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Wine Tours$75.00/person (boxed lunch extra)
I am also available for private tasting or specialized tours or wineries can hire me for special events. I have also organized a series of tours that include some of my favorite wineries from the local area.
Green Valley Tour
The next stop is Marimar Estate, a biodynamic winery with Spanish charm that produces outstanding wines. Delicious Chardonnays and Pinots await in an idyllic setting that showcases the beauty of Sonoma County. There is a refundable tasting fee of $10 per person with purchase.
Continuing on, we will head north to the Pellegrini Family Vineyards. While the tasting room is rather new, this family has been making wine and growing grapes for more than 8 decades in our area. Just across the street our final destination is Hook and Ladder . Owned by the DeLoach family, these wines are made from only the most loved and coveted grapes in these family owned vineyards. Cecil DeLoach is a retired fireman, hence the winery name, and one of my favorite wines they sell is the Tillerman Red. A blend that is flexible and affordable, it goes with much of the food that gets served at my family table, and it's named after Cecil, who was the Tillerman (the guy that drives the back of the fire engine), to boot. Tasting is complimentary. West Dry Creek Valley Tour
The complex where Amphora Winery is located is the home of several family run wineries in Dry Creek Valley. Located in this same complex are tasting rooms for eight additional wineries, including Peterson Winery , Papietro Perry Winery , and Family Wineries , which showcases wines from Collier Falls, Dashe, Forth, Duxoup, Mietz, and Lago di Merlo. There are beautiful picnic grounds and so many wines to explore, that this is a great location for lunch or a cheese plate before heading westward. The next stop on our tour is Preston Winery . Lou Preston is truly a teacher for me personally about following the integrity of one's heart in all of the actions we take as keepers of this land. This organic winery is tucked out in the west dry creek valley, tucked along a creek and carefully protected from pesticides, fossil fuels, and other ravages of narcissistic culture. All of the farm machinery is run on recycled vegetable oil, the vegetables and grapes are grown organically, power is generated by solar panels, and wine and root vegetables are stored in a naturally insulated straw bale building. Fresh organic sourdough bread and seasonal fruit, flowers and vegetables are available for purchase to compliment your wines, and there are several interesting cookbooks available for inspiring ideas about what to put on your table. Bocce ball courts and picnic areas are inviting. There is a $5.00 refundable tasting fee with wine purchase. Around the next bend we will be visiting Quivera Vineyards . Biodynamic, organic, solar powered and community conscious, I have enjoyed watching (and tasting!) this winery grow. Fabulous wines and friendly, good humored tasting staff have always been the key to this stop. Their Steelhead Red commemorates a long term dry creek habitat restoration project they have been undergoing that will expand throughout the entire valley. Last but definitely not least, we will stop at Everett Ridge Winery . This small production, family owned winery boasts a picturesque view of the valley we will have familiarized ourselves with throughout the day. Sipping award winning wines in a beautiful setting is the perfect end to a delicious day. Tasting is complimentary. Dry Creek Valley Tour
Our Dry Creek Valley tour begins in the tasting room and cellars of Amphora Winery . Owner and winemaker Rick Hutchinson has generously offered to begin our day with a full tour of his facility, including information on the entire winemaking practice from field to glass. We will enjoy tasting all of his wines in the different stages of production from barrel, to bottle, to library selections. Rick is a huge supporter of the Green Machine and has offered to waive the $5.00 tasting fee for our group. His love for the tradition of winemaking is contagious, and we will be well informed and inspired for a day in the Dry Creek Valley.
Next stop: Unti Vineyards . This is a small production, family owned winery with fabulous varietals and blends. Specializing in estate grown, bottled and produced Rhone and Italian varietals, these award winning wines will put a smile on your face. Tasting is complimentary with our appointment. Just down the road we will visit Mauritson Family Winery . This family has been producing grapes in Sonoma County for over 130 years on 270 acres of prime vineyard in this area. The grand finale of our tour is Ridge Lytton Springs . This winery is the largest commercial straw bale building in the country, and produces all of its energy for the facility with solar panels. Most of the fruit in these exceptional wines comes from old vines in Paso Robles, Alexander Valley, Santa Cruz, and the Dry Creek Valley. Here we will toast to Mother Nature's bounties in a naturally built oasis for environmentally aware wine lovers like us. Alexander Valley Tour
Our next stop is White Oak Vineyards and Winery . This winery comes with one of my favorite stories. Bill Myers, resident, owner, builder, farmer, winemaker and general personality of White Oak winery, began working in the wine business from the back of his truck in the early 70's. Now his Mediterranean style winery has grown to become part of the heart of Alexander Valley, inviting visitors with whimsical animal sculptures scattered throughout the lawn and picnic areas, and luring us with award winning wines. Tasting is complimentary. Just up the road we will take a detour at Sausal Winery . Famous for huge Zinfandels and Cabernet Sauvignons, this is another winery with deep roots into Alexander Valley History. Already the site of vineyards that had been forsaken during prohibition, in 1923, Abele Ferrari purchased sausal ranch and rebuilt the stone winery out of recycled materials. Several generations later, hard work and dedication are still paying off, as each generation has contributed to achieving recognition for producing hand crafted, small production wines you will definitely enjoy. Tasting is complimentary.
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