Sonoma Vineyard Walking Adventure

August 24-28 and October 26-30, 2008

Price: 1900 per person

Sonoma County might not be as well known as its neighbor but we think it is the perfect place for an active wine vacation.

For one thing, it is still possible to find untraveled side roads and undiscovered wineries in Sonoma County. For another, the county is large and diverse. We walk through four separate AVAs on our five-day Vineyard Walking Adventure: Dry Creek, Alexander Valley, Rock Pile, and Russian River. Plus, the accommodations and food are top notch and the people are friendly.

On a Vineyard Walk, we actually hike through or near the vineyards, generally accompanied by a wine maker or other winery employee. We learn about the wine industry, sample wines, and get exercise all at the same time. In some cases we have even set up multiple-winery walks with three or more winery visits in the same area. For those seeking more exercise, we usually have an optional additional hike that focuses more on exercise and not on the wine. We even have a 1/2 day canoe ride on the Russian River, starting and ending at a winery.

We will visit upwards of 20 wineries during our week and if you visited like a "normal" tourist, all you would see (and remember) would be one side of the tasting room bar. On a Vineyard Waking Tour, you'll experience much more - the winemakers' personalities, the local flora and fauna, views from a nearby ridgetop, or perhaps lunch among the vines. And your memories will be that much richer.

Itinerary:

Day One: You can choose to arrive to either San Francisco Airport or to Santa Rosa directly (by air or car). We'll pick you up and transfer as a group to Michel-Schlumberger Winery in the Dry Creek AVA (appellation) for our first Vineyard Walk. After the walk, we'll shuttle to our hotel and have dinner in Geyserville.

Day Two: This morning we walk directly from our hotel in Geyserville across the fields and vineyards of the Alexander Valley, accompanied by our local guide Jim Murphy, a well-respected and longtime grape grower in the area. After a picnic lunch and a tasting at Murphy-Goode Winery, you can choose to walk back to the hotel via a different route or enjoy the afternoon poolside at the hotel. We have a pre-dinner private tasting at Locals wine bar in Geyserville.

Day Three: This morning we have a classic Vineyard Walk in the southern Alexander Valley, starting at Sausal Winery and walking through five separate vineyards before reaching Alexander Valley winery. Lunch is on your own in the fun town of Healdsburg. In the afternoon you are free to stay and shop in town or join us on a Vineyard Walk in the unique Rockpile AVA, perched above Lake Sonoma. Tonight we check into our hotel in Santa Rosa and change it up by dining at the Third Street AleWorks.

Day Four: Today we tour the scenic Russian River by canoe. We canoe several hours downriver, stopping en route for a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, you can choose to tour and taste at Korbel Champagne Cellars or do a vigorous hike through Armstrong Redwood State Reserve. We also have an optional visit to the Bottle Barn, the best and most complete wine retailer in Sonoma County, so you can purchase and ship home wines from the area. Tonight we have a farewell dinner in Santa Rosa.

Day Five: On our final morning we meet one of the region's most well-respected grape growers, Saralee Kunde, as we do a last Vineyard Walk through Saralee's Vineyards. We will finish the tour by dropping you back in Santa Rosa or at the San Francisco Airport.

Email or call 845.485.7221 for more information and to reserve your space