[1] The NVRR acquired the right of way of the Napa Valley Railroad for $2.5 million after Southern Pacific notified the Interstate Commerce Commission of its intent to abandon the line in 1985.

[2][3] The new company's plans to create a tourist-oriented Wine Train were strongly opposed by local community activists and several city governments.

The project's opponents persuaded the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to order the company to comply with the rigorous requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

[10] The DeDomenico family sold the Napa Valley Wine Train to Noble House Hotels & Resorts in partnership with Brooks Street in 2015.

[16] A post from Napa Valley Wine Train on their Facebook page accused the group of "physical and verbal abuse towards other guests and staff.

[18] Two days later, Napa Valley Wine Train hired crisis communications expert Sam Singer to apologize for both the incident and the Facebook post which he described as "incorrect".

[19][20] After the story was picked up by the local and national press, the Twitter hashtag #laughingwhileblack was used to express concern about racial bias, white privilege, and the actions of the wine train staff.

The book club filed a lawsuit seeking $11 million in damages, and after private mediation, reached a settlement in April 2016 for an undisclosed sum.

Modifications included adding air conditioning and 4 inches of concrete to the car floors in order to stabilize the ride due to the train's low speed.

After the railroad bought this car, the exterior was rebuilt by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus train repair yard in Palmetto, Florida while the interior was restored, updated, and customized by NVRR.

[28] The NVRR track is currently used for limited daily scheduled passenger excursions of the Napa Valley Wine Train and occasional freight service.