In 2017 we are offering a number of optional pre-conference excursions, dinner excursions on Thursday and Friday night, and post-conference excursions. Pre-conference and post-conference excursions cost $25 and dinners cost $20 – obviously an incredible deal. Please note we are not conducting daytime excursions into the local wine region this year and because those have traditionally been included, we will donate net fees from the Thursday and Friday dinner excursions to the WBC Scholarship Fund.
You can register for all excursions and dinners when you register for the conference or, if you are already registered for the conference, via this separate excursions and dinners form.
Please note:
- All 2017 pre-conference and post-conference excursions are open only to Citizen Bloggers and their spouse or family members. Please contact us if you have questions about this.
- Dinner excursions are open to all, space permitting.
- If you must cancel your spot, your conference registration fee and excursion fee are 50% refundable through October 9, 2017 and not refundable after that.
Pre-Conference Excursions ($25/person)
Lodi Wine Excursion: Tuesday – Thursday with Lodi WineGrape Commission
- Max capacity: 25
- Pickup: 3:00 PM on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at Sacramento International Airport
- Drop Off: 12:00 PM on Thursday, Nov. 9 at Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country for 2017 Wine Bloggers Conference
- Host Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites Lodi, 1337 South Beckman Road, Lodi, CA 95240, 209-369-2700; $119/night; To reserve your room, call the hotel and ask for the Lodi Winegrape Commission rate. Cutoff date: Oct. 17, 2017.
- Click here for full itinerary
Inner Mendo Odyssey, hosted by Fetzer–Bonterra: Wednesday – Thursday SOLD OUT
- Max capacity: 25
- Pickup: 1:30 PM on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country in Santa Rosa
- Drop Off: 12:30 PM on Thursday, Nov. 9 at Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country
- Hotel: Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country in Santa Rosa (daily transportation to and from this hotel)
- Itinerary:
- Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2:30 PM – Arrive at Fetzer Vineyards, Hopland, CA (Mendocino County)
- 2:45 PM – Vineyard toast, conversations in Sustainability & Carbon Farming
- 4:00 PM – 1000 Stories Blending Competition
- 5:30 PM – Transfer to Campovida for reception, dinner
- 5:45 PM – Fetzer 50th Kick-Off Reception, with tasting of Campovida & Fetzer wines
- By 10:00 PM – Return to Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country on Fetzer-Bonterra bus
- Thursday, Nov. 9, 7:30 AM – Breakfast on the Fetzer-Bonterra bus & transport to Bonterra’s McNab Ranch
- 8:30 AM – Biodynamic Vineyard Tour
- 9:30 AM – Sleeves Up Biodynamic Prep Workshop
- 10:15 AM – Wine Tasting @ Bonterra Barn
- 10:45 AM – Transfer to Biodynamic® Butler Ranch
- 11:00 AM – Inner Mendocino Winemaker Panel, tasting & box lunch
- 12:30 PM – Return to Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country on Fetzer-Bonterra bus
- Pickup: 1:30 PM on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country in Santa Rosa
- Drop Off: 10:00 PM at Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country on the same day
- Hotel: Book your own room in Santa Rosa
- Etude Winery and Stags’ Leap Winery Itinerary (SOLD OUT):
- 1:30 PM – Pick up at the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country
- 2:45 PM – Arrive at Stags’ Leap Winery to experience the proud winemaking heritage in the prestigious appellation that bears the winery name.
- Established in 1893, Stags’ Leap Winery is one of California’s earliest wine estates, a unique terroir and ideal microclimate support a classical standard of viticulture, land use, and winemaking that is as relevant today as it was over a century ago. Located in an intimate valley within the greater Napa Valley, Stags’ Leap is a place of natural beauty, storied buildings and gardens, a lively history, and a reputation for elegant wines showing finesse and intensity.
- Upon arrival to the estate, each guest will be welcomed with an intimate reception and a glass of wine to enjoy in our Historic Manor House.
- 3:00 PM – Enjoy an intimate tour that explores the history of the estate, its unique terroir, and its superlative wines. Delight in the fascinating stories of one of California’s earliest wine estates as you stroll the property and finish with a seated tasting on the stately Manor House Porch.
- 3:15 PM – You will have the opportunity to be led through a tasting of Stags’ Leap Winery wines, hosted by our winemaker, Christophe Paubert, in which he will speak upon his philosophy of showcasing the fruit and not the winemaker’s hand, in every wine that he crafts.
- 4:30 PM – Depart Stags’ Leap Winery for Etude
- 5:00 PM – Arrive at Etude Winery to experience the ‘Pursuit For Pinot Noir Perfection’
- Etude was founded on the philosophy that winemaking begins in the vineyard and that superior grape growing diminishes the need for intervention by the winemaker, resulting in authentic varietal expression.
