Wines on a Mission 2025
Sustainable Winegrowing Media Tour
#WinesOnaMission
April 27 – May 3, 2025
Exploring the Central Coast of California
Welcome to California!
This 5-day media tour will bring together 16 leading wine communicators from 10 countries for a meaningful and memorable week of learning, exploring, and experiencing. The week will offer a deeper understanding of California’s commitment to sustainable winegrowing.
This site is a one-stop-shop for all tour-related information, including the itinerary, helpful travel information & tips, and California wine resources. The site will be updated regularly, so check back often.
Welcome to California
Arrive LAX
We are happy to provide an Uber Voucher to cover your ride from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to the hotel in West Hollywood, should you choose to use it.
New! – UBER VOUCHER*: https://r.uber.com/RZUGHKGVVCR
*Please note that this new uber voucher was updated Saturday 26 April due to a technical issue with the old code. If you already added the previous voucher to your account, please disregard it and add this NEW VOUCHER. Apologies for the inconvenience.
Hotel check-in at La Peer (West Hollywood)
Gracias Madre
Dinner
7:00pm
Meet in lobby, walk to restaurant
7:15pm
Dinner
A casual “family-style” meal of vegan, Mexican fare accompanied by three wines.
The Valley Project
Tour Welcome & Tasting
10:00am
The arc of sustainable winegrowing
Hosts:
Kate Venugopal, California Wines
Alison Laslett, Santa Barbara Vintners CEO
Magan Kunin, The Valley Project
Dierberg and Star Lane Vineyards
Digging Deep into Rootstocks
12:30pm
Tasting & Lunch
Hosts:
Tyler Thomas, President & Winemaker
Taylor Jones, Director of Viticulture
JiaMin Dierberg, International Sales Director
Hotel Check-in & Break
3:00pm-5:30pm
Fess Parker
Social Sustainability
6:00pm
Tasting & Dinner
Hosts:
Spencer Shull, Family Ambassador
Tim Snider, President
Bien Nacido Vineyards
A Sense of Place in Santa Barbara
9:00am
Tasting, tour, & discussion
A short visit to one of the most iconic vineyards in the Central Coast
Hosts:
Greg Gonzalez, Vineyard Manager
Nicholas Miller, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer & EVP
Cambria Estate Winery
Climate-smart Farming
10:30am
Tour, tasting, & discussion
Hosts:
Sean Carroll, Director of Communications, Social Impact & Environmental Sustainability, Jackson Family Wines
Jill Russell, Winemaker, Cambria
Bart Haycraft, Vineyard Manager, Cambria
Sharde Shepherd, Assistant Winemaker, Brewer Clifton
Chamisal Vineyards
Biodiversity
1:00pm
Vineyard walk & discussion
Lunch & tasting
Hosts:
Brianne Engles, Winemaker
Brooke Serafine, Estate Manager
Hotel Check-in & Break
4:00pm-5:30pm
DAOU Vineyards
Sustainability at Scale
5:45pm
Dinner and discussion
Hosts:
Simon Graves, Vice President Grape Resources
Jose Alberto Santos, General Manager & Senior Winemaker DAOU Vineyards
Tablas Creek Vineyard
Pushing the Packaging Boundaries
9:30am
Packaging case study deep dive and tasting
Host:
Chelsea Franchi, Assistant Winemaker
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
Sustainability Leadership
12:00pm
Vineyard walk, tasting, & lunch
Hosts:
Steve Lohr, Co-Owner, President & CEO
Steve Peck, VP winemaking
Shaune Zeleny, VP International Sales
Robert Hall Winery
Regenerative Farming Case Study
2:30pm
Regenerative vineyard walk and soil health tasting demonstration
Host:
Caine Thompson, Head of Sustainability, O’Neill Vintners & Distillers
Hotel Break
4:45pm
Hope on Park
Tasting
6:15pm
Casual tasting reception
Host:
Meliza Jalbert, Director of International Sales, Hope Family Wines
Thomas Hill Organics
Farm-to-Table & Grapes-to-Glass
7:15pm
