About this tour
When Noah from our Global Hobo crew ran this tour, we found it's less about becoming a wine connoisseur and more about dark storytelling fuelled by decent pours. Over two hours in Solvang, a small Danish-inspired town in California, you'll hit three quirky tasting rooms—including one with a slasher film vibe—while your guide walks you through tales of 70s serial killers, cold cases, and haunted mortuaries. The group stays intimate, drinks flow generously (wine flight, a wine-based tiki cocktail, and a sparkling send-off), and the whole thing feels like a mate who knows true crime history is buying you rounds while spinning yarns. It's firmly a night-out experience, not a wine education.
Highlights
- Slasher-themed winery set the tone immediately—decor matches the dark storytelling
- Guide wove genuine 70s serial killer cases into each location seamlessly
- Three generous pours kept the energy social without feeling rushed
- Wine-based tiki cocktail was a quirky surprise, not forgettable mixer stuff
- Small group meant the guide remembered names and riffed off crowd energy
- Solvang's walkable layout made hopping between bars easy and natural
- Champagne toast felt like a proper goodbye, not an afterthought
What to expect
You'll meet your group outside the first location and get a quick intro to how the next two hours will flow. The guide launches straight into a crime story—something genuinely unsettling—then transitions into the first tasting room. Each location has its own personality: one leans into the macabre aesthetic, another's more laid-back wine bar. The pacing feels natural because the stories are the glue; you're not standing around waiting for someone to explain tannin profiles. The wine itself is solid and poured generously, but it's clearly secondary to the narrative. Between stops, there's time to chat with other true crime fans in the group, and the guide fills walking gaps with background on Solvang itself—it's quaint, tourist-friendly, and doesn't take itself too seriously, which suits the tour's vibe perfectly.
What travellers say
- Dark storytelling kept things lively—not a lecture disguised as a tour
- Three solid drinks included, generously poured, no nickel-and-diming
- Small-group setting meant genuine interaction with guide and fellow travellers
- Offbeat venues felt curated, not random—each had character
- Fully accessible design, including wheelchairs and public transport links
- Two-hour format hits the sweet spot—long enough to feel special, short enough to stay sharp
- Wine expertise takes a backseat; serious oenophiles may feel shortchanged
- True crime focus means some darker content—not for everyone
- Solvang's tourist-trap aesthetic can feel overly quaint or kitschy
- Gratuity isn't included, so final cost creeps higher than advertised
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This genuinely works if you love true crime podcasts or documentaries and want something that blends that hobby with a social night out. The drinks are included and worth the outing on their own. Small group size means you're not herded like a school trip. Solvang's compact and walkable, so even if you're not a fitness enthusiast, two hours on foot is manageable. It's fully wheelchair accessible and public transport is nearby if you prefer not to drive.
If you're after serious wine education, this will disappoint—it's entertainment first. You'll need to be 21+ with valid ID. The tour can feel a bit gimmicky if true crime isn't your thing, and crime sensitivity varies; some stories are genuinely dark. Gratuities aren't included, so budget for that. Peak times (weekends, evenings) can mean busier tasting rooms. Solvang can be touristy and a bit kitschy, which works for some and doesn't for others.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original Global Hobo summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.