- Join us at the beautiful winery property in the Carneros Valley for a dinner alongside wines paired specifically to offer you an exploration in the ‘Study of Pinot’, where you will taste Pinots from our Estate Vineyards in Carneros and also the Sonoma Coast, all led by Etude Winemaker, Jon Priest.
- 5:15 PM – Behind-the-scenes tour of the property to see how we craft our wines and get a sneak peek at what exciting things are in store for the future at Etude
- 6:00 PM– Seated dinner hosted by Jon Priest featuring Pinots from the Etude estate vineyards paired alongside a specially prepared meal
- 9:00 PM – Depart Etude for Santa Rosa
- 10:00 PM – Drop off at the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country
- Beringer and Sterling Excursion Itinerary:
- 1:30 PM – Pick up at the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country
- 2:45 PM – Arrive at Sterling Vineyards to experience the ‘Always Polished, Never Dull’ Napa Valley lifestyle
- You will be driven up to the iconic Napa Valley property atop the hill in Calistoga to take in some of the best views of the entire Napa Valley. Once atop the hill, the iconic stucco winery structure commands a breathtaking view of the valley’s vineyards on all four sides.
- Here the group will have a photo opportunity on the terrace with a glass of wine to welcome you to Sterling Vineyards.
- Then, you will be escorted to the Reserve Room where you will be offered the new Platinum experience – The crème de la crème of our offerings. You will indulge your taste buds in this one hour food and wine pairing educational tasting while enjoying a flight of our most sought after wines, perfectly paired with three sensational culinary creations prepared by the Sterling Vineyards Culinary team.
- Following the tasting, our aerial tram (the only one of its kind in Napa Valley), will whisk you back down the hill, offering stunning views along the way. Like the winery itself, Sterling’s aerial tram was conceived with both functionality and aesthetics in mind. The planners needed a way to transport visitors and staff to and from the hilltop winery with minimal impact to the environment. The solution was the unique and thrilling aerial tram, which affords guests incredible views of the surrounding hills and valley.
- 4:00 PM – Depart Sterling Vineyards for Beringer
- 4:30 pm – Arrive at Beringer Vineyards to experience the ‘Better Beckons’ Napa Valley lifestyle
- At this historical 1868 property, you will experience the Legacy Cave Tour where you will be guided through the Old Winery and historic tunnels, all while learning Beringer’s long history, commitment to quality winemaking, while tasting a selection of our wines during the tour.
- Additionally, you will have a private tour of the beautiful historic Rhine House and taste a few more of our wines, ending your tour in the iconic Founders Room.
- Following your tour of the historic property, you will be escorted into the Hudson House where our onsite Hudson House Chef will lead you through a cooking class to learn cooking tips from Napa’s culinary experts
- Dinner to follow in the Hudson House featuring Beringer’s Reserve Wines to pair with the meal you’ve created
- 9:00 PM – Depart Beringer Vineyards for Santa Rosa
- 10:00 PM – Drop off at the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country
HANNA Winery Excursion: Thursday SOLD OUT
Join HANNA Winery Winemaker Jeff Hinchcliffe for flavor camp, a unique experience of blending, tasting and a deep dive into microclimates. HANNA Winery, founded in 1985, thrives on Sonoma’s world-class diversity of climate, topography and geology. For a small, quality-focused family winery, it boasts a stunning collection of long-held vineyards – from the cool Russian River Valley to the sunny Alexander Valley to the rugged Moon Mountain appellation high in the Mayacamas. Winemaker, Jeff Hinchliffe first became interested in winemaking as an undergraduate student studying brewing science at the University of California, Davis. After a few winemaking courses and a job as a laboratory assistant in the enology department, he decided to make a switch from a career in beer to wine. “The creativity and inevitability of winemaking won me over.” Jeff stated and he opted to graduate with a degree in fermentation science with an emphasis in enology in 1983. Jeff honed his winemaking skills with stints at Christian Brothers in Napa, Hidden Cellars and Gabrielli in Mendocino. In the spring of 1998, he joined Hanna Winery, and has been making award-winning wines ever since. As a result, Jeff invites you to flavor camp to experience the microclimates of Hanna vineyards as it is defined by soil, elevation changes, water, and weather patterns. Enjoy the opportunity to taste and learn followed by a wine pairing lunch with Winery President Christine Hanna. Chris will highlight the diversity of her estate vineyards and the influence on the wines paired with a menu of Sonoma’s finest, locally sourced ingredients.
- Max capacity: 25
- Pickup: 10:00 AM on Thursday, Nov. 9 at Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country in Santa Rosa
- Drop Off: 1:30 PM at Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country on the same day
- Hotel: Book your own room in Santa Rosa
- Itinerary:
- 10:00 AM: Pick up at Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country in Santa Rosa
- 10:30 AM Arrival at Vineyard for short reception
- 10:45 AM Jeff Hinchcliffe leads flavor camp with a focus on how microclimates of their vineyards are defined by soil, elevation changes, proximity to water, and weather patterns. This will include a taste and learn exercise.
