Verve started out as a bespoke wine country tour company, and we’ve built a bit of a name for ourselves in the experience department.
Our local network of private event spaces, secret gardens, art collections, chefs, winemakers, and off-the-beaten-track wineries is second to none. Every itinerary we plan is uniquely tailored to the individuals who’ll be experiencing it… no cookie cutter tours allowed.
We love to indulge our guests’ non-wine-related interests, and can easily arrange cooking classes, horseback riding, cycling in the vineyards, painting classes, hot air balloon rides, olive oil tasting, and pretty much everything else you have in mind for Napa and Sonoma wine country. We’re proud of how much our area has to offer, and we can’t wait to show it to you.
Here are some examples of past experiences we’ve curated for our guests, to help you start envisioning your own customized itinerary:
Curated Culinary Experiences
As many of our guests know, California wine country cooking is as much a draw as our wines. Let us set you up with elite culinary garden tours, private chef classes, personalized dinner menus, yogurt- or cheese-making experiences, butchery courses, or a chef’s meal of local professionals’ personal favorites. Whether you’re into whole animal roasts, vegan wizardry, handmade pastas, molecular gastronomy or sushi, we’ll create an unforgettable culinary experience you’ll savor for years to come.
Foodies' Journey through Marin
We’ll take you straight to the source in this farm-to-table excursion through the rolling hills and pasture lands of rural northwestern Marin County. Our first stop is Point Reyes Station, home of legendary Cowgirl Creamery. We’ll watch them work their magic, and sample an array of cheese products before we move on to a working dairy nearby, where we’ll enjoy a farm-fresh lunch. Afterwards, we’ll trace the shore of Tomales Bay to an oyster farm, learn about their operations, and taste the freshest oysters of your life.
Bottle a Barrel of Wine
This team-building challenge takes you well beyond the typical winery visit for a hands-on lesson in winery operations. Step behind the scenes into the production area and meet your very own barrel of fine hand-crafted wine. After a basic orientation and instruction, team members take control and guide the wine’s journey from a 60-gallon oak barrel into 288 individual 750ml bottles. Design a label in advance with your organization logo, and you can finish the day applying the printed labels to your bottles for the perfect team souvenir.
Hiking in the Redwoods
This exciting picnic excursion travels to the beautiful Russian River Valley, where Armstrong State Park preserves virgin pockets of magnificent primeval redwood forests. The tallest tree in the grove is actually 310 feet, and the oldest is 1,400 years old. We’ll hike on groomed trails for about an hour through this spectacular forest, then continue along the Russian River to the coast for stunning views of crashing waves on the rocky shoreline. A photographer’s dream trip.
Kayaking on the Russian River
What makes the Russian river such a great kayaking river? Warm, clean fresh water with lots of swimming holes and gorgeous beaches to explore. Suitable for all abilities, this river is a class one float and we’ll traverse about eight miles—something everyone aged 6 and up can manage. We’ll put you in comfortable double kayaks outfitted with seat backs, unless you request singles, and provide a picnic lunch. Professional kayak guides will also teach paddlers about the flora and fauna of the river