SONOMA WINE TOURS
About Sonoma: The Sonoma County wine region is located above San Francisco and features some of the best Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and sparkling wines that California has to offer.
The appellation of Sonoma County totals more than one million acres of land of which 60,000 acres area planted to winegrapes. The county includes 13 distinct AVAs as well as being a part of the North Coast AVA. The larger Sonoma Coast AVA has with 517,000 acres. Chardonnay takes the lead as the most planted variety with 15,400 acres, and Cabernet Sauvignon is the next most planted variety with 11,800 acres. The area crushed about 166,000 tons or about six percent of California’s total wine type tonnage in 2004. Luther Burbank called Sonoma County “the chosen spot of all the earth as far as nature is concerned.” A vastly diverse range of topography, including numerous small valleys with distinct microclimates, the Russian River and the Pacific Ocean, all characterize the region. A moderate climate with a cooling maritime influence, Sonoma County embodies ideal and diverse grapegrowing weather: from valley to hillside, moist ocean coast to dry inland, and cool southern regions that complement the warmer, more northern areas. |
Pricing:
(Based on 9 hours)
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Proposed Itinerary:
Cline Cellars
In the latter part of the 1800s, Oakley, Contra Costa County was a booming farming community with thousands of acres of orchards and healthy vineyards. Fred Cline’s maternal grandfather, Valeriano Jacuzzi of pump and spa fame, called this place home. On summer visits to his grandparents, Fred learned both the love of agricultural life and the mysteries of vinifying grapes into wine. These lessons led Fred to obtain a degree in Agriculture Management from U.C. Davis. In 1982, with an inheritance from his grandfather, Fred founded Cline Cellars near Oakley, California. Here, he preserved and restored many ancient vine sites to their rightful reign as premier California wine lands.
In 1991, Fred and his wife Nancy relocated the winery from Oakley to the Carneros region of Sonoma County on a historic 350-acre estate with new vineyards and facilities. While much of the cool Carneros region is planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot, Fred pioneered the planting of Rhône varietals including Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne.
Fred’s innovation and experimentation led to producing rich, distinctive Rhône-style wines and intense, flavorful Zinfandels for which he has garnered enormous acclaim. In 2007, our 2004 Sonoma Zinfandel was rated 91 pts by the Wine Spectator, the 2004 Bridgehead Zinfandel was rated 90 pts, and the 2004 Ancient Vines Mourvèdre was named, “One of the top 100 values of the Year” by Wine & Spirits, June 2007 issue.
Jacuzzi Family Vineyards
The new home for Jacuzzi Family Vineyards is an architectural jewel in Sonoma's Carneros region. Located directly across the street from Jacuzzi's sister winery, Cline. Jacuzzi's 18,000 square foot stone structure was modeled after the Jacuzzi (yes, THAT Jacuzzi) family's home in Italy. Featuring Italian varietals in the tasting room, plus co-tenant The Olive Press offers delicious samples of locally produced olive oil.
Notables: Jacuzzi Family Vineyards is the second label for Jacuzzi grandson Fred Cline, whose first label, perennial award-winner Cline Cellars, sits across Highway 121 in Carneros. Jacuzzi Family Vineyards first vintage was actually 1994 and the label shared a home with Cline Cellars until 2007, when Jacuzzi moved into its own facility. The Jacuzzi Winery is one of the most stunning buildings in Wine Country, with detailed stone and woodwork. While Cline has made its name on Zinfandel and Rhone varietals like Mouvedre, Syrah, and Carignane, the focus at Jacuzzi is squarely on the varietals from the family's mother country, Italy. Find usual suspects Barbera, Sangiovese and Pinot Grigio here as well as the Super Tuscan blend, Valeriano, and Nebbiolo, which is rarely found in the new world.
Historic Sonoma Plaza
Stop for lunch in the Sonoma Plaza! The historic Sonoma Plaza lies at the heart of Sonoma Valley—gateway region to Sonoma County. Sonoma Plaza's done it all—Mexican military outpost, fleeting frontier republic, Spanish Mission village. Now a gorgeous historic landmark and "slow" culture capitol, Sonoma Plaza radiates romance around every corner, cafe and cobblestone...
Don't see the winery you're looking for? Contact us, we can customize a tour just for your group.
Cline Cellars
In the latter part of the 1800s, Oakley, Contra Costa County was a booming farming community with thousands of acres of orchards and healthy vineyards. Fred Cline’s maternal grandfather, Valeriano Jacuzzi of pump and spa fame, called this place home. On summer visits to his grandparents, Fred learned both the love of agricultural life and the mysteries of vinifying grapes into wine. These lessons led Fred to obtain a degree in Agriculture Management from U.C. Davis. In 1982, with an inheritance from his grandfather, Fred founded Cline Cellars near Oakley, California. Here, he preserved and restored many ancient vine sites to their rightful reign as premier California wine lands.
In 1991, Fred and his wife Nancy relocated the winery from Oakley to the Carneros region of Sonoma County on a historic 350-acre estate with new vineyards and facilities. While much of the cool Carneros region is planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot, Fred pioneered the planting of Rhône varietals including Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne.
Fred’s innovation and experimentation led to producing rich, distinctive Rhône-style wines and intense, flavorful Zinfandels for which he has garnered enormous acclaim. In 2007, our 2004 Sonoma Zinfandel was rated 91 pts by the Wine Spectator, the 2004 Bridgehead Zinfandel was rated 90 pts, and the 2004 Ancient Vines Mourvèdre was named, “One of the top 100 values of the Year” by Wine & Spirits, June 2007 issue.
Jacuzzi Family Vineyards
The new home for Jacuzzi Family Vineyards is an architectural jewel in Sonoma's Carneros region. Located directly across the street from Jacuzzi's sister winery, Cline. Jacuzzi's 18,000 square foot stone structure was modeled after the Jacuzzi (yes, THAT Jacuzzi) family's home in Italy. Featuring Italian varietals in the tasting room, plus co-tenant The Olive Press offers delicious samples of locally produced olive oil.
Notables: Jacuzzi Family Vineyards is the second label for Jacuzzi grandson Fred Cline, whose first label, perennial award-winner Cline Cellars, sits across Highway 121 in Carneros. Jacuzzi Family Vineyards first vintage was actually 1994 and the label shared a home with Cline Cellars until 2007, when Jacuzzi moved into its own facility. The Jacuzzi Winery is one of the most stunning buildings in Wine Country, with detailed stone and woodwork. While Cline has made its name on Zinfandel and Rhone varietals like Mouvedre, Syrah, and Carignane, the focus at Jacuzzi is squarely on the varietals from the family's mother country, Italy. Find usual suspects Barbera, Sangiovese and Pinot Grigio here as well as the Super Tuscan blend, Valeriano, and Nebbiolo, which is rarely found in the new world.
Historic Sonoma Plaza
Stop for lunch in the Sonoma Plaza! The historic Sonoma Plaza lies at the heart of Sonoma Valley—gateway region to Sonoma County. Sonoma Plaza's done it all—Mexican military outpost, fleeting frontier republic, Spanish Mission village. Now a gorgeous historic landmark and "slow" culture capitol, Sonoma Plaza radiates romance around every corner, cafe and cobblestone...
Don't see the winery you're looking for? Contact us, we can customize a tour just for your group.