Wine on the River Adventures
"Wine is the most civilized thing in the world." - Ernest Hemmingway
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 on the River Adventures? Designed especially for those who love wine and 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 by some of the best vintners in the West, introduced by regional experts. We think you'll agree with Ovid, who said, "Where there is plenty of wine, sorrow and worry take wing."
What sets the wine trip apart? Knowledgeable wine stewards and five-star cooking. The wines are carefully chosen to complement the menus each night, making dinner seem closer to a fine restaurant experience than a campsite on 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.
NEW! for 2008: 2-Day Wine & Raft on the South Fork American River, CA - $359
Wednesdays June through August
Enjoy a one-day wine tasting tour of El Dorado County Wine Country 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. This unique combination of wine and whitewater includes visits to several El Dorado wineries of your choice, including Venezio Vineyards, Auriga Wine Cellars, Lava Cap, Boeger, Sierra Vista and Holly’s Hill Vineyards complemented by a comfortable evening at the historic Sierra Nevada House hotel and restaurant in Coloma.
April 29th: 2-day Tuolumne River, CA – $516
As seen on NBC's “In Wine Country”, O.A.R.S. will once again offer an exceptional wine on the river trip on California's finest whitewater river, the Tuolumne.
The Tuolumne River is a world-class, Wild and Scenic River, and affords some of the greatest whitewater rafting in California. This wine on the river adventure includes two days of Class III-IV whitewater rafting, comfortable beach camping and gourmet wilderness cuisine. Joining us on this departure will be winemaker Matt Hatcher from Hatcher Winery, who will present a selection of wines blended from fruit grown in the Sierra Nevada Foothill region.
May 6th: 2-day Tuolumne River, CA – $516
Our second of five wine trips on the Tuolumne River gets us up close and personal with the Tuolumne at a time that historically offers optimal flows and exciting high water rafting close to Yosemite National Park.
This time around, our Wine on the River Adventure includes two days of Class III-IV whitewater rafting on the Wild & Scenic Tuolumne River, comfortable beach camping and gourmet wilderness cuisine prepared by executive chef, Bob Anderson of the renowned “V” Restaurant in Murphys, CA. Also joining us on this departure will be wine experts, Rich and Siri Gilpin, who will present a selection of hand crafted, unfiltered wines from Lavender Ridge Winery in Calaveras County, CA.
May 13th: 2-day Merced River, CA – $396
Are you twisted? Then this rousing wine on the river adventure is the perfect choice for you. (Just remember to wear your pirate hat and bring your rubber chicken) Rafting on the Merced River gets a little more wild and exciting with the addition of the fun folks from Twisted Oak Winery. Bring your sense of humor and your appetite for amazing local wines with symbolic names like: Asterisk Percent Pound Ampersand At Exclamation (*%#&@!) and Percent At Pound Dollar Exclamation (%@#$!). We'll also pleasure your senses with culinary delights galore prepared by a gourmet chef on the banks of the Wild & Scenic Merced River just outside of Yosemite National Park. Be prepared for some good times!
May 20th: 2-day Merced River, CA – $396
Once again the thrilling California whitewater rafting destination, the Merced River, plays host to our good friend “Chef Bob” of V Restaurant, formerly executive chef of the Ahwahnee Restaurant in Yosemite National Park; and winemaker Matt Hatcher from Hatcher Winery. Both V Restaurant and Hatcher Winery's tasting room are located in historic downtown Murphys, California in the Sierra Nevada Foothills.
June 8th: 4-day Rogue River, OR – $1147
Our Wine on the River series moves north as the folks from Stevenot Winery come aboard to offer a true outdoor epicurean delight, (just miles from the world renowned Ashland Shakespeare Festival) on the Rogue River in southern Oregon. Stevenot Winery has been recognized over 500 times in major wine competitions and boasts a total of 18 different estate grown varietals so there is always something for everyone!
The Rogue River is also a world-class, Wild and Scenic River and affords some of the greatest alpine river scenery in North America with fun Class III whitewater, perfect for inflatable kayaking. This culinary adventure trip includes four days of river rafting, three nights of camping and gourmet wilderness cuisine paired with award-winning wines from Calaveras County, CA.
June 15th: 5-day Chilko Multi-Sport, BC – $3195
Next we'll travel to the pristine wilds of British Columbia for a lodge-based wine adventure on our Chilko Multi-Sport vacation. The Chilko is one of North America’s best rafting rivers and boasts miles of roller coaster rapids that will keep you grinning from start to finish. You'll kayak on beautiful Chilko Lake surrounded by 10,000-foot peaks of the Coast Mountains hiking through fields covered with wildflowers, and raft the crystal clear Chilko River. Our guests might also enjoy horseback riding or fishing for world famous rainbow trout or dolly varden char before returning to the lodge for the evening's gourmet repast.
Joining us will be Jon Langille from the All Seasons Café in Nelson, British Columbia, who will present a hand-picked selection of old and new world wines for our north-country wine adventure.
August 24th: 2 ½-day Tuolumne River, CA – $610
We head back to California, where we offer one more exceptional wine trip on the Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River.
By late summer, the Tuolumne has mellowed out to a splashy (slightly warmer), fun, Class III-IV trip. With a slightly more casual pace than our spring trips, we spend two-and-a-half days rafting with two nights of comfortable beach camping and gourmet wilderness cuisine prepared by a master chef. Joining us on this departure will be wine experts, Kate and Craig MacDonald, who will present a selection of wines hand-picked from some of their favorite wineries in California and abroad.
August 27th: 6-day Middle Fork Salmon River, ID – $2158
Our wine on the river series continues with longtime partner, Ironstone Vineyards with six legendary days on the incomparable Middle Fork of the Salmon. Ironstone President and whitewater enthusiast Stephen Kautz will personally present his award-winning wines with gourmet cuisine prepared by an executive chef.
Of all the rivers that flow through Idaho, perhaps the most spectacular is the Middle Fork of the Wild and Scenic Salmon River. Considered by many to be North America’s premier alpine river experience, the Middle Fork Salmon boasts non-stop, Class III-IV whitewater, natural hot springs, and excellent fishing. And then there’s the scenery—soft meadows that roll towards the base of soaring mountains, craggy canyons ribboned with waterfalls, deep green forests and grassy hills dotted with wildflowers…the diversity and beauty of the Middle Fork is stunning.
September 14th: 5-day Hell's Canyon, ID – $1382
Hells Canyon, home of the mighty Snake River, is the deepest gorge in North America and home to our second Idaho wine on the river adventure for 2008. The dam-controlled Snake River flows steadily all season long, creating powerful Class III rapids. Exuberant drops and roller-coaster wave trains provide an exciting ride, whether you’re challenging the whitewater hands on in a paddle raft or inflatable kayak, bucking through the rapids in a hard-hulled dory, or just holding on as you plow right through in a stable oar boat. The short hikes available in Hells Canyon lead to historic sites, Indian rock art, and for the more intrepid, the spectacular vista from Suicide Point.
Relaxing evenings will be spent on sandy beaches under the brilliant Idaho stars enjoying the fine selection of wines presented by Robert Wolfe, president of Oregon Pinot Noir Club, and former editor of Food & Wine magazine. You'll enjoy delicious hors'deuvres with your wine while your evening meal is prepared by a gourmet chef.
Below is NBC's coverage of our popular Tuolumne Wine on the River Trip:
Have you run the wild ones?
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