Fields Of Dreams
Author: Avital Binshtock
June 2007
Features
Meet amid the vines to revive employees and wow clients.
It’s commonly held that environments best suited for grape-growing are also ideal for human well-beings. Though that’s reason enough to plan your meeting in a wine-producing region, it helps that wine country’s relaxing aura evokes focused thinking and fresh ideas.
In wine country, enlivened productivity stems in part from breathtaking scenery: endless rows of meticulously planted vines gnarl messily onto themselves; gold-flecked hills roll gracefully over the land. And there are other sensory stimuli—the scent of aged oak, the taste of rich tannins, a cellar’s faint chill and the rosy vibrancy that locals exude.
You can start your preliminary research on WineCountry.com, an excellent resource chock-full of information about wine-related travel. Its extensive event-planning section covers many regions. But before deciding where to plan in wine country, first decide whether to plan there.
PROS
Barbara Llewellyn, a noted event planner in Northern California, suggests that “wine country venues are inherently more interesting than most traditional halls in urban areas.” Attendees, she points out, benefit from an ambience that allows immediate relaxation. “This, in turn, translates into an audience that is willing and able to inhale the experience.”
Michael Green (michaelgreen.com), a wine expert regularly hired by Fortune 500 companies to design wine programs for conferences, lauds wine country meetings because they “brand a more laid-back corporate culture.” Green (also the wine consultant for Gourmet magazine) further observes that wine country locales have a sophisticated infrastructure with very comfortable hotel rooms and meeting space, while offering wonderful wine-related activities.
CONS
On the other hand, according to Llewellyn, the drawbacks of planning in wine country can include travel-time charges (such as caterers traveling from urban areas), the heat (summer can hit 100 degrees) and that the wine-country theme can leave little menu flexibility.
And Green raises a delicate issue: “If folks have a drinking problem, putting them in wine country might not be a good idea.”
It’s also important to remember that wine country can be pricey. The luxury inherent to these regions will imbue your meeting with all that you want, but it will also cost plenty. To save costs on your first wine country meeting, you might want to check out Groople.com, a group-travel booking site that helps coordinate meetings in Napa.
PLANNING TIPS
Congratulations, you’ve decided to meet in wine country! Now what?
Llewellyn recommends that you visit your destination multiple times before the event. This, she says, will help you develop accurate timelines (driving times in wine country can vary) and realistic expectations of venues.
And though it’s imperative for every event to be organized with a timeline and supplies, it’s especially important in wine country, says Llewellyn, “because resources are not as easily accessed. You can’t just run to the market for a missing ingredient or beverage supplies.”
As a basic program for group activities, you’ll want to consider hot-air balloon rides, a bike tour or a cooking class, and certainly a wine-themed dinner.
So which wine country region is right for your group? Here are some options.
NAPA VALLEY
Wappo Indians named Napa to mean “valley of plenty.” And there is plenty indeed. The most densely concentrated wine region on earth, Napa Valley spans 35 miles and has an abundance of group venues.
Robert Mondavi (robertmondavi.com), perhaps Napa’s most famous winery, receives up to 225 guests. A group tour can include a winemaking demonstration, wine-tasting lessons or a three-course lunch. Entrance to Sterling (sterlingvineyards.com) is via aerial cable-car, so visitors get a dramatic valley view. Their banquet room accommodates 60. Merryvale’s (merryvale.com) candlelit Cask Room is a dramatic backdrop for 100-person events. Mumm (mummnapavalley.com), known for its sparkling wines, also can host 100. Rubicon (rubiconestate.com), Francis Coppola’s winery, has majestic event spaces for 300. Ladera
(laderavineyards.com) offers private driving tours for eight people to sample wines and to see where the grapes
are harvested.
Though wineries are Napa’s main must-do, other activities can make for an unforgettable visit. Want to get the view from above? Wine Country Helicopters (winecountryhelicopters.com), an MPI member, provides helicopter tours and flies groups (30 or fewer) to conference facilities. Napa Valley Wine Train’s (winetrain.com) dining cars can be chartered for 360; planners can opt for themes like a murder mystery. Napa Valley Bike Tours (napavalleybiketours.com) hosts private groups (up to 50) for cycling tours to wineries.
If your group is into food, The Culinary Institute of America (ciachef.org) is the ideal venue; its 35,000-square-foot chateau-style building hosts 1,200. Attendees partake in cooking demos, food-preparation programs and interactive wine classes.
