A grape geek’s guide to Napa Valley – from hot air balloons to the Wine Train

Tours stop at a range of wineries, including one of the oldest, the Charles Krug (charleskrug.com) – no relation to Joseph Krug, who launched the champagne house in France – and the historic V Sattui (vsattui.com). Or just enjoy a gourmet lunch on board paired with the best local wines (from £143, winetrain.com).

The Wine Trolley is a hand-built replica of a retro California street cable car, and takes you to wineries throughout the valley, including St Helena and Yountville (from £103, napavalleywinetrolley.com).

See the region from above on a breathtaking hot-air balloon ride, where you’ll soar gently over corridors of grapes and between the mountains (from £188pp, napavalleyballoons.com), or go for a hike on one of the many walking trails that take you through the vines or along the mountainside (from £163pp, activewineadventures.com).

You can also coast along on an e-bike, visiting wineries and doing tastings along the way (from £150pp, viator.com). Or you could plan your own driving itinerary (visitnapavalley.com) – well, as long as you have a designated driver who is happy to sit back while you sample as many delicious wines as you can.

If you want to get a bit more hands-on, you can learn how winemakers blend wine in a class. Try the Winemaker For A Day experience at Raymond Vineyards, where you’ll craft your own wine, bottle and cork it, create your own label and take it home (£123pp, raymondvineyards.com).

There’s plenty to do besides drink wine, of course. The valley is home to several good farm-to-table restaurants – many located within wineries – such as Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch, in St Helena, which uses its home-grown ingredients and has a regular farmers’ market (longmeadowranch.com).

Alternatively, you can pack a picnic and enjoy it in one of the state and regional parks, such as the Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, full of trickling creeks, forests of ferns and mighty redwoods (napaoutdoors.org).

There’s also the chance to indulge in a spa day. There are several hot springs in the area, particularly around the charming town of Calistoga. Blessed with natural mineral pools, you can try the traditional baths at Roman Spa Hot Springs Resort (romanspahotsprings.com) or enjoy contemporary surroundings at UpValley Inn and Hot Springs (upvalleyinn.com).

And relax…

Flights from London to San Francisco from £362, virginatlantic.com; rooms at the Napa Winery Inn from £92pn, napawineryinn.com

A taste of the States

Cabernet Sauvignon

Try: 2019 Lot 1 cabernet sauvignon from Louis M Martini

Sauvignon Blanc

Try: 2019 Fumé Blanc, sauvignon blanc, from Grgich Hills Estate

Merlot

Try: 2018 merlot from Robert Mondavi Winery