BABC Napa Valley Wine Tasting Tour - Saturday, August 18th 2018 (#napababcsf)
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| Calling all wine lovers! We know the Hustle and Bustle of San Francisco life can be thirsty work, and what better way to quench such a thirst than an escape to California's famous wine country? Please plan to join the BABC Young Professionals for a special private tour of California?s premium wine destination, Napa Valley. The tour will include a full day in the beautiful wine country, tasting some of California?s finest wines. *tour and tasting inlcuded in price* The day will begin with a 10am pick up at the St. Francis Yacht Club, before the scenic drive up to Napa with some complimentary wine and beer from the BABC cellars. We will then be given a tour and tasting at the spectacular Clos Pegase winery. Next we will move on to Long Meadow Ranch for lunch where guests will be able to enjoy their quaint outdoor café menu or eat their own lunch, before heading over to Priest Ranch for another tour and tasting. We will then head back into the city with more complimentary wine and beer en route, before dropping off back at the St. Francis Yacht Club at around 5pm. The BABC Young Professionals groups is proud to offer a calendar of fun events and this is definitely one of the highlights. Places on the wine tour are very limited so register now to avoid missing out on a great day of wine, wine, and more wine. |
| 1st Stop - Clos Pegase - Tour and Tasting with Scottish Winemaker Robin Akhurst |
| The Clos Pegase is a "must visit" destination for those seeking a tranquil environment to enjoy renowned architecture and world-class wine. The winery design was completed by acclaimed architect Michael Graves in 1987 and includes the iconic building, the idyllic grounds, and unique caves. The winery is surrounded by the Applebone Vineyard, one of four estate vineyards which together total 450 acres throughout Napa Valley. The entire estate is simultaneously majestic and peaceful, and the perfect place in Napa Valley to spend the day. |
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| About the Winemaker: Robin Akhurst's road to Napa took him around the globe through eight consecutive and exhausting harvests, picking up an impressive list of mentors along the way. He joined the Swanson Vineyards family in 2015, its thirtieth year, to lead a winemaking team poised to propel Swanson through its next thirty. A native of Scotland, Robin graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in environmental sciences. What started as a casual interest in wine soon became a passion and following graduation, he took a job as a sommelier in one of Edinburgh's most forward thinking wine-focused restaurants. Fate then took him to London to work for one of the city's leading independent wine merchants, gaining additional on-the-floor experience selecting, selling and sampling wines from all over the world https://www.clospegase.com/winemaking |
| Lunch at Long Meadow Ranch |
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Long Meadow Ranch's charming outdoor café is nestled under a picturesque blue spruce tree at the north end of Farmstead. |
| Have a look at what you may like to eat prior to arriving - MENU |
| 2nd Stop - Priest Ranch at Somerston Vineyards - Enjoy fantastic wines by Craig Becker |
| Priest Ranch embodies the essence of Napa Valley, from the trailblazing mindset of its first pioneers to today's spirit of agricultural excellence and preservation. Inspired by James Joshua Priest, one of the original settlers in the area, Priest Ranch is dedicated to producing estate farmed wines of uncommon quality and character. For Priest Ranch wines, Winemaker & Co-founder Craig Becker draws on the diverse vineyards throughout their property for the distinctive and unique characteristics afforded in its fruit through the variety of elevations, exposures, soils, and microclimates. The original Priest Ranch estate was established in 1869 by James Joshua Priest, a Gold Rush prospector. In 2004, the historic 660 acre property was purchased and combined with a 955 acre estate in Elder Valley ? together creating the current Somerston Estate. Today, the 1,615-acre estate is farmed with 230 acres of producing vineyards, in 15 distinct sites, encompassing over 180 different varietal blocks. Located high on the eastern hill of the Vaca Mountains above St. Helena, the estates? varied range in elevations, exposures, soils, and microclimates allows the creation of wines that showcase distinct expressions of its diverse terroir. |
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About the Winemaker Becker spent much of his childhood in Long Beach, California before moving north to attend Santa Rosa Junior College - with both the desire to be surrounded by nature and for the unlimited mountain biking opportunities. Soon after transferring to the University of California at Davis to study plant physiology and soil science, he met Courtney Siverson, who would later become his wife. While finishing his degree, Becker's interest in winemaking took flight after working a harvest job at Robert Mondavi Winery. Soon thereafter, he worked at Spring Mountain, before starting his own winemaking consulting company. It was during this time that he met our Proprietor, Allan Chapman, who had recently launched two wine brands - Priest Ranch and Somerston, from the Somerston Estate property in St. Helena. |
Date and Time
Saturday Aug 18, 2018
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM PDT
Saturday, August 18th, 2018
10.00am - 5.00pm
| 10.00am | Leave St Francis Yacht Club |
| 11.30am | Arrive at Clos Pegase |
| 12.30pm | Depart for lunch |
| 12.50pm | Lunch at Long Meadow Ranch |
| 1.50pm | Depart for Priest Ranch |
| 2.10pm | Arrive at Priest Ranch |
| 3.10pm | Depart for return to city |
| 5pm | Expected arrival back to St Francis Yacht Club |
Location
Pick up/Drop off:
Fees/Admission
$100 BABC Members
$125 Non-Members
Prices Include:
Bus to and from Napa Valley
Water, Beer and Wine on Bus
Wine Tasting fees at Clos Pegase
Wine Tastings fees at Priest Ranch
Lunch not included at Long Meadow Ranch Cafe but prices range from $7-$20 or bring your own lunch
Contact Information
events@babcsf.org
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