Wine Country Balloons

Celebrated our 29 year wedding anniversary with a hot air balloon ride! Thanks to Scott we had a wonderful time, perfect weather with beautiful views. We would highly recommend the experience. Thank You More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We had a great time!  The weather was beautiful that day after a few months of rain.  Michael was our pilot.  He was very knowledgeable about hot air balloons, flying, the demographics of the area; he had great humor and he made us feel comfortable during the flight.  Only issue I had was being directly under the burners.  The heat didn't bother me, that actually felt good, but there was condensation build up.  The heat of the burners caused the condensation to drip my clothing and face.  Thankful that I wore black that day because the condensation was black.  I would definitely do this again, but probably stand somewhere else next time.  In the end Scott ended the trip with a champagne toast which was very nice! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We had an absolutely fabulous time! Scott has a very dry sense of humor which I appreciate. He made the experience very fun for our family but he also obviously knows what he's doing. It was a great family outing and I would highly recommend. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Exceptional service and ride. A bit hard to find start location but not too bad.

Reviewed on Facebook

Such a wonderful day up in the air with wine country balloons! Went above and beyond our expectations. Scott and his crew were fun and funny, professional, and also very kind. The whole experience was so memorable and we would definitely do it again given the chance. Highly recommend!!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

We had a wonderful time with out pilot Scott flying over Santa Rosa. He had lots of interesting information about the area we were in as well as the history of hot air ballooning. We spent nearly two hours up in the air and felt very safe the whole time. The champagne toast at the end is a really nice touch and it was a great first experience. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

It was my first time in a hot air balloon and I couldn't imagine a better experience. The meeting place was easy to find with lots of parking. Also, a transportation was provided by the company to the air balloon and from the landing place. This is very convenient especially if there isn't a set place for landing. Also, they provides ear plugs! And the staff asked us if they can take pictures for us. Awesome customer service! Our pilot, Scott, was very knowledgeable, funny and friendly. He was very professional and his landing was safe. Lastly, the company gave us champagne and little chocolates to support local companies. I highly recommend Wine Country Balloons!!!!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

My birthday gift to myself..check..off my bucket list. My sons ages 12, 15 absolutely loved it. I felt safe, exhilarated and built a memory with my sons that will last forever! It was peaceful..and lovely. Highly recommend Wine Country Balloons for an experience to last a lifetime.! ♥️ More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Made a reservation with fairly short notice (just a few days).This was our first time ballooning so we were not sure what to expect. The weather was very good and the winds were calm.The basket could fit 12 but we went up with 9 people which made things very comfortable.  I had originally intended to reserve a private 2 person trip. The logistics worked out great - the meeting place was easy to find with plenty of parking.The ride lasted over an hour and was very quiet with spectacular views of the river valley to the west and the ridges to the east over which the sun rose.Our captain(Scott) and crew were attentive, professional, friendly and informative. The landing was perfect.Had I read yelp before booking, I may not have chosen Wine Country Balloons - the common denominator of negativity seems to be Group-On. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Wonderful trip! Wonderful pilot! Epic adventure. We had a blast celebrating a birthday up in the air. The other folks got engaged. Everyone had such a wonderful time! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This was an all-around fantastic experience. Professional crew, great equipment, and an awesome ride. Even the landing was superb! We had a great time and highly recommend Wine Country Balloons! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Great tour amazing pilot explains history of balloon piloting.Easy take off and landing!The crew mad it fun and we felt safe the whole way! Perfect way to celebrate as newlyweds for our Honeymoon! Highly recommend More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I loved this experience with Wine Country Balloons! I went in mid-October, which is a lovely season in the wine country. The pilots and ground crew were welcoming and obviously very competent. The scenery was breath-taking. It's true that the pilots and ground crew allow paying guests to help with set up. I didn't feel in any way pressured. I found the process of inflating the balloons to be fascinating. The day I went, the time aloft was right at an hour. (I imagine it can vary depending on wind, but our pilot- Michael- changed our flight's altitude repeatedly so as to prevent us from going too fast or slow.) I'm a bit baffled by complaints about "having to" tip. Yes, ballooning is expansive, but tipping is typical for tour guides, horse back rides, etc.  This isn't out of the ordinary. I would definitely book with Wine Country Balloons again! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I can't recommend Wine Country Balloons enough! I was cautious about purchasing our balloon trip after reading all the negative reviews, but after our experience I think some people just choose to be unhappy. Scott sent an email in advance giving us detailed instructions on where to meet and what to expect. We met at 6am at Kaffe Mocha (where champagne was served by our pilots after the flight), but walked over to Starbucks (across the street) to grab some coffee before our flight. From Starbucks we were picked up by the bus who took us to our launch site. Along the way Scott explained why we were flying in the AM (something to do with the cool morning air allowing the hot air trapped in the balloon to do it's job easier) and he gave us a brief overview of what to expect. When we got to the launch site the crew was finishing set up (and some people even got to help the crew). Once in the air, Scott told us we'd been extremely lucky to take off from where we did (the weather apparently dictates where we can take off and land and he'd only taken off from our site, Ya-ka-ama, 10 times that year). It was just gorgeous. You couldn't have asked for a more beautiful view. there were mountains all around us and vineyards beneath us. Another company took off right before us, so we had a view of our other balloon and their three ballons as they drifted off in the direction we were headed. Unfortunately, when Scott descended we hit winds that were going in another direction and we back-tracked a bit and ended up landing right behind a vineyard. it took the trucks a while to get to us, but then they towed us to a better spot to unload (we called it a "bonus flight"). Then we got in the van and headed back for champagne. A couple of people on the flight were upset that the landing and unloading took so long, but it seems like that's just the nature of hot air ballooning-you never know where the winds will take you! I thought of it as part of the adventure :) overall I LOVED my first hot air balloon experience with this company and recommend them for future flights :) More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Scott was very friendly and knowledgeable. He started the tour off with a great story about the history of hot air ballooning. Once we launched, we had stunning views of rolling hills filled with vineyards. The ride was very peaceful. It was a great first flight. I'm excited to go back for another! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

