Pre-Conference Wine Tour
Sunday, October 17
Sponsored By:
Join your peers and colleagues for a trip to either William Hill Estate Winery OR Sterling Vineyards on Sunday, October 17th for an educational and fun wine tour in the heart of California's Napa Valley.
Please note the following important information:
Please plan to meet in the lobby of the Westin St. Francis Hotel at 8:30AM to check in. SOCAP staff will then guide participants to the buses for departure promptly at 9:00am.
Dress attire for the wine tour is casual.
Also, see below the schedule for wine tour:
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Sterling Vineyards Itinerary:
9:00am – Bus departs from Westin St. Francis
10:00-10:15 am – Arrive at Sterling Vineyards
10:30am-12:30pm – Wine Tour
12:30pm – Bus departs for The Calistoga Inn for lunch
12:45-2:00 – Lunch
2:00pm – Bus leaves The Calistoga Inn
3:00 pm – Arrival back at Westin St. Francis
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William Hill Estate Winery Itinerary:
9:00am - Bus departs from Westin St. Francis to Winery
10:00-10:15am – Bus arrives at William Hill Estate
10:30am-2:00pm – Wine Tour and Lunch at Winery
2:00pm – Bus leaves William Hill Estate
3:00pm – Arrival back at Westin St. Francis
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Sterling Vineyards SOLD OUT
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Come discover what Sterling Vineyards has to offer. Upon arrival to the vineyard, you will ride up a tram to fully take in the panoramic views of Napa Valley from 300 feet above the town of Calistoga. This aerial tram was modeled after that of the Greek island of Mykonos, where Sterling founder Peter Newton once lived. The brilliant white stucco stands out dramatically against the rugged Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges that flank each side of Napa Valley. Mount Saint Helena makes a lovely distant backdrop. The winery’s towers house eight bells from London’s Church of St. Dunstans-in-the-East, originally founded in the 10th century. The church was destroyed by fire in 1666, rebuilt, then destroyed again during the bombing of WWII. Each time, new bells were recast from the old metal to give them superior tonal quality. The rich tolling of these ancient bells sounds down through the valley on the quarter hour. Walkways, balconies, and motion-sensitive DVD screens allow guests to take a self-guided tour of Sterling Vineyards’ winemaking facilities. Beautiful outdoor terraces and elegant tasting rooms provide the perfect environment to enjoy exceptional wines while taking in the view. The extraordinary Mediterranean-style architecture, unique aerial tramway, stunning location, historic bells, and attention to visitors make Sterling Vineyards a top destination in Napa Valley.
After your wine tasting at tour, you will be transported to one of Napa Valley’s most popular restaurants -The Calistoga Inn Restaurant. A modern micro-brewery, home of the Napa Valley Brewing Company, occupies the historic water tower adjacent to the patio. The Inn itself has a rustic pub/bar reminiscent of the early days of Calistoga and a charming, antique-bedecked dining room. We have a three course meal with Sterling Vineyard waiting to make your adventure complete.
Sterling Vineyards Itinerary:
9:00am – Bus departs from Westin St. Francis
10:00-10:15 am – Arrive at Sterling Vineyards
10:30am-12:30pm – Wine Tour
12:30pm – Bus departs for The Calistoga Inn for lunch
12:45-2:00 – Lunch
2:00pm – Bus leaves The Calistoga Inn
3:00 pm – Arrival back at Westin St. Francis
William Hill Estate Winery SOLD OUT
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| © 2010 William Hill Estate |
William Hill Estate is renowned for crafting elegant Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot wines due to its exceptional location just off the Silverado Trail in Southern Napa on the Silverado Bench.
The Estate was designed with the winemaker in mind – the vineyard is situated just outside the winery door giving winemaker Ralf Holdenried the freedom to be involved in every aspect of the winemaking process. Designed for optimal flexibility, the winery supports Ralf’s approach of selecting vineyard blocks and letting their flavors develop individually. "The number of tanks and barrels we have in relation to the grapes on the land means I can make decisions about blending once the individual lots have had a chance to show their true potential," explains Ralf.
This meticulous approach to crafting sophisticated wines adds layers of intensity and complexity to the final blend.
After touring William Hill Estate's gorgeous vineyards, participants will head into the winery to see how the noble grape becomes one of California's greatest wines.
William Hill Estate Winery Itinerary:
9:00am - Bus departs from Westin St. Francis to Winery
10:00-10:15am – Bus arrives at William Hill Estate
10:30am-2:00pm – Wine Tour and Lunch at Winery
2:00pm – Bus leaves William Hill Estate
3:00pm – Arrival back at Westin St. Francis
To attend the Wine Tour, you must be registered for the Annual Conference. Be sure to select the Wine Tour as an optional event when registering. No refunds will be issued for the wine tour.
Register Today!