Wine and Gourmet Tour of California NZZ Reader Tour

Day 1: Switzerland - San Francisco

Individual journey to Zurich Airport. Direct flight with SWISS to San Francisco. Transfer to the centrally located Beacon Grand Hotel****, close to Union Square. Dinner in a local restaurant.

Day 2: San Francisco

The morning begins with a fascinating guided city tour. Experience the magic of San Francisco first-hand, starting at Union Square. You will pass Lombard Street with its hairpin bends and beautiful planting, and ride the historic cable cars, those world-famous, rattling cable trams that turn a journey over the city's steep hills into a real adventure. You will also see the vibrant heart of Chinatown. The tour ends at Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. Get to know the lively harbour district with its famous sunbathing sea lions and freshly caught seafood. Lunch awaits you here. Afterwards, our wine expert will introduce you to the secrets of Californian wines in a wine course, including a small wine tasting: «Welcome to the Golden State of Wine!» The rest of the afternoon is free for your own discoveries. Dinner is at your own arrangement. Overnight at the Beacon Grand Hotel****.

Day 3: Muir Woods – Golden Gate Bridge – Sausalito

Excursion to Muir Woods National Monument, a well-known conservation area just under 15 kilometres north of San Francisco. It protects one of the last remaining ancient coastal redwood forests; redwoods are among the tallest tree species on earth. Marvel at these giants on a walk, as they capture most of the sunlight. In their shade, a specialised mix of other coniferous and deciduous trees grows. Onward to Sausalito, a picturesque coastal town just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, known for its artists' colony, colourful houseboats and grand views of the San Francisco skyline. Stroll through the town and take your time for lunch at leisure. Afterwards, you will take the ferry from Sausalito back to San Francisco. Enjoy an unforgettable front-row seat over the glittering San Francisco Bay. As the boat glides gently across the water, the historic prison island of Alcatraz passes majestically by. On the horizon, the Golden Gate Bridge spans the bay in all its orange splendour, completing this spectacular panorama perfectly. Group dinner in San Francisco. Overnight at the Beacon Grand Hotel****.

Day 4: Napa Valley – Heitz Cellar Winery

You leave San Francisco and drive to the Napa Valley, the world-renowned heart of Californian winemaking, famous above all for its first-class, powerful Cabernet Sauvignons as well as outstanding Chardonnays and Merlots. The series of wine tastings starts in St. Helena at Heitz Cellar Winery with a tour, tasting and a light lunch. This long-established winery delights with its long-lived, elegant single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons. Onward to the Hotel Napa Valley Marriott****. Dinner at leisure.

Day 5: Napa Valley - Hess Persson Estates

The day begins with a scenic drive through the Napa Valley. It reveals a postcard landscape of endless, gently rolling vineyards, historic stone estates and magnificent oak trees, framed by the picturesque backdrop of the Mayacamas Mountains. In the late morning you reach the estate of Swiss winemaker Donald Hess, Hess Persson Estates. Here a tour, wine tasting and light lunch await you. The elegant Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays come from the high-altitude volcanic soils of Mount Veeder. Swiss pioneer Donald Hess revolutionised the wine region by recognising the enormous potential of viticulture in the rugged mountain terrain of the Napa Valley and combining art with winegrowing there. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the Hotel Napa Valley Marriott****.

Day 6: Sonoma Valley

Today the nearby, sunny Sonoma Valley awaits you. A culinary paradise, it is known not only for its internationally acclaimed wines such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but also for first-class, artisan cheeses. Thanks to the Mediterranean climate, centuries-old olive trees also thrive in the region, and award-winning extra virgin olive oils are pressed locally. Visit and tasting at an olive oil mill. You will see the traditional pressing plant and learn about the differences between extra virgin olive oils, infused oils and balsamic vinegars. Later you will visit a cheese maker right on the historic Sonoma Plaza. Take a look behind the scenes and enjoy generous tastings of Californian cheeses. During a subsequent visit to a cooperage, you will experience at first hand the fascinating traditional craft in which master coopers shape the fine barrique barrels for later wine maturation from solid oak, using fire and precise bending. Group dinner in a local Michelin-starred restaurant. Overnight at the Hotel Napa Valley Marriott****.

Day 7: Sonoma – Ridge Lytton Springs

In the morning you drive to Sonoma. At Ridge Lytton Springs winery you will enjoy a tour with wine tasting and a light lunch. The vines of Ridge Lytton Springs thrive in California's Dry Creek Valley on nutrient-poor, barren soils of silica-rich clay (gravelly clay), which store moisture extremely well and give the vines a natural balance. In the afternoon, drive to Napa and visit the Oxbow Public Market, a lively market hall that is perfect for handmade cheese, fresh oysters, local coffee and souvenirs. Dinner is at your own arrangement. Overnight at the Hotel Napa Valley Marriott****.

Day 8: Santa Cruz Mountains – Monterey

Today you leave the Napa Valley. You drive to the Santa Cruz Mountains to Thomas Fogarty Winery. Visit, tasting and light lunch at the winery with its wonderful views. The winery is particularly known for its elegant Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs that reflect their origins and thrive in the cool, high-altitude sites of the Santa Cruz Mountains. You then continue to Half Moon Bay & Pigeon Point Lighthouse. You will stop at the dramatic cliffs of Half Moon Bay. A little further south stands the historic Pigeon Point Lighthouse, one of the tallest lighthouses in the USA. Onward to Monterey. Dinner at leisure. Overnight at the Portola Hotel & Spa, Monterey****.

Day 9: 17-Mile Drive – Carmel – Wrath Wines

Today you have a day full of highlights ahead of you. You first follow the famous 17-Mile Drive, which winds along the rugged coast of the Monterey Peninsula and fascinates with dramatic views of the Pacific, majestic golf courses and landmarks such as the legendary «Lone Cypress». After this scenic drive, the exclusive Pebble Beach invites you to an elegant aperitif overlooking the roaring sea, before you continue to the idyllic artists' town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Here you stroll through picturesque lanes lined with boutiques, straight down to the powder-white sandy beach framed by cypress trees, for a relaxing walk. At the wine bar of Wrath Wines, a final wine tasting follows with a light lunch. Later, in the historic, beautifully restored Mission San Carlos Borromeo, you will delve deep into California's Spanish colonial history and its peaceful gardens. A walking tour of Monterey rounds off this eventful day. Group farewell dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight at the Portola Hotel & Spa, Monterey****.

Day 10: Monterey – San Francisco – Return flight

Day at leisure. Let the whole journey pass in review and choose your own highlight of the tour, before a transfer through Silicon Valley takes you to the airport in San Francisco. In the evening, direct return flight with SWISS to Switzerland.

Day 11: Arrival in Switzerland

Landing in Zurich in the afternoon and individual journey home.

Programme subject to change

Participants

Minimum 12, maximum 25 persons