Other Tourist Scams in Napa

Deceptive Wine Club Enrollment During Tastings

Wineries throughout the Napa Valley—concentrated along Highway 29 between Napa and St. Helena and on the Silverado Trail—enroll tasting room visitors in wine clubs during or immediately after tastings. Staff present enrollment as required to access discounted tasting fees, waiving the fee only upon signup. The initial club commitment is described as "just two shipments," but terms in fine print may lock members into quarterly shipments, cancel-by-deadline windows, and automatic billing for $200–$600 annually. Impaired visitors who sign during tastings often cannot recall the terms.