My boyfriend bought us tickets to go hot air ballooning as a gift for my birthday.  He booked our ride for Labor Day weekend.  Booking was really easy to do and they told us where to meet.  We met at Kaffe Mocha & Grille at the specified time (I think it was about 6am) and filled out the waiver paperwork.  Then walked over to Starbucks for the last bathroom stop and waited for the van to come pick us up.  The crew went and setup the balloons at the starting point while we waited to get picked up.  The pilots described what the day would be like when we were all on the bus and that we would be in two balloons for the day, each had several passenger compartments which would hold 4 people per compartment.    The staff and crew were friendly and entertaining throughout the day.  Our pilot, Michael Vargas, was great about describing to us the science behind the different levels of air that we would be traveling through and told us about how he can control the up & down of the balloon, which is how they (the pilots) find the level of air with wind traveling in the intended direction.  He also told us the stories of the history of ballooning.  We got lucky with weather, it was beautiful out and the views of Windsor were really pretty, especially with the sunrise.  I had bundled up that day, thinking I would be cold, but the heat from the gas in the balloon provided plenty of warmth.  The ride was such a great experience, and when we returned to Kaffe Mocha, the staff had a champagne toast for us before leaving for the day.  The only thing that wasn't clear about the whole experience was that my boyfriend had planned to buy a Groupon, but was told by staff that if he purchased directly through them that the tip would be included in the cost, and on the day of the ride we were encouraged to tip the crew - the tip basket was at the front of the cafe, so they see who is tipping or not since everyone is sitting in the same area - it didn't feel like tip had been included on the day of, based on the encouragements of tipping.  Either way, the overall experience was great and we would use this company again. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Fantastic early morning flight over wine country. Really genuine & friendly staff. They went out of their way to make our 6 year old feel welcome, to the extent that he said "I want to live in a hot air balloon"

Reviewed on Yelp

We lucked out with perfect weather and had a very enjoyable ride. The staff was courteous and took time to take photos of the different guests with their own phones. Only ding was not enough seats on the shuttle after and had to stand. We'd go again. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Scott and Dominic were amazing! My girlfriend and I booked our ride for her birthday. It was her first experience and my second time. It was the first time for both of us, with this company. It was fun being able to help out and learn about the entire process (something I missed out on with a different company, in Napa.) Scott was extremely accommodating. He made sure to give us a history on the landscape, the area, his background and made time to get to know us. We toasted with some lovely bubbly, when we arrived gently and safely back on Earth. The fun continued as we had an invitation to learn more about the world of ballooning, opportunities to pilot for him and festivals across the Nation. Dominic stayed on the ground and took some great shots of us during our departure and arrival and then forwarded them to us. If you are considering signing up for this experience, I would highly recommend calling Scott. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Our pilot Ryan was fabulous. Friendly, knowledgeable, fun and efficient. Loved this experience.

