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Home , California wine, Sacramento Valley, Wine Country

NORTHERN TOUR NAPA VALLEY~~LODI EL DORADO WINE COUNTRY~AMADOR WINE COUNTRY

wDAY 1 ~ ARRIVEw of wine commerce in the Napa Valley. Stop discover why it takes more than a week to make Following an arrival into the Sacramento at several of the Valley’s for a tour a single bean. International Airport, it’s a short transfer to your and tasting of some award-winning premium is afternoon arrive in Sacramento, Napa or Sonoma Valley hotel. Following a get- . (Overnight Napa or Sonoma Valley) the capital of California. During the acquainted welcome dinner, begin a two-night It became the center of stay in the heart of this famous wine-making activity for thousands from around the globe . (Overnight Napa or Sonoma Valley) who outfitted themselves before heading to the gold fields with aspirations of wealth. wDAY 2 ~ NAPA VALLEYw On a guided city tour, listen to the legends California’s famous Napa Valley is one of that made Sacramento famous. One of the the most widely recognized wine in things visitors are surprised to discover is the world. have been part of the Sacramento’s enormous wealth of trees –hence landscape here for more than 150 years and the name “City of Trees” –and especially in today the Valley is home to more than 260 wDAY 3 ~ SONOMA VALLEYw Spring and Fall, it’s a real celebration of their wineries. is morning, take a stroll through Home to the winding Russian River, vineyards, magnificence! In fact, there are more trees in COPIA: the American Center for Wine & the majestic old growth redwoods, historic towns Sacramento per capita than any other city in Arts. Known for its unique take on wine, food and fine hotels, the Sonoma Valley was the the world! roughout the day you’ll see the and the arts, COPIA is dedicated to exploring original home of wine production in northern many deciduous, evergreen, fruit, flowering, America’s contribution to the character of wine California and is still the largest producer and palm trees that make up the more than six and food and celebrates its place in American of quality wine. Artists and craftsman, million trees in Sacramento County. life, culture, and heritage. Later, experience a rejuvenating spas and some of the finest dining gourmet dining excursion aboard the lavishly experiences in the can be found restored Napa Valley Wine Train where you here. e rural, country atmosphere can be as can tour the train, view the chefs at work, relaxing and rejuvenating or as fast-paced and or visit the Car. Enjoy relaxed exciting as you want – either way, it will be elegance, attentive service, and beautiful memorable. is afternoon, enjoy lunch and a scenery as you travel through one of the world’s tour in Petaluma. Experience the charm of one most famous wine valleys! of the oldest cities in California in its beautifully preserved Historic Downtown, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Victorian homes and iron-front buildings surround this charming riverfront town. Visit Canvas Tour the stunning California State Ranch in the incredibly beautiful Two Rock Capitol, a working building where legislators Valley, a 28-acre farm that is home to Olde pass laws for the 5th largest economy in the English Miniature Babydoll Southdown Sheep world. It is here that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Cashmere Goats. Enjoy several tastings governs the state of California, and you’ll during a Sonoma Valley tour this afternoon. have an opportunity see his office. en stroll is afternoon, enjoy a docent-guided tour (Overnight Napa or Sonoma Valley) through Capitol Park, the lush 40 acres of of Napa Valley’s historic Silverado Trail on gardens that surround the capitol where you’ll the tranquil, eastside of this famous wine wDAY 4 ~ SACRAMENTOw see deodor cedars from high in the Himalayas region and where more than 35 wineries are is morning it’s a short ride to California’s in India to the bunya-bunyas from Australia, located. Mining flourished on the mountain largest valley, the , often and where trees from every continent and sides in the northern end of the valley and a referred to as California’s Great Central Valley. climate seem to thrive side by side. Even clever landowner, Mr. Patchett, recognized On the way, make a stop at the Jelly Belly the “orbit tree,” a beautiful redwood whose the expanding mining industry as a grand Factory in Fairfield for a free behind-the- seedling circled the moon aboard the Apollo opportunity for wine sales. A young Prussian scenes tour. A Jelly Belly guide will show you 13 space vehicle seems no worse for the wear! who knew something of wine-making was this working factory which cooks up over 150 Memorial Grove includes trees acquired as employed by Patchett to make 1,200 gallons of different sweet treats. Learn the secrets of how saplings from famous battlefields of the Civil wine using a cider press - thus, the beginning they create the legendary Jelly Belly bean, and War, and the bamboo forest is fun to walk through. Stirring monuments such as the Viet wDAY 6 ~ DELTA & LODI WINE COUNTRYw wDAY 7 ~ GOLD COUNTRYw Nam Memorial, the Firefighters Memorial, and ere’s a little known place tucked away in the Today your destination is Amador Wine the International World Peace Rose Garden heart of the Golden State called the California Country, home to more than 30 small, family- complete this picturesque park. Delta where the lifestyle is decidedly laid back owned, visitor-friendly wineries scattered Continue on to Sutter’s Fort, –a sort of Huckleberry Finn kind of existence! throughout the foothills. As you travel along established in 1839. John Sutter was a e experience is one of discovery –from the Highway 49, also known as the Mother Lode complex, but visionary Swiss immigrant whose quaint and historic to the newly renovated. Road, make stops in small towns and wineries adobe fort was the western destination of early And the wines are spectacular. Welcome to the that dot this historic road. Sutter Creek is one pioneers. Driving