The Great Daytona Wine Bar Tour

The Great Daytona Wine Bar Tour turns an ordinary afternoon into a moving wine crawl from Daytona Beach to Ormond Beach. You ride in an air-conditioned party bus, stop at three or four local wine bars, and let the route take you beyond the usual beach strip.

I like the small group size, capped at 14 people, and the way the tour connects several separate wine bars without making you arrange taxis or assign a driver. I also like that guide Steve adds local facts and can adjust the plan when a stop changes.

The main catch is simple: your $65 ticket does not include drinks. The discounts help, but you still need money for wine and food at each stop. If you expect an all-inclusive tasting tour, this is not that kind of outing.

Key points to know before booking

• Drinks are extra: The ticket covers transportation and the tour service, not wine, beer, flights, or meals.
• Steve drives the route: He has shared local facts, offered alternate stops, and helped shape the afternoon around the group.
• The bus links three or four wine bars: You can visit places in Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, and possibly Ormond-By-The-Sea.
• Madeline’s is the strongest food stop: Expect wine, charcuterie, flatbreads, and dishes such as lamb lollipops.
• Wine Not? West has the broadest selection: It offers more than 800 wines, plus flights and wine from a dispenser.
• The group stays small: The maximum is 14 people, which makes the bus ride and stop-to-stop timing easier to manage.

A four-hour route with a local feel

The tour begins at 2:00 p.m. at 816 Main St Bridge in Daytona Beach and returns to that same meeting point. The afternoon lasts about four hours, so you should plan on finishing around early evening, though the exact timing can shift with the route and the stops.

This is less a formal wine class and more a guided social outing. You are not signing up for a lecture on grape varieties. You are riding between local wine bars, trying drinks at your own cost, ordering food if you wish, and getting a look at several parts of the Daytona and Ormond Beach area.

That format is useful if you do not have a car or simply do not want to drive after drinking. It also removes the nuisance of finding three or four wine bars on your own. Steve handles the transportation, gives local information, and may suggest a replacement if a planned stop cannot operate.

The small group limit matters here. A party bus with no more than 14 people should feel more personal than a large coach tour, though the mood will depend on who signs up. This is a social tour, not a private tasting.

Madeline’s Wine Bar in historic downtown Daytona Beach

Madeline’s Wine Bar is set near the corner of Beach Street and Bay Street in historic downtown Daytona Beach. It offers wines from around the world, including familiar labels and smaller producers, along with a chef-driven food menu.

This is the stop to favor if you care as much about food as wine. The menu includes large charcuterie boards, creative flatbreads, and lamb lollipops. You can use the stop for a full bite, a shared board, or a smaller snack while you sample a glass.

The room has a communal lounge feel. Groups may interact, and people can change seats during the evening. That makes it a good fit if you enjoy meeting people, but it may not suit you if you want a quiet table and a fixed dining experience.

Timing can shape the mood. Coming earlier is better for a food-focused visit. Later in the week and later in the evening, the bar may feel more like a local social spot, with bottles opening and local musicians performing. The tour begins in the afternoon, so your visit may favor the food and conversation side of Madeline’s rather than its late-evening music scene.

Madeline’s offers $5 select red, white, and sparkling wines, as well as beer, with the tour’s special arrangement. Bottles to take home receive a 20 percent discount. Those deals do not make the stop free, but they can lower the cost if you already planned to buy a bottle or two.

Wine Not? West and its 800-plus wines

Wine Not? West is in Ormond Beach and offers a more traditional wine-bar setup. Its selection includes more than 800 kinds of wine, with over 20 available by the glass through a wine dispenser.

That range can be exciting, but it can also be a lot to face in a short visit. If you are unsure what to order, the staff can guide you through the list. You do not need to arrive with a detailed knowledge of wine. You can also choose a $15 flight of four wines, which is likely the best way to compare several options without committing to full glasses.

The food here is tapas-style, so this stop works well for small plates and shared bites rather than a large meal. The setting is described as relaxed and inviting, making it a useful contrast to the more communal lounge style at Madeline’s.

The available savings include $2 off wine by the glass and select beer, 15 percent off wine to take home, and the $15 four-wine flight. Again, budget for your purchases. The tour price gets you from place to place and gives you access to the negotiated offers, but you pay the bar directly for what you order.

Wine Not? West is a particularly good stop for someone who likes choice. It is less ideal if a huge wine list makes you feel lost. In that case, ask for help and use the flight as your starting point.

The route may include three or four stops

The tour description lists a route through Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, and Ormond-By-The-Sea, with three or four wine bars in the plan. Named partners include Madeline’s Wine Bar, Wine Not? West, Wine Not? Trails, and 35 Bistro.

The supplied stop details focus on Madeline’s and Wine Not? West, while other tour information also refers to Better Days Wine Bar & Bistro. That suggests the precise mix can change. A planned venue may close, become unavailable, or be replaced, and Steve has offered an alternative when a previous stop was canceled.