Reviewed on Facebook

Up up and away! My boyfriend got me a hot air balloon ride for Christmas last year and he booked our ride for Sunday May 6th. Booking was easy, he called and spoke to an employee and we were able to get a reservation for the date we wanted right away. Check-in is at the cafe (where you'll get a champagne toast afterwards) and then they ask you to go across the street to the Starbucks to wait for everyone to arrive. We were all bussed to the airport then passengers are asked to help inflate the balloon. My boyfriend helped and he enjoyed being able to do so, I think it is a nice touch to get to be hands on (: We departed at around 7:45 am and were up in the air until 8:45 am. We were the first to depart so we could see the other two air balloons lift off from the air. We passed by downtown Santa Rosa and was able to see different views of the area. The pilot explained that due to the weather and wind, you get different scenery every time you fly. I enjoyed being spontaneous--we even landed in a random field and our basket tipped over. Overall the pilot was informative and friendly, the experience was fun and enjoyable. I'm glad my boyfriend checked off a item off my bucket list More...

Reviewed on Yelp

It was a great experience for my first time I would do it again!!! #Loveit�

Reviewed on Facebook

It was amazing & my first time on an hot air balloon. Thank you Scott for this exciting journey. �

Reviewed on Facebook

We had a great trip. Everyone was very nice, helpful and extremely professional. They explain you a little bit about the area and different actives you can do around. They joke and make everything enjoyable. We highly recommend them! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I came here on a Saturday morning, it was a beautiful day so we were able to fly! I came here once before but it was too cloudy so they had to cancel. This very understandable. Safety is everything when you're on a hot air balloon. We met at Kaffe Mocha to check in then walked to Starbucks. From there they shuttle you to the spot where they take off. Scott and his staff were all very very nice, they help take pictures for us and made me feel safe. I was actually very scared but they seemed like they knew what they were doing. When you're in the air it's pretty quiet until they blast the fire into the balloon, and that's actually very hot i kept feeling like my hair was going to burn off. It was over a relaxing ride.After the ride, everyone pitched in to help pack up the balloon and it was funny because they just landed in someone's yard, apparently it's a random house. It took about 20-30 mine to pack up and pick up the second group of people. Then we went back to Kaffe Mocha and they gave us complimentary champagne. Everyone was very kind ! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

The sites of Sonoma County never looked so beautiful other than looking at it from the view of the hot air balloon. The flew High, we flew low, we flew through clouds, we landed in a field, and it was the greatest experience ever! Thank you pilot Scott for the unimaginable ride!!! #tacisviewofhappiness #getoffyourbuttanddosomething More...

Reviewed on Facebook

What an amazing experience! To anyone who is a little hesitant about flying, please choose Wine Country Balloons! Christine was professional and helpful over the phone, she answered all my questions and we even saved a couple bucks booking directly through them instead of Groupon. Scott the pilot was so great. He is super knowledgeable and apparently has been doing this for many years. He put my fears as ease and I loved every second of the beautiful ride! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Our flight with Wine Country Balloons was fantastic in every way. The booking process was straight forward, and much useful information is provided upon booking. Scott, the chief pilot, and his crew made us feel right at home which was much appreciated, especially because my girlfriend and I aren't particularly fond of heights! The balloon ride was a truly wonderful experience, and Sonoma's amazing views are really something to see. Scott was so entertaining, providing us a complete history of ballooning and some great stories from his many years of experience. The champagne toast was the perfect way to top the morning off. Will recommend Wine Country Balloons to anyone thinking about booking a flight over wine country! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Scott and crew are really great. Scott worked very hard to ensure that we were able to fly since we were out visiting from Boston. He kept moving us to the next day's flight list as fog prevented previous days. His safety brief and information talk was informative in fun. They aren't kidding, you really have no real concept about being high up in the air. I highly recommend even if you might be scared of heights. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

