Virginia, with its picturesque landscapes, rich history, and burgeoning wine industry, is an ideal destination for wine enthusiasts. Home to over 300 wineries and counting, it is quickly gaining a name for itself as a world-class wine growing region.
In fact, Virginia is only one of two places anywhere producing great wine with Petit Manseng, a grape originally hailing from Southwestern France. They also produce top-notch Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Viognier. It ranks #6 in the country for total wine output, something that might come as a surprise to many people, since the West Coast usually gets all the attention for American wines.
One of the best ways to experience all that Virginia wine country has to offer is to take a bus or limo tour, which gives you the opportunity for multiple wine tastings while leaving the planning (and driving!) to someone else.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll introduce you to the top wine bus tours in Virginia, including private tours, group tours, and brewery tours.
If you’re headed to Virginia Wine Country, Lake Anna is a great place to stay and right there in the center of the action. Be sure to check out the Best Places to Stay in Lake Anna for a guide to hotels and guest homes in the area.
- Wish Wish Wine Tours
- Fruits & Roots Wine Tours
- Monticello Wine Tour and Coach
- 540 Party Bus
- Cville Hop on Tours
- Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg
- DiVine Wine Tours of Virginia
- Blue Ridge Wine Excursions
- Central Virginia Wine Tours & Transportation
- Uptown Bus
- Chariots for Hire
- Baron Tours
- James River Transportation
- Shenandoah Wine Tours
- Presidential Limousine
- Reston Limousine
- Norm's Executive Charlottesville Wine Tour
- The Bottom Line
Wish Wish Wine Tours
Wish Wish Wine Tours is a popular and highly-rated choice for those looking to immerse themselves in the beauty and flavors of Virginia’s wine country. Offering a wide variety of tour options, you can choose from guided group tours, private tours, or self-guided tours. Based in Charlottesville, Wish Wish Wine Tours visits wineries throughout Central Virginia, including the Monticello Wine Trail, the Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail, and the Northern Virginia Wine Trail.
All vehicles used for the tours are modern, clean, and equipped with air-conditioning, ensuring a pleasant and comfortable ride. Pricing is per vehicle, which is great for larger groups who can fill up the vehicle, or if you would like a private wine tour with a little more space.
You can choose your pickup location anywhere within the Charlottesville area, and you can purchase additional hours if you would like to.
Virginia Private Custom Wine Tour from Charlottesville
A private chauffeur will cruise you and your guests from historic Charlottesville to the countryside. Spend the day touring the area and sampling wines from multiple wineries. On the Wine Trail, you’ll have your choice of which tasting rooms to visit and when to have a picnic lunch.
Fruits & Roots Wine Tours
Operating out of Charlottesville, Fruits & Roots offers carefully curated tours that showcase the best of Virginia’s wine country. They focus on all-inclusive tours that come with trips to the winery, cuisine, and shopping.
Each of their tours has a unique theme, like the Monticello Wine Trail tour, Walton’s Mountain Trail Wine Tour, and Northern Virginia Wine Trail tour. Private tours are also available for a more customized experience. That is great for birthdays, corporate events, bridal parties, and more.
One really cool thing about Fruits & Roots is that they are one of the few companies that also offers in-home wine tastings. With these tastings, they’ll bring the Virginia wine, wine glasses, charcuterie tray, and a guide to lead your wine tasting.
Monticello Wine Tour and Coach
Monticello Wine Tour and Coach visits wineries located along the historic Monticello Wine Trail, allowing you to explore the rich history of the region while enjoying delicious wines. The knowledgeable guides share stories about the area’s past and its connection to Thomas Jefferson, the “Father of American Wine.”
Monticello Wine Tour and Coach offers luxurious transportation options, including limousines, luxury SUVs, and executive vans. They have a fleet of Mercedes Sprinters and luxury suburbans, and the professional drivers and attentive staff guarantee a seamless and enjoyable experience.
Tours last at least 5 hours and visit 3-4 wineries along the way. They also go to breweries, and you can mix both wineries and breweries within the same private tour.
