Being a train driver myself I must say, that you are probably one of the greatest ambassadors of train-travel! Thank you so much for promoting our railways and the people working on them 👏👏👏.
Without YOU doing some exploring, I would not even know this existed. A beautiful experience from the train to the food to the winery...and two badass mullets.
You can say that again! I feel the same way too. Watching from the UK 🇬🇧 and Michael really inspires me by his creativity and genius. He is a great UA-camr ‼️
Great adventure! The wine train is awesome with the restored car! The tour of the winery was great, specially the wine and piano combined! I have toured a few wineries, but never has the wine been set to music. Thank you for the invite on this very enjoyable trip!
What an absolutely amazing experience! The cellar tasting with the musical interpretation of the wine...wow wow wow! How unique and special was that! As an avid wine lover, this episode brought tears of joy to my eyes...thank you for sharing this with us! ❤️
When my husband & I honeymooned in San Francisco we went to Napa Valley. I want to go back & do this tasting train ride. We went to the Castello di Amarosa. The Vineyard owner had been to Tuscany & he designed his vineyard based on the vineyards there. The stones for the castle he imported from there. More importantly his wines are amazing. He doesn't distribute to retailers, this way he focuses solely on the wine. Of course, that means you order directly from them.
I love Castello and also thought that would be a great winery for Mike to visit. There was a show filmed at the winery for Disney+ and they really did a great job turning it into a medieval fantasy type age.
How incredible that each car is a different experience! All of them were beautiful and I would love to do any of them, but that Afternoon Tea car was calling my name. I’m not a wine fan, but I could drink tea all day long. I love that you went to Monticello after the train and got offered to go on a tour. The wine master “playing the wine” on the piano was so cool. I love that you got to experience this and share it with us ❤
Glad you could finally make it my hometown train!! Lived in Napa when they first started it... Got to watch them restore the cars before they first opened to the public. it was a big back and forth between locals and the train operators... They didn't want the train going through town... I've taken the trip three times! Good trip even for non wine lovery .. It is an Experience! Thanks Mike 😎
The sunrise in the morning...as a new dawn about to break...birds singing in the tree tops...as nature slowly awake...those golden leaves of autumn...a season I truly adore...spring and summer flowers...who could ask for more...a rainbow of many colours...those beautiful northern lights...each raindrop falling from heaven...given every living thing its life...the sound of rolling seas...gently brushing on golden sands...lovers deep in thought...walk past tenderly holding hands...💖
We did this train 20 years ago! We booked the rear car, and lets just say we tried a fair bit of wine and spent most of the journey on the rear deck! It's a fantastic trip, and well worth it. Good to see it's still running.
Michael, you are fantastic! Very nice work capturing the elegance of the experience coupled with the fun and energy of our Napa Valley! Thank you and cannot wait to see you again soon,
Good to see California promoting this concept of touring wineries on a train.. B.C. used to have a similar train trip based in Kelowna but it is long gone, as well as the local railway it ran on.
This particular trip looked like a LOT of fun! Not to mention utterly delicious! The highly anticipated bathroom tour of this particular trip also showed us that it is safe to assume that we will NOT be seeing stylish and comfortable bathrooms like we saw on this train on any Amtrak trains any time soon! Thanks for this latest trip and salute!
Back in 1988 I used to live in St Helena. The Wine Train blew its horn on Saturday mornings, while I was trying to sleep, 50 feet from my bedroom window. I hated the wine train. Hha! I was young and dumb. I no longer live near the tracks and would probably enjoy the experience of the ride, food, and wine. Thanks for the video! Monticello stores their wine at the warehouse I manage! Glad you enjoyed.
Hi Michael!!! I am so glad you took up UA-cam. Your vlogs give me so much joy as you are one reason why I finally decided to share my UK 🇬🇧 journeys & journeys beyond Britain. You were the person I needed to see. The dining part on the train with the views passing by is the best😍‼️
Thanks Mike! This video makes me want to kick myself hard. I lived in this area for eleven years. In my first visit to the Napa Valley, and being a railfan myself, I noticed the abandoned tracks on my way to Mustards (… a fabulous and iconic Napa restaurant nestled in acres of bright yellow mustard bushes,) and said to my then girlfriend that a train on these tracks would be such a very cool idea. And then it came to pass the Napa Valley Wine train came into existence and I promised myself that I would take it, and promised and promised myself again that I would take it… and like a dunce, I never did. Your video today reminds me of my idiocy of not taking the trip that I dreamed of when I first saw those abandoned rails… and reminds me of how that train grew into the experience that it has become today. Beautiful video and such a sad reminder at the same time. Thanks.
