Reservation terms

What you are booking

A private vehicle and a professional chauffeur, for the period set out on your quote, within Napa Valley, Sonoma County and the surrounding Bay Area. The vehicle is committed to your group alone.

What is not included

• Winery visits and tasting fees. Tastings are reserved by you, in your own name, and paid to each winery directly. We build the driving around what you have arranged; we do not make winery reservations on your behalf.
• Meals and any other purchases made during the day.
• Admission, parking or access charges levied by a venue, where these apply.

We have no ownership of, agency for, or commercial arrangement with any winery, and we do not guarantee access to one. If an estate cannot accommodate your group, that is between you and the estate — though we will tell you in advance where we think group size is likely to be a problem.

Confirming and paying

Deposit

A 50% deposit holds the vehicle and confirms the reservation, with the balance due by the service date. Where a deposit is not required for your booking, your quote says so.

Payment

Major credit cards and Zelle. A processing fee may apply to credit card payments — never to debit — and it is shown on your quote rather than added later. Zelle transfers are effectively final and carry none of the dispute protection a card gives you. Approved corporate accounts may be able to arrange direct billing.

Gratuity

Standard gratuity is 20%. Depending on how your day is quoted it is either included in an all-inclusive figure or listed as its own line — either way it appears on the quote before you commit.

Cancellation

For a sedan or SUV, 24 hours’ notice — 48 hours if the booking is hourly. For a Sprinter, minibus or coach, 14 days, because a larger vehicle held for your date is a vehicle we have turned other work away for. Cancellations made within the notice period carry a 10% non-refundable processing fee; after the deadline the booking may be charged in full.

Rates, any minimum booking period and any additional charges are set out on your written quote before you commit to anything. Nothing is charged until you confirm.

On the day

Running over

A short overrun is normal on a tasting day and is not something we penalise. Beyond a ten-minute grace period, additional time is charged in one-hour increments.

Extra stops

On an hourly booking, extra stops are simply part of the day. On a point-to-point transfer, adding stops changes the price — tell us in advance rather than on the day.

Your chauffeur

Chauffeur details are sent by email roughly two hours before pickup, and trip updates can be sent by text.

Changes to your itinerary

On an hourly booking you can change the plan during the day — that is much of the point of booking privately. Tell your chauffeur and the rest of the day is re-planned around it. Where a change extends the booked period, the additional time is charged as above.

Airport service

Flight monitoring

Give us the airline and flight number when you book and we track the flight, so a delay or an early landing is handled before you have to think about it.

Waiting time on arrival

Airport pickups include complimentary waiting time measured from your flight’s confirmed arrival — 30 minutes for a domestic arrival and 60 minutes for an international one. Beyond that, additional waiting time may be charged.

Meet and greet

Available on request. Your chauffeur meets you inside baggage claim with a name board rather than waiting at the kerb. It is an additional service and may carry an extra charge.

Give us the airline and flight number at the time of booking. Without it we cannot track the flight, and waiting time is measured from the time you asked to be collected rather than from your actual arrival.

Your responsibilities

• Passenger and luggage numbers. Tell us both. A vehicle sized for your group is not automatically sized for your group's luggage and any wine purchased, and we cannot carry more than the vehicle safely holds.
• Access. Where a pickup or drop-off address has a narrow approach or no turning space, tell us in advance — it affects which vehicle we send.
• Conduct and safety. Seat belts must be worn. Smoking and any illegal substance are not permitted in our vehicles. Your chauffeur may end a booking early where continuing would be unsafe or unlawful, and in that case the booking remains payable.
• Alcohol. Tasting is the point of the day, and wine bought along the way travels with you. Whether alcohol may be opened and consumed in the vehicle itself depends on the vehicle assigned and on California law — ask us and we will tell you what applies to your booking rather than leaving you to guess. Nobody under 21 may be served or consume alcohol at any point. Your chauffeur may decline to continue where a passenger's condition would make the journey unsafe, and in that case the booking remains payable.
• Damage and cleaning. Where a vehicle is damaged or requires cleaning beyond normal use, a charge may apply. It is assessed on the actual cost and evidenced.

Things outside our control

Traffic, weather, road closures, wildfire or emergency restrictions, mechanical failure and other events beyond our reasonable control can affect timings. We plan realistic slack into a wine country day precisely because of this, and we will always try to reach an alternative that works — but we cannot accept liability for consequential losses such as a missed flight, missed appointment or missed event.

If we cannot provide the vehicle you booked, we will offer a suitable alternative or a refund of amounts paid for the service not provided.

Accessibility

Tell us at the time of booking if anyone in your group would find a high step difficult, uses a mobility aid, or needs a child seat. Vehicle types differ considerably, so tell us early and we will confirm what we can provide for your date before you commit to anything.

Limits on our liability

We are responsible for providing the transportation you booked with reasonable care and skill. We are not liable for indirect or consequential loss — a missed flight, a missed appointment, a missed event, lost profit — nor for property left behind in a vehicle. Where we are liable, that liability is limited to the amount you paid for the affected booking.

Nothing in these terms limits or excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or for anything else that cannot lawfully be limited.

Which law applies

These terms are governed by the law of the State of California, and any dispute arising from them is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of that state.

Privacy

How we handle the information you give us is set out in our privacy policy .

Contact

Questions about these terms, or about a reservation, go to reservations@sonomanapawinetours.com.