Choosing between a private and a shared wine tour
Both are run by NW Touring & Concierge, in the same Sprinters, with a local host. A shared tour puts you in the van with other guests for five hours, on a route and schedule we set in advance, at a price per person. A private tour is your group alone, on the date you choose, with the day planned around what you enjoy, priced by the hour.
Couples and solo travelers are often well served by a shared day. Groups, and anyone celebrating something, usually want a private one.
The two, compared
| Detail | Shared tour | Private tour |
|---|---|---|
| Who is in the van | You and other guests | Only your group |
| Price | $95 per guest, or $115 with lunch | For two, from $85 an hour Sunday–Wednesday and $95 an hour Thursday–Saturday |
| Lunch | Included at the $115 rate | Planned into the day; the meal is paid separately |
| Winery tasting fees | You pay each winery directly, typically $20 to $50 per person. | You pay each winery directly, typically $20 to $50 per person. |
| Length | Five hours | A four-hour minimum Sunday–Wednesday and five hours Thursday–Saturday. Most days run five and a half to six and a half hours. |
| Route and wineries | Set in advance | Planned around your group |
| Date | Scheduled departures | The date you choose |
| When it goes ahead | Any day of the week, once two guests have booked Sunday–Wednesday or six Thursday–Saturday | On your date, whether or not anyone else books |
| How you book | Through our partner, Walla Walla Travel | Directly with us |
Gratuity is at your discretion, and prices exclude tax.
A quick way to decide
A shared tour suits you if
- You are a couple, or traveling on your own.
- You would enjoy meeting other people who came for the same reason.
- A set route and start time fit your plans.
A private tour suits you if
- You are traveling as a group, or celebrating something.
- You want to choose the date and set the pace.
- You have wineries in mind, or tastes you would like the day built around.
If your group is three to five people
Sunday through Wednesday, a shared tour goes ahead once two guests have booked, so a small group can usually join one. Thursday through Saturday it needs six. A group of three to five can book seats and wait for the departure to fill, or take a private day, which goes ahead on your date either way.
For a group of nine or more, a private tour is typically the better value, and it runs on your date whether or not anyone else books; contact us for more information.
The same team runs both
Every shared departure and every private day is planned and driven by NW Touring & Concierge, in our late-model Mercedes-Benz Sprinters. We are licensed in Washington State and for interstate travel; the credentials are on our licensing page. For more on each, see private tours and shared tours.
Tell us who you are bringing
Send your date and group size, and we will be in touch, usually within a few hours, to start working through the details with you. Looking for a shared seat instead? Current dates are on Walla Walla Travel.