Can we give some appreciation to Jo here 😍! Looks like a great day out, full of good food and good times (I am not a wine fan to appreciate the drinking) and what looked plus sounded like some amazing wine knowledge!
Love this! I moved from Montreal to SF in 2005 and haven’t done the wine train. This video is inspiring me to ride it this summer. Thanks for sharing your travel adventures!
This vlog was so enjoyable that it has compelled me to see how I can incorporate the NAPA WINE TRAIN into my travel schedule between now and the end of the year.
Dude! That train is my childhood!! Still love it to this day. I used to ride it a lot when I was younger, but now I chase it and do video/photoshooting of it whenever I’m in the area. The inside of the train is just like I remember. I hope to one day ride in the dome car as I’ve never been in that car before. Amazing video, and thanks for visiting my childhood railroad, you rlly made my day. 25/10!!
I lived in Napa for about 3 years and never really had a desire to ride the train. Always thought it was a mega tourist trap but it does look pretty fun
Mike, I've been to a lot of winetasting's over the years, I'm 81 years young, and the only thing that matters is, did I have a good time, did I enjoy the food and wine experience? Be in the moment whether alone or with friends or family because life is a one way journey, Carpe Diem! Cheers, Rik Spector
This is my favorite vlog so far and a high bar is set. I have to try the wine train and I must go to Monticello too. The pairing of Wine with food is glorious, but the pairing of it with music must be sublime! I can't wait!
The man at the piano appears to be demonstrating synesthesia, where two senses overlap and cause effects like being able to taste a sound or see letters in color. When he tastes the wine, his brain interprets the taste as sound, which he can then play to make a sound others can hear. I have this and can also interpret some words and sounds as having a flavor. It's fascinating and cool to see someone demonstrate it like this.
Am taking the California zephyr this Oct (because of you and Will Edmond videos) to go to Napa. I wasn’t going to do the wine train cause I would have been on a train for 53 hours. But this video really helped me decide to do it. ❤
Once again, you've done a remarkable job of folding us into your fun train trips. Around 2007, I rode this same Wine Train but, in the Dome Car ($90 then) & the experience was delicious! Thanks for the reminder Michael 😄🤩!
This was such a great video. I love the way the wine master explained the creation of the wine! That was great what a talent. Beautiful train too. Loved it all thanks for taking us along!
Watching UA-cam for many years. Recommend for rail fans and travel enthusiasm. Before it too late I must admit this is one of best UA-cam channel ever. Good luck and well Done ! Downie, wish you all the best for future rail fans Videos.God bless !
As I live near Napa and have ridden the wold famous Napa Valley Wine Train multiple of times I enjoy it even more every time. My company does the maintenance work on their rails. Glad you and your mate enjoyed it.
Awesome.. My wife and I traveled the Wine Train a number of years ago and only had one experience though wonderful in itself, your trip is one that makes us want to experience the trip again.. Many Thanks for taking us alone.
Weather has been gorgeous in this area this week. Hope you were visiting recently and got to enjoy it. No foodie, no matter how introverted, is going to turn down a chance to go to Napa or Sonoma Valley...ever. lol
Awesome video Mike, Now that we've moved to Oregon we'll have to do that as tourist back to California now. The wine train used to be an hour's drive away but we never did it just toured wineries and stayed at various inns. I think I always thought it went too fast, like a lot of train rides can be. That's why I love the Coast Starlight!
As usual, you brightened the end of my day with a couple of your videos. Being a no. Calif. resident for most of my adult life, I’ve seen but never ridden the wine train. 😅I have frequently seen it on my many trips to the Napa Valley, I’ve just never booked it… Now who’s sorry? ME!! THANK YOU! Love your videos. You are the benchmark against which I measure all other travel videos. ….and that’s not just B.S., I promise.
Whenever I see something really cool like this and think, “I would like to try that!” my first stop on the company’s website is to see how they handle food allergies. My husband has celiac and cannot eat gluten, even a small amount will make him sick. Unfortunately a lot of places don’t accommodate that. Imagine my delight when I visited the wine train website to see the had a clear FAQ including food allergies and they said they could handle it, they are used to it and “you are in good hands”. A major shoutout to them and to you for highlighting a great opportunity like this! I see an anniversary train trip in our future. ❤🥂
I haven't taken the wine train but you make it appealing. I'm most impressed by the fact that it's not just one plan for all bu.t five different ways to experience it. Nice surprise at the end!