- 11:45 AM Wine pairing lunch with Chris Hanna featuring a menu of Sonoma’s finest, locally sourced ingredients.
- 1:00 PM Depart for Santa Rosa
- 1:30 PM Drop off at Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country
Thursday Night Dinner Excursion ($20/person)
All dinner excursions will depart the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country at 6:30 PM and return to the hotel at 9:30 PM on Thursday, Nov. 9. Net fees for the Thursday dinner excursion will be donated to the WBC Scholarship Fund and, as of October 10, to the American Red Cross of California Northwest in support of fire victims.
Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate and Gardens SOLD OUT
Friday Night Dinner Excursions ($20/person)
All dinner excursions will depart the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country lobby at 6:30 PM and return to the hotel at 9:30 PM on Friday, Nov. 10. Net fees for the Friday dinner excursions will be donated to the WBC Scholarship Fund and, as of October 10, to the American Red Cross of California Northwest in support of fire victims.
Martin Ray Winery SOLD OUT
We believe in therapy. Pinot Noir, roaring fires, sunsets, comfort food, laughter. Join us as we fire up the oven, offer seasonal fare kissed by the flames, and let the wine flow. Grab a glass of wine, chat with Winemaker Lindsey Haughton, and explore our unique portfolio of wines from Russian River Valley, Napa Valley, and Santa Cruz Mountains. We’re offering you a night to explore what we feel are some of the most unique growing regions and vineyards in California, while taking in all that Russian River has to offer with our beautiful estate, live music, and a little bocce. Join us for the best form of therapy, Wood Fired Therapy.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery SOLD OUT
Note: this excursion with depart the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country lobby entrance at 6:15pm.
Thomas George Estates SOLD OUT
Our hosts, Thomas George Estates was founded by the Baker family — who has dedicated themselves to establishing a world-class winery focused on site-specific Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays grown in the cool heart of the Russian River Valley. The essence of our winemaking philosophy is to respect and reflect in our wines their vineyard, varietal and vintage. The wines will be perfectly paired with the cuisine of Duskie Estes is the chef and owner (along with her husband John Stewart) of Zazu Kitchen & Farm as well as their meat company Black Pig Meat Co.- ZAZU Restaurant + Farm has a growing reputation as the “poor man’s French laundry.” Look forward to seeing you there!
Post-Conference Excursions ($25/person)
Napa Valley Vintners Excursion: Sunday SOLD OUT
- Max capacity: 25
- Pickup: 9:00 AM on Sunday, Nov. 12 at the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country in Santa Rosa
- Drop Off: 3:30 PM at Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country on the same day
- Itinerary: The day begins at Castello di Amorosa winery with an educational seminar and tasting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot called “Napa Valley’s Big Three,” featuring local winemakers. Next, we’ll take you to St. Helena to visit one of the region’s newest luxury hotel properties, Las Alcobas. Lunch prepared under the direction of Chef Chris Cosentino at the Acacia Barn will be served with “Unexpected Napa Valley Wines” and each table will be hosted by a Napa Valley vintner. Following lunch, vintner Hugh Davies will discuss how “50 Years of Agricultural Preservation Shaped Napa Valley” during a presentation about the region’s legendary Agricultural Preserve land protection ordinance. Each guest will receive a specially labled bottle of wine from Durant & Booth winery in Oakville.
Livermore Valley Wine Country Excursion: Sunday – Monday
- Max capacity: 30
- Pickup: 9:30 AM on Sunday, Nov. 12 at the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country in Santa Rosa
- Drop Off: At Oakland airport by 1:30pm and SFO airport by 2:15pm on Monday, Nov. 13
- Lodging: Hilton Garden Inn Livermore (click link to book)
- Itinerary:
- Sunday, November 12, 9:30 AM – Pick up from Santa Rosa hotel
- 11:30 AM – Arrive Livermore Valley, lunch at Murrieta’s Well with welcome from Wente family
- 1:15 PM – Ghielmetti Vineyard Tour & Tasting
- 2:45 PM – Tasting of Livermore Valley wines at Wood Family Vineyards (Vasco Road urban winery cluster)
- 4:30 PM – Sidewinder still tour and local spirits tasting
- 5:45 PM – “Cab Camp” and dinner at Concannon Vineyard with John Concannon
- 9:00 PM – Arrive at Hilton Garden Inn for the night
- Monday, November 13, 7:00 AM – Buffet breakfast at hotel
- 8:30 AM – Board bus
- 8:45 AM – Wente Winemakers Studio experience featuring Livermore Valley wines
- 10:30 AM – Brunch and tasting in Downtown Livermore
- 12:30 PM – Depart Livermore Valley for airports