Dinner with Paso Robles Winemakers
Hilary Graves, Vineyard & Grower Relations Manager at Booker Vineyard
Niels Udsen, Founder and President of Castoro Cellars
Cris Cherry, Co-founder & Director of Winemaking, MAHA | Villa Creek
Meliza Jalbert, Director of International Sales, Hope Family Wines
Christopher Taranto, Director of Communications at Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance
Hope Family Wines
Wildlife Corridors
8:30am
Vineyard walk
Host:
Stasi Seay, Director of Vineyards at The Austin Hope Estate Vineyard
Scheid Vineyards
Renewable Energy
10:45am
Vineyard walk & discussion
Lunch & tasting
Hosts:
Scott Scheid, President & CEO
Tony Stephen, Chief Sales Officer
Amanda Ostarello, Sales Manager, Export
Vincent Catalaa, Director of Winemaking
Pisoni Vineyards
Topography & Terroir
1:30pm
Vineyard hike, hands-on discussion & tasting
Hosts:
Mark Pisoni, Farmer
Jazmin Lopez, Sustainability Lead
Hotel Check-in & Break
4:00pm-6:30pm
Intercontinental Hotel in Monterey Bay, CA
Please meet in the lobby for a 6:30pm departure to La Playa restaurant in Carmel, CA.
Santa Lucia Highlands Winemaker Dinner
A Taste of Place: How Climate and Terroir Shape the Wines of Santa Lucia Highlands
On the terrace at the La Playa Hotel & Restaurant in Carmel, CA.
7:00pm
Scott Caraccioli, Caraccioli Cellars
Bibiana Rave Pisoni, Lucia by Pisoni / Cattleya Wines
Gary Franscioni, ROAR Wines
Steve McIntyre, McIntyre Vineyards
Gwen McGill, Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans
paicinesranch.com
San Benito County
Paicines Ranch
Biodiversity & the Bigger Picture
9:30am
Vineyard walk
Closing reflections & discussion
Lunch & tasting
Hosts:
Kelly Mulville, Vineyard Director, Paicines Ranch
Elaine Patarini, Director, Paicines Ranch Learning Center
garrodfarms.com
Santa Cruz Mountains
Cooper Garrod
Building Community
2:00pm
Tasting & discussion
Host:
Cory Bosworth, Tasting Room & Wine Club Manager
Check-in Hotel & Break
5:30pm
1 Hotel San Francisco
Meet in lobby at 6:45pm to walk to La Mar together.
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.
- 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 from LAX to hotel and from hotel to 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 group tour.
- Travel Insurance – we recommend you take out travel insurance, as Wine Institute does not provide this for you.
Airport transportation
- We are happy to provide Uber Vouchers to cover your transportation from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) upon arrival, as well as your departure airport transfer in San Francisco to the San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
- TRAVEL ISSUES: If your flight is canceled or delayed, or if any other logistical constraints arise, please contact your California Wines representative directly or Ceci De La Montanya (cwi@colangelopr.com).
Wine, Dine & Tag!
While you’re enjoying the tour, don’t forget to connect with us on social media! Share your photos and tag us to join the conversation. Use hashtags: #WinesOnAMission & #CaliforniaWines.
Facebook & Instagram: @california.wines
Hint: Don’t forget to tag your regional California Wines accounts to amplify your voice.
california.wines.canada
californiawines.mx
california.wines.uk.india
californiawineseurope
california.wines.kr
calwinesjp
Tour WhatsApp Group
Join to get helpful updates & reminders throughout the week. Share photos with fellow travelers and send song requests to the bus DJ while you're in California. Stay in touch with your fellow travelers and share your articles beyond.
Meet your fellow travelers
Learn more about the wine communicators from around the globe who will accompany you throughout the week.