@sandyf wrote:
I just have to bring this thread back current as yesterday I found a new favorite shop. Unfortunately I have to wait almost half a year before I do another. This was the most fantastic wine tour I have ever been on. The location was absolutely beautiful and even though I could have afforded the $400 to take this tour out of pocket there is little chance I would ever do that. So thanks to mystery shopping and about 3 hours on an easy but long report my kids and I had a wonderful day. There were essentially little to no timings! No exact quotes or any of those annoying things that I cannot remember without notes. And I was allowed to do the shop somewhat tipsy.
@HonnyBrown wrote:
I ENVY you! What wines did you taste? Not the labels but the grapes.
It was actually a winery on 11,000 acres in the hills of Malibu. They make their own wine and grow mostly cabs but they buy grapes from growers in the Salinas valley to make all the others. They only sell the wines online which I found interesting. There is no way to buy the wines at their ranch/vineyard. But the ranch has an assortment of animals that are beloved by the staff and fabulous vistas. I went on a wild almost like a roller coaster ride up and down the hills on the dirt roads with multiple bumps. The advice from the guides was to either cover your wine glass with your hand over the bumps or just drink it all before the truck leaves. Even tho it is winter the sun was out and it was in the high sixties. We stopped to see animals, cave paintings by the Chumash Indians and then at two different venues had our outdoor white and red tastings with the back drop of the mountains and valleys all around. The usual assortment included 4 whites ..chardonnay, a not so sweet (thankfully) rose, also not cloying sweet muscat and another dry one...cant remember what that was. .and 4 reds...a pinot noir, red blend, grenache and a zinfindel. But it was more about the puns the guides made...and jokes...two of the llamas were barrack ollama and michelle ollama, then there was Yak efron and of course Mark Buffalo.
@kenasch wrote:
Sandy
I think it was actually 1,000 acres. Looks really interesting though. I live relatively close by and never knew they existed.
@sandyf wrote:
Me neither. They also have wine hikes which are much less expensive. They are on the same property. Evidently there are nine children and several of them have businesses on the property. The Safari is one business and the hikes is another. It is right down the road from Calamigos Ranch. Absolutely beautiful.
@kenasch wrote:
Sandy
I think it was actually 1,000 acres. Looks really interesting though. I live relatively close by and never knew they existed.
@kenasch wrote:
@sandyf wrote:
Me neither. They also have wine hikes which are much less expensive. They are on the same property. Evidently there are nine children and several of them have businesses on the property. The Safari is one business and the hikes is another. It is right down the road from Calamigos Ranch. Absolutely beautiful.
@kenasch wrote:
Sandy
I think it was actually 1,000 acres. Looks really interesting though. I live relatively close by and never knew they existed.
The issue for me would be driving home after drinking the wine. I guess Uber would be in order.
@sandyf wrote:
It was actually a winery on 11,000 acres in the hills of Malibu. They make their own wine and grow mostly cabs but they buy grapes from growers in the Salinas valley to make all the others. They only sell the wines online which I found interesting. There is no way to buy the wines at their ranch/vineyard. But the ranch has an assortment of animals that are beloved by the staff and fabulous vistas. I went on a wild almost like a roller coaster ride up and down the hills on the dirt roads with multiple bumps. The advice from the guides was to either cover your wine glass with your hand over the bumps or just drink it all before the truck leaves. Even tho it is winter the sun was out and it was in the high sixties. We stopped to see animals, cave paintings by the Chumash Indians and then at two different venues had our outdoor white and red tastings with the back drop of the mountains and valleys all around. The usual assortment included 4 whites ..chardonnay, a not so sweet (thankfully) rose, also not cloying sweet muscat and another dry one...cant remember what that was. .and 4 reds...a pinot noir, red blend, grenache and a zinfindel. But it was more about the puns the guides made...and jokes...two of the llamas were barrack ollama and michelle ollama, then there was Yak efron and of course Mark Buffalo.
@shopper8 wrote:
I guess I'm one of the few if any. My favorite shops were the badged, airport circuits. 13 to 17 shops in one day, easy reports, 24 to 48 hours to do reports. I live close to the airport and my husband dropped me off and picked me up, which saved money and time. Got to eat at nice restaurants, picked my own time schedule.
[/quote]@shopper8 wrote:
I guess I'm one of the few if any. My favorite shops were the badged, airport circuits. 13 to 17 shops in one day, easy reports, 24 to 48 hours to do reports. I live close to the airport and my husband dropped me off and picked me up, which saved money and time. Got to eat at nice restaurants, picked my own time schedule.