On my late fall visit to Napa Valley, I had the pleasure of taking an Iconic Wine Tour; a bit truncated due to morning obligations, my experience included a visit to two wineries and a stop at Napa’s popular Oxbow Market. Peter and Carla Bowers own the tour company, which picks up groups in a Mercedes-Benz and creates customized experiences with insider insights, VIP access and complimentary concierge services. Tours can be conducted in English, Spanish, German and French. The husband and wife team have spent decades in the wine industry, including publishing the book, Napa Valley Iconic Wineries: Noteworthy Wines and Artisan Vintners. My friend Megan and I met Peter at our hotel, Silverado Resort & Spa, and made our way to our first stop, Robinson Family Vineyards, a smaller, family-run vineyard that dates back to 1967 when Norman (Bud) Robinson and wife Helen (Dinky) purchased 78 acres in the area. Today, Norman and Helen’s daughter, Susie, and son-in-law Tom run the day-to-day, and Tom led us on a tasting and a brief tour. I particularly enjoyed the vineyard’s Sauvignon Blanc. Next up was Del Dotto for a barrel tasting in the winery’s wine caves. Another winery run by family, Dave Del Dotto has spent 20 years acquiring land throughout Rutherford, Oakville, St. Helena, Spring Mountain, Howell Mountain and the Sonoma Coast. This tasting was unique and special as we tasted a plethora of wines but also got an education on the effects of wine barrels on the entire process and learned/experienced wine caves. Our guide was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Working with Iconic Wine Tours ensured I could remain hands-off in the planning while resting assured of a quality, insider experience. These were two wineries I might not have found on my own — with the overwhelming number of options, it’s impossible to narrow down where to taste — but that were, without a doubt, worth a visit. The experts led us to the experts, making for a wonderful final afternoon in the beautiful Napa Valley. — Kim Krol, managing editor