For an on-the-water experience, charter Cruise West’s (cruisewest.com) 102-passenger boat; an expedition leader guides groups through stops at wineries. The cruise along the Napa River includes a tour of COPIA (copia.org), Napa’s wine, food and art center. COPIA itself tailors programs for 1,000-person gatherings; its excellent restaurant, Julia’s Kitchen (juliaskitchen.org), hosts frequent group events.
In Napa’s downtown is 4,500-square-foot Napa General Store (napageneralstore.com), a specialty retailer offering a unique way to entertain. The store accommodates 60 for a sit-down dinner or 100 for walk-around events.
Many of Napa’s superior hotels and resorts have conference facilities: Silverado Resort (silveradoresort.com), home of the Senior PGA Tour, has 17 meeting rooms and two golf courses. The Cottages of Napa Valley (napacottages.com), an intimate two-acre property, works well for upscale meetings in a luxuriously informal setting. The Carneros Inn (thecarnerosinn.com), a Preferred Hotels member, recently redid its two meeting halls. Meadowood (meadowood.com) is exclusive: It’s where the President stays.
Luxurious Calistoga Ranch (calistogaranch.com) touts its newest meeting facility, the Creekside Clubhouse. Also on property: the impressive Lakehouse Restaurant (private dining rooms available). The Vintage Estate (vintage1870.com) encompasses two hotels: Vintage Inn and Villagio, both well-suited to group events. Vintage Estate’s new Pavilion accommodates more than 1,000. Solage Calistoga (solagecalistoga.com), opening this month, is a design-focused property featuring stylish, eco-friendly function space for 300.
Group-friendly restaurants include Hurley’s (hurleysrestaurant.com), a casual restaurant with balanced, wine-complementary cuisine (two private rooms seat 51; a buy-out accommodates 95) and French Laundry (frenchlaundry.com), headed by celeb chef Thomas Keller and known for distinctive cuisine and service (though the prices may hang you out to dry). The food’s worth it, but plan ahead for the months-long wait list. French Laundry accommodates 60 for private functions.
Wherever you choose to plan, Napans will help. Particularly obliging are the CVB (napavalley.com) and the Vintners Association (napavintners.com).
SONOMA COUNTY
Some 10 miles east of Napa lies beautiful Sonoma County. Though it benefits from the same fortuitous climate, Sonoma isn’t as crowded. But with more than 190 wineries, it’s still a powerhouse.
At Benziger (benziger.com), visitors take a tractor-pulled tram for a tour. The winery accommodates dinners in its wine-cave dining room or 1,500-square-foot tent. Sebastiani’s (sebastiani.com) venues include a 300-person picnic facility, a 10,000-square-foot hospitality center and the 180-person Barrel Room. Gloria Ferrer (gloriaferrer.com) welcomes 120 for dinner parties or luncheons. Kunde (kunde.com) has four meeting sites (for up to 225) including an underground aging cave.
For nonwine sightseeing, head to Sonoma State Historic Park (parks.ca.gov); for $2, your guests can see Mission San Francisco Solano, established in 1823 as the first mission north of San Francisco.
Is your group made up of animal lovers? Meet at Safari West (safariwest.com). Aboard an open-air vehicle, you’ll view exotic animals like giraffes, zebras and buffalo. Groups stay in the park’s African Tent Camp and dine on premises.
If your attendees need some pampering, consider Osmosis (osmosis.com), a 4,200-square-foot day spa. The 17-room facility custom-tailors programs for up to 36 people. Also consider Healdsburg Country Gardens (hcgweddings.com), a gorgeous private estate perfect for receptions (up to 150) amid vineyards and roses.
Sonoma’s group-friendly lodging includes the upscale Fairmont (sonomamissioninn.com), a AAA Four-Diamond property that can host 2,790 people. The Lodge at Sonoma’s (thelodgeatsonoma.com) meeting space includes a ballroom and seven conference rooms. MacArthur Place (macarthurplace.com), ensconced in Victorian gardens, is ideal for 150. If your group is smaller, choose Honor Mansion (honormansion.com), a 12-suite luxury inn.
For more guidance, on Sonoma’s many diversions, contact the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau (sonomacounty.com) and the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau (sonomavalley.com).
