The Luxury California Experience: Sonoma to San Diego
14 nights from $17,043pp
Discover California’s most famous and widely recognised winemaking region. Enjoy a warm welcome to the birthplace and heart of America’s finest winemakers and wineries and experience the unique terroir of this wine region, before an iconic road trip down Highway 1 to Los Angeles. Discover the Santa Ynez Valley and handcrafted wines from San Diego on this epic gourmet adventure.
Highlights of our Wine Tour Across California
- Bespoke SmoothRed itinerary with personalised travel app
- Return flights from London
- Relax with luxury private transfers throughout.
- Five nights in luxury five-star accommodations in the heart of the Napa Valley
- Two full-day private chauffeured wine tasting tours with an expert wine guide around Sonoma and Napa Valley
- Enjoy a memorable e-bike experience with a wine country picnic.
- Two nights in luxury property located in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Relax with three nights in one of California’s most indulgent hideaways on Miramar Beach.
- Explore the Gaviota Coast on a private morning kayak experience.
- Full-day private chauffeured wine tasting tour with an expert wine guide around Santa Ynez Valley
- Enjoy Santa Monica with three nights at the luxury Shutters on the Beach Hotel.
- Enjoy a superb fully guided private LA day tour.
- Two nights luxury accommodation in San Diego
- Discover the San Pasqual Valley visiting three boutique wineries.
- All breakfast and city taxes included
- SmoothRed recommended restaurant list for each region
Day 1: Arrival in Sonoma Valley
Board your direct flight from London to San Francisco. Upon arrival, relax with a private transfer to your hotel in the heart of Sonoma Valley where you will stay for two nights. This fantastic luxurious hotel encompasses the Sonoma wine country’s simplicity and charm.
Tonight we have booked for you a table at one of the hottest spots in town! Dry Creek Kitchen embodies in bounty and spirit the very best of the Sonoma wine country. The Chef, Charles Palmer, is one of the most highly regarded chefs in America.
Day 2: Explore the Charming Town of Healdsburg at Leisure
Have a free day to unwind after your travels. Relax and explore the charming town of Healdsburg, with excellent wine, farm-to-table cuisine, interesting history, art of all types, beautiful music, small-town charm, intriguing shopping, and pampering spas.
Or just lounge by the pool with a crisp glass of white!
Day 3: Sonoma Vineyard Tours and Tastings
Today enjoy a private full-day chauffeured wine tasting tour with a private wine guide in the Northern California’s rich farmlands and wild, dramatic coastline as you discover Bodega Bay and Sonoma.
It is all about the wild and rugged wine region of Sonoma Valley and the finest New World Pinot Noirs and creamy and zesty Chardonnay. Sonoma is more expansive, spread out, and laid-back than Napa. It’s almost double the size, and grows far more grapes in a variety of conditions. You will visit three of the finest Sonoma county vineyards throughout the course of the day. This includes wineries in the Russian River Valley and in Dry Creek Valley.
During the day relax with a memorable lunch with accompanying wines. Many of the tasting rooms have stunning panoramic views of the surrounding Russian River Valley or use impressive organic and biodynamic farming methods.
At the end of the tour your driver/guide will take you to your next accommodation located in the center of downtown Yountville, the modern but charming place of your wine country dreams, where you will stay for three nights.
Day 4: Private Wine Tour of Three Napa Valley Wineries
Enjoy a wonderful private chauffeured wine tasting tour with a specialist wine guide. Today is all about California’s most famous wine region: Napa Valley, where you’ll be soaking up its finest Cabernet Sauvignons, Petite Sirah and Zinfandels and learn about the terroirs, vines and spirit of this incredible wine region.
Your wine guide will escort you to three wineries throughout the course of the day winding your way up the Napa Valley from iconic large scale to smaller family run estates. The first stop is at an iconic, big name winery which produces an impressive 100,000 cases a year which demonstrates the scale of this wine region. You will be stopping for lunch in a local restaurant during the day.
Day 5: Settle into your Carmel-by-the-Sea Accommodation
Today relax with a private transfer to your next accommodation, located in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea just two blocks from the famed Carmel Beach.
Set on a tree-lined street near art galleries and shops, this elegant, French château-inspired inn dating from 1929 is a seven-minute walk from Carmel Beach.
Day 6: Explore Carmel at Your Own Pace
A free day to explore Carmel, on California’s Monterey Peninsula, known for the museums and library of the historic Carmel Mission, and the fairy-tale cottages and galleries in the charming town centre.
