Women In Wine, Napa & Sonoma

Day 1

Healdsburg, Sonoma

After landing in San Francisco Airport, you’ll be whisked away to Healdsburg in upper Sonoma Valley for the next two nights. Snacks will be provided for the journey, which is just over 1 hour.

Once in Healdsburg, a charming town in Sonoma County, you will meet  Kim Stare Wallace, the co-owner of Dry Creek Vineyard, a family-owned business for the past 50 years. Kim will lead you through a VIP wine-tasting of some of the vineyard’s best offerings paired with renowned local cheeses. After the tasting, check into the chic and charming Harmon Guest House hotel.

This afternoon, enjoy some free time to walk around the picture-perfect town of Healdsburg, enjoy a coffee at a local hangout or rest at the hotel.

Tonight, you’ll enjoy an evening of art, wine and nibbles in town at the Paul Mahder Gallery with Matt Smith, Winemaker and cofounder of GrapeSeed Wines.  The tasting will feature a wine or two by one of their vintners, Jessica Boone. On the way back to the hotel, you can make a pitstop at cocktail hotspot Duke’s for a digestif.

Day 2

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Around 11am, you will head to J Vineyards, started by the legendary Judy Jordan and now, with female winemaker Nicole in charge of all the wines including their lovely sparkling, one of the best in the valley.

After, you will head over to Merry Edward’s place, stopping on route for a gourmet picnic (weather dependent). After going from renown consultant to starting her own winery back in 2008, Ms. Edwards was one of California’s first women winemakers. You will be tasting her highly acclaimed Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

Around 4pm, you will get to try your luck at a wild mushroom hunt with an expert mycophagist, followed by a cooking demonstration at Relish, the much-loved female-owned culinary school in town. Here you will have a lively discussion about food and wine followed by a scrumptious meal.

Day 3

Napa Valley

After breakfast, you will check out and make the picturesque drive over to Napa Valley.

You can look forward to more wine and some serious spa time! Upper Napa Valley is home to the alluring mineral pools of the Calistoga Hot Springs. The composition of the mineral water is created by the filtration of rainwater through the alluvial Napa Valley soils resulting in a blend of trace mineral and essential elements. Geothermal forces elevate the temperature of the mineral water up to 180ºF at the source.

After enjoying creative California cuisine at a local café for lunch, you will  meet Violet Grgich, the President & Co-Proprietor of Grgich Estates, founded in the 70’s by her father. Their Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel are all superbly rated.

This afternoon, you will check into the Indian Springs luxury hotel in Calistoga Springs. You will have time to enjoy some special spa treatments at Indian Springs’ award-winning spa, including a mud bath using local volcanic ash and water from the geyser. You will have the opportunity to add on a massage, facial or anything else on their extensive list.

After a completely relaxing time in the spa, enjoy a re-invigorating dinner at the charming and delectable Sam’s Social conveniently situated right at the hotel while drinking the wines you sourced at the many wineries you have visited so far.

Day 4

Enjoy breakfast and morning yoga, if you desire.

Later, on the drive to St. Helena, you will have the opportunity to stop for a photo op at some gorgeous and Instagram-worthy mustard fields in full bloom.

You will have brunch at the Acacia House in posh St. Helena, after which you will have some time to walk around and shop. St. Helena has everything you’d want to buy – from jewelry to consignment shops, art galleries, bookstores, chic clothing, artisanal chocolate as well as the Spice Islands Marketplace at the Culinary Institute at Greystone – heaven for cooks and foodies.

Next, you will head to Goosecross Cellars for a private hosted tasting with Christi Coors Ficeilli, the proprietor. You will get to try five or so of their reds before heading on Corison Wine. Cathy Corison is a pioneer in women’s winemaking in the valley. She was told she’d never be able to get a job in Napa because she was a woman. Defying all odds, by 1987, she had opened her own winery. Here you will taste her award-winning Cabernets.

After this, you will head back to the Indian Springs Resort for some well-deserved R & R: Time to regroup, relax, and enjoy the hotel’s pools & lush 17 acres!

After all the wine you’ve enjoyed, tonight is reserved for a little Beer & BBQ in a relaxed setting, where you can toast to a long weekend of discovery, amazing women and new friendships.

Day 5

Departure

This amazing long-weekend has come to an end! This morning, you will head to San Francisco Airport. If you have a later flight, you will get to stop at a well-known sparkling wine place on the way.