Tour Vin – Wine Country and Man’s Best Friend

Published on: June 27th, 2025

If you are travelling with a dog, you’re probably wondering if wineries allow pets. How do they accommodate our furry friends? The good news is there are many tasting venues that do allow pets, so we at Tour Vin thought it timely to provide the necessary information to help plan your next Wine Country vacation with your four-legged friend in tow.

Napa Valley

• Judd’s Hill – Enjoy tastings on the terrace with your well-behaved canine.
• Tamber Bey Vineyards – With lots of outdoor space and even a dog park, this venue offers plenty of water and some dog food to their doggie guests.
• Pine Ridge – These folks offer a Garden Reservation for you and your leashed pet.
• Frog’s Leap Winery – Enjoy the garden bar with your leashed dog.
• Etude Winery – The staff welcomes well-behaved, leashed dogs in their outdoor space.

Sonoma

• Landmark Vineyards – On-leash pups are welcome in their outdoor space.
• Seghesio Family Vineyards – Enjoy wonderful wines in their outdoor lounge with your pooch by your side. No reservations needed!
• Matanzas Creek – Here, dogs are allowed both inside and outside – as long as they are on a leash!
• Dutton-Goldfield Winery – Pets are welcome in the tasting room and on the patio.
• Dry Creek Vineyard – Enjoy spacious outdoor areas where you and your pet can take in scenic views together.

We are approaching the high season, so make sure you begin planning your next trip to Wine Country sooner than later. And, don’t forget, we can help with that!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Planning Your Next Visit

Published on: May 27th, 2025

As the high season in Wine Country approaches, it is time to plan your next visit to Napa and Sonoma! In this month’s blog, Tour Vin highlights some of the upcoming events you do not want to miss.

Napa

Calistoga Depot—Live music Friday through Sunday, all summer long, which
includes excellent food and adult beverages.

Taste Napa—The CIA & Oxbow Market Foodie and Tour offered every day! Includes a
tour through CIA and tastings at the Oxbow. Reservations required.

Chappellet Vineyard and Winery—June 28, July 26 and August 30. Summer sunset
series offering live music, wine and wood fired pizza.

Garden to Table Cooking Class at Silverado Resort—July 12, August 16 and September 20. Hands-on class starting with harvesting fresh ingredients from the garden.

Wellness and Wine—August 10 at Shadybrook Estate Winery that includes yoga in the
vineyards and wine tasting with brunch bites.

Hands on Harvest Party—September 13. Yep, you actually harvest and stomp grapes,
enjoy a chef prepared lunch near the vineyard and, of course, conclude with a wine
tasting of their select wines!

Sonoma

Healdsburg 27th Annual Jazz Festival—June 12-22. On Tuesdays in the Plaza, enjoy
cool jazz, country and rockabilly music while indulging in food and drink from local vendors.

Sonoma County Fairgrounds Country Music Festival—June 27-29. Twenty Country
artists, food and adult beverages. Wear your best country outfit!

Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon—July 20.

Sonoma Annual Lobster Feed—August 8. Featuring Landmark Vineyards select wines.
Start off with a reception that includes cheese, charcuterie and a wine tasting. You will
then move on to a wonderful lobster dinner, live music and, of course, more wine!

Wine Country has much to offer this time of year, so don’t wait to plan your upcoming
wine vacation!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – The Valuable Insight of CIA at Copia

Published on: April 29th, 2025

The next time you are in Napa Valley, check out CIA at Copia. The venue offers insight into the history of food and wine in California, as well as activities that you can’t enjoy anywhere else in one space!

Visitors first experience the amazing gardens of herbs, fruits and vegetables, which showcase the essence of California’s culinary reputation. Walk inside the venue and explore the amazing kitchens where CIA Chefs hold cooking classes, or relax in the self-service wine bar, eat lunch at the Lunch Box and shop at the Marketplace at Copia.

For dinner, check out The Grove restaurant. And, on your way out, check out the Culinary Arts Museum and the display of historic vintage classic wines!

This is a great time to visit Wine Country, so be sure to plan your vacation as soon as possible. Contact us to help plan your next trip to Napa or Sonoma.

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Get Ready for Hands-On Experience!

Published on: March 31st, 2025

It’s never too early to plan an event that comes around only once each year! We are talking about a hands-on grape picking and stomping experience, which is planned in September at Trefethen Family Winery.

We anticipate your day will begin with a vineyard tour, learning about the history of the
winery and followed by picking the actual grapes. Then, enjoy an amazing lunch prepared by professional chefs before you head to the crush pad where you will crush (foot stomp) the grapes you harvested!

The day ends with, what else, a wine tasting in the vineyard.

This hands-on-occassion tends to sell out quickly, so if you are interested in taking part in this amazing event let us help you secure your spot. Autumn is a great time to visit Wine Country and early reservations are recommended.

Contact Tour Vin to help plan your next wine country vacation to either Napa or Sonoma. Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Explore Festival Napa Valley

Published on: March 3rd, 2025

We at Tour Vin want to share information on an annual event you don’t want to miss! One of the things Wine Country is known for is showcasing music, wine, food and art. In July, Napa Valley is featuring their annual Festival Napa Valley from July 5 – July 20 at various venues throughout the valley.

Event passes are on sale now and will sell out fast. Attendees will be able to enjoy a diverse lineup of international stars encompassing opera, jazz and swing, as well as classic films and the Taste of Napa featuring various restaurants and wineries throughout the valley.

