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Sonoma Valley is Northern California’s oldest wine producing region. It is just over the mountains from the Napa Valley with a similar narrow north-south shape. Home to many award winning winery’s. Walk through the village square an retrace the steps of the Franciscan fathers who brought wine to California and started it all. We visit at least six Sonoma Valley winery’s on this tour. |
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Climate: Mediterranean - Classified as a Region II. Cool in the early morning and evening hours and warm during the day. Average daytime temperatures are in the mid-80s. Grapes Grown: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, Sangiovese, Zinfandel. History and Developmental Time-line. 1823: Mission San Francisco de Sonoma founded. Last on the mission trail, El Camino Real (the royal road). 1824: Franciscan fathers plant the Mission grape to make sacramental wine. 1834: Mexican General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo arrives to establish a Mexican pueblo and presidio. He takes over the vineyard and increases it’s size. 1841: Vallejo becomes Sonoma’s first commercial vintner. He bottles his wines under the Lachryma Montis label (in Spanish means: tears of the mountains). 1845: Sonoma has grown to 45 houses and 300 people . 1846: Bear Flag revolt occurs when immigrants discover they cannot own land if they are not Mexican citizens. After one month the USA steps in to restore order and establish California as a USA territory. 1850: California becomes a state. 1851: General Vallejo becomes a State Senator. 1857: Hungarian Agoston Haraszthy plants the first major vineyard of European (vinifera) grapes. 1858: Colonel Chares V. Stuart purchases land and names it after his wife Ellen and the town of Glen Ellen is born. Bavarian born Jacob Gundlach plants 400 acres of vineyards and becomes California’s 2nd oldest bonded winery. He introduces the varietal Johannesburg Riesling to California. 1874: Phylloxera spreads and destroys the vineyards. 1879: Buena Vista is liquidated. It remains abandon until 1943. 1920: Probation closes the wine industry. 1933: Probation ends. 1960: Wine industry begins to rebuild. 1970’s: The area has explosive growth. 2002: Annual wine industry growth slows to 5%. Internet bust in the SF Bay Area contributes to lower demand for high end wines and the region drops into recession with over planting also contributing. |
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Appellation Summary & Developmental Time-line: Sonoma Valley Wineries Designed an American Viticulture Area (AVA) in 1982. Total size: 103, 200 acres, 22 miles long and 7 miles wide. Total acres in vines: 13,300. Total number of winery’s: 40 - From small family owned winery’s to mega winery's.
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Winery tasting fees are not included. Pick-ups in Sonoma or Napa Valley included. Pick-ups in San Francisco are an additional $29.95 for each person. |
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A optional picnic lunch is available. |
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Departures: 10 am (8:30 am for SF). |
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Returning: Around 4 to 5 pm. (5:30 for SF). |
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We customize the Sonoma Valley Winery’s we visit each tour to meet the expectations of our guests. Don’t see one you want to visit, just ask. |
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You will travel in a new Ford Mark III executive van with a 12” raised roof, big picture windows, individual bucket seats, and dual air. There will be no more than 10 passengers in your group (average is 4 to 6) to insure person attention, plenty of room and a fantastic day. |
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Tour Cost: $74.95 each for 2 people. |
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We Go Where The Big Buses And Long Limos Can’t. |
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Wine-Country Tours Napa Valley & Sonoma, California, USA |
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Sonoma Valley Tours |
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ADVERTISING |
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Wine-Country Tours Email: service@wine-country-tours.com |