Luray, Virginia, is in the heart of wine country and has lots of great things to do. Check out my guide to Luray to learn more.
540 Party Bus
If you’re looking for a more lively transportation option for your winery bus tour, 540 Party Bus may be for you. This company specializes in party bus wine tours and has a fleet of buses, like the Ford F-550, Mercedes Sprinters, and Cadillac Escalades.
One of the key features of 540 Party Bus is their commitment to creating a fun and entertaining atmosphere. Their party buses are equipped with features such as disco lights and state-of-the-art sound systems so you and your friends can have pregame in style before arrive for a tasting.
Shuttles options also include DVDs, premium leather seating, and mini-bars. In addition to wine tastings, 540 is available for wedding charters, birthday parties, and that special occasion.
Cville Hop on Tours
Cville Hop on Tours offers a unique, flexible approach to wine tasting tours in Virginia. With a hop-on, hop-off bus service, visitors have the freedom to create their own itinerary and explore the wineries (or breweries!) at their own pace. This company will pick you up from your hotel directly, so it’s a very convenient option.
Cville Hop on Tours has partnered with over 30 wineries in the Charlottesville area, ensuring a diverse selection of wines to sample. From award-winning wineries to hidden gems, visitors can explore a variety of vineyards and tasting rooms, each offering a unique insight into Virginia’s wine industry. Additionally, the tour also includes stops at several breweries, cideries, and distilleries, catering to a broader range of tastes and preferences.
While Cville Hop on Tours allows for a self-guided experience, the tour’s knowledgeable and entertaining guides are always available to answer questions and share interesting tidbits about the wineries and the region. This ensures that visitors leave the tour with a deeper appreciation for Virginia’s wine industry and its history.
CVille goes to some of the area’s top wineries, like King Family Vineyards, Valley Road Vineyards, and Horton Vineyards.
Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg
Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg offers a unique and memorable way to explore the wineries of Virginia’s historic and picturesque Fredericksburg region. With their charming and nostalgic trolleys, can be transported back in time and journey through rolling hills, lush vineyards, and historic sites. The company offers a variety of tour options, including group tours, private tours, and custom itineraries. In addition to wine tours, they offer tours of breweries, distilleries, downtown tours, and wedding transportation services.
Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg visits a diverse selection of wineries, from small, family-owned operations to larger, more established vineyards, ensuring that guests have the opportunity to sample a wide variety of wines and styles. Wineries on their list include Lake Anna Winery, Mattaponi Winery, and Eden Try Estate and Winery.
Wine tours last 4 to 4.5 hours and visit all thee of their partner wineries. Tour fees include the tasting fees for each winery, a boxed lunch, and bottled water.
DiVine Wine Tours of Virginia
DiVine Wine Tours of Virginia offers a personalized and intimate wine tasting experience. With a small group size, visitors are guaranteed an enjoyable and educational tour. The knowledgeable guides ensure that each guest has a memorable experience by sharing fascinating stories and facts about the wineries visited.
Traveling in style is a top priority for DiVine Wine Tours of Virginia. Enjoy the comfort and luxury of a spacious Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, equipped with leather seats, air conditioning, and ample storage for wine purchases.
For the newlyweds or couple looking for a romantic getaway, be sure to check out the Romantic Wine Tour for Two. It includes luxury SUV transportation, professional photos to commemorate your day, a special bubbly at your first stop, lunch, and a charcuterie board. That makes for a heck of a honeymoon! Of course, private tours, corporate events, and more are available so don’t hesitate to contact them if you have any questions.
Divine Wine Tours allows you to select the wineries you would like to visit. But if you aren’t yet knowledgable about the area they can choose for you or make suggestions to help you decide.
Blue Ridge Wine Excursions
Blue Ridge Wine Excursions is a top-notch option for wine tours in the Charlottesville and Monticello area of Central Virginia. Since 2009, they have been offering custom wine tours in Charlottesville in a range of vehicles, from sedans to limousine buses.
