“Wine is made in the vineyard, not the winery, as most winemakers acknowledge. Travelers can get out among cordons and clusters – maybe even nibble the new vintage right from the vine – with the Sonoma Wine & Walking Tour…” – Wine Enthusiast

We absolutely love Sonoma County and have been running tours here for years.

The real beauty of Sonoma County is its diversity, ranging from 60 miles of Pacific coastline on the west to the Mayacamas Mountain on the eastern edge with Napa County; from the large expanses of rural fields including wine vineyards, to the cute small towns, such as Geyserville and Healdsburg, where we base our trip. Sonoma County is also incredibly laid-back given the intensely successful nature of its tourism and wine industries.

Explore this vibrant wine region in an intimate and unique way with our three-day Sonoma Wine & Walking Tour. You’ll experience much more than you would by car. The winemakers’ personalities as they offer you a rich education in (and better understanding of) the wine-making process, the local flora and fauna, the views from a nearby ridge top, or even lunch among the vines – all experiences you wouldn’t have from the seat of an automobile. Your Sonoma Vineyard Walk vacation includes a personal guide that will take you on invigorating walks through private vineyard land, with each excursion ending in a wine tasting.

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Unique Experiences

  • Join our small group public tour or create your own private group with a minimum of four people
  • Don’t just settle for a tasting room, explore where 90% of the winemaking occurs – where the grapes are grown!
  • Gain inside access to private Sonoma County vineyard lands
  • Connect with people within the wineries that you may otherwise never see or meet
  • Travel with your personal guide as he shares his knowledge about grape growing, wine making, and Sonoma County
  • Our walks are moderate in difficulty but you should be able to walk a mile or two, including some ups and downs
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Sonoma Wine Tour Review
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"I was completely enchanted by the unexpected vibrancy of the autumn vineyards. Drinking the wine, I felt an intimate connection to those soft hills and bursting grapes." - Elle P.

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"It was wonderful! We loved having a private guide and felt like insiders. The walks and tastings were perfectly paced and planned." - Margaret S.

Tour Details

Tour Details

  • Location: Sonoma County, California
  • Next Public Tour Date: November 4 -6, 2018
  • Trip Price: $1,200
  • Optional single supplement: $350
  • Host: Jim McCammon
  • Meals: Two breakfasts and two dinners are included. Lunch will be on your own to give you a chance to explore the area.
  • General Tour FAQs

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Private Tour Option

  • Private Tours are available to book with your own group on any date you choose, given lodging availability, as either Classic or Deluxe
  • Deluxe Tour: $2,350 per person
  • Classic  Tour: $1,200 per person
  • Minimum: 4 people
  • Customizations to the above itinerary possible with additional fees. An additional $400 is required for private tours booked on Fridays or Saturdays.
  • Please note –  Our pricing is based on double occupancy lodging. If upon finalizing your private trip, your group has a solo traveler in a room without a roommate, the single supplement becomes mandatory.This amount will differ depending on the itinerary. Please contact our tour operations team for more details.
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Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Sonoma Wine and Walking Tour - Day 1

Depending on how and when you arrive in the area, our guide will meet you at 1:00 pm either at the Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa or our host hotel, whichever is more convenient for you.

From there, we’ll head straight to our first vineyard walk and wine tasting in the Russian River Valley. This AVA is named after the first non-native settlers to come to area and has a rich history as many consider it the birthplace of Sonoma County wine because the first grapes were planted here. The Russian River Valley is known for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as other cool-climate loving varietals.

After our walk and tasting, you’ll check into our hotel, if you haven’t done so already. If there is time prior to dinner tonight, we recommend visiting one of the local tasting rooms. This evening we’ll enjoy a casual, but delicious dinner in the area.

Day 2

Sonoma Wine and Walking Tour - Day 2

Today, we’ll discover the picturesque Dry Creek Valley. This AVA produces a wide variety of excellent wines, but is best known for their world-class zinfandels. Its diversity is due to the unique mix of different soil types, elevations, sun exposure, wind, and water – all within a narrow 16-by-2-mile valley. We’ll head out on our walk to explore another stunning vineyard and cap it off with a lovely wine tasting.

We recommend having lunch at the iconic Dry Creek General Store that was established in 1881 and offers a tasty variety of sustainably-made food. This afternoon, we’ll head to our second wine tasting of the day. If you have a specific place you’d like to visit, let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your request. Later, we’ll enjoy dinner at one of the world-class restaurants in the area.

Day 3

Sonoma Wine and Walking Tour - Day 3

On our last day together, we’ll meet after breakfast to head out for our last vineyard walk. After a couple scenic miles on foot, we’ll arrive at our final wine tasting of the tour. Afterward, we’ll head back to the hotel to check out. We’ll say our farewells and shuttle you back to the Santa Rosa airport or leave you to extend your stay in the area.

Tour Accommodations

Dry Creek Inn Sonoma County

The Dry Creek Inn is a Tuscan-style getaway conveniently located in the northern part of Sonoma County, just outside of Healdsburg’s downtown area. Relaxing by the outdoor firepits, or lounging poolside with a glass of wine in hand, it is the perfect place to unwind from a busy day and your big city concerns.

Please note: Hotels are subject to availability. If listed hotel is not available at time of tour, a hotel that is equal or better to the original will be secured.

What is Included

  • All Local Transportation
  • Double Occupancy Lodging
  • All breakfasts and dinners (Lunch will be on your own to give you a chance to explore the area)
  • All Scheduled Activities
  • Wine During Organized Tastings
  • Professional Tour Host

Not Included: Travel to and from Santa Rosa/Healdsburg, wine with meals, personal expenses, and optional gratuities to local staff and your guide. Travel insurance is also not included, though we highly recommend it.  Check out our Travel Insurance page for more information.

While the general trip itinerary will remain the same, the actual restaurants, hotels, and activities listed are subject to modifications. Changes that are out of our control are common — restaurants close or lose their amazing chef, a winery changes their visiting hours, a hotel gets remodeled, etc. You are entrusting us to create an outstanding vacation for you and so it is possible we may take the liberty of making necessary changes to the itinerary that will improve your overall trip experience. If there is any one experience that is going to make or break your trip, please discuss this with us in advance.

Arrival & Departure

We will meet you either at our host hotel in Healdsburg at 1:00 PM on the first day of the tour or at the Santa Rosa airport. The tour ends on Day Three at noon. If you have a car, you can leave it at the hotel as you will not need it during the tour. We will also provide a shuttle back to the Sonoma County Airport for those flying out or wishing to take a shuttle from there.

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