It was my first time in a balloon, celebrating my 40th birthday, we were met with great enthusiasm as we arrived at 5:30 in the morning, which is not an easy task in itself! First off from the customer service on the telephone I was sold by what a kind and personable conversation we had, Ben was wonderful! Captain Scott is an amazing and fascinating individual with over 50 years of knowledge flying and operating balloons all over the world! It was an absolutely delightful day with many other wonderful guests as a part of our experience and I couldn't have been more pleased! Of course following the balloon ride a champagne brunch was absolutely delicious!!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This was so much fun.  The staff was friendly.  Our pilot was filled with interesting facts and did an awesome job of flying the balloon.  Will definitely have to do it again. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

My family and I had a really fun time with our group and our pilot, Scott! If you're visiting sonoma county/wine country, put a balloon ride on your list - you won't regret it :)

Reviewed on Yelp

We had an amazing time celebrating my 30th birthday. Special thanks to Michael, Scott, and Ben! Their hospitality made the entire experience very enjoyable.

Reviewed on Yelp

The ride: The balloon ride was very pleasant and exceeded my expectation! It was seriously breathtaking and I highly recommend it. We drove an hour away, met at Starbucks, we drove in a comfy van, and watched the balloon set up (so cool!). The view is so beautiful!!! Scott, the pilot, and his crew did a great job making us feel welcome and have a great experience. We learned information about ballooning. And the view is unbelievably beautiful; it was amazing! The champagne toast was also nice during breakfast (champagne included, breakfast was separate at a local restaurant). This was during late September 2017.Booking: We were placed in a non-refundable flight and was on a waitlist, which was worrisome because I wanted to fly on my birthday. Scott didn't confirm until almost 6:00 am the same morning, which I thought was a bit unprofessional (he claimed he fell asleep). Good thing, my husband and I took a risk, and drove to Santa Rosa anyway an hour before because if we waited for his text message, we wouldn't have made it in time for the meeting time at 6:30 am. Everything went well for us, and with a great ballooning experience and a beautiful view, it was overall a very pleasant experience. It is a risk, since it's non-refundable and no one controls the weather. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

My 83 year old Mother and I had a wonderful experience flying with Wine Country Balloons.  From start to finish, the office staff, crew and pilot were all courteous, fun and very informative.   Some of the negative reviews relating to cancellations are confusing to me.  I would much rather have a cancellation if the flight is potentially dangerous, than fly just to take my money.  While having to cancel was disappointing the first time around, I'm glad our safety was the priority. Waiver and agreement outlines very clearly what's involved and what to expect.  Our pilot, Scott was hilarious and really put my Mom at ease. She was really nervous at the beginning but by the end of the flight, was ready to go up again!  I did not deal with Groupon, because I had more freedom to schedule directly with the company and it only cost me a few dollars more to do so.  I would definitely recommend them to my friends and family.  Great flight, great memory with my Mom! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

What an amazing experience!!! The highlight of our trip here in Sonoma...the pilot and the crew were amazing and great hospitality. ..highly recommended...off my bucket lists... More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Wonderful experience! Check it off the bucket list! Scott and the ground crew were fantastic!

Reviewed on Facebook

I called the week of to see if they could squeeze me in last minute and luckily they had someone drop out.  The gentleman on the phone was extremely nice, he also said he would honor the Groupon price.  Great!  ***I feel like there are many negative reviews, but if you read closely most of the reviews deal with issues regarding Groupon.It's never too early to get high! Well Maybe, I live out in Oakland and you have to be in Santa Rosa at 6am.  The whole experience is about 4-5 hours.  You are actually in the air for 1 hour.  You meet at Starbucks, which is a win to get some coffee and use the bathroom before you get on the bus.  You drive about 30 minutes and stop at a general store for another bathroom break and snacks.  Another 15 minutes after that and you arrive at the take off location.  The balloons are absolutely majestic and beautiful.  You finally get up in the air around 8:30 am.  There are about 20 other people with you, you get split up in 2 different groups.  Each balloon holds about 10 people.  Although there are several other people on the hot air balloon, you never feel crowded.  You still can have your own private time and enjoy feeling like "you're the only ones one there" This activity is perfect for groups, couples, families, etc.  Scott was our guide, he was hilarious and very knowledgeable, and has been flying balloons for over 35 years.  It's a very intimate experience, Scott greeted us at Starbucks, drove us, and was our guide up in the air.  The company is very small and not many employees.  I am all about supporting our local businesses.  Being is the air is incredible, amazing, and breath taking.  Not once did I ever feel unsafe.  After the balloon ride they take you back to where you originally met, where you can eat at a cafe and they provide a complimentary glass of champagne.  A perfect way to end the whole experience.  All the workers are extremely nice and they walk around and talk to you.  I would highly recommend the hot air balloon ride.  I loved it so much, I'm going to do it again. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