Go in-person to the wineries. The smaller ones usually have free samples and snacks. The bigger wineries charge to get in, but have museums, gourmet snacks, bigger bottles. One even has a zoo. Don't miss the Japanese Sake Factory.... River walk. Go nortth for mud baths, mineral springs, petrified forest, geyser, etc. Spend a week with the lakes, hiking, and gondola.
Love this video. You should do the Elephant Express or the Bamba tram in Zimbabwe. Both run through national parks with the chance of bumping into lions or elephants.
@@DownieLive Yeah, plenty of epic rail adventures in my part of the world. Rovos Rail from Pretoria to Victoria Falls is a classic, look it up!! The railway museum in my city Bulawayo has some amazing engines and cars from the 19th century.
Oh, this is absolutely cool. In South Moravia (very much wine country), we've also decided to name particular EMUs after different wines. First two of these EMUs are named Pálava and Fretava... The first of these was actually created around here.
Hi, I've been in Napa Valley last month and saw the train runs in front of my rented car, but now that I saw your video, for sure next time I will be taking that train, that looks to be amazing and have that nice experience you are sharing with us right now... thank you.
Back when I lived in Napa and Vince owned the train when they first began refurbishing cars I was the one who did most of the bronze laminated window glass for the trains. Helped me start my own glass shop.
Okay, I'm sold. Just added this to my bucket list for sure. Thank you guys for sharing this experience. Wind and being on a train....doesn't get any better than that for sure!
There was a Cajun guy in Louisiana named Justin Wilson who did several cooking shows for PBS and his suggestion for wine was (paraphrasing) buy/drink what you like, plain and simple.
What a great experience this video is. I see where the grapes are grown, then turned to wine, then I see you drinking them on the train, and then I get to see where you make big poops. What a great idea
that was one of those treats you can't predict... coming from a wine producing (new!) area, which is in Santa Cruz, down to Paso Robles, and inland... I've met so many very unique owners and vintners who also surround themselves with very talented people. I'm looking at a painting made by one of my special friends, and a musician as well. I've met perhaps a dozen or so good friends and wineries where the relationship has evolved to the point of extending my family. My friend and I, both who have wonderful daughters, now have two more, plus their husbands are our new sons. Sorry to write so much, but I lost my place there due to the severe fires that occurred, and have moved. I'd love to go back, but I will be a visitor now, and it won't be the same. Still, you reminded me of the wonderful times I've had, and as well my many visits north of the bay to some of the more established (older) wineries, and really just feeling like a part of some incredible history. I've been on that train for special holiday events and even a murder mystery train / dinner, and it was all magical. Thanks Downie.
My husband and I took the Wine Train awhile back and it was a fun experience. Our lunch was excellent, much better than we expected. We enjoyed the tour/ wine tasting at Grgich Hills. I'd recommend it.
DownieLive, we have a train in South Africa where you can enjoy the balcony and wine or whatever drink you prefer, one of the most luxurious trains in the world - Rovos Rail's Pride of Africa, come visit us sometime down here
Only 10 hours after releasing this, you have 2.9K likes and I'm the 193rd comment. Mike, you are maturing like wine with this presentation of an experience that was in its infancy when I was in the Napa Valley towards the end of my 1989 US/Canada trip. Great that you had a food and wine raconteur to accompany you and together you presented some of life's finer joys. Riding on an open platform at the end of a train sipping wine is an experience that can be enjoyed in a few other places as well. Quite a number of Tourist Railways worldwide now have wine and dine experiences and, yes, there are several within hours of where I live. Love that AG1 sponsored you on this trip and, as their product is Kiwi in origin, I wonder if they will combine with Air New Zealand to sponsor you (and a friend) to come downunder to experience New Zealand (and Australian) wines and fine dining (including on trains). Just a thought! Anyway, looking forward to where you are going next! Cheers from me in Melbourne.🙂🙂🙂
Thanks for another great video adventure. Yes a great combination a vintage train ridding through the wine country while enjoying the finished product with good food. As you said nothing beats that open porch on the rear of the train for even more of that old time railroading experience. About the closet thing I had similar to this was several years ago on my return trip from Portland, Oregon on the Amtrak Empire Builder. After lunch the sleeping car passengers were invited to enjoy a wine and cheese reception in the dinning car. They featured several wines from the Pacific Northwest to enjoy. Near the end they had a quiz where if you answered correctly to a question you won a bottle of one of the wines they featured. I was lucky enough to win a bottle that I shared with some other people I met that night for dinner in the dinning car. Keep up those great train trips and those little extras you always seem to discover along the way.
