Wine Tasting on the River Adventures

If wine is the most civilized thing in the world, why not enjoy it in the wilderness on one of O.A.R.S.' Wine Tasting on the River Adventures in California, Idaho, Oregon or Canada? Designed especially for those who love wine and also enjoy rafting, our wine trips offer an elegant alternative to our regular fare. After a day of splashy river rafting, enjoy gourmet meals and premium wines recommended by some of the best vintners in the West and introduced by regional wine experts. We think you'll agree with Ovid, who said, "Where there is plenty of wine, sorrow and worry take wing."

What makes these tantalizing wine tasting adventures special? Knowledgeable wine stewards and five-star epicurean offerings. The wines selected for our wine tasting trips are carefully chosen to complement the menus each night, making dinner more akin to a fine restaurant experience than a camp fare on the banks of a scenic river. The combination is unbeatable!

Special Note: Winery participation is subject to change, but we promise whichever one joins us for your trip, they'll bring along some darn good wine. All evening meals are carefully selected and prepared by our team of culinary experts, including guest chefs and guides.

Sample Menu

As prepared by Oregon Iron Chef Neil Clooney
Owner of Smithfields Restaurant and Bar in Ashland, Oregon

Day 1

Appetizers:

• Bacon Beignets, maple chive crème fraîche
Shrimp ceviche, avocado, chipotle lime dressing, corn tortillas

Entree:

• Butter lettuce, radish, parsley, candied hazelnuts, feta, lemon vinaigrette
Lamb Osso Bucco, fall squash risotto, mint gremolata

Dessert:

• Fresh berry tartlets, pastry cream, late harvest viognier sabayon

Day 2

Appetizers:

• Pork terrine, onion crackers, pickles
• Cured Salmon crostinis, pickled cucumber, bacon mustard dressing

Entree:

• Watermelon, heirloom tomatoes, feta, basil pickled rind
• Duck confit, cassoulet sauce, bacon braised collard greens, fried breadcrumbs

Dessert:

• Claires Coconut cream cake, bruleed bananas, chocolate sauce

Day 3

Appetizers:

• BBQ pork shank sliders, jalapeno curds
• Figs, guanciale, goat cheese

Entree:

• Roasted beet salad, arugula, honey mustard dressing, bacon almond clusters, smokey blue
• Pan roasted salmon, ratatouille, parmesan rosemary roasted fingerling potatoes

Dessert:

• Poached peaches, meringue, creme chantilly, strawberry sauce

Day 4

Appetizers:

• Assorted regional cheese platter, crackers, curried almonds, orange vanilla marmalade
• Pressed pork belly and peaches

Entree:

• Grilled romaine, white anchovies, crostini, roasted garlic dressing
• Chargrilled hanger steak, black eye pea and corn succotash, kale, onion rings, chimmi churri

Dessert:

• Dark chocolate and hazelnut torte, caramel sauce

Featured Wine Tasting Trips from O.A.R.S.

May - September: 2-Day Wine & Raft on the South Fork American River, CA - $359
Enjoy a one-day wine tasting tour with a knowledgeable O.A.R.S. escort followed by a full day of whitewater rafting on the Class III South Fork of the American River near Sacramento.

May 7: 2-day Tuolumne River, CA – $525
As seen on NBC's “In Wine Country,” O.A.R.S. will once again offer an exceptional Wine on the River adventure near Yosemite National Park on California's finest whitewater river, the Tuolumne.

June 6; September 8: 4-day Rogue River, OR – $1299
This Rogue River adventure in Oregon includes four days of river rafting, three nights of camping and gourmet wilderness cuisine paired with award-winning wines.

July 20: 5-day Rogue River, OR – $1499
This Wine on the River adventure in Oregon includes five days of whitewater rafting paired with delicious food and wine.

July 6: 8-day Chilko-Chilcotin-Fraser Rivers, BC – $3295
The beauty of British Columbia comes alive on this wilderness Wine on the River adventure through lush alpine forests, narrow canyons and high desert plateaus. Oh and did we mention the delectable gourmet fare paired with a fantastic variety of amazing wines?

August 9: 3-day Tuolumne River, CA – $899
The warm August weather is ideal for the first of two back to back wine adventures on the Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River. The Farm to Table cuisine on this gourmet trip will be expertly prepared by Chef Jayne Reichert, Director of the Cavallo Point Cooking School in Sausalito.

August 13: 3-day Tuolumne River, CA – $899
We head back to the "T" in California, where we offer one more exceptional wine tasting trip. Lots of time for relaxing with friends while enjoying the scenery and delicious cuisine.

August 27; September 5: 6-day Middle Fork Salmon River, ID – $2482 (August) $2232 (September)
Of all the rivers that flow through Idaho, perhaps the most spectacular is the Middle Fork of the Wild and Scenic Salmon River, a perfect setting to enjoy the wine and delightful meals presented on this adventure.

July 28; September 14: 5-day Hell's Canyon, ID – $1636 (July) $1465 (September)
Hells Canyon, home of the mighty Snake River, is the deepest gorge in North America and home to our last gourmet Wine on the River adventure for the season.

Praise for our Middle Fork Salmon Wine on the River Trip

"We booked the Wine on the River trip down the Middle Fork thinking it would be a little more relaxing (late-season water levels, wine tasting each night). Our expectations were exceeded in every way! First, I had no idea that the quality of the meals would be as stellar as they were. Chef Rhody and his wife Cara blew us away nightly, with entrees such as trout, duck, elk and ribs. Each meal was completed with wonderful appetizers, side dishes and desserts. That the chefs were able to produce this kind of food in the middle of nowhere is astonishing to say the least, and we are pretty accomplished foodies. Five stars in every way! Now, let's talk about the wine. Matt Hatcher brought 30+ CASES of wine from his own production winery. With over 25 different bottlings, a very informative talk and Q&A every evening, and a sparkling personality, I cannot say enough about him! If you are fortunate enough to find Matt or Rhody on one of your wine trips, consider yourself very, very lucky...."

Jim and Linda from San Diego, CA