Solve a Murder While You Sip Away at Merlot on this Vintage Napa Valley Wine Train

California wine country produces some of our favorite bottles of wine, but sipping it at home doesn’t compare to visiting the vineyards and tasting rooms in Napa Valley. While we can certainly drive from winery to winery, we definitely enjoy the experience even more (and don’t have to worry about a DUI) when we let someone else do the driving.

One of the most magical ways to enjoy the full Napa Valley experience is to take a trip on the Napa Valley Wine Train. There are multiple options that stop at anywhere from 1 to 3 wineries, and there are also options if you want to skip the wineries and enjoy a gourmet meal with wine pairings on the train instead.

If dinner and a show is more your speed, you’re going to love the latest Napa Valley Wine Train option – the Murder Mystery Wine Train. This is a 3-hour train journey that starts off in a similar fashion to a normal dinner train journey, but then things take a mysterious turn.

As the Napa Valley Wine Train website describes it,

Mystery. Mayhem. Murder. With jealous, jilted lovers, a rival Mafioso, and a pair of undercover feds on board, our vintage train is transformed into a stylish speakeasy…and a mysterious crime scene. Of course, you’ll still enjoy three gourmet courses of fine California cuisine on your journey. You’ll just solve a murder on the side. We hear it pairs nicely with a smooth pinot noir.

The experience starts at 5:30pm when you arrive at the train station to check in, and the show starts before you even board the train. Once onboard, you’ll be treated to a multiple course gourmet meal during your 3-hour journey, but you’ll also get to “Trade clues with fellow passengers, gather information, and solve the crime before the murderer runs free.”

The setting for the murder mystery is a 1920s speakeasy, and although not required, costumes are highly encouraged. Pinstripe suits, fedoras, tassel skirts and feature boas are all great options. You could even dress like a detective to help solve the mystery.

The menu includes delicious entree options like brown sugar glazed pork tenderloin and lemon thyme roasted chicken. Wine pairing suggestions are indicated on the menu as well, and while wine is an extra fee, we can’t imagine riding on the Napa Valley Wine Train without sipping some of the local wine.

Do you like solving mysteries and eating gourmet food? What costume would you wear on the Murder Mystery Wine Train?