The Society now provides personally escorted, guided, VIP sightseeing private tours of superior wineries in California's Napa, Sonoma, and Russian River valleys of California. 

Tours include special distinctive restaurants and wineries, an educational focus on history, fun things to do, and visits to places that most tourists never see.  Read more about tours.

If you do not use our personally escorted
VIP tours, here are some tips to
make your visit more enjoyable.

Russian River

The Russian River area derives its' name from the 17th and 18th century Russian attempts to take the west coast of what is now the United States. The Russians encountered only the Spanish, who insisted that Spain had title to the west coast of the continent.  The huge distances involved gave the Russians unhindered domain of Alaska and southward down the coast to the Russian River of what is now California.  The Spanish had the Baja firmly in their grasp, and the interior up to about the Russian River. The history we focus on in the Russian River involves how the acts of Russia and Spain impacted the American colonists of New England and the early New England forays into the area..

The East and West anchors of our tour are Healdsburg and Jenner.  Healdsburg is luxury and wineries.  Jenner is rest for the sole and spectacular scenery.  Both anchors (and in between) are peppered with good places to eat, drink, and stay.

Healdsburg

Seghesio Family Vineyards

Armida winery

De La Montanya winery

Arista winery

Bistro Ralph. 109 Plaza Street (off the town square) has consistently fine food.  Try it for lunch, and do not be afraid to sit at the counter if the tables are full.  The exceptional wait staff takes good care of you.

Flying Goat Coffee, 324 Center Street (just off the town square).

Capture (Emulsion to Emotion) 105 Plaza St (off the town square) has spectacular photography to grace your home or office).  www.capturefineart.com

Sebastopol

Hartford Family Winery

The K&L Bistro, in Sebastopol (how Russian can a place name be!) has French cooking that you do not expect to find in such a small town. (707/83-6614).

Jenner

River's End (Restaurant and Cottages) just north of Jenner on Highway 1.  www.ilovesunsets.com is a name that tells you the special reason the bar and resturant fill up just before sunset.  Resturant is only open for Lunch and dinner, and only Thrusday through Monday.  Over 125 Sonoma County wines in the wine celler.  Dinner from 19 to 38  No TV, cell phone service most of the time, no phone, no internet in the cottages.

Jenner Inn & Cottages. 21 Guest rooms and private cottages sprinked along the coast of the ocean, in this town of 107 persons.

French (he really is) chef at the Jenner Inn cooks, waits on tables, and tends bar, serving inexpensive food that far outranks the price.  www.jennerinn.com

Fort Ross State Historic Park.  Begining in 1742, Russian fronteiersmen left Sieria to seek fur bearing animals further east.  They worked their way down the coast of Alaska, and by 1812 Russia had established Fort Ross at Metini, an old Kashaya Polo native American coastal village.  Bringing with them Alaskan Alutiiq natives to act as hunters, and forcing the native Kashayas  to do the hard manual labor needed to build and maintain the fort and the Russian community, the Russians established a fur business. Like the French on the Atlantic coast of the continent, the Russians, on the west coast, were primarily interested in furs as a source of wealth for the home country.

 larger menu, and charges corkage.  Inside is cozy and a nice place to have supper.  Outside will remind you of the outside seating many restaurants in out-of-the-tourist-way in large cities in Europe.

 Read more about the Harmony Restaurant and additional distinctive places to eat that we might use on a customized Bucklin Society VIP tour for you.

Napa Valley

Want to picnic?  I

Read more about additional distinctive places to eat that we might use on a customized Bucklin Society VIP tour for you.

Now for wines.
That is why you are in Napa/Sonoma/Russian River. Right?

There are lots more we can say about the wineries of this area.  And we will -- go to our More Wineries page for more special tips.

More Tips on Little Known Places

Not going with us and need more resources?  Take a look at:

• Sonoma County Wine Country Guide at www.sonoma.com  If you are out of California, check this resource before heading to California wine country.
• Russian River Winegrowers Association at www.rrvw.org  The Russian River Valley is a laid-back area, more rustic than its neighbors to the south, but still wonderful wineries to visit, places to explore and satisfying places to eat and stay.
• The Russian River Chamber of Commerce at www.russianriver.com and the
  Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce at www.healdsburg.org will help you find what is going on and where to eat and stay.

Back to the main page about our VIP tours.

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