The beautiful and historic Sonoma Valley is the birthplace of California’s wine industry. In this unique tour, an expert local historian will accompany your group as we taste delicious wine at two or three Historic Wineries. We will also tour the Historic Sonoma Plaza, the San Francisco Solano Mission and the Sonoma Barracks. Your local historian guide will provide a comprehensive overview of local history, and tell amazing stories of wine families and viticulture, along with tales of General Vallejo and the Mission era.
Lunch included; tasting/touring fees and gratuitites extra.
Buena Vista Winery
Founded by Count Agosthon Haraszthy in 1857, Buena Vista is the oldest premium winery in California. The original stone winery is now a California Historic Landmark, and home to the Tasting Room and Visitor’s Center. You will hear the amazing story of Count Haraszthy, the first Hungarian to emigrate to the United States. In 1861 the Count journeyed to Europe and returned to California with over 100,000 cuttings of fine European varietals. Buena Vista now uses exclusively Carneros district fruit, and is the largest vineyard owner in this chosen “cool-climate” region; perfect for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Extraordinary wine.
Gundlach-Bundschu Winery
2008 marks the Gundlach Bundschu Sesquicentennial – the 150th Anniversary of the oldest family-owned winery in California. The founder: Jacob Gundlach, was a well-known author and poet, whose letters about the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire are regarded as the finest original accounts of this disaster. You will hear his story, and taste delicious estate grown wine in a glorious winery setting, nestled up against the Mayacamas Mountains.
Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery
The history of Sebastiani Vineyards extends all the way back to 1825, when its Mission Vineyard was founded by Franciscan fathers of the nearby San Francisco Solano Mission. It is the oldest vineyard north of San Francisco. Still family owned and operated today, Sebastiani Winery was founded by Samuele Sebastiani in 1904. We will visit the original stone winery building, taste wonderful wine, and view the largest redwood barrel in the world!
Bartholemew Park Winery
Currently owned by Gundlach-Bundschu, Bartholemew Park was part of Count Haraszthy’s wine empire. We will tour the comprehensive history museum, taste delicious vineyard-specific wine, and enjoy the extensive gardens surrounding the tasting room.
Sonoma Plaza and San Francisco Solano Mission
No history tour would be complete without a stop at the beautiful and historic Sonoma Plaza, and a tour of the 21st Mission. Many original adobe buildings still line the Plaza, the largest in California. Renowned as the “Bear Flag City,” you will hear the true story of the Bear Flag Revolt. We will also tour Sonoma State Historic Park, which includes the San Francisco Solano Mission and Sonoma Barracks.
Allora Vineyards was established in 1997 by Terry and Nancy Klein along with their three children, Kelly, Cortney, and Christopher. The winery is known for small-production luxury wines. Allora is located on an exceptional 15-acre estate on the valley floor in St. Helena. The genesis of the winery was the desire to create a family-owned and operated business, a genuine passion and appreciation for fine wine, and a deep respect for this unique and outstanding wine-growing region.
The Amizetta’s founded a secluded hillside estate in 1984 in the eastern hills of St. Helena on Howell Mountain. A winding road with breathtaking views of Lake Hennessy, Pritchet Hill, and the San Pablo Bay, Amizetta beckons your senses as you reach your destination. The steep hillside boasts the perfect terrain for their 2,200 square foot barrel cave with extreme golf carting the hilly vineyards. Known for world class Cabernet’s and Bordeaux varieties this picturesque winery parallels many of the world’s top hillside wineries in Europe. A truly unique tasting experience awaits you either in their picnic areas or by relaxed seating on a multi-tier patio gazing at the incredible views.
Gus Anderson founded Anderson Conn Valley in 1983 and today it remains family owned and operated. Conn Valley is located where Conn Creek flows out of Howell Mountain and is known for producing world class Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends. The tasting features a personal tour of their wine cave and property which is steeped in tranquility and natural beauty. The feeling is relaxed, unpretentious, and friendly.