MONTEREY COUNTY
Monterey County encompasses the coastal towns of Monterey, Carmel, Salinas, Big Sur, Pebble Beach and Arroyo Seco. Here, 85 vintners and growers maintain 40,000 wine-grape acres.
Chateau Julien (chateaujulien.com) serves groups in three dining halls, a courtyard, a glass-covered conservatory or a barrel-lined cellar. Customized events include grape stomps. Galante (galantevineyards.com) has elegant outdoor provisions for 2,000. Paraiso (psvwine.com) serves 160 on its Fountain Terrace.
For a broad view of the area, book AgVenture Tours (whps.com/agtours), which specializes in agricultural sightseeing and wine tasting. Monterey Bay Aquarium (mbayaq.org) is considered America’s best aquarium. Choose between an 80-person dinner served amid a kelp forest, a 225-guest dinner in the Marine Mammals Gallery or a standing reception for 2,000. Rent the entire aquarium for 3,000.
Meeting space is easy to find at Monterey’s hotels. Cannery Row’s Monterey Plaza Hotel (montereyplazahotel.com) has 10 conference rooms and outdoor ocean-view facilities for 500. Five-Star Inn at Spanish Bay (pebblebeach.com/2b.html), on famous 17-Mile Drive, can host 900. The 58,000-square-foot Monterey Conference Center (montereyconferencecenter.com) is in close proximity to the Marriott, the DoubleTree and The Hotel Pacific. Groups up to 1,300 can use its 8,100-square-foot ballroom or 14 other function areas. Asilomar Conference Grounds (visitasilomar.com) is surrounded by ocean and nature and accommodates 1,000 attendees.
The Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association (montereywines.org) and Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (montereyinfo.org) serve as references for event planners.
SAN MARTIN
This Santa Clara County town, southeast of San Jose, is of interest wine-seeking meeting planners because of CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort (cordevalle.com). In what’s considered “new” wine country, CordeValle is ideal for corporate retreats. Clos LaChance (closlachance.com), an 85-acre winery, is actually on the resort’s property. In addition to its beautiful meeting space (for 200), CordeValle also offers golf, bocce and winemaking.
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
On California’s breathtaking Central Coast, wineries benefit from the ocean breeze. Tolosa (tolosawinery.com) takes full advantage of that. Meet in their 40-seat Heritage Room or on their 100-person patio.
Nearby Cliffs Resort (cliffsresort.com) has ocean views, flexible meeting place (for 500) and a location within easy driving distance of SLO’s lively downtown. Adjacent is Dolphin Bay (thedolphinbay.com), where a penthouse unit can hold 40, and the property’s restaurant, Lido, is a Central Coast culinary destination.
The region’s newest hotel, though, Hotel Cheval (hotelcheval.com), opened in April, is suitable for an upscale 20-person meeting. The region’s best group activity is Hearst Castle (hearstcastle.org). Outdoor events can be arranged at the castle, with reservations 16 weeks in advance. Otherwise, take your entourage on a tour.
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Shannon Brooks, Santa Barbara CVB’s (santabarbaraca.com) spokesperson, says, “Santa Barbara’s wine country offers meeting planners incredible diversity within a small geographic area—from Western-style ranches to vineyards reminiscent of Tuscany.”
Very true. Take Alisal Guest Ranch (alisal.com), which has vast outdoor space and meeting packages inclusive of golf, horseback riding and tennis. Hotel Andalucía (andaluciasb.com), downtown SB’s only luxury property with extensive meeting space, is laced with interesting art and capped with a rooftop terrace perfect for a memorable 250-person reception. Its new oenophilic programs for business-travel groups include Wine Camp, wherein up to 30 learn from the nearby Artiste Winery (artiste.com). Attendees blend barrel samples and design the label for their own bottled wine.
The Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Association (syvva.com) can help plan for SB-area events more far-flung than downtown. Solvang Gardens Lodge (solvangardens.com) has space for a 12-person meeting indoors or a 100-person gathering outdoors. Check out Clairmont Farms (clairmontfarms.com) and the Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall (solvangusa.com). Los Olivos Cafe (losolivoscafe.com), made famous by Sideways, seats 30 in a private room for a winemaker dinner.
For stylish transportation, Stardust Cruises (stardustcruises.com) is a limousine company specializing in wine tours for up to 80. Their coaches can be used for meetings—video presentations are possible in the vehicles, as are on-board wine tastings.