There is much to plan for during your visit, including choosing the events that interest you, where to stay, transportation options and, of course, where to dine. Want to squeeze in a hot air balloon ride? We can reserve that for you! In fact, we can help you plan for all your Napa Valley travel needs, so contact us at your earliest convenience!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Explore Upcoming Wine Country Events

Published on: January 30th, 2025

There are many exciting, top annual events coming up in Wine Country and Tour Vin is happy to share them with our clients! Whether it’s in Napa or Sonoma, there is always something for everyone to enjoy.

NAPA

• March 2, 2025 – The Napa Valley Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K
• April 27, 2025 – Napa Spring Half Marathon and 5K
• May 23-25, 2025 – BottleRock Napa Valley (everyone should attend this event at least once!)
• June 6-7 – Auction Napa Valley (wine auction, barrel auction, vintner hosted dinners, spectacular food and outstanding wines!)

SONOMA

• Feb 14-17, 2025 – Cloverdale Citrus Fair (live music, carnival rides, wine tasting and of course,
  food!
• March 21-23, 2025 – California Artisan Cheese Festival
• April 12, 2025 – Battle of the Brews (brews, all you can eat and live music)
  April 25-27, 2025 – Healdsburg Passport to Dry Creek (more than 25 wineries, great food and live entertainment)

Contact Tour Vin to help plan your next trip to Wine Country!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Cheers to a Joyful Holiday Season From Tour Vin!

Published on: December 16th, 2024

As the year draws to a close, we’d like to take a moment to raise a glass in gratitude and celebration.
2024 has been a remarkable journey through the stunning vineyards, rich history and the unparalleled
flavors of Wine Country. Whether you joined us for a private tour, a milestone celebration or simply an
escape to the rolling hills and charming wineries, we thank you for allowing us to be part of your story.

We’re excited for what the new year holds! From emerging wineries and new culinary trends to
exclusive partnerships and fresh experiences, Wine Country continues to evolve. Tour Vin is dedicated
to staying ahead of the curve to bring you the best of the region. If you have a special occasion or a
dream trip in mind, let us help you bring it to life.

Wishing You a Season of Joy

During this festive season, we hope your days are filled with laughter, love and, of course, excellent
wine. Thank you for making 2024 so special for us. We can’t wait to welcome you back to Wine Country
in 2025!

From our Tour Vin family to yours, cheers to a joyous holiday season and a prosperous new year.

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Wine Country Harvest Parties

Published on: October 31st, 2024

On our last trip to the wine country, Tour Vin participated in our first harvest party and wanted to share our experience. Though harvest is now over, it’s not too early to think about how you can enjoy the 2025 harvest experience!

The party began with a tour of the property by the winemaker explaining the history of Trefethen Family Vineyards, followed by a step-by-step explanation of the wine making process and an explanation of the days’ events. As the photos show, we happily stomped two vats of freshly picked grapes, harvested over a ton of fruit, enjoyed an amazing lunch under a huge walnut tree and then tasted amazing wines on their outdoor patio.

Check out our pics – the group had a blast!

Trefethen is not the only winery that offers this experience, so contact us so we can share how you too can enjoy the 2025 harvest parties.

Wishing everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Exploring Local Cuisine

Published on: September 27th, 2024

There are many wonderful restaurants in Napa Valley that offer cuisine that meets
everyone’s pallet. Sometimes however, you need to squeeze in a quick lunch between
wine tastings somewhere you don’t need a reservation. If you are in Napa, we suggest you
check out Oxbow Public Market!

There are many vendors and an abundance of choices to choose from. Here are a few
restaurants and quick bites to consider:

• C Casa

• Burgers-Gott’s Roadside

• Hog Island Oyster Co.

• Live Fire Pizza

• Eiko’s Fish Market

• Loveski

• Cheese and Wine Merchant

• MORO

If you enjoy sweets, try Anette’s Chocolates and Kara’s Cupcakes. Also, if you have time
take advantage of the wines offered by Hudson Vineyards in their self-serve wine
stations.

This is a great time to visit Wine Country – it’s less crowded, there are more affordable
accommodations and, of course, you can’t beat the fall weather! Contact us to help plan your next Wine
Country vacation.

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Von
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Explore Fabulous Fall Wine Country Events!

Published on: August 30th, 2024

As you can imagine, Wine Country is a buzz with Harvest and fall-related activities. We wanted to highlight a couple of events in both Sonoma and Napa you don’t want to miss!

Sonoma

• The Healdsburg Crush—Sunday October 13, 12-4 p.m. A premier wine tasting experience of limited Pinot Noir, Sparkling and Chardonnay wines from more than 60 wineries. This event sells out quickly so plan your trip to Sonoma asap!

• Sonoma County Fair Taste, Toast and Celebrate on October 12! This cocktail party will be at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. There will be wine tastings and locally-prepared bites offered by local wineries and restaurants!

Napa

• A vineyard hike and luncheon hosted by Inglenook on October 4th. Walk through the vineyard, learn about winemaking and end with a lunch specially paired with great wines. Tickets are a must!

• Chimney Rock Harvest Dinner—Saturday November 16th. Learn about harvest practices with a focus on the Stags Leap Cabernet Vineyard and enjoy a four-course meal in the barrel room!

There are many more upcoming activities so contact us at your earliest convenience so we can help plan your next trip to Wine Country!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge