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During National Wellness Month Enjoy Yoga Classes, Hikes and Horseback Riding Among the Vines

photo credit: Castoro Cellars

SAN FRANCISCO — California wineries are famous for offering world-class wine tasting experiences in relaxed, beautiful settings. What some may not realize is that many across the state also host a variety of invigorating outdoor activities that provide a way to experience a vineyard or its surroundings. From yoga classes to vineyard hikes to horseback rides to wellness days, these experiences are designed to please body, mind and palate. It’s all part of the active, balanced lifestyle that California is known for around the world, and since August is National Wellness Month, it’s the perfect time to take advantage.

Following are just some of the activities regularly offered at wineries throughout the state. Discover California Wines, along with the host wineries’ websites, provide details on upcoming dates as well as additional information.

YOGA 

Restora­tive, Yin Yoga Class in the Vineyard – Castoro Cellars, Templeton

One hour restora­tive, yin yoga class lead by Lau­ren Udsen accom­pa­nied with ther­a­peu­tic adjust­ments assist­ed by body work­er, Jen­nifer Lovas as well as Sound Heal­ing bliss from Jaime Dubin of Har­mon­ic Holistics.

Yoga in the Vineyard – Concannon Vineyard, Livermore

Join Concannon Vineyard and The Well Studio for guided flow yoga sessions on the lawn.

Yoga and Wellness Days – Bricoleur Vineyards, Windsor

Yin Yoga sessions are held on Sunday mornings with Vinita Larioa. Guests can also explore practices such as sound healing, drum circle and kirtan on periodic Wellness Days.

Wine + yoga = WOGA! – Boeger Winery, Placerville

Enjoy yoga sessions throughout the year in the winery’s scenic orchard.

VINEYARD HIKES, WALKS AND HORESEBACK RIDES 

Sunset Hiking in the Vineyards – Murrieta’s Well, Livermore

Experience a picturesque hike during golden hour in the rolling hills of the winery’s estate.

Hiking – Alexander Valley Vineyards, Healdsburg

Daily vineyard hikes offer an insider’s view of the vineyards.

Horseback Trail Rides – Garrod Farms, Saratoga

The winery stables offer daily, one-hour guided trail rides on horseback.

Hiking and Horseback Riding – Bartholomew Estate, Sonoma

Explore miles of trails within Bartholomew Park daily, weaving through mature oaks, madrones, redwoods and vineyards. The winery also offers horseback trail rides.

Hike Down to the River – Heritage Oak Winery, Acampo

The winery’s hiking trail to the river is open to tasting room guests every day during business hours.

Vineyard Walks – Joseph Phelps Vineyards, St. Helena

On select weekends through October, the winery invites guests to join a one-mile vineyard walk.

CYCLING TOURS 

Many vendors offer bicycle rentals and scenic cycling tours along the back roads of California wine country.

For bicycle tours in Napa Valley and Sonoma County, check out Ace It Bike Tours, Getaway Adventures, Napa Valley Bike Tours, Wine Country Bikes and Adventures in Cycling. DuVine offers cycling adventures in Napa, Sonoma and the Central Coast. Central Coast Outdoors covers Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo, while Santa Barbara Wine Country Cycling pedals its way around Santa Barbara County wine country.

About Wine Institute  

Established in 1934, Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy group of 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses that initiates and advocates state, federal and international public policy to enhance the environment for the responsible production, consumption and enjoyment of wine. The organization works to enhance the economic and environmental health of the state through its leadership in sustainable winegrowing and by showcasing California’s wine regions as ideal destinations for food and wine travelers to the state. To learn more about California wines, visit DiscoverCaliforniaWines.

Media Contact

Gino DiCaro, Wine Institute

916-730-3443

gdicaro@nullwineinstitute.org

General: communications@nullwineinstitute.org

SAN FRANCISCO — As Memorial Day kicks off summer travel season, California wine lovers don’t have to choose between visiting the Golden State’s majestic parks and touring its diverse wine regions. That’s because many of California’s national and state parks are located within or near some of the world’s most famous winegrowing areas. What could be better after a morning hike in the woods than a relaxing afternoon among the vineyards with a delicious glass of California wine?

To help with summer travel planning, Wine Institute has curated pairings of California wine regions with nearby national and state parks. With 143 AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) across the state, travelers won’t have to go out of their way to find incredible wine tasting opportunities close to their park-touring adventures. Along with inviting visitors to recharge while sipping the latest vintages, many wineries offer activities like vineyard hikes and cycling. In California wine country, it’s all about a balanced lifestyle.