Great video as always! I'm only 18, though, so I can't drink, but after I turn 21, I will definitely put this train on my bucket list! It just looks awesome!
I remember seeing that train when it was just an engine with one car attached. Nice to see they are such a success. The craft beer in that area can also provide a nice experience, with outside gardens and lit up old men trying to hit on my girl.
This video was beautiful. The part with the winery brought it all together. I'm quite impressed. My Sister in law would love this, she goes to wine tasting when she travels. Thanks Micheal, another great adventure.
Wow I was not expecting that. Amazing that was so much fun to watch. Thank you! Keep up the amazing content. You genuinely enjoy your adventures and I truly feel that you would have all of us on your adventures! Cheers!!!
Hey Mike, A little side note about the dome car, it goes back originally to the Milwaukee Road but it did see some CN service after Milwaukee Road sold it. Also when you did the dead head move video in the fall you took a ride on a “sister car” to the dome in Napa.
Mike, I love Napa and Sonoma California. I didn't know about the wine train. I will be riding that on my next trip. Now, which experience to start with? hmmmmm Thanks for bringing us along. Can't wait for your next adventure...
I was on the Napa Valley Wine Train many years ago. I think we were served lunch. I don't think it was seven courses. Are you going to ride the Skunk Train next? (A few hours north in Fort Bragg, CA)
It's takes a train man to show the Wine Train. Never seem the Wine Train by a wine person. Good Job. Winery experiences beyond the casual visitor, tasting room experience can be fantastic. Used to spend many an afternoon on the deck at a boutique winery, reading a book. Soon, I was helping out here and there. Bottling day, you have to constantly taste test, for quality control.
Being a train driver myself I must say, that you are probably one of the greatest ambassadors of train-travel! Thank you so much for promoting our railways and the people working on them 👏👏👏.
He does such a great job
@@nomadicgenealogist Phenomenal job 🙏
Agreed! ❤🚂👍
Where do you drive trains?
Train driver... my grandfather was a train engineer for 30 years. When did they change the name?
I think it's absolutely wonderful how he associates the different wines with musical notes
thanks for brining me along pal! ✌🏼
Without YOU doing some exploring, I would not even know this existed. A beautiful experience from the train to the food to the winery...and two badass mullets.
Same!
I love the quality that goes into these videos, the storytelling, editing, and the videography. Another train added to my bucket list
You can say that again! I feel the same way too. Watching from the UK 🇬🇧 and Michael really inspires me by his creativity and genius. He is a great UA-camr ‼️
Great adventure! The wine train is awesome with the restored car! The tour of the winery was great, specially the wine and piano combined! I have toured a few wineries, but never has the wine been set to music. Thank you for the invite on this very enjoyable trip!
What an absolutely amazing experience! The cellar tasting with the musical interpretation of the wine...wow wow wow! How unique and special was that! As an avid wine lover, this episode brought tears of joy to my eyes...thank you for sharing this with us! ❤️
You just know the wine-master loves his job by the way he talks about wine and the piano playing 😎
Great video, thx 👍🏼🚂
I really loved seeing the Napa Valley wine Train with you & your friend Joel. The cars were so elegant. Very inviting.
When my husband & I honeymooned in San Francisco we went to Napa Valley. I want to go back & do this tasting train ride. We went to the Castello di Amarosa. The Vineyard owner had been to Tuscany & he designed his vineyard based on the vineyards there. The stones for the castle he imported from there. More importantly his wines are amazing. He doesn't distribute to retailers, this way he focuses solely on the wine. Of course, that means you order directly from them.
I love Castello and also thought that would be a great winery for Mike to visit. There was a show filmed at the winery for Disney+ and they really did a great job turning it into a medieval fantasy type age.
