CALIFORNIA WINE EXCURSIONS & STAYS
Explore California’s Wine Regions
Click to any region below
Napa Valley • Sonoma County • Santa Cruz Mountains • Livermore Valley
ALTERNATIVES TO “WINE TOURS” IN SAN FRANCISCO & CALIFORNIA
Private wine journeys designed by WSET Level 3 certified curator for those who understand wine, not just taste it. Across eight California AVAs, we craft each day around your palate with sommelier-level expertise — not a bus schedule.
Most of what we do happens before you pick up a glass — matching wineries to your palate, securing appointments that don’t exist for the public, and building a day that actually flows instead of blurring together. For most clients, that plan is the whole engagement: You run it yourself with a car service or trusted local partner. Want CK there in person, making introductions and adjusting the pace in real time? That’s available too, as a separate add-on.
We’re never commission-driven. Every winery we recommend is selected for quality and fit with your palate — not supplier incentives.
No pre-packaged tours — you get immersive, unique journeys! You’ll be paired with small-production winemakers, vineyard owners, and chefs who bring their land and craft to life. Whether you’re dreaming of a weekend stay, celebrating an anniversary, or diving deep into your favorite varietal, your experience is curated entirely around you.
Not ready to plan just yet?
Get your complimentary Bespoke California Wine Excursion Checklist — an insider guide for tasting smarter, traveling beautifully, and seeing how a custom wine journey with CKcurated unfolds.
EXPLORE OUR CALIFORNIA REGIONS — FIND YOUR FLAVOR
Wine should be personal, not performative. We work with winemakers who care more about what’s in the bottle than what’s on the label. Small production. Real conversations. The kind of afternoon that changes how you taste — from Napa cabernets to Santa Barbara pinots, guided by the vintners themselves. For us, wine is the lubricant of storytelling — a conduit for connection, authenticity, and truth.
In vino veritas.
We currently offer personalized experiences in these major California wine regions:
WHY CHOOSE CKCURATED OVER TRADITIONAL WINE TOURS
• WSET Level 3 certified curation
• Gay-owned, LGBTBE®-certified, providing safety, welcome and ease
• Fee-based, never commission-driven
• Private winery access through personal relationships
• Customized to your palate, not fixed itineraries
• Small groups (2-8 guests) vs. bus tours with strangers
DAY EXCURSIONS OR MULTI-DAY STAYS — DESIGNED YOUR WAY
Whether you have a single day or want to immerse yourself for a week, CKcurated creates private wine experiences for couples, chosen family, and small groups that match your time, depth of interest, and style.
Every journey is fully customized — never a fixed itinerary, never a group tour.
Every tier below covers the design work — winery selection, reservations, pacing, insider introductions. If you’d like CK on-site with you in person for some or all of the trip, that’s an add-on: $1,000/day, however many days you want him there.
DAY EXCURSIONS — A DAY IN THE VINES
Perfect for: Locals, weekend visitors, or anyone with limited time who wants a taste of California wine country
What’s included: Private transportation, 2-4 curated winery visits, winemaker access, premium tastings, lunch or dinner reservation
Regions: All 8 California AVAs available for day excursions from San Francisco or self-drive options
Pricing: Starting at $250 per person
In-person escorting (optional): +$1,000/day if you’d like CK on-site with you
OVERNIGHT GETAWAY — WINE COUNTRY WEEKENDS
Perfect for: Bay Area locals seeking a weekend wine getaway without the Napa crowds, couples celebrating milestones, or anyone who wants to savor wine country without rushing home
What’s included: Curated boutique lodging, private transportation, 4-6 winery visits, winemaker access, restaurant reservations, complete logistics coordination
Regions: Livermore Valley, Lodi, Santa Cruz Mountains, Paso Robles — California’s emerging AVAs with authentic character and hidden accommodations
Pricing: Starting at $800 per person
In-person escorting (optional): +$1,000/day if you’d like CK on-site with you during your stay
3-DAY STAYS — YOUR WEEKEND ESCAPE
Perfect for: Small friend groups seeking depth and a long weekend getaway feel without logistics work
What’s included: Curated lodging, all ground transportation, 6-8 winery experiences, winemaker dinners, culinary workshops, behind-the-scenes access
Focus: Deep exploration of 1-2 AVAs with meaningful winemaker relationships and educational components
Pricing: $1,900-$2,100 per person
In-person escorting: Included — CK (or a fellow wine expert) joins you for hands-on guidance and introductions
5-DAY EXPERIENCES — IMMERSIVE RECONNECTION
Perfect for: Corporate leadership retreats and executive team‑building that combine wine education with meaningful connection. Also ideal for chosen family groups seeking depth without logistics work
What’s included: Premium lodging, private chef experiences, 10-12 winery visits, barrel tastings, blending sessions, vineyard walks, harvest participation (seasonal), WSET-guided tastings
Focus: Multi-region comparative tasting, varietal deep-dives, terroir exploration, winemaking philosophy discussions
Pricing: $2,900-$3,500 per person
In-person escorting: Included — CK (or a fellow wine expert) joins you for hands-on guidance and introductions
7-DAY JOURNEYS — SIGNATURE DEEP-DIVE
Perfect for: International travelers, sabbaticals, or a creative reset week in wine country
What’s included: Luxury accommodations across multiple regions, private chef services, 15+ curated experiences, exclusive winery access, vertical tastings, library wine access, cultural excursions, culinary masterclasses
Focus: Comprehensive California wine education spanning 3-4 AVAs, building lasting winemaker relationships, wine portfolio development guidance
Pricing: $4,500+ per person
In-person escorting: Included — CK (or a fellow wine expert) joins you for hands-on guidance and introductions
WINE EXPERIENCES FOR CORPORATE & PRIVATE GROUPS
Transform your next leadership retreat or client entertainment into a memorable wine country experience. Our corporate wine journeys combine sophisticated wine education with team building, featuring:
• Advance supplier diversity and DEI goals through Tier 1 & Tier 2 programs
• Private winery access for executive groups
• Winemaker-led tastings and barrel room experiences
• Custom food and wine pairings
• Optional team-building activities
• Seamless logistics and luxury transportation
Perfect for: Leadership teams, board retreats, client entertainment, supplier diversity initiatives
OUR CUSTOMIZATION PROCESS
Every CKcurated journey begins with you. Start by telling us what you already love — or what you’re curious about. We want to know your tastes, your pace, and the memories you want to make. From romantic weekends to group getaways or solo explorations, no two itineraries are alike.