Day 7: Enjoy California’s coastal Views Towards Santa Barbara
Is there a more iconic road trip than taking Highway 1 south from San Francisco along California’s coast? Meet with your private driver for a stunning drive to Santa Barbara.
Visit Morro Bay, and enjoy lunch at your leisure in one of Central Coast’s finest seafood restaurant overlooking the scenic waterfront on the Embarcadero in Morro Bay.
Stay three nights in one of California’s most indulgent hideaways. The location of the hotel is directly on Miramar Beach, the resort’s beachfront suites deliver refined seaside living. This really is an idyllic luxury coastal retreat.
Santa Barbara has one of those stretches of sand that is alluring no matter what time of year it is. It’s a terrific beach to walk down and great for watching sunsets before dinner at your leisure at one of the restaurants overlooking the Pacific.
Day 8: Kayak along the Gaviota Coast
In the morning, explore the Gaviota Coast on a private morning kayak experience, tour a total of three miles, stopping in pristine kelp beds to learn about marine ecology and the Santa Barbara Channel (and hopefully kayak with dolphins and sea lions!).
Spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool of your fantastic hotel.
Day 9: Your Wine Tasting Tour Through the Santa Ynez Valley
Today enjoy a full-day chauffeured wine tasting tour with a private wine guide to explore the Santa Ynez Valley. Nestled in the Santa Rita Hills, visit a boutique vineyard blessed with a distinctive terroir ideally suited for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
You will discover a family owned, sustainable and certified organic vineyard nestled in the heart of the Santa Rita Hills Appellation, a true soil to glass experience. Unwind with lunch in a local modern deli and wood-fired pizza restaurant, with local tap beer and wine.
In the afternoon drive to Pence Vineyards, where they strive for honesty and elegance in their wines, reflecting the beautiful landscape where the grapes are grown.
Day 10: Visit Malibu on the way to Santa Monica
Today meet with your driver and head south along the coast to Malibu. Stretching for more than 30 miles along the Pacific and Highway 1, Malibu has achieved almost mythological status among Californian beach towns.
Enjoy three nights in Santa Monica, at Shutters on the Beach, located right on the beach with views over Santa Monica pier. Why not watch the sunset over the Pacific before dinner at your leisure at 1 Pico restaurant? It provides romantic dining (with a cosy fireplace) and highly rated, local seasonal fare by chef Vittorio Lucariello. Or relax in the Coast beach café, or a light meal in the living room!
Day 11: Private Guided Tour of California's Highlights
Experience the city in the most exclusive way you can. Meet with your private guide after breakfast. Enjoy a superb a fully guided private-day tour.
Discover Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Los Angeles, the Hollywood Hills, Venice Beach, the Original Farmers Market, The Grove, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive and Santa Monica Bay.
Day 12: Ride a Bike or Relax Along the Santa Monica beach
Free day to relax! Take a chance to take a morning swim and enjoy the panoramic ocean view. Set along Santa Monica State Beach, this elegant hotel is a nine-minute walk from Santa Monica pier.
Why not hire bikes and ride The Strand – Bicycle Beach Path? Ride on the Santa Monica beach path and travel through all of the South Bay beach communities and two harbours: Marina del Rey and King Harbour at Redondo Beach.
Day 13: Arrival in San Diego
Relax with a private transfer to your next accommodation in San Diego, an iconic California National Historic Landmark on America’s most beloved beach. Housed in a grand 1888 Victorian property, this upscale beach hotel is five miles from downtown San Diego.
Day 14: Wine Tour Through the San Diego Vineyards and Estates
Today, set-off on a full-day private chauffeured tour with a wine specialist to discover handcrafted wines from San Diego.
You will discover artisanal hand-crafted wines at a boutique family wine estate producing Rhône and Iberian varietals. The vineyard sits high in the foothills of Palomar Mountain with an ocean view 30 miles to the west.
Then head off to another family owned and operated winery crafting award winning wines from Rhône varietals. The estate vineyard is planted with over 12 varietals and specialises in both mono-varietals and blended wines. The domaine offers a relaxed, Provençal vibe.
During the day relax with a light wine-pairing lunch before ending the day on the highland valley road at an award-winning estate with amazing panoramic views.
Day 15: Final Day of your California Adventure
Spend your last day relaxing by the pool or taking a stroll down the beach before meeting with your driver for your private transfer to the airport, where you will board your flight back to London.
We craft each itinerary just for you. Contact our Travel Designers to plan an unforgettable wine journey from Somona to San Diego.
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