So many of my favorite things in one video. Beautiful scenery, train travel, delicious adult beverages, tasty meals, and friendship! 🍷🥂🚂
Lisa, you said what I was thinking, but stated it a lot more eloquently. So I must add a like to your statement, Merci
How incredible that each car is a different experience! All of them were beautiful and I would love to do any of them, but that Afternoon Tea car was calling my name. I’m not a wine fan, but I could drink tea all day long. I love that you went to Monticello after the train and got offered to go on a tour. The wine master “playing the wine” on the piano was so cool. I love that you got to experience this and share it with us ❤
Glad you could finally make it my hometown train!! Lived in Napa when they first started it... Got to watch them restore the cars before they first opened to the public. it was a big back and forth between locals and the train operators... They didn't want the train going through town... I've taken the trip three times! Good trip even for non wine lovery .. It is an Experience! Thanks Mike 😎
The sunrise in the morning...as a new dawn about to break...birds singing in the tree tops...as nature slowly awake...those golden leaves of autumn...a season I truly adore...spring and summer flowers...who could ask for more...a rainbow of many colours...those beautiful northern lights...each raindrop falling from heaven...given every living thing its life...the sound of rolling seas...gently brushing on golden sands...lovers deep in thought...walk past tenderly holding hands...💖
We did this train 20 years ago! We booked the rear car, and lets just say we tried a fair bit of wine and spent most of the journey on the rear deck! It's a fantastic trip, and well worth it. Good to see it's still running.
It’s a beautiful train, but a bit too expensive now. I took a few rides in the 1980s when it cost a lot less. I’m glad you got to ride😊👍🏻
Michael, you are fantastic! Very nice work capturing the elegance of the experience coupled with the fun and energy of our Napa Valley! Thank you and cannot wait to see you again soon,
Thank you for hosting us Nathan, and the surprising Monticello recommendation to end it all off!
Good to see California promoting this concept of touring wineries on a train.. B.C. used to have a similar train trip based in Kelowna but it is long gone, as well as the local railway it ran on.
This particular trip looked like a LOT of fun! Not to mention utterly delicious! The highly anticipated bathroom tour of this particular trip also showed us that it is safe to assume that we will NOT be seeing stylish and comfortable bathrooms like we saw on this train on any Amtrak trains any time soon! Thanks for this latest trip and salute!
Back in 1988 I used to live in St Helena. The Wine Train blew its horn on Saturday mornings, while I was trying to sleep, 50 feet from my bedroom window. I hated the wine train. Hha! I was young and dumb. I no longer live near the tracks and would probably enjoy the experience of the ride, food, and wine. Thanks for the video! Monticello stores their wine at the warehouse I manage! Glad you enjoyed.
Wow incredible I wish Chautauqua County New York and upstate New York would do something like that
Oh man, I gotta show my husband this video--he's a wine newbie, and he'd love this as a vacation destination!
So happy you picked this train. I live not far from Napa and have been very interested in riding this train. Thanks Downie
Maybe it isn't all coincidence that we use the word 'note' for both music and wine tasting. Incredible stuff.
ALSO OMG I LOVE Joe Lee’s channel! It’s so nice to see them here. A trip with Joe and Ryan needs to happen ASAP.
Oh yes, that's a good idea!
Great Idea! My vote is in. ❤ 😊
Hi Michael!!! I am so glad you took up UA-cam. Your vlogs give me so much joy as you are one reason why I finally decided to share my UK 🇬🇧 journeys & journeys beyond Britain. You were the person I needed to see. The dining part on the train with the views passing by is the best😍‼️
Thanks Mike! This video makes me want to kick myself hard. I lived in this area for eleven years. In my first visit to the Napa Valley, and being a railfan myself, I noticed the abandoned tracks on my way to Mustards (… a fabulous and iconic Napa restaurant nestled in acres of bright yellow mustard bushes,) and said to my then girlfriend that a train on these tracks would be such a very cool idea. And then it came to pass the Napa Valley Wine train came into existence and I promised myself that I would take it, and promised and promised myself again that I would take it… and like a dunce, I never did. Your video today reminds me of my idiocy of not taking the trip that I dreamed of when I first saw those abandoned rails… and reminds me of how that train grew into the experience that it has become today. Beautiful video and such a sad reminder at the same time. Thanks.
Love love love this video! The train, the wine, the food and the piano! That brought so much to the experience of watching this. Wonderful!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Can we give some appreciation to Jo here 😍! Looks like a great day out, full of good food and good times (I am not a wine fan to appreciate the drinking) and what looked plus sounded like some amazing wine knowledge!
Love this! I moved from Montreal to SF in 2005 and haven’t done the wine train. This video is inspiring me to ride it this summer. Thanks for sharing your travel adventures!
