Wine on the Tuolumne River – 3 Days
If you love adventure, wine, and delicious food in an unforgettable setting, then Wine on the Tuolumne River is your perfect vacation. Between the exciting Class IV waters, lush landscapes, and indulgent wine and food-filled evenings at camp, you’ll wish you never had to leave.
Featuring
Vintner: Hatcher Winery, Murphys, CA
Chef: Chip Roberts, Lila & Sage, Murphys, CA
Hatcher Winery was established in 2002 in the Sierra Foothills and produces bold red and white wines that are beautifully balanced with rich textures and flavors of French oak. Working with his brother and partner, Sewell Hatcher, and assistant winemaker, Scotty Hancock, owner Matt Hatcher has been a familiar face on OARS’ Wine on the River trips for nearly two decades, serving up a delicious array of wines on several different rivers.
Chef Chip Roberts got his start at one of the top restaurants in the U.S.—McCrady’s in Charleston, SC—but when you meet him, you just know that this mountain man is meant to cook in the wild. So it’s fitting that he’s one of the go-to culinary masterminds for OARS’ gourmet food and wine-tasting trips on the river. In the real world, you can find him in the off-the-radar Sierra Nevada town of Murphys, California, where he’s creating inventive, local-inspired bites for Lila & Sage.
About This Trip
Spend your days taking on the exhilarating “Wild and Scenic” Tuolumne River, with a total of 14 rapids rated Class IV+. In between heart-thumping, adrenaline-pumping action, you’ll get the chance to take in all that pristine California beauty with excursions along wildflower-lined paths to storybook locations. Perhaps you’ll stand under cascading waterfalls, take a refreshing dip in a swimming hole, or feel like a kid again, giggling as you make your way down a natural rock slide. After a day of world-class whitewater and exploring magical places, you’ll be ready for a relaxing evening at camp.
After pulling into camp for the day, everyone will unload the rafts, and you can find the perfect spot to set up your tent for the night. Once you’re all settled, the real fun begins as you gather around for an enlightening wine tasting with a representative from Hatcher Winery, perfectly paired with delectable h’ordeuvres by Chef Chip. As educational as it is fun, you’re sure to gain a deeper appreciation for wine and the passionate people who produce it while you learn about what makes every bottle unique.
While you continue wine tasting or relaxing in camp, Chef Chip will work with locally sourced ingredients to create an out-of-this-world gourmet meal guaranteed to blow your mind. You’ll sit at linen-draped, candlelit tables with your fellow rafters and break bread. The conversation will be flowing, the food and wine will be abundant, and laughter will fill the air. As you head to bed with a satisfied stomach and happy heart, you’ll ponder the memories made that day as the mellifluous river lulls you to sleep.
