Old Vine Express Sacramento
A Romantic Wine Train in Sacramento
If you’re searching for a fun and unique experience in Sacramento, the Old Vine Express offers a relaxed, scenic wine tasting experience without the crowds of Napa.
This guide covers everything you need to know before booking in 2026, including pricing, what’s included, seating arrangements, booking strategy, scenery, and whether it’s actually worth the price.
What Is the Old Vine Express?
The Old Vine Express is a 2-hour wine tasting train experience in Sacramento operated by the River Fox Train. It runs exclusively on Saturdays and Sundays and is a 21+ experience.
This is a slow ride through the countryside. It’s not a vineyard loop or a high-speed excursion.
The focus is on:
- A curated wine tasting that focuses on five local wines.
- A relaxed social atmosphere.
- Scenic farmland views.
- A structured, hosted experience.
During the ride, you’ll catch:
- A brief view of the Sacramento River.
- Wide-open agricultural landscapes.
- Possible views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains from the east side of the train.
You’re free to get up and explore, including access to the open-air cars for fresh air and unobstructed views.
The Wine Experience: What You Actually Get
The wines are sourced from Turkovich Family Wines in Winters, California. Which is a well-respected local producer known for balanced, approachable varietals.
Included in Your Ticket
- A welcome glass of bubbly rosé.
- Five pours progressing from white to red.
- Generous pour sizes (noticeably larger than many tasting rooms).
- A charcuterie board to snack on.
- A dessert plate with strawberries, cake, and melted chocolate.
- Two full hours on the rails.
The pours are substantial, and the pacing feels deliberate rather than rushed.
At the end of the ride, you can purchase bottles of any wines you enjoyed. During our experience, we were offered a buy one bottle, get a house bottle free promotion.
Which is a solid deal if you were already planning to snag a bottle.
Seating & Social Atmosphere
If you book as a party of two, you may be seated with another couple.
We were paired with visitors from Nevada who were friendly and added to the experience. If you prefer a private table, book with a group of four.
The vibe is:
- Social but not loud.
- Relaxed but structured.
- Ideal for conversation.
It works particularly well for:
- Date nights.
- Birthday celebrations.
- Anniversaries.
- Girls’ weekends.
- Visitors from out of town.
Old Vine Express Pricing
As of February 2026:
- ~$160 per person.
- Operates Saturdays and Sundays only.
For context, premium tastings in Napa Valley can be upwards of $125 - $150 per tasting flight without food, transportation, or a curated experience.
When you factor in:
- Five generous pours.
- Food and dessert.
- A two-hour train ride experience.
- Staffed hosting.

The pricing starts to feel more justified.
Old Vine Express vs. Napa Wine Train
Category Old Vine Express Napa Wine Train
Price ~$160 $200–$600+
Scenery Farms/River Vineyard-heavy
Length 2 hours 2–3+ hours
Crowds Smaller crowds Larger, tourist-heavy
Luxury Casual-elevated Premium
The Old Vine Express feels more accessible and local. Napa feels more upscale and destination-driven.
How to Plan Your Old Vine Express Day
Arrive Early
Plan to arrive 20–30 minutes early.
If driving from the Bay Area, build in extra buffer time. During our trip, an accident caused a 15-minute slowdown halfway into the drive, which almost made us late.
Weekend traffic can be unpredictable, so please don’t leave at the last minute and just hope for the best.
Parking
There is ample parking in a dirt lot near the departure point. We’ve never had issues finding parking for River Fox experiences.
What to Wear
- Dress up or dress down! We saw a mix of both on our ride, with most people dressed for comfort.
- Layers recommended depending on the season (open-air cars can be breezy).
- Comfortable closed-toe shoes are ideal. There are lots of moving parts on the train that you don’t want your toes to find.
Accessibility
- Bathrooms are available on board.
- The experience is not ADA-accessible due to the train's historic nature.
- Must be 21+.
If ADA accessibility is a concern, this may not be the right fit.
Booking Strategy (Don’t Skip This)
The Old Vine Express runs on weekends only.
And it frequently sells out weeks in advance.
To secure your preferred date:
- Book 1–2 months in advance.
- Especially for busy weekends, such as holidays.
This is not a reliable last-minute plan.
Who Should Book the Old Vine Express?
This is a strong choice if you’re looking for:
- Romantic things to do in Sacramento.
- Unique date ideas in Northern California.
- A weekend experience near the Bay Area.
- A social but structured outing.
It may not be ideal if:
- You require ADA accessibility.
- You want vineyard views the entire time.
- You’re seeking a high-end luxury dining train.
Final Verdict: Is The Old Vine Express Worth it?
For a curated, 2-hour wine tasting experience that feels intentional and unhurried, yes, it’s an easy recommendation.
It delivers:
- Generous pours.
- Local wine from Turkovich Family Wines.
- Scenic countryside views.
- A structured but relaxed format.
If you want a Napa-style luxury production, look to Napa.
But if you want a lower-priced, memorable wine train experience in Sacramento without the full destination commitment, the Old Vine Express is absolutely worth considering for a unique weekend experience.
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