TEMECULA
Temecula Valley CVB (temeculacvb.org) is Southern California’s wine country, and dozens of vintners call it home. Now that Tori Spelling has opened a B&B there (Chateau La Rue, chateaularuebandb.com), Temecula’s trendier than ever.
And for good reason: There are plenty of wonderful things to do. Take your group on a hot-air balloon ride, to a lavender farm or, if it’s early June, to the excellent Temecula Hot Air Balloon &
Wine Festival (tvbwf.com).
Many area wineries host groups; three that are particularly versatile are Thornton (thorntonwine.com), Wilson Creek (wilsoncreekwinery.com) and Ponte (pontewinery.com). Thornton has wonderful venues, from its 70-seat Vineyard View Room to its 450-person courtyard.
The region also has stunning lodging options: Temecula Creek Inn (temeculacreekinn.com) is a gem tucked between rolling hills and leading wineries. Its Native American-inspired decor and newly refurbished guest rooms make this resort casually elegant. South Coast Winery Resort (wineresort.com) is remarkable for its vastness (1,500 can convene amid terraced vineyards) and professionally executed events accented with estate-grown wines. Team-building activities include programs like Winemaker for A Day. Nearby is Four-Diamond Pechanga Resort & Casino (pechanga.com). Atop its 14-story tower is its ballroom; between sessions, attendees play in the resort’s 188,000-square-foot casino, California’s largest.
OREGON
Oregon’s growing wine industry is concentrated in Willamette Valley (willamettewines.com), where more than 200 wineries produce the region’s signature pinots.
Unique meeting space is available at Willamette Valley Vineyards (willamettevalleyvineyards.com), where 350 can enjoy pastoral scenery and excellent cuisine. Beautiful Youngberg Hill Vineyards (youngberghill.com) can also host 350, while Red Ridge Farms (redridgefarms.com), a lavender-and-herb producer, accommodates 50. For larger events, modern Evergreen Aviation Museum (sprucegoose.org) fits 3,000. Maresh Red Hill Vineyard Retreat (vineyardretreat.com) also works well for small corporate meetings.
For lodging, consider McMenamins Hotel Oregon (mcmenamin.com) in the heart of Oregon’s wine country.
WASHINGTON
Washington wineries are growing in popularity and acclaim, so they’ve become a huge part of the state’s tourism. Three hundred sunny days per year will make even Seattleites feel they’ve entered a different world.
Woodinville (woodinvillewinecountry.com), with more than 35 vineyards, is home to Willows Lodge (willowslodge.com), located adjacent to Redhook Brewery (redhook.com), which offers daily tours.
Yakima Valley (visityakima.com) is another Washington wine destination, as is Walla Walla (wallawalla.org). Walla Walla maintains a small-town atmosphere even while its wine industry booms. One of the area’s foremost attractions is Fort Walla Walla Museum (fortwallawallamuseum.org), featuring historical artifacts from pioneer families and Native American tribes. For lodging with meeting facilities, consider The Marcus Whitman Hotel (marcuswhitmanhotel.com), which has a just-off-Main Street conference center for 450, plus an on-site restaurant.
Cave B Inn (cavebinn.com), a contemporary winery resort, has a new Roundhouse perfect for meetings.
In Roslyn (cleelumroslyn.org), the center of the Washington Wine Highway (washingtonwinehighway.com), is eco-friendly Suncadia Resort (suncadia.com), situated on one of two local golf courses. Up to 150 can meet here to enjoy the destination restaurant, wine tastings and lovely views.
Avital Binshtock is a writer and editor who contributes regularly to the Los Angeles Times and Smart Meetings. She is the author of Frommer’s Napa and Sonoma Day by Day, currently in bookstores.
To see the pros do it, you’d think wine tasting was high art. But novices can appear just as savvy by using their five senses to experience the five S’s in this order:
- Seeing - First, hold a glass up to light to see its luminescence—is it cloudy or clear? Golden or deep?
- Swirling - Open it up to the air to release its aromas.
- Sniffing - After swirling, smell deeply, paying attention to whether the aroma is floral, spicy, fruity or woody.
- Slurping - Taste the wine as you hold it on your tongue for a moment. Try to discern the fore, middle and after flavors. Feel the wine’s texture in your mouth; some wines are velvety while others are sharply tannic. Hear... well, ok, there’s not really a tip for sound, but the volume of approving “ooohs” around you should indicate something, right?
- Spitting - Finally, spit—unless you want the buzz.
