Imagine
creating a unique experience including the agricultural wealth
found only in the Sonoma and Napa Valleys. You could spend three
or more days and nights in sampling the rich culinary and wine
offerings of these two incredible, neighboring valleys.
We
pick you up after breakfast for a quick van ride up the hill to
historic Jack London State Park for a leisurely hike through the
redwoods to Wolf House - the house that Jack built for his wife
Charmaine, but it burnt to the ground before it was ever occupied.
Then
back down the hill just a few hundred yards to Benziger Family
Winery for a tram tour of the vineyards followed by a wine tasting.
Benziger is a leader in terrior viticulture and organic farming
methods. This is not to be missed - fun, beautiful and informative.
Next
a five minute ride to Kenwood at the northern end of the Sonoma
Valley for an upscale picnic lunch at Loxton, Kunde or Kaz Winery.
See samples of our menus.
We
will create flexible daily itineraries tailored to your interests.
You'll see food and wine at the source in the beautiful wine country
of Northern California. Choose from hiking, biking, spa treatments
and the best in wine, food and art.
Possibilities:
Culinary Institute of America located at Greystone
Ramekins
Copia
Di
Rosa Art Preserve
Sonoma-Mission
Inn and Spa
The
Lodge at Sonoma
Quarry
Hill Botanical Gardens
Our
price includes:
All tour transportation, bikes, guides, wine tasting fees, picnic
lunches, and park fees.
After
lunch and stroll through the grounds of Chateau St. Jean, we will
visit the nearby Wine Room, the tasting room of Tom Smothers Remick
Ridge Wines along with several other boutique wineries.
The Wine
Room is a cooperative, so you will always have the opportunity
to meet one of the winemakers. They also have a great selection
of one-of-a-kind gift items!
Now,
back to your accomodations and a glorious dinner at one of several nearby restaurants, perhaps the Fig Cafe.
We
meet you at 10:30 a.m. at the historic Sonoma Plaza,
birthplace of the Bear Flag Rebellion. We will fit you with bicycles
(helmets are a must) and then travel across town to Gundlach-Bundschu
Winery.
We will ride
along rural residential areas through vineyards to the oldest
family owned winery in California. Original vines
planted here in 1858 are still owned and farmed by the same
family and the winery is operated by the sixth generation of
Bundschus.
You will be treated to a private tour of the caves and a
wine tasting.
Next
we bike to Buena Vista Winery, the first premium winery
in California.
The historic building and grounds are breathtaking.
Nearby
Bartholomew Park Winery is our luncheon destination. You
will partake of
poached
salmon, grilled asparagus, salad, artisan bread (baked
by Craig Ponsford, winner of the Coup du Monde de la Boulangerie
-
a first
for an American), followed by a "special" dessert.
We will visit the tasting room and a wonderful local history
museum.
Downhill
and on the bike path to award winning Vella Cheese Company
where we will take a short tour and take time to make some
purchases of this wonderful product. We
will return to the Sonoma Plaza for sightseeing and shopping.
Ask us for suggestions for dinner, there are many exceptional restaurants in the area.
We
pick you up after breakfast for a drive through the Carneros
on our way to Napa and a visit to Copia, the new American
Center
for Wine, Food and the Arts. The building is 80,000 square
feet set amid 12 acres filled with organic, edible gardens.
Programs
change monthly.
We
will then drive up the Napa Valley for lunch at Greystone,
the west coast home of CIA - Culinary Institute of America.
After
a stroll through their state of the art facilities and gift
shop, we will take a four mile drive to Clos Pegase Winery
art gardens.
We
will take a leisurely ride back to our lodging to sit by the
pool for a while. Dinner this evening will be in Sonoma at
La Salette
Restaurant where Chef Manuel Azevedo blends modern methods
with old world Portuguese cuisine.
Day
Four— Dry Creek
We will take
you by van (40 minutes) to the west side of Sonoma County where
we will get on bikes and ride down Dry Creek Road to visit
the gardens at Ferrari-Carano Winery then on down a country
lane to Raymond Burr Vineyards, Quivira, Hop Kiln, Armida…small
artisan wineries with a passion for the land.
We will traverse
miles of beautiful open space with very few automobiles. We
will have a casual lunch and return to your lodging for relaxation,
massage or shopping in the quaint town of Glen Ellen or historic Sonoma.
Dinner will
be at Cafe LaHaye, a very small and wonderful restaurant just
off the Sonoma Plaza where they are known as "a place
for food and art."
Reservations
are a must for all tours.
All of the above are merely suggestions and can be customized to suite your interests.
