Pinch me, I think I’ve died and gone to heaven
What could be better than standing in a vineyard, glass of wine in hand tasting grapes from the vine with the winemaker as your personal story teller? That is just one of the many incredible moments that I have planned for my new Wine Tours & Retreats. I have teamed up with Calgary’s Bow Valley College to be the wine expert in their new Live A Better Life series. Get ready to “catch the wine bug”.
Upcoming Tours:
Epicurean California
June 21 – 26, (6 days)
Start summer with six days of food and wine in Northern California.
You’ll eat, drink and learn about the convergence of cultures represented in San Francisco that make it a preferred travel destination for food and wine lovers, as well as the birth place for many of the most popular food trends.
Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, you’ll have four full days dedicated to experiencing the wineries and restaurants of Napa Valley and Sonoma. You’ll experience all the best, from street food to a relaxing multi-course meal paired with flights of local wines to an exclusive cooking lesson featuring the bounty of fresh ingredients available, from local farms.
This travel study has been developed by three of Calgary’s best. Dawn Johnston and Lisa Stowe are food culture experts, who recently spent three weeks leading undergraduates through an intensive study of food culture in Spain. Sommelier Laurie MacKay is known for hosting “House Wine” on CBC Radio’s Homestretch.
Itinerary (Meals included: L – Lunch, D, – Dinner)
June 21
Arrive in San Francisco and after checking into the centrally located hotel, the group gets to know each other with lunch at San Francisco’s Ferry Terminal. The afternoon will be dedicated to exploring the area. In the evening you’ll have dinner at a well known San Francisco establishment. (L, D)
June 22
You will learn about why the culture of San Francisco is the birthplace for some of the best loved food trends. Your palate will explore different cultures of the area, as they’re represented through their foods! This evening you’ll enjoy a delicious meal, paired with local wines, at a restaurant famous for being a cornerstone of San Francisco food culture. (D)
June 23
The group will travel, via hired coach, to Sonoma region. You’ll acclimatize to the pace of the region with a paired lunch at a famous winery. (L)
June 24
Today will be dedicated to visiting the best ‘foodie’ destinations in Sonoma. You’ll explore wineries, visit farms and finish the day with another paired meal at an established Sonoma restaurant. (D)
June 25
We move along to Napa Valley and spend the day at highly esteemed Culinary Institute of America . You’ll prepare a meal in a special cooking class and then attend a lecture with CIA chef. This evening you’ll stay on campus and enjoy dinner at Greystone restaurant. (L, D)
June 26
There will be time to travel a meandering route back to San Francisco – a perfect opportunity to visit some of Napa’s best loved attractions and, of course, one more winery. We’ll return to San Francisco and catch our evening flight back to Calgary.
Dates:
Pre-Trip Meeting: June 14; 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Trip Dates: June 21 – 26; (6 days)
Fees and Inclusions:
Land Package only: $3,490 plus GST (Includes accommodation based on double occupancy, ground transportation, meals, winery visits, and other admission fees as indicated in the itinerary, and taxes)
Land and Air package: $3,890 plus GST (Includes land package and airfare)
At registration, travelers will have the option to include a flight with their travel package.
Contact Information
Live a Better Life 403-410-1546
Registration
To register online follow the link and chose “Epicurean California” from the drop down menu of course titles.