With insider access across California’s famed and up-and-coming AVAs, we handpick wineries, conversations, and experiences that fit your palate and personality. Private tastings. Behind-the-scenes moments. Seamless arrangements from appointments to transport.
Show up and enjoy! From first pour to final sunset, everything flows seamlessly. Explore, unwind, and experience wine in a way that’s meaningful, memorable, and uniquely yours.
CULINARY PAIRINGS & DEEPER EXPERIENCES
Every food-and-wine experience is shaped by CK’s culinary expertise — from years of WSET training, global tasting, and work as a chef-instructor with 18 Reasons in San Francisco. Want to give back? We can include community volunteering opportunities, making your journey even more meaningful.
LEARN WHILE YOU EXPLORE
Beyond the glass, every moment is an invitation to discover more. We weave in context, stories, and hands-on learning that make your journey as enriching as it is enjoyable.
Along the way, you’ll:
• See, Smell & Sip: Gain confidence in tasting, from the first glance in the glass to the lingering finish
• Discover Terroir: Experience how coastal breezes, mountain slopes, and well-drained soils shape each varietal
• Step Behind the Cellar Door: Taste from the barrel, explore how blends are created, learn from the winemakers
• Pair & Savor: Discover pairings created by local growers and chefs, reflecting the land and its traditions
• Know Your Tastes: Leave with a clearer sense of what you love, so every future glass brings deeper joy
For corporate retreats, these moments also become inspiring leadership and communication exercises; for friends and families, they’re memories you’ll cherish for years.
“I had family visiting the Bay Area, and CKcurated put together an itinerary in Napa that was perfect for us. We stopped into the tasting room of an artisan winemaker, where the wine educator completely won us over. The food pairing was a highlight, and we ended the day with a fantastic meal at a nearby restaurant. A really memorable way to experience Napa, and to impress my folks.”
Diego, attorney, Oakland, California
“I met two wonderful lads who took us on an amazing excursion to California’s Wine Country during harvest season. We met a vintner, learned how wine is made, enjoyed barrel tastings, and savoured incredible bottled wine. It was a true insider experience!”
Mary, retired airline executive, Dublin, Ireland
Many travelers search for “wine tours in Napa” when visiting San Francisco. At CKcurated, we don’t run cookie-cutter group tours — we create private, tailored wine journeys across California’s 8 AVAs, designed around your wine preferences and far beyond the standard tour experience.
Not at all. Many of our guests are curious wine lovers who want to learn without feeling intimidated. You don’t need to know the difference between Old World and New World. You just need to be genuinely interested. We’ll meet you where you are — never condescending, always enriching. As one recent guest said while planning her day in Sonoma County: “We like wine, but we’re not experts. We just wanted to learn about certain things, but not feel pressured.” Every CKcurated experience is designed with that spirit in mind — relaxed, insightful, and welcoming to all levels of wine knowledge. We truly believe that Education + Experience = Unforgettable Stories.
Yes! CKcurated crafts private wine journeys throughout California — including Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Lodi, and more. Some of the loveliest wines are found in these less-famed AVAs, many just as close to San Francisco as Napa or Sonoma. Wherever your palate and preferred style lead, we design each experience around you for a truly personal — and memorable — discovery.
CKcurated specializes in intimate experiences for individuals, couples, families, good friends, and small private groups — typically up to eight guests. This ensures every tasting, conversation, and encounter feels truly personal and tailored. We also arrange private luxury transportation for your journey — never a crowded bus — so every detail of your experience reflects comfort and exclusivity. If you have a larger group or special request, we’re happy to create a custom arrangement that still delivers the CKcurated level of care and sophistication.
Not by default, and that’s by design. Our core work is the planning — the itinerary, the reservations, the insider access — which you run yourself with a car service or trusted local partner. If you’d like CK there in person, that’s available as an add-on for $1,000/day, for as much or as little of the trip as you’d like. That said, for 3-day, 5-day, and 7-day journeys, CK’s in-person presence is included by default, as ‘deep dive’ education is an integral part of the experience.
Wine is a focus, but we also curate culinary, design, and lifestyle journeys.