Since visiting the Napa Valley in 1973, while attending college in southern California, Peter Thompson set his sights on getting into the wine business, specifically in the Napa Valley. In 1992, Peter began actively pursuing his goal of owning a vineyard in the prestigious Napa Valley. During a two and one-half year search for the ultimate vineyard property, Peter selected the Andrew Geoffrey Vineyards site atop Diamond Mountain. The property was undeveloped, but only needed the right combination of efforts to realize its incredible potential for creating a state-of-the-art vineyard to produce world class California Cabernet Sauvignon wine.
Anomaly specializes in the production of the highest-quality Cabernet Sauvignon. The first vintage of Anomaly was harvested in 1997 and made by the "budding garagistes." Buoyed by the praise of the 1997 vintage, they embarked on the journey of obtaining a permit to produce Cabernet Sauvignon by building a small winery adjacent to the small vineyard. They love their little winery and believe that it gives them the opportunity to make a wine that is the finest possible expression of their organic vineyard.
Fittingly, Aonair is Gaelic for "one man" and reflects Grant Long Jr's passion for handcrafted small-lot wines. These outstanding wines are only available at the winery. Grant Long Jr. founded Aonair Wines in 2008 after learning to make wine in a garage growing up and being mentored by great winemakers throughout his life. Located in the rugged, forested hills of St. Helena about 12-15 minutes from the valley floor and Silverado Trail, this small winery has the feeling of a luxury cabin lodge. Enjoy a roaring fire, wander outside on the deck with the fire-pit, and enjoy incredible views of the hillside and vineyards. Rich full-bodied red blends and Cabernet Sauvignon as well as a flagship white wine are produced in extremely limited barrel quantities.
The Arrow&Branch name pays homage to the Contursi Family’s success in the rare coin business, U.S. coinage and Americana. Found on the reverse of most United States coinage is an eagle holding arrows and an olive branch in its talons. This design signifies the United States as a peace-loving nation and country’s ability to defend itself if that peace and freedom should be compromised.
Arrow&Branch exists to showcase Napa Valley’s finest vineyard sites and the wines that come from them. We source our fruit from unique and exquisite vineyard sites, such as Vine Hill Ranch, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, Arrow&Branch, Lewelling and Stagecoach. These vineyards are all noted for having exceptional Napa Valley terroir. We seek to make wines with precision, power and elegance, but most importantly, true to the vineyards they come from.
Auburn James was founded in 2005 by two winemakers, James Frost and Matthew Ospeck. They are known for their Bordeaux red blends which are lush and silky with expressive aromatics. You can taste their wines on the deck overlooking the winery, vineyards, and bocce court or in the tasting cottage. Auburn James is a small, intimate winery with a rustic artistic feel that one must see and experience!
A powerhouse collaboration between proprietor Gus Kalaris and winemaker Bob Egelhoff, Axios is a super premium Cabernet Sauvignon of Napa Valley "cult" status. Axios, meaning worthy in Greek, reflects Gus' vision to craft a wine of Bordeaux influence that represents the richness of its' Napa Valley origin. This wine was proudly served at a reception hosted by President Bush at The White House in March of 2002.
The history of our estate is compounded in layers; rooted in historic tales of fierce Native American hunting grounds, wild west pioneers and the first woman vintner of California in 1886. It has changed hands over the course of 134 years to become a brewery, restaurant, inn, winery and saloon. Tales of love, lust, heartbreak, murders and great fortune create an imaginative backdrop to our present-day vision of AXR. Today, we are a winery that pays homage to its history and blazes the trail of excitement and innovation in Napa Valley as the pioneers before us did.
You can avoid all of the work and stress of planning your Napa Valley or Sonoma wine region visit by allowing us to guide you through a most compelling and memorable day in the wine country!
On our small group join-in wine tours, you’ll meet other wine adventurers on a roomy shuttle led by one of our friendly and informative tour guides. We’ll pick you up from your area lodging for a day filled with fun, flavor and adventure!
Or…make it private! We’re happy to accommodate couples or groups of any size for customized tours through the wine country.
