Want a truly one-of-a-kind wine experience that’s custom-designed exclusively for you?  Who doesn’t!  Recently, I had the opportunity to enjoy a VIP day in Sonoma Valley, and it was definitely a memorable experience.  Following, I’ll cover my experience and what you can expect should you choose to go with a VIP concierge experience.

DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START?

If you are new to wine tasting, seeking a unique, custom itinerary, or want an experience that can’t be booked on your own, a concierge service is a great way to go.  Although it’s not inexpensive, with a little bit of due diligence, your wine concierge can create a special one-of-a-kind experience for you where you can sit back, relax and know that every detail is covered.  Your concierge will cover everything from transportation, bookings, dining and gratuity.  They will work with you to understand your personal tastes in food and wine, ideal tasting settings, expectations and desired outcomes.  During this early discussion period, you should cover all of these important planning details as well as discuss budget.  Obviously, a VIP experience can be “skies the limit”, but that may not always match your budget, so be open in your discussion to make sure that everyone’s aligned across the board to ensure there aren’t any surprises at the end of the day!

MY WHIRLWIND DAY IN SONOMA VALLEY

My VIP experience was facilitated by my dear friend and professional wine photographer – Suzanne Hawken – of She, Shoots, Shots. The day was designed around me, my adult daughter, Suzanne and her husband, and was planned and led by Sona Concierge CEO, Anthony Rhodes. Anthony chose to focus on Sonoma Valley for our special day because we wanted to focus on small, boutique wine houses with intimate settings.  Also, I’m a big fan of Zinfandel and Anthony had a special spot in mind for us!

PICKUP & TRANSPORT

Our day started with a 9:30am pickup at my friend’s home in a private black stretch SUV. Water was waiting for everyone, and we were able to connect our wine country playlist to the sound system.  The vehicle was immaculate and easily housed our group along with plenty of room to store cases of wine that we might buy along the way.

STOP #1:  Cast Wines
8500 Dry Creek Rd.
Geyserville, CA 95441
castwines.com

Cast Wines is a small, sustainable vineyard with incredible views, multiple stations for tastings, and a knowledgeable staff.  We received a personal 2-hour experience that included a tour of the vineyard, learning to saber sparkling wine, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the wine-making process.  Our host made sure that our glasses were always full and was great at “reading the room”, giving us plenty of time for photo ops and personal conversation, all while keeping us on the move from one gorgeous tasting spot to the next.  I loved the story behind the formation of Cast Wines in 2012, and how the partners felt a ‘magical’ connection with wine country as if a spell had been cast on them, hence the vineyard name and whimsical, fairy-esque branding.

Our experience was relaxed and unrushed, with no other guests competing for time and attention.  Our host was 100% focused on us and our enjoyment, and just like their brand, it was a magical time.  Although this vineyard had been selected to share their organic Zinfandel with me, I actually loved their Sparkling Blanc de Noir and Petite Syrah the most, making sure to leave with plenty of both.

Stop #2:  Dry Creek General Store
3495 Dry Creek Rd.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
drycreekgeneralstore1881.com

Established in 1881, Dry Creek General Store was a flashback to Sonoma Valley’s simpler times.  A quick stop here allowed us to pick up our gourmet lunches to enjoy at our next wine tasting stop, but we had a few moments to browse the store, pick up some gifts for friends and family, and pose for photos.  The gourmet sandwich shop had no problem accommodating my gluten-free needs, and simple but delicious lunches were perfect.

Stop #3:  The Setting Wines
14210 Bacchus Landing Way, Suite 100
Healdsburg, CA  95448
thesettingwines.com

The Setting Wines hails from both Sonoma Valley AND the Willamette Valley in Oregon.  In a private outdoor tasting space, we enjoyed a light oak Chardonnay, a fabulous Sauvignon Blanc, moving to Pinot Noir and then Cabernet Sauvignon.  This is where we enjoyed our lunch from Dry Creek General Store, along with our own personal tasting boards carefully curated by our host.  There was plenty of education around the winemakers and their California / Oregon story.  Anthony told us that The Setting Wines are amongst his most favorite, which is in part why he selected it as a stop for us.  Also, he knew that our group loves everything from a good white to a dark Cab, so he felt this was a broad tasting experience that we’d enjoy.  He was right!

Stop #4: Downtown Healdsburg

On a previous trip to Healdsburg, I had wished that I had more time to explore the cute little town.  Anthony and Suzanne made sure to make that happen, while also giving us a break from wine tasting so that we could keep our wits about us to continue the day!  I loved having an hour to browse the cute shops around the Plaza.  My favorite spot was a cool antique shop with over 15,000 square feet of carefully curated goodies where I bought my daughter an antique framed print from the 1950’s.  In our strolls through Healdsburg, we did stop in for a quick tasting at Spicy Wines, but this was unplanned and just looked like a fun spot as we were passing by, and it was!  The host was friendly and funny, and the atmosphere was super relaxed.

Stop #5:  Dinner at The Madrona
1001 Westside Rd.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
themadronahotel.com

When I say “Wow”, I mean it!  Anthony really nailed it with this dinner venue located in the historic Madrona Hotel in Healdsburg. Gorgeous antiques, outstanding staff dressed in classic style, a farm-to-table dining experience and a cocktail and wine list to die for all complemented our outdoor dining experience under a pinstriped canopy.  We wined, dined, strolled the grounds AND took photos in the giant ornate bathroom mirror.  We were slightly drunk on both wine and good times, and we seriously felt like the most special, amazing group of humans.

THAT is what a VIP experience should be all about…creating a series of memorable experiences that leave you high on life.  By the time that Anthony dropped us back at my friend’s home we had cell phones full of photos, cases of wine to enjoy, and a day of adventures to make all of our friends jealous.  We never had to worry about a single thing the entire day, and now I’m so spoiled that I may never be the same!  Highly recommended!