Sonoma Valley Sidecar Wine tours

About this tour

When Ben from our team took this Sonoma Valley sidecar tour, he got exactly what the name promises: wine country views from the sidecar of a classic motorcycle. It's a 6.5-hour spin through rolling vineyards with three winery stops (tastings at your own cost), a proper French-style gourmet picnic after the second stop, and plenty of waves from amused onlookers. The sidecar novelty is real — expect genuine smiles and thumbs-ups from other tourists and locals. It's a left-field way to see the region if you're after something beyond the standard tour-bus circuit.

Highlights

• Sidecar ride turns heads; genuine curiosity from strangers along the way
• French-style family picnic between tastings hits the spot
• Three wineries in one hit without the minibus feel
• Classic bike itself is half the appeal; good photo ops
• Covers genuine wine country terrain at a slower, chattier pace

What to expect

You'll roll up to the meeting point and climb into an actual motorcycle sidecar — yes, you're a passenger in a vehicle that draws stares. The ride itself is open-air and surprisingly stable, cruising through Sonoma's vineyard blocks at a pace that lets you actually see the landscape. Ben found the first winery straightforward: taste and buy what you fancy. By the second stop, the picnic arrives — proper spread, family-style service, nothing rushed. The vibe shifts to relaxed here. Then it's back on the bike for the third tasting before heading home. The whole thing moves steadily but doesn't feel cramped.

What works: the novelty genuinely delivers, and the sidecar gives you a different angle on wine country than you'd get from a car. The picnic is a highlight, not an afterthought. What to brace for: wine tastings aren't included, so you're buying as you go. It's not a gentle glide — you're on a motorcycle, so some physical comfort matters. Weather-dependent, and the road noise means chat with fellow passengers happens in pockets.

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