Vintner's Choice

Perfect for those with time who wish to experience the wine country mid-week.

Indulge yourself in the wonderful world of California wine, on a leisurely cruise experience that takes you deep into the famed Napa and Sonoma wine valleys. You will also enjoy a day exploring Sausalito and beautiful San Francisco Bay. Both wine novices and connoisseurs will enjoy tastings and interactive discussions about the history, mystery and delicacies of wine.

Each afternoon, you'll return from your day's adventures in the Wine Country to experience delightful hours on board ship, cruising on the rivers and the bay. A Guest Wine Speaker joins you on board to offer special tastings and personal insights into the world of fine wine.

Inquire now on this Wine Country Cruise...

Itinerary:

Day 1 - Sail from San Francisco
Prior to boarding the Spirit of Yorktown in San Francisco you will be transferred from San Francisco Airport to Cruise West’s hospitality area. Enjoy the delights of Fisherman’s Wharf until boarding time. Fisherman's Wharf has some of the finest dining in the world. Taste the wonders of the sea - fresh mussels, clams, crab or fish. Be sure to order some delicious fresh, hot San Francisco sourdough bread. Further down the wharf you'll find Pier 39, a permier festival marketplace. At Pier 39 you'll see the San Francisco Carousel and the Aquarium of the Bay. Take in some shopping or if you have time, tour out to Alcatraz Island.

You will be welcomed onboard with a flute of Champagne or Champagne punch and a toast as you cruise by the San Francisco skyline and circle around Alcatraz island. Following a delicious dinner, relax in the lounge as you cruise up-bay to set the stage for a busy day in the Napa Valley. D

Day 2 - Highlights of the Napa Valley
Note: you may visit today’s wineries in an alternate order. Winery selection is subject to change. You will be treated to a cooking demonstration, “Cooking With Wine,” by the chefs at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), Greystone campus and have time to peruse their amazing cooking store, The Spice Islands. You will also attend an engaging wine program (may include wine blending) taught by the professionals at Greystone. For 50 years CIA has been setting the standard for excellence in food preparation and these teaching kitchens are among the finest educational facilities in the world.

Lunch will be served at the world-renowned Auberge du Soleil restaurant perched on the slope of Rutherford Hill, affording an impressive view of the entire Napa Valley. This exclusive Cruise West lunch will feature food and wine pairings explained by the sommelier.

Nestled along the historic Silverado Trail, Mumm Napa’s spectacular views can be seen while tasting from the glass-enclosed tasting salon or outside on the terrace. Mumm Napa's winemaker's philsophy is to create sparkling wines that show elegance, balance and artistry by combining the tradition Methode Champenoise style with outstanding fruit that can only be cultivated in the Napa Valley. Take a private tour and taste Mumm Napa's award-winning sparkling wines.

Back onboard ship enjoy a leisurely cocktail hour and a delicious dinner. BLD

Day 3 - Sausalito
Enjoy the relaxing morning sail into Sausalito. Brunch will be served onboard as the Spirit of Yorktown ties up near the charming seaside town of Sausalito, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. There will be regularly scheduled shuttles into town and time for you to walk and explore this artists’ town on your own. Additional optional activities include exploring the Bay Model, inflatable excursion craft tours of Richardson Bay, the Marin shipyard or shopping. The San Francisco Bay Model is a 3-dimensional hydraulic model of the San Francisco and Delta areas capable of simulating tides, currents and river inflows. The model is over 1.5 acres in size and represents an area from the Pacific Ocean to Sacramento and Stockton. Learn more about how fresh water from the rivers mingles with the salt water from ocean tides creating a rich and diverse aquatic ecosystem.

Your day will end with a twilight bay cruise and onboard wine tasting. BLD

Day 4 - Choices
Today is full of choices depending on what you feel like doing.

There will be time for shopping and exploring at the 8-acre park-like Sonoma Plaza, the largest shopping area of its kind in California., with galleries, wine shops and boutiques. The Plaza is an eight-acre square at the heart of Sonoma’s unique historical district.

Or...

For those of you who would like the opportunity to personalize your cruise by exploring one of your individual passions there will be optional tours available:

• The Cabernet Lovers Limo Tour will visit three amazing wineries known for their high-end Cabernet Sauvignons: Quintessa, Silver Oak, and Joseph Phelps. (Wineries subject to change.)
  
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• Enjoy an early morning hot air balloon ride over the lovely Napa Valley.
  
  – or –
  
• Tour the olive grove at Round Pond during the harvest / press season. You will have a chance to see olive oil pressed, and taste it, while enjoying the music that accompanies the harvest workers.

Return to the Spirit of Yorktown for lunch.

The afternoon will be filled visiting two wineries in Sonoma. At St. Francis you will be treated to food and wine pairings, touring, and tasting. St. Francis Winery is known for its Cabernets, Meritages, and Chardonnays.

The Chateau St. Jean visit will include tasting and time to appreciate its magnificent gardens. The courtyard features colorful shrubs and generous groundcovers, rare palm and citrus trees. This winery is the only one ever to have placed five wines in a singles "Wine Spectator" magazine Top 100 rating. They are known for its Cabernets and Chardonnays.

Back onboard the ship you will experience a leisurely cocktail hour with featured wines followed by a delicious dinner. BLD

Day 5 - Disembark Redwood City / Return to San Francisco
You will want to be out on deck early this morning to take in the view as we cruise into Redwood City for disembarkation. A transfer by motorcoach will take you either to San Francisco’s airport or to our hospitality area at Fisherman's Wharf . B

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All rates are per person, double occupancy. Port charges, Government taxes and fees are additional. Limited availability and based on minimum fares for select departure dates. Other dates may be higher. These rates are for new, individual bookings only. Not responsible for last minute changes of price or itinerary by cruise line, or any errors or omissions in the content of this site. Some restrictions and cancellation penalties may apply.