Blue Ridge Wine Excursions offers personalized and flexible services for all personalized ground transportation and limousine needs, and their robust fleet makes any style of wine tour possible. They have a variety of modern vehicles for tours based on group size, and their passion for good wine, fun with friends, and safety has driven them for the past decade.
They offer tour packages for couples, small groups, bridal parties, and business teams, and visitors can experience the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains or the charm of historic Charlottesville as they traverse the scenic countryside for a day of touring and tasting.
As a tour operator owned by a transportation company, Blue Ridge Wine Excursions prides itself on providing safe tours in very safe automobiles. They undergo audits by the USDOT and are regulated by the DMV, USDOT, and FMCSA, ensuring that their staff is thoroughly trained and follows the drug and alcohol policy of their parent company.
Blue Ridge frequents numerous wineries in the area, but some of the highlights include Glass House Winery, Flying Fox Vineyards, and Keswick Vineyards.
Central Virginia Wine Tours & Transportation
Central Virginia Wine Tours & Transportation is owned by Stephen Stanford and is based out of Orange, VA, about a 35-minute drive from Charlottesville. As a smaller tour company, he is able to focus on giving you a personalized experience. In fact, when you give the company a call it will be either him or his wife Jenny picking up the phone!
From there, he’ll help you develop a a fully customized tour of the numerous wineries, breweries, distilleries, and other establishments he has developed close ties with over the 10+ years he has been in business. They are available for wine tours, wedding, special events, and more.
Winery tours typically last 5-7 hours and stop at three to five different local vineyards. It also includes a stop for lunch at a place of your choosing, a tour of at least one winery, and complimentary coolers, water, and ice on board their fleet of vehicles.
Lastly, Stephen is happy to provide door-to-door service and pick you up at your hotel or AirBnB to start the tour.
Uptown Bus
Uptown Bus is a leading provider of winery bus tours Virginia, offering a range of luxury transportation options for wine enthusiasts. Their fleet includes a variety of vehicles, from Mercedes Sprinters to limousines and party buses, ensuring that there’s an option to suit every group size and budget.
One of the standout features of Uptown Bus is their commitment to customer service. From the moment you book your winery bus tour to the end of your day, their team of professionals will be on hand to ensure that your experience is seamless and enjoyable.
In addition to their exceptional service, Uptown Bus also offers a range of luxury amenities designed to make your winery bus tour even more enjoyable. The inside of their buses has party lighting, customized soundtracks of your choosing, water and cocktails on the bus, and an option to choose a bus with a restroom inside.
Wineries Uptown visits include Pearmund Cellars, Little Washington, Gadino Cellars, and Fabbioli Cellars.
Chariots for Hire
Chariots for Hire has a fleet of luxury vehicles and professional drivers to ensure your wine tour experience is both comfortable and enjoyable. That includes Yukon Denalis, limos, a 44-passenger redone school bus, and an Apollo Limo Bus.
Their tours typically begin in the early morning, with the bus picking up guests from designated locations. From there, the journey begins as you travel through the scenic countryside, visiting multiple wineries along the way. At each stop, you will be treated to a tasting of the vineyard’s best wines, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who will share information about the winery’s history and the wine-making process.
With Chariots for Hire, you also have the option for a gourmet lunch at one of the wineries. Tour options include 5 hours, 6 hours, and 7 hours, with the option to purchase additional hours. With their impeccable service and attention to detail, Chariots for Hire will make your winery bus tour in Virginia an unforgettable experience.
Baron Tours
Another excellent option for winery bus tours in Virginia is Baron Tours. This company prides itself on offering affordable and high-quality wine tours that cater to a wide range of interests and budgets and give you a safe, dedicated driver for the day in a comfortable, spacious vehicle.
Baron Tours offers a variety of tour packages outside of wine tours too, like charter bus services, bar crawls, Washington DC masonic tours, and more.
Potential winery stops include The Winery at Bull Run and Maggie Malick Wine Caves.