To find California wineries near a park destination, and get information on summer events at wineries, visit DiscoverCaliforniaWine.com.

Travelers can get information about visiting California’s parks, including current COVID-19 guidelines, at the National Park Service and California Department of Parks and Recreation websites. Some of the most popular parks require visitors to book ahead for day passes and/or camping during the busy summer season. Multi-day events such as the inaugural California State Parks Week June 14 to 18 offers a variety of events from which to choose.

NORTH COAST

Sonoma County & Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve

Ancient Coast Redwoods — the world’s tallest trees — are the main attraction at this 800-acre park and natural preserve. Located just a few miles north of the town of Guerneville, Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve lies within the Russian River Valley AVA in Sonoma County. After hiking and picnicking among the preserve’s towering trees, take time to explore the local wineries. Home to more than 90 producers, the region is famous for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The charmingly rustic town of Guerneville, with its riverfront cabins and lodges, is the perfect place to spend the night and enjoy river activities like canoeing and swimming. On June 25, the Taste of Sonoma is a showcase for Sonoma County wine and food.

Napa Valley/Lake County & Robert Louis Stevenson State Park

This 5,000-acre park offers stunning views of Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties from the summit of Mount St. Helena, California wine country’s highest peak. Robert Louis Stevenson State Park’s location near Calistoga, at the northern end of the Napa Valley, also provides the perfect opportunity to visit the region’s wineries — world-renowned for their impressive and affordable Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The town of Calistoga, with its famous mud baths, boutique hotels and restaurants, is an ideal home base for a visit to the park and local wineries. On July 26, Napa Valley hosts Taste of Napa, a celebration of the region’s wine, food and music. On Sept. 17, travelers can taste and bid on Lake County wines at the Lake County Wine Auction.

SIERRA FOOTHILLS/CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

Sierra Foothills & Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Calaveras Big Trees State Park in Gold Country presents a host of natural wonders, from groves of giant sequoias to ancient volcanic formations to the Stanislaus River. The park is just north of Arnold, in the scenic Calaveras County wine region — a haven for Spanish, Italian and French varieties. Also within the larger Sierra Foothills AVA are Zinfandel specialists Amador County and El Dorado County, which produce everything from Bordeaux varieties to wines made from Rhône, German, Italian and Spanish grape varieties. Camping is popular at Big Trees, so summer reservations book up quickly. Not to worry, though; the park is less than an hour from the old mining town of Murphys, which features hotels, inns, restaurants and more than 25 winery tasting rooms along Main Street.

Madera Wine Country & Yosemite National Park

Rock-climbing Mecca Yosemite National Park is world renowned for its soaring granite walls and cascading waterfalls. Just south of the park is Madera County, one of California’s oldest appellations. The region is known for its dessert wines and port-style wines, and there is plenty to sample along the Madera Wine Trail. Summer camping reservations at Yosemite are quickly selling out and visitors should also book ahead for day passes, but there are a variety of alternative accommodations in nearby Mariposa, from bed and breakfasts to campgrounds to cabin rentals.

CENTRAL COAST 

Monterey Wine Country & Pinnacles National Park

Pinnacles National Park in Soledad wows thousands of visitors each year with its unique volcanic landscape of monoliths, canyons, oak woodlands and towering rock spires frequented by golden eagles and California condors. Within an hour’s drive is the Cienega Valley Loop in San Benito County, as well as the River Road Wine Trail, which winds its way through the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA in Monterey County, celebrated for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Because summer temperatures at Pinnacles tend to run high — ideal for early morning hikes — the park is most popular during the cooler months. That means reservations for the Pinnacles campground are fairly easy to find for summer visits. There are also lots of lodging and tasting room options in Monterey wine country, in the quaint, storybook town of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Ventura/Santa Barbara Wine Country & Channel Islands National Park

The Channel Islands chain is known as “North America’s Galapagos” due to its natural beauty and wealth of rare plant and animal species. Boats to Channel Islands National Park depart from Ventura and Oxnard. From there, it’s an easy drive to the Ventura County Wine Trail, which features about a dozen wineries in a relaxed, coastal setting. In Santa Barbara wine country, the nearby Sta. Rita Hills AVA is known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, while wineries of the Santa Ynez Valley Wine Trail excel at Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. If short on time, many of these wineries offer tasting rooms in Santa Barbara’s urban Funk Zone. The National Park Service operates primitive-yet-stunning campgrounds on each of the five Channel Islands, but if that’s too much camping, book a stay in Ventura or Santa Barbara.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 