Riding the Napa Wine Train has been on my bucket list for a while. Watching this video just moved it toward the top of my list.
Best thing about that train besides the scenery is the food!
This vlog was so enjoyable that it has compelled me to see how I can incorporate the NAPA WINE TRAIN into my travel schedule between now and the end of the year.
Dude! That train is my childhood!! Still love it to this day. I used to ride it a lot when I was younger, but now I chase it and do video/photoshooting of it whenever I’m in the area. The inside of the train is just like I remember. I hope to one day ride in the dome car as I’ve never been in that car before. Amazing video, and thanks for visiting my childhood railroad, you rlly made my day. 25/10!!
I lived in Napa for about 3 years and never really had a desire to ride the train. Always thought it was a mega tourist trap but it does look pretty fun
Mike,
I've been to a lot of winetasting's over the years, I'm 81 years young,
and the only thing that matters is, did I have a good time, did I enjoy the food and
wine experience?
Be in the moment whether alone or with friends or family because life is a one way journey,
Carpe Diem!
Cheers,
Rik Spector
This is my favorite vlog so far and a high bar is set. I have to try the wine train and I must go to Monticello too. The pairing of Wine with food is glorious, but the pairing of it with music must be sublime! I can't wait!
This kind of Train and scenery makes me feel unwind...
Wow, another train added to my bucket list for videos and experience. My favorite part was hearing how his wine sounds to him!!
The man at the piano appears to be demonstrating synesthesia, where two senses overlap and cause effects like being able to taste a sound or see letters in color. When he tastes the wine, his brain interprets the taste as sound, which he can then play to make a sound others can hear. I have this and can also interpret some words and sounds as having a flavor. It's fascinating and cool to see someone demonstrate it like this.
Am taking the California zephyr this Oct (because of you and Will Edmond videos) to go to Napa. I wasn’t going to do the wine train cause I would have been on a train for 53 hours. But this video really helped me decide to do it. ❤
Whenever we had family from the UK, we always arranged for them to do the Wine Train. It was often the highlight of their vacation.
What a beautiful train inside and out. The atmosphere must have given it an old-timey feel.
Once again, you've done a remarkable job of folding us into your fun train trips. Around 2007, I rode this same Wine Train but, in the Dome Car ($90 then) & the experience was delicious! Thanks for the reminder Michael 😄🤩!
This was such a great video. I love the way the wine master explained the creation of the wine! That was great what a talent. Beautiful train too. Loved it all thanks for taking us along!
Watching UA-cam for many years. Recommend for rail fans and travel enthusiasm. Before it too late I must admit this is one of best UA-cam channel ever. Good luck and well Done ! Downie, wish you all the best for future rail fans Videos.God bless !
Thanks so much, Rukantha! I appreciate the support.
Hands down the best train blogger on the TUBE. Make that the best travel blogger. The sense of pure fun is palpable. Thanks, big guy.. waynus xx
Wow, thanks!
As I live near Napa and have ridden the wold famous Napa Valley Wine Train multiple of times I enjoy it even more every time. My company does the maintenance work on their rails. Glad you and your mate enjoyed it.
My family gave my grandmother a celebration of life on the -Wine train it was so nice. I highly recommended it
Chris is great, I grew up with his son and we spent countless times running around Monticello. Good times.
Awesome.. My wife and I traveled the Wine Train a number of years ago and only had one experience though wonderful in itself, your trip is one that makes us want to experience the trip again.. Many Thanks for taking us alone.
As someone from Napa valley who has been watching your channel for about a year welcome !
Weather has been gorgeous in this area this week. Hope you were visiting recently and got to enjoy it.
No foodie, no matter how introverted, is going to turn down a chance to go to Napa or Sonoma Valley...ever. lol
Awesome video Mike, Now that we've moved to Oregon we'll have to do that as tourist back to California now. The wine train used to be an hour's drive away but we never did it just toured wineries and stayed at various inns. I think I always thought it went too fast, like a lot of train rides can be. That's why I love the Coast Starlight!
As usual, you brightened the end of my day with a couple of your videos. Being a no. Calif. resident for most of my adult life, I’ve seen but never ridden the wine train. 😅I have frequently seen it on my many trips to the Napa Valley, I’ve just never booked it… Now who’s sorry? ME!! THANK YOU! Love your videos. You are the benchmark against which I measure all other travel videos. ….and that’s not just B.S., I promise.
That train and the food look absolutely magnificent!