James River Transportation
James River Transportation has been offering reliable and luxurious transportation services for over 90 years. Among their wide range of services, their bus winery and beer tours have gained a reputation for being well-organized, informative, and enjoyable. With a fleet of modern and comfortable vehicles, James River Transportation ensures that your wine tour experience is nothing short of exceptional.
Their wine tours typically include visits to multiple wineries, where you will have the opportunity to taste a variety of wines and learn about the wineries’ histories and wine-making processes from knowledgeable guides. In addition, James River Transportation offers customizable tour packages, allowing you to create a wine tour experience that suits your preferences and interests.
James River’s fleet can accommodate 2-28 people and can pick you up at your door, whether that be a hotel or AirBnB. They recommend a 7-hour total tour time, with three stops, but you can customize it to your liking.
Shenandoah Wine Tours
Shenandoah Wine Tours is a premier provider of winery bus tours in Virginia’s breathtaking Shenandoah Valley. This company offers intimate, small-group tours that showcase the region’s finest wineries and vineyards. Operating out of Edinburg, Shenandoah Wine Tours stops at a carefully curated selection of wineries along the Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail.
You can also enjoy a beautiful drive through the backroads of the Virginia countryside, all while leaving the driving to someone else. Top-notch catering boxes with assorted cheeses, meats, olives, and more from Happenings Event Planning is also included.
Tours run from 12PM to 5PM, but with enough people in your party you can customize your own private tour. If you would like to do that or have any other questions, just shoot them an email at info@shenandoahwinetours.com.
Presidential Limousine
Presidential Limousine offers luxury winery tours, and their fleet of high-end vehicles, including limousines and executive buses, ensures that you travel in style and comfort as you explore the beautiful wineries of Virginia. With their exceptional service and attention to detail, Presidential Limousine takes your wine tour experience to the next level.
Their wine tour packages include visits to multiple wineries, guided tastings, and the option to include a gourmet lunch at one of the vineyards. You can choose from numerous vineyards, but if you aren’t yet familiar with the area they have great suggestions on their website as well.
If you’re looking to indulge in a premium wine tour experience, Presidential Limousine is the perfect choice. Their fleet includes luxury suburbans, executive buses, stretch Hummers, a stretch Ford Expedition, and a party bus.
Reston Limousine
Reston Limousine offers a diverse range of tour packages and transportation options for VA and DC wine country. They launched their wine tours in 2002 and now explores the 40+ found in Loudoun County, the heart of this region’s wine country. Virginia Wine Lover’s Best Of annual awards since 2012, a testament to their top-notch service.
Reston offers the option to book a public tour or to put together your own private tour. All tours make a stop to two different wineries and ride through the rolling hills of Virginia’s Piedmont region. There is also the option to put together a corporate wine tour for your next company gathering.
Wineries Reston stops at include Three Fox Vineyards, 8 Chains North Winery, and 868 Estate Vineyards.
Norm’s Executive Charlottesville Wine Tour
Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, Norm’s Executive Charlottesville Wine Tour is easily accessible from surrounding areas. Whether you’re a local or just visiting the area, Norm’s is a great way to spend a day exploring some of the best wineries in the region.
They offer a number of different tour options, including half-day and full-day tours, as well as private tours for those who want a more personalized experience. They have some really cool area-themed tours, like the Western Excursion, the Southern Adventure, and the Southwest Journey, each visiting the best wineries in that area.
You can also create a fully customized package to visit the wineries of your choosing. In addition to wineries, Norm’s does tours of local breweries, distilleries, and cider makers. Their fleet of all newer model vehicles includes SUVs, sedans, and luxury vans for the ultimate in comfort. They can accomodate up to 14 people per vehicle and are available for special events and airport transportation as well.
The Bottom Line
Virginia’s wine country is an underrated, top-notch wine destination that produces some of the world’s finest Petit Manseng, as well as classic European grape varieties like Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay. The beautiful, rolling Virginia countryside filled with lush greenery provides the perfect setting for a relaxing getaway, and booking a wine tour is the perfect way to experience this wonderful part of the country.