San Diego Wine Country & Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is home to the country’s rarest pine tree, the Torrey pine, along with one of the last salt marshes and waterfowl refuges in Southern California. After exploring the reserve’s 1,500 acres of maritime chaparral and miles of beautiful beaches, pay a visit to the wineries of San Diego County. The region boasts more than 100 wineries, best known for Merlot and Chardonnay, and grows 60 different grape varieties. Torrey Pines is located within the San Diego city limits, so lodging, restaurant and other travel amenities abound.

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Media Contact

Gino DiCaro, Wine Institute

916-730-3443

gdicaro@nullwineinstitute.org

General: communications@nullwineinstitute.org

80% of the state’s wine is made in certified sustainable wineries; discover experiences, events and offers from grapes to glass at wineries throughout California

SAN FRANCICSO — April is California wine’s 11th annual  Down to Earth Month, a celebration of the wine community’s commitment to protecting and enhancing the land, regions and wine industry for future generations. State senators Bill Dodd and Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry introduced a state senate concurrent resolution (SCR 88) declaring the designation each April going forward.

The California wine industry is a world leader in sustainable winegrowing:

• 80% of California wine (255 million cases) is made in 178 certified sustainable wineries.
• 55% of California’s vineyard acreage is certified sustainable.
  • 2,402 Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing vineyards farm 204,857 acres, or 33% of California winegrape acres.
  • Another 22% of California winegrape acres are certified to other sustainability programs — including Fish Friendly Farming, LODI RULES, Napa Green, and Sustainability in Practice (SIP Certified®) — with some vineyards certifying to more than one program.

While sustainable practices may include elements of organic, Biodynamic© and regenerative farming, sustainability is broad in scope, encompassing energy and water efficiency, employee relations, community engagement and more.

“As the fourth largest wine-producing region, California has the most comprehensive and widely adopted sustainability programs in the world,” said Robert P. Koch, president and CEO of Wine Institute. “April is the perfect time to support our member wineries across California, whether by visiting to taste and learn in-person or virtually.”

All month long, wineries and regional associations across California will highlight their sustainable farming, winemaking and business practices through a variety of fun and engaging events and activities, from wine tastings to vineyard hikes to behind-the-scenes sustainability tours. Many California wineries host outdoor activities — including active and wellness-oriented offerings — that encourage visitors to explore their beautiful, sustainably farmed winery estates.

There’s an array of Down to Earth Month winery events and offers to enjoy; see some examples below and the full list at the Discover California Wines’ website.

North Coast  

April 1-30: Celebrate Earth Month Discount

Visitors who bring their used wine corks to the tasting room at BARRA of Mendocino in Redwood Valley will receive a free sunflower seed pack and a 10% discount on regular-priced wines.

Central Coast  

April 1-30: “Get Down to Earth with Us” Tasting

All month long at Austin Hope and Treana Tasting Cellar in Paso Robles, take a deep dive into how the estate’s soils impact what’s in the glass.

Sierra Foothills  

April 22-24: El Dorado Passport to the Great Out There

Your passport provides access to more than 25 participating wineries across El Dorado County, with many producers committed to sustainable growing and winemaking practices.

Southern California 

April 2-30: Ponte Vineyard Estate Tour

Board a 10-passenger electric bus and tour the 310-acre ranch at Ponte Family Estate Winery in Temecula. See how Ponte grows and makes its certified sustainable wines.

Inland Valleys  

April 2: Lodi Wine Festival

The Lodi Wine Festival features wine tasting from up to 40 wineries, many committed to sustainability and certified through LODI RULES, pouring over 200 varieties.

About Wine Institute  
Established in 1934, Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy group of 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses that initiates and advocates state, federal and international public policy to enhance the environment for the responsible production, consumption and enjoyment of wine. The organization works to enhance the economic and environmental health of the state through its leadership in sustainable winegrowing and a partnership with Visit California to showcase California’s wine and food offerings and the state as a top travel destination.

Media Contact:

Wine Institute Communications Department
communications@nullwineinstitute.org