Welcome!
The Norway Tour will bring together a variety of sommeliers for a week of learning, exploring and experiencing California wine. The program is designed to offer a deeper understanding of California wines through vineyard visits, tastings, master classes and more.
This site provides your itinerary, helpful travel information, key resources on California wine and will also link to a digital wine catalogue on the Bottlebooks platform. The catalogue includes a complete list of the wines featured during the program. We will share instructions on how to use the tool to maximize its functionality.”
Check-In Hotel
3:00pm | Harmon Guest House
Location: 227 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA
Welcome Reception
5:00-5:45pm | Harmon Guest House Creekside Deck
Please meet in lobby at XXX to depart for dinner.
Venue
6:00pm | Welcome Reception & Dinner
Thursday, May 14
7:00am – Complimentary breakfast in the lobby of H2 Hotel located adjacent to Harmon Guest House
7:45am – Shuttle Departure from Harmon Guest House to SCW Offices
Sonoma County Winegrowers
8:15am | Tasting & Presentations
8:30am
SCW Overview with Karissa Kruse, President & CEO of SCW
9:00am
California Wine Institute Overview with Honore Comfort, Vice President of International Marketing
TBD
TBD
12:30pm | Lunch
Information
TBD
TBD
3:30pm | Interactive Walk Around Tasting by AVA
Wineries
TBD
Hotel Check-In
5:30pm | Harmon Guest House
Please meet in lobby at 6:00pm to depart for dinner.
TBD
TBD
6:30pm | Dinner
Information
Friday, May 15
7:00am – Complimentary breakfast in the lobby of H2 Hotel located adjacent to Harmon Guest House
7:45am – Shuttle Departure from Harmon Guest House to SCW Offices
TBD
Truck Talks
10:00am | Vineyard Tours around Sonoma County with winegrowers
Wineries
TBD
Dutton Ranch
12:30pm | Overview & BBQ Lunch
Wineries
Fort Ross Vineyards (Jeff Pisoni)
Gros Ventre (Chris Pittenger)
Littorai (Ted Lemon)
Hotel Check-In
3:30pm | Harmon Guest House
Please meet in lobby at 5:15pm to depart for dinner & test wines for Sommelier Showdown Dinner.
Dry Creek
5:30pm | Test, Prep & Showdown Dinner
5:30pm
Open and proof wines, see dinner menu, team and course assignments
6:30pm
Guest Arrival & Opening Reception for Sommelier Showdown Dinner
Dry Creek Kitchen
7:00pm | Sommelier Showdown Dinner at Dry Creek Kitchen
Information
Saturday, May 16
7:00am – Complimentary breakfast in the lobby of H2 Hotel located adjacent to Harmon Guest House
8:00-10:45am – Explore Downtown Healdsburg: Enjoy your morning off to check out local bakeries, the farmers market, restaurants and shopping!
Ray Isle, Food & Wine Magazine
10:00am | Seminar
XXX Sommeliers to Meet Rachel at 9:15am in Harmon Guest House Lobby for Departure for Trade Seminar
Trade Seminar with Ray Isle, Food & Wine Magazine
Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience Grand Tasting
Hotel Check-In
7:15pm | Harmon Guest House
Please meet in lobby at 7:00pm to depart for dinner.
Dinner
7:30pm | Our closing dinner will be fun, casual and you will get to mingle with winemakers and winegrowers
Please meet in lobby at 6:00pm to depart for dinner.
Sunday, May 17
Departure
7:00am – Complimentary breakfast in the lobby of H2 Hotel located adjacent to Harmon Guest House
8:00/8:30am – Check out & Shuttle Departure for SFO from Harmon Guest House
12:00pm – Check out time if you are driving yourself
Guest Travel Information
What to wear
Afternoons and evenings can be cool and windy, especially in coastal areas. Bring a jacket or sweater with you at all times.
- Casual, jeans ok. Please dress for vineyard & winery visits with sturdy footwear – closed toe shoes
- Winery Dinners: Smart casual (Tip: Avoid wearing heels)
What to bring
- Passport / ID for hotel check-ins
- Credit card for incidentals / personal use when you check in
- Electronic chargers, adapters, back-up battery packs
- Curiosity, Positive Attitude & Questions!
Tips
- Join the tour WhatsApp group for helpful reminders. Check back for a link to join here.
- Traveling in a group is even more pleasant if we do not have to wait for anyone. We kindly ask everyone to be on time.
What is covered in your stay
- Hotel stays, group transportation, transportation to and from SFO
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
What is not covered
- Personal incidental expenses – spa services, mini-bar, room service, etc.
- Additional hotel room nights and transportation outside of the pre-arranged conference and regional tours.
- Travel Insurance – we recommend you take out travel insurance as Wine Institute is not able to do this for you.
Guest Travel Information
Stay connected on the Tour
If you haven’t joined yet, make sure to join the Vietnam Sommeliers WhatsApp group! It’s a great place to connect with fellow tour members, share photos and updates, and stay engaged with our growing community.
Meet your fellow travelers
See the incredible lineup of sommeliers from Vietnam! Get to know your fellow travelers and the tour guides who will accompany you throughout the entire week.
Level Up Your
California Wine Knowledge
Capstone is California’s premier wine certification program, designed for both professionals and wine enthusiasts. With four levels of study, it covers everything from geography and viticulture to producers, the wine business, and more. Developed by leading global experts, the multilingual curriculum offers a comprehensive path from novice to expert.