past the splendid Stanford rural charm of the California Delta. of the most beautifully preserved of the Mother Mansion, hear the story of the fascinating It’s an area of fertile agricultural islands Lode towns. Nestled in a small valley among railroad baron and California governor, Leland fed by five major rivers between Sacramento rolling hills, it still maintains its Gold Rush Stanford. See the Historic Governors Mansion and the Bay, and some of the heritage and classic Old West facade. Shopping which was the state executive residence until historic river towns are little changed from opportunities abound on Main Street where 1967, with the last of 13 California’s governors Gold Rush days when paddlewheel steamboats Gold Rush-era buildings with overhanging to occupy it being Ronald Reagan. came piping their arrival with the steam-driven balconies house antique shops, galleries and is evening you’re off to Old calliope. Drawbridges yawn open to let boating boutiques. Sutter Creek’s residential district Sacramento, the waterfront district that sprang traffic pass and the postman still delivers mail bears a close resemblance to a picture postcard up overnight during the early days of “gold by boat to some of the rural addresses. First stop and evokes a sense of peace and tranquility. fever.” Today Old Sacramento is a 28-acre is at the newly renovated Old Sugar Mill –just Further south on Highway 49 is national historic landmark and state historic minutes from Sacramento, but feels as if it’s Jackson. Water, not gold, was initially the park and holds the greatest concentration of worlds away. Surrounded by vineyards and the reason for the town’s existence. A dependable renovated or restored Gold Rush-era buildings , it’s located in the charming spring made it a natural way station for thirsty on the Pacific Coast. Enjoy the sunset and town of Clarksburg, named for Judge Clark travelers, and soon it became a trading center a memorable Welcome Dinner this evening who settled there in 1849. Portuguese farmers and transportation depot. Rich quartz deposits as you dine on the Sacramento River on an arrived in the 1870s after the Gold Rush and were discovered in the 1850s, and two mines authentic paddle wheeler. is evening check- the Dutch followed in the 1880s. A tour and here became some of the deepest and most in to your Sacramento hotel for a four-night tasting here with time to explore this exciting productive gold mines in the United States. stay. (Overnight Sacramento) new complex - and enjoy the experience of A walking tour of the town showcases many visiting several distinct wineries all in one historic buildings from the 1860s, including wDAY 5~ GOLD COUNTRYw location! the Oddfellows Building that was reputedly Traveling east from the , is afternoon continue on to the the tallest three-story building in the U.S. you’ll soon meet the foothills of the Sierra Lodi Wine Country, an emerging jewel of in 1863. Return to Sacramento this evening Nevada Mountains and California’s central and a real treasure trove. for a memorable farewell dinner. (Overnight . Step back in time to another From its rural atmosphere and relaxed pace Sacramento) era in Coloma –the birthplace of the California to it’s beautiful vineyards and award-winning Gold Rush. Today, most of the town is within wines, Lodi has become more and more wDAY 8 ~ FINAL FAREWELLw Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. popular as visitors realize it is less crowded A short trip this morning to the Sacramento Visit Sutter’s Mill, where James Marshall and less expensive then other wine regions of International Airport. Return home with spotted yellow flecks while inspecting the California. e largest grape-growing region many pleasant memories of your time exploring tailrace of the mill. in the state, Lodi is home to over 75,000 acres ’s wine country! Continue on to Placerville, formerly of grapes and over 50 wineries –the type of known as “Hangtown” due to the grisly wineries where owners and wine-grape growers Itinerary created by hangings that once took place there. As the join you while tasting their wines. A gateway to the mines and important supply tour will showcase this magnificent area and point for overland travelers, in the mid-1800s very important industry to the California Placerville became California’s third largest economy and way of life. city. Enjoy lunch at Sequoia in the historic Visit the Lodi Wine & Visitor Bee-Bennett House before getting your taste Center, an exciting new destination for buds ready to sample some El Dorado County any California wine tour, complete with Wines. Both Spring and Fall are lovely times an expansive tasting bar, interactive and Sacramento CVB Tourism Team to visit Apple Hill, a beautiful agricultural area educational exhibits, and a gift shop. Your 1608 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 just east of Placerville where you’ll find nine next stop is the Woodbridge Winery. After Phone: 916/808-7405 Fax: 916/808-5250 different wineries to choose from. Famous establishing the Winery in E-mail: [email protected] since the days of the gold rush for growing the Napa Valley, Robert returned to Lodi in Web: www.discovergold.org/touroperator fruits and as a major grape and wine producing 1966 looking for a place to produce quality area, today there are over 55 ranches, including wine for people to enjoy with every meal. Additional itineraries are available on the website wineries, micro-breweries and Christmas tree Today Woodbridge churns out 8 million cases listed above. With two former tour operators on farms. In 1980 El Dorado became appellation of wine each year and a behind-the-scenes staff, the Sacramento CVB Tourism Team is the was approved and is one of the very few tour of the winery will showcase this state-of- ideal resource for assistance in customizing the appellations in California that contains only the-art facility. In the late afternoon, return to perfect Northern California itinerary for your mountain vineyards. Sacramento. (Overnight Sacramento) group or clients.