Sonoma and Napa Tours
Customized Tours are available upon request and per client wishes.
However, we offer a few tours that past experience has shown us to be very enjoyable and popular.
SONOMA
“Sideways” Through Sonoma Tour
This is a small group, full-day tour for Pinot Noir lovers, yet no one has to throw Merlot under the bus.
We’ve lined up three wine partners that in our opinion, make some of Sonoma County’s best
Pinot Noirs and display some of the hallmarks of cool-climate, coastal-influenced wines.
The tour includes a drive along the unforgettable Sonoma Coast between Bodega Bay and Jenner
– one of the most scenic stretches of coastline on the planet that makes the day as much of a
journey as it is about the wine. One of the stops includes a food and wine pairing.
Call or email Gary for the details and booking.
“Rosé All Day” Luncheon
A seasonal summer tasting lunch celebrating Sonoma rosé. Experience a three+ hour tasting
served with 5 premium pink beauties that range from lightly colored, perfume-scented Rosé of
Pinot Noir to a more-ruby colored and lusty blend of Rosé of Merlot and Malbec.
Each wine is paired with a thoughtful progression of seasonal bites, small plates, and picnic-style
pairings designed to show just how versatile rosé can be.
Available summers only. Ideal for birthdays, girlfriend getaways, small groups and even locals
looking for a relaxed but elevated wine country afternoon.
Call Gary for the details and booking.
The West Dry Creek Bordeaux Tasting & Picnic Experience
An inside-access tasting and garden picnic in one of Sonoma County’s most beloved wine
regions.
Enjoy a rare, members-style experience featuring Bordeaux-inspired wines from West Dry
Creek. Experience a series of white wines followed by a series of red wines and then a picnic in
the garden. The tour starts with a cellar room tasting (normally exclusive to members) at 11 am,
followed by a catered picnic of charcuterie and more among the lush grasses, plants and trees in
the property’s private garden.
This tour is designed for a leisure day at the winery.
Call Gary for the details and booking.
NAPA
The Classic Napa Tour
The Napa Valley first got noticed as a serious wine region after the famous 1976 blind tasting in
Paris. * It’s fame now hardly needs a mention, and it’s legit: The Valley makes some of the best
Cabernet Sauvignons in the world. It’s geography, distance-yet-proximity to the coast, and
climate, with many hot, hot days over 90 degrees brings out intense flavors in the fruit and
subsequent juice the grapes render.
We know the spots. You give us the dates, and we’ll go from there. For more insight on our Napa
experiences, check out this December 2023 post on Gary’s Food & Wine Blog: Give Napa a Chance
Call Gary for the details and booking.
Footnote Sources included AI and Wikipedia: The 1976 Paris Wine Tasting, famously dubbed
the "Judgment of Paris", was a historic blind tasting that shattered the myth that only France
could produce world-class wine. Organized by British wine merchant Steven Spurrier, it pitted
top-tier California Cabernets and Chardonnays against prestigious French Bordeaux and White
Burgundies.
To the shock of the French judges and the entire wine industry, underdog California wines won
in both categories:
∙White Wine Winner: Chateau Montelena1973 Chardonnay (Napa Valley)
∙Red Wine Winner: Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa
Valley)
FEES and OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
As declared on the main Tours page, we charge professional concierge fees when engaged by our
clientele. That’s why we do not offer to exchange preliminary ideas by email or text. Our base
starting fee is $150, or two hours to discuss preliminary ideas and options for tours that likely do
include an email following our initial conversation. Once the initial fee is paid, we work closely
with clients with an estimated budget for concierge fees, and clients pay directly for all other
services with no mark ups or add-ons by In Between Drinks Lifestyle. We will help you budget
for your overall wine country trip expense, upon request.
Transportation is provided for all tours, for a fee to the transportation company.
Airport pickups and returns are optional services we provide through a third party.
We assume that all clients are 21, but will ask for I.D. if in doubt.
Our clients can assume that all tours are private to your group, unless otherwise specified.
“Rosé All Day” is an industry term that is meant to imply fun, yet we expect everyone to drink
responsibly.
