2025 Experiences
All of our Vines trips offer insider’s access to epic meals by renowned chefs, remarkable wines and wine experiences, local cultural activities, and wine tasting/blending sessions with our masterful winemakers. But we have now segmented the trips into three different “levels” to offer something for everyone.
Silver trips are our most accessible level of travel: 3 and 4-star hotels, along with more casual insider’s dining and wine experiences.
Gold trips are a slight step up in class: 4 and 5-star hotels, a bit higher level of (and even some Michelin-starred) dining, with wines to match.
Platinum trips are the ultimate in luxury travel: 5 and 5+star hotels, culinary experiences of a lifetime (Michelin-starred or otherwise!) and extraordinary world-class wines.
February 12-16 Smoke and Fire: A Master Class with Francis Mallmann & Aaron Franklin
Dive hands-first into the world of grilling and smoking, guided by none other than culinary legends Francis Mallmann and Aaron Franklin. Imagine yourself stoking fires, seasoning meats and mastering the art of cooking with fire alongside these icons. This unique chance to stand shoulder to shoulder with chefs Mallmann and Franklin goes beyond a mere cooking class – it's an unparalleled deep dive into the essence of barbecue in the stunning Uco Valley. You won't just learn; you'll get your hands dirty, live the Argentine asado and Texas barbecue tradition, becoming a pivotal part of this fiery journey under the guidance of the greats.
April 3-6 Paso Robles Blending Escape
Immerse yourself in the rustic charm and burgeoning viticulture of California's Central Coast with our trip to this enchanting wine region. We will meet the innovative winemakers who harness the unique microclimates and diverse soils to cultivate a remarkable array of grape varieties, resulting in world-class wines. We will indulge in farm-to-table dining experiences that capture the essence of Paso Robles' bounty and pair perfectly with the wines. With the rolling coastal hills as your backdrop, and laid back Paso Robles hospitality at every turn, we’ll engage in an unparallelled exploration into Paso’s flourishing wine culture.
May 1-10 South Africa Safari & Winelands Scouting Trip
One of our most exciting Experiences of the year will surely be this adventure of a lifetime journey to South Africa, where the rugged landscapes of the savannah merge seamlessly with the lush vineyards of the Winelands. Our days will be filled with the thrill of safari excursions, encountering majestic wildlife in their natural habitat and stunning sunsets as we sip local wine by the campfire. We’ll then transition to the tranquil beauty of Franschhoek, nestled amidst rolling hills and vine-covered valleys. We'll use it as a base to explore the country’s unique Winelands, indulging in the finer things in life while soaking in the breathtaking scenery.
May 15-18 Priorat Escape
Priorat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has become known as one of the world’s most unique and rewarding places to make powerful yet mineral-driven and food friendly wine. Perhaps no other wine region in the world so perfectly toes the line between ancient tradition and modern winemaking techniques. Especially when combined with a quest to partake of the many Catalonian specialties prepared by the world class chefs here, an immersion via tasting the mind blowing wines is an epicurean traveler’s dream trip.
May 23-25 Bottlerock VIP Experience
For the fourth year in a row we'll return to Napa for the fabulous combination of great music, great food and great wine at one of the world's premier music festivals. The lineup, released in the winter of that year, is always one of the best around, with the past headliners including Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam and Stevie Nicks.
June 5-8 Rhône Valley Blending Escape
We hope you will join us on this new journey around one of the world’s most important wine regions, defined, both geographically and culturally, by the river that runs through it. The Rhône is the home of some of the world’s greatest Syrahs, a reference point for all other Syrah producing regions, as well as producing one of the greatest value wines out there, Côtes du Rhône. It has also been the site of the papal seat, contains one of the country’s best universities, and is considered the culinary capital of France. In short, the Rhône has so much to offer any curious traveler, especially one who loves to eat and drink.
June 12-15 Mosel Blending Escape
Allow our charming and charismatic partner Erni Loosen to personally introduce you to Germany’s legendary Mosel region, with its breathtakingly steep Riesling vineyards rising up from the banks of the Mosel River and its surprisingly creative culinary experiences. Exploring like locals, we will also take in the ancient region’s fascinating culture and history, and make our own famously mineral-driven Riesling from the Loosen family’s very old vines.
September 10-13 Willamette Valley Escape
Embrace the artistry of winemaking in the heart of Oregon's wine country. This verdant sanctuary is renowned for its world-class Pinot Noir and the communal spirit among its winemakers. Our stay will be enhanced by private tours of acclaimed wineries, specialized tastings and exquisite farm-to-table dining experiences. And all of this against the backdrop of Oregon's breathtaking landscapes and nurtured by the region's spirit of camaraderie and passion for viticulture.
September 27 - October 1 Douro Blending Escape SOLD OUT
One of the oldest and most traditional wine producing countries in Europe, Portugal is recently enjoying something of a rebirth, with a gang of young producers who have lived and worked abroad looking to show the world what they can do with their families’ very old vines. We have partnered with one of the country’s most respected winemakers in his new venture in the Douro, where you will have the unique opportunity to blend your own Douro red. On this 4-day excursion we will traverse this breathtakingly beautiful Douro region seeking out its authentic flavors and experiences.
October 2-5 Montalcino Escape
One of the oldest and most traditional wine producing countries in Europe, Portugal is recently enjoying something of a rebirth, with a gang of young producers who have lived and worked abroad looking to show the world what they can do with their families’ very old vines. We have partnered with one of the country’s most respected winemakers in his new venture in the Douro, where you will have the unique opportunity to blend your own Douro red. On this 4-day excursion we will traverse this breathtakingly beautiful Douro region seeking out its authentic flavors and experiences.
October 7-10 Piedmont Blending Escape
One of the oldest and most traditional wine producing countries in Europe, Portugal is recently enjoying something of a rebirth, with a gang of young producers who have lived and worked abroad looking to show the world what they can do with their families’ very old vines. We have partnered with one of the country’s most respected winemakers in his new venture in the Douro, where you will have the unique opportunity to blend your own Douro red. On this 4-day excursion we will traverse this breathtakingly beautiful Douro region seeking out its authentic flavors and experiences.
Oct 14-17 Champagne Dosage & Discovery
Discover this historic and legendary wine region. We will visit some of the most famous independent and family producers, including a very special private dosage session with our partners Drappier, where you can watch fellow members doing their own dosage for the Champagnes they made on past Blending Escapes. We will also partake of the unique local cuisine, paired perfectly with, of course, many different styles of Champagne. We think this region and its wines will surprise even those who are already Champagne lovers.
October 16 -19 Sicily Blending Escape
One of the oldest and most traditional wine producing countries in Europe, Portugal is recently enjoying something of a rebirth, with a gang of young producers who have lived and worked abroad looking to show the world what they can do with their families’ very old vines. We have partnered with one of the country’s most respected winemakers in his new venture in the Douro, where you will have the unique opportunity to blend your own Douro red. On this 4-day excursion we will traverse this breathtakingly beautiful Douro region seeking out its authentic flavors and experiences.