That flexibility is useful, but it means you should not book this expecting a fixed four-stop tasting menu. Think of the experience as a guided wine-bar route with a changing local lineup.

One of the tour’s appealing details is the chance to see more than one beach community in a single afternoon. Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, and Ormond-By-The-Sea are close enough to connect by vehicle, but far enough apart that you may not visit all three on your own during a short stay.

The bus also gives Steve a chance to point out local details along the way. He has shared fun facts about the area, and the route can include more than wine. On one outing, the group finished by watching a rocket launch on the river. That is not a guaranteed part of the tour, but it shows how local timing and conditions can add an unexpected highlight.

What the $65 price really covers

At $65, this is not a cheap all-inclusive wine tasting. It is a transportation-and-hosted-route price. The value comes from the air-conditioned vehicle, the small group, the planning, the discounts, and the convenience of visiting several bars without driving.

All-inclusive wine tours often cost around $100 to $150, according to the tour information. Those outings may include pours, but this one follows a different model. You pay $65 up front, then choose what you want at each stop.

That can work in your favor if you do not drink much, prefer beer at one stop, or want to spend more on food than wine. It can work against you if you order several glasses, a flight, a meal, and bottles to take home. Add up your likely purchases before booking.

The discounts are most useful when you use them deliberately. At Madeline’s, the $5 select wines and 20 percent bottle discount are clear savings. At Wine Not? West, a four-wine flight offers variety for $15, while the glass and bottle discounts reduce the extra cost. Better Days offers selected appetizers for $3 and 20 percent off bottles, according to the tour details.

I would treat the discounts as a bonus, not as a reason to assume the whole afternoon is covered.

Who will enjoy this tour most

This outing suits you if you want a relaxed afternoon with wine, casual food, and conversation. It works especially well for couples, small friend groups, and visitors without a car who want to see several local bars in one go.

It is also a solid choice for an out-of-town friend. You do not need to research the wine bars, build a route, or figure out how to get back after drinking. The bus handles the practical part, while Steve provides local context.

The tour may also suit people with mixed drinking habits. Since you pay for your own orders, you can choose a flight, one glass, beer, food, or a bottle. You are not forced to consume a set number of tastings.

I would think twice if you want a formal tasting led by a wine expert, a guaranteed list of exact pours, or meals included in the booking price. I would also skip it if you dislike social settings. Madeline’s, in particular, has a communal setup where people may move around and interact.

Most people can participate, and the activity is near public transportation. Still, the published meeting point is specific, so check your route to 816 Main St Bridge before the start time. Confirmation arrives when you book, and mobile tickets make check-in simpler.

How to plan your afternoon

Start with a light meal or snack if you tend to feel wine quickly. Food is available at the stops, but the tour does not promise a full meal, and menus vary from charcuterie and flatbreads to tapas-style plates.

Bring a payment method for drinks and food. You will need to pay separately at each bar, and the $65 ticket does not create an open tab.

If you want bottles to take home, check the discounts at each stop before buying. Madeline’s offers 20 percent off bottles, Wine Not? West offers 15 percent off, and Better Days offers 20 percent off. These deals make the tour more useful for wine shoppers than a standard night out, but remember that you must transport the bottles after the tour ends.

Wear something comfortable for a four-hour outing. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and you will move between the bus and the bars several times. The tour ends back at the starting point, which makes planning an evening meal or another Daytona activity easier.

The tour requires good weather and a minimum number of people. If poor weather cancels the outing, you can receive a different date or a full refund. If the minimum is not met, you receive the same choice of a new date or a refund.

For cancellations, you need to cancel at least 24 hours before the 2:00 p.m. start for a full refund. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book The Great Daytona Wine Bar Tour?

Book it if you want easy transportation between local wine bars, a small group, and the freedom to choose your own drinks and food. The route offers more local flavor than visiting one hotel bar, and Steve’s flexible approach can help when plans change.

Skip it if you want every drink included or need a carefully fixed tasting menu. The best way to judge the price is to add the $65 ticket to the amount you expect to spend at three or four stops.

For a social afternoon with a few good food options, wine discounts, and a chance to see Daytona and Ormond Beach from a local’s point of view, this is a sensible pick. Just arrive knowing that the ticket buys the ride and the plan, not the wine.

FAQ

How much does The Great Daytona Wine Bar Tour cost?

The tour costs $65 per person.

Are drinks included in the $65 price?

No. Drinks are not included. You pay separately for wine, beer, flights, and other purchases at the bars.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately four hours.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 2:00 p.m.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at 816 Main St Bridge, Daytona Beach, Florida 32118.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the starting meeting point.

How many wine bars does the tour visit?

The tour visits three or four wine bars. The exact stops can vary.

Which wine bars are connected with the tour?

Named partners include Madeline’s Wine Bar, Wine Not? West, Wine Not? Trails, and 35 Bistro. Better Days Wine Bar & Bistro is also listed among the discount stops.

Is transportation provided?

Yes. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, described as the Fun Coast Tours party bus.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum number of participants may lead to a new date or a full refund.