Very nice! Gathering together on the Wine Train and enjoy the moment.
I love the Napa wine train....did that on my birthday in 2012. One of my favorite birthdays ever.
Great video of beautiful Napa Valley and it's wine, food, and people! THX!
Whenever I see something really cool like this and think, “I would like to try that!” my first stop on the company’s website is to see how they handle food allergies. My husband has celiac and cannot eat gluten, even a small amount will make him sick. Unfortunately a lot of places don’t accommodate that. Imagine my delight when I visited the wine train website to see the had a clear FAQ including food allergies and they said they could handle it, they are used to it and “you are in good hands”. A major shoutout to them and to you for highlighting a great opportunity like this! I see an anniversary train trip in our future. ❤🥂
Absolutely beautiful Mike. That's a wonderful experience. Thank you for letting me ride along with you guys. Greetings from North Mississippi.
I haven't taken the wine train but you make it appealing. I'm most impressed by the fact that it's not just one plan for all bu.t five different ways to experience it. Nice surprise at the end!
Go in-person to the wineries. The smaller ones usually have free samples and snacks. The bigger wineries charge to get in, but have museums, gourmet snacks, bigger bottles. One even has a zoo. Don't miss the Japanese Sake Factory.... River walk. Go nortth for mud baths, mineral springs, petrified forest, geyser, etc. Spend a week with the lakes, hiking, and gondola.
At first I thought this was a channel of people with downs because I saw those quad bikes, now I'm sitting here watching your whole library. Mad love.
Love this video. You should do the Elephant Express or the Bamba tram in Zimbabwe. Both run through national parks with the chance of bumping into lions or elephants.
That would be amazing!
@@DownieLive Yeah, plenty of epic rail adventures in my part of the world. Rovos Rail from Pretoria to Victoria Falls is a classic, look it up!! The railway museum in my city Bulawayo has some amazing engines and cars from the 19th century.
Oh, this is absolutely cool. In South Moravia (very much wine country), we've also decided to name particular EMUs after different wines. First two of these EMUs are named Pálava and Fretava... The first of these was actually created around here.
Hi, I've been in Napa Valley last month and saw the train runs in front of my rented car, but now that I saw your video, for sure next time I will be taking that train, that looks to be amazing and have that nice experience you are sharing with us right now... thank you.
Thanks! Mike this is one of your best journeys. I so appreciate it and now it is definitely on my bucket list thanks to you.
Thank you Delores! I truly appreciate the support!
Back when I lived in Napa and Vince owned the train when they first began refurbishing cars I was the one who did most of the bronze laminated window glass for the trains. Helped me start my own glass shop.
Okay, I'm sold. Just added this to my bucket list for sure. Thank you guys for sharing this experience. Wind and being on a train....doesn't get any better than that for sure!
Have fun!
Really enjoyed this one! Thanks a lot for producing such great content for train fans!
Wow! Thanks Fabian! I really appreciate the support. I'm happy to bring you more videos like this!
WOW, another great train trip. Looking forward to your next exploration.
What a fun train, that looks like quite a fun time!
I agree too, let the mullet flow!
We mature like fine wine! Mellow trip…🌸Thank you
Most excellent as always, Michael! You definitely have good 'taste' in different wines and foods.
Went on my first train in Palestine TX! Historical tour and lunch was provided along with snacks and beverages
There was a Cajun guy in Louisiana named Justin Wilson who did several cooking shows for PBS and his suggestion for wine was (paraphrasing) buy/drink what you like, plain and simple.
What a great experience this video is. I see where the grapes are grown, then turned to wine, then I see you drinking them on the train, and then I get to see where you make big poops. What a great idea
Nobody going to mention the coyote at 2:47? Incredible shot
What a video! The beautiful train, and the whole experience - and that music at the end, oh I wanna do this so bad!☺Thank you Mike!
that was one of those treats you can't predict... coming from a wine producing (new!) area, which is in Santa Cruz, down to Paso Robles, and inland... I've met so many very unique owners and vintners who also surround themselves with very talented people. I'm looking at a painting made by one of my special friends, and a musician as well. I've met perhaps a dozen or so good friends and wineries where the relationship has evolved to the point of extending my family. My friend and I, both who have wonderful daughters, now have two more, plus their husbands are our new sons. Sorry to write so much, but I lost my place there due to the severe fires that occurred, and have moved. I'd love to go back, but I will be a visitor now, and it won't be the same. Still, you reminded me of the wonderful times I've had, and as well my many visits north of the bay to some of the more established (older) wineries, and really just feeling like a part of some incredible history. I've been on that train for special holiday events and even a murder mystery train / dinner, and it was all magical. Thanks Downie.
