Lace up your boots, and get ready for a wine adventure. And these boots aren’t meant for stomping – they are adventure bound for taking a walk or hike around the vineyards of Sonoma County.
Adventure walks are not a new idea, they are as old as the hills … well, since people have been around to do the walking. But vineyard walks are becoming increasingly popular. For one thing, it’s a good way to stay active and healthy. But that isn’t all; it’s a great way to really experience wine country – to see a vineyard at different times of year – when the vines are dormant or during bud break or harvest. See what a zinfandel grape looks and tastes like and see the wildlife that lives amongst the vines. You will also learn sustainable farming practices and some of the challenges and highlights of managing a vineyard.
With Sonoma County Vineyard Adventures you can take a self-guided hike for free any day the winery is open without advance notice. A detailed guide is available in the tasting room of each vineyard with points of interest that are clearly marked along the route. Each tour, less than a mile in length, is designed for all ages to enjoy. Tasting fees may apply at participating wineries, so be sure to ask.
The tours are offered at four wineries including Mantanzas Creek Winery (Bennett Valley), Paradise Ridge Winery and Balletto Vineyards (Russian River Valley) and Mauritson Winery (Dry Creek Valley). Four new self-guided tours will be added in November 2010.
Sonoma County Vineyard Adventures
www.sonomavineyardadventures.com
Explore vineyards throughout the seasons on a Vineyard Walk
The amazing Sonoma County vistas entice you to be outdoors exploring. But, you want to go wine tasting at a few of the more than 300 wineries in the area, which usually means driving from place to place. This dilemma is easily solved with Sonoma Vineyard Walks. Zephyr Adventures pairs walks with lunch and wine tasting, and you can also bring your (well-behaved) dog. One-day walks with a professional guide gets you out of your car and into the vineyards. You choose two wineries and it includes wine tasting and lunch. Choice of walks include Alexander Valley Vineyards (Alexander Valley), Michel-Schlumberger and Quivira Vineyards and Winery, and Montemaggiore (Dry Creek Valley).
Three-day vacations combine vineyard walks, tastings and lunch, along with plenty of free time to enjoy Sonoma County. After a walk in the vines, a visit to a spa, wine country dinner, or a trip to the coast sounds like a heavenly vacation. These walks are also fantastic for group outings such as weddings, corporate bonding sessions, and birthdays.
Sonoma Vineyard Walks – Zephyr Adventures
888-758-8687
www.sonomavineyardwalks.com
Book it: http://travel.sonomacounty.com/2138_attraction-tickets_a885.html
Taste premium, sustainably farmed wines on a hillside table while you drink in the panoramic view. The Green Tour & Hillside Tasting at Michel-Schlumberger takes you to the pinnacle of taste: well-developed wines created with sustainable winemaking practices. The tour will also show you more about the land itself, with its abundant wildlife, creek restoration, organic garden and, of course, vineyards. Advance reservations are required for this tour. Michel-Schlumberger also offers scenic guided tours daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
If you don’t have time to explore the source, take a few moments to taste the results. Estate-grown current releases can be discovered in the comfort of the French country kitchen, living room or courtyard garden that makes up Michel-Schlumberger’s unique tasting rooms for a casual yet educational wine tasting experience.
See for yourself in these Michel-Schlumberger videos that show the surrounding beauty and a bit of offbeat humor: www.vimeo.com/mschlumberger/videos
Michel-Schlumberger Wines
800-447-3060
www.michelschlumberger.com
Woody, ready for a Dog Hike at Kunde Family Estates. Photo by Al Mueller.
What’s better incentive to make it up the mountain than having a glass of great wine awaiting you at the top? If Kunde Family Estate wine was served on Mt. Everest, the number of people who summit the peak would triple. Well, it isn’t Everest, but fourth-generation winemaker Jeff Kunde will lead you on the Eco-Tour; a hike 1,400 feet into the Mayacamas Mountains. This moderately strenuous hike with breathtaking views and plenty of wildlife focuses on ecology of the vineyards. Kunde also offers regularly scheduled Dog Hikes; these fill up quickly so you’ll want to register early. Both hikes include wine tasting and a box lunch.
Kunde’s Hike & Taste in the Vineyards tour takes you through the estate’s distinct eco systems and you can taste wines along the way where the grapes are grown. A fun and casual hike exploring the volcanic estate, it’s four hours and moderately strenuous. Bring your own sack lunch and don’t forget the sunscreen. Reservations are required for all the hikes and can be made on their website.
Kunde Family Estate
707-833-5501 ext. 334
www.Kunde.com
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