and professor of wine and beverage studies at the Culinary Institute of America. Both virtual tasting options offer the chance to learn more about Alpha Omega wines directly from the winery’s team of in-house experts.

Note, all virtual wine event participants must be 21+ years old, and pricing depends on the winery and the virtual wine tasting experience.

If you enjoyed The Best Virtual Wine Tastings from Northern California, check out other food and drink-inspired articles.