Sonoma Wine & Walking Tour

“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.

Related blog posts:

• Pairing Wine With Walking – Sonoma County In The Fall
• Sonoma County and Wine Tourism: A Love Affair
• How to Pack Wine for Travel
• From Wine Enthusiast to Certified Wine Lover

Tour Details

• Location: Sonoma County, California
• Next Public Tour Date: October 27 – 29, 2019
• Trip Price Per Person: $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 guide and lodging availability
• Trip Price: $1,200 per person ($350 single supplement)
• Minimum: 4 people
• Customizations to the 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.

Day 1: Dry Creek Valley

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 to the Dry Creek Valley, known for its Zinfandels, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc. We’ll go straight to our first vineyard walk at DaVero Winery followed by a private wine tasting, olive oil tasting, balsamic tasting, and season food pairings. 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.

After our walk and tasting, you’ll check into our hotel, if you haven’t done so already. We’ll reconvene in the hotel lobby and depart for another lovely tasting at the Locals Tasting Room, boasting over 70 different wines from 10 local producers. This evening we’ll enjoy a casual, but delicious dinner in the area.

Day 2: Russian River Valley & Dry Creek Valley

Today, we’ll discover the picturesque 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.

Our first vineyard walk of the day will be at La Crema Estate through Saralee’s vineyard, followed by a private 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 make our way back to the Dry Creek Valley and head to our second vineyard walk of the day through the vines of Quivira Vineyards, followed again by a private wine tasting. Later, we’ll enjoy dinner at one of the world-class restaurants in the area.

Day 3: Alexander Valley

On our last day together, we’ll have breakfast at the hotel and set out for the Alexander Valley. Alexander Valley has the largest fluctuating temperature in Sonoma County and is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah, and Barbera. We will give our legs a rest today and head straight to our final wine tasting of the tour at Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Afterward, we’ll head back to the hotel to check out, say our farewells, and shuttle you back to the Santa Rosa airport or leave you to extend your stay in the area.

*Please note wineries are subject to change due to availability at time of booking. If a winery listed in unavailable, we will provide a suitable replacement and you will be notified ahead of time.

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.

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