My husband and I took the Wine Train awhile back and it was a fun experience. Our lunch was excellent, much better than we expected. We enjoyed the tour/ wine tasting at Grgich Hills. I'd recommend it.
DownieLive, we have a train in South Africa where you can enjoy the balcony and wine or whatever drink you prefer, one of the most luxurious trains in the world - Rovos Rail's Pride of Africa, come visit us sometime down here
Only 10 hours after releasing this, you have 2.9K likes and I'm the 193rd comment. Mike, you are maturing like wine with this presentation of an experience that was in its infancy when I was in the Napa Valley towards the end of my 1989 US/Canada trip.
Great that you had a food and wine raconteur to accompany you and together you presented some of life's finer joys. Riding on an open platform at the end of a train sipping wine is an experience that can be enjoyed in a few other places as well. Quite a number of Tourist Railways worldwide now have wine and dine experiences and, yes, there are several within hours of where I live.
Love that AG1 sponsored you on this trip and, as their product is Kiwi in origin, I wonder if they will combine with Air New Zealand to sponsor you (and a friend) to come downunder to experience New Zealand (and Australian) wines and fine dining (including on trains).
Just a thought! Anyway, looking forward to where you are going next! Cheers from me in Melbourne.🙂🙂🙂
Belle Glos Clark & Telephone Pinot Noir is my FAVORITE!!! You are trying the EULENLOCH which is still a phenomenal wine.
Thanks for another great video adventure. Yes a great combination a vintage train ridding through the wine country while enjoying the finished product with good food. As you said nothing beats that open porch on the rear of the train for even more of that old time railroading experience. About the closet thing I had similar to this was several years ago on my return trip from Portland, Oregon on the Amtrak Empire Builder. After lunch the sleeping car passengers were invited to enjoy a wine and cheese reception in the dinning car. They featured several wines from the Pacific Northwest to enjoy. Near the end they had a quiz where if you answered correctly to a question you won a bottle of one of the wines they featured. I was lucky enough to win a bottle that I shared with some other people I met that night for dinner in the dinning car. Keep up those great train trips and those little extras you always seem to discover along the way.
Great video as always! I'm only 18, though, so I can't drink, but after I turn 21, I will definitely put this train on my bucket list! It just looks awesome!
I remember seeing that train when it was just an engine with one car attached. Nice to see they are such a success. The craft beer in that area can also provide a nice experience, with outside gardens and lit up old men trying to hit on my girl.
This video was beautiful. The part with the winery brought it all together. I'm quite impressed. My Sister in law would love this, she goes to wine tasting when she travels. Thanks Micheal, another great adventure.
Wow I was not expecting that. Amazing that was so much fun to watch. Thank you! Keep up the amazing content. You genuinely enjoy your adventures and I truly feel that you would have all of us on your adventures! Cheers!!!
Hey Mike,
A little side note about the dome car, it goes back originally to the Milwaukee Road but it did see some CN service after Milwaukee Road sold it. Also when you did the dead head move video in the fall you took a ride on a “sister car” to the dome in Napa.
Wow, this trip will be added to our bucket list. Thank you for another fine video.
The sounds of wine are unmatched
that is insane! how you can hear wine! that is a wild expericance to hear it blend! thanks so much for your videos!!!
My pleasure!
Bonus experiences are the best
I am so trying to talk my family into this. I’m disabled, and this looks like an amazing way to see the area.
Mike, I love Napa and Sonoma California. I didn't know about the wine train. I will be riding that on my next trip. Now, which experience to start with? hmmmmm Thanks for bringing us along. Can't wait for your next adventure...
I was on the Napa Valley Wine Train many years ago. I think we were served lunch. I don't think it was seven courses. Are you going to ride the Skunk Train next? (A few hours north in Fort Bragg, CA)
I loved this! I will go down and take this trip! Thank you for showing us and taking us on another of your adventures. :)
It's takes a train man to show the Wine Train. Never seem the Wine Train by a wine person. Good Job. Winery experiences beyond the casual visitor, tasting room experience can be fantastic. Used to spend many an afternoon on the deck at a boutique winery, reading a book. Soon, I was helping out here and there. Bottling day, you have to constantly taste test, for quality control.