It was awesome!We took off from Steelhead Park around 7am and landed over 10 miles away somewhere south of Santa Rosa an hour and a half later. The views were gorgeous. We saw wine fields, the Russian River, a Cannabis field, and lots of nice mansions. The flight was very smooth and peaceful. Scott (the pilot) was a great guide and talked to us through the entire flight about the areas that we were flying over. When we got back we had a nice lunch and a champagne toast and got to chat with the pilot and the crew. This was a small group of 9 people so the experience was well personalized. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Everything went very well and smoothly! We had to reschedule a couple of times and that was an easy stress free process and Scott was a great pilot!

Reviewed on Facebook

Ok. Many of these reviews made me afraid to work with these people as many say they're too talky, unprofessional,  blah blah. This cannot be further from the truth. Our pilot, Scott, couldn't have been more awesome and professional  and our drivers to and from were fantastic. It was an incredible experience and I'd recommend them to anyone! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Proceed with caution when purchasing the Groupon deal and be aware of the return policy. There are many one star reviews, but if you read in to the content it appears that a majority of customers were disappointed with customer service, specifically abrupt cancellations. Here's my story:March came along and what do you know it, I turn one year older. It was the night before my birthday when my boyfriend said he has a surprise for me. The only hint he would give me is that I had to wake up at 5am the next morning!  (At the crack of dawn?! Sigh.) With excitement, I went to bed early. To my surprise he calls me at 10pm and tells me that the plans are cancelled. A spring day in CA can bring rain, wind, or a little sun. Well, it so happened to be that the day my boyfriend reserved a flight was a windy day. With these wind conditions, the pilot made a decision to cancel the flight as it would be a safety risk. As bummed as we were, we were ok with hearing this news. Safety is numero uno and I would rather be flying the friendly skies with a confident pilot who would descend the balloon with ease. Fast forward to June and we reserved a flight to celebrate our Anniversary. The night before our flight, we get a call. However, this time it's the pilot confirming our reservation. (Whew!!) Beyond excited, we arrive to the meet up spot at 7am. Within minutes we were shuttled to the balloon and in the basket. We slowly drift away and ascend as we overlooked vineyards, mountains, and estates. I felt at peace at 3000 ft high and 3 miles west. The experience was one that I'll forever remember and will always keep close to my heart. I suggest to you that you take the risk, buy the Groupon, and book a flight during summer months. Happy flying! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

It was awesome experience.. A unforgettable memory

Reviewed on Facebook

This was a bucket list experience for sure! During the booking process, the staff was very informative. They sent us a detailed sheet of important info to read before our flight. Basically stating the morning of the flight our pilot would be in touch with us in terms of weather condition & flight status (if it's too windy, raining or foggy they cannot fly) also, they let us know our meeting spot & where/ how they transport you to launch- you do have an addition fee for ground transportation. The morning of our flight, they transported us almost an hr from our meeting spot because of the fog. Our pilot, Scott was extremely professional & informative telling us how the balloon works. The basket is actually a lot bigger than people think. Our flight had 18 people and it was still pretty roomy. Once we were in the air it was so relaxing! It felt really calm & weightless, not scary in the least bit. The view up there is incredible! You're flying right above several acres of vineyards & mountains- just gorgeous! I definitely recommend doing this because the memories will last forever! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Had a great experience flying a hot air balloon! Our pilot Michael kept us informed about the Santa Rosa area as we flew by it. Ended with brunch and champagne. Definitely will do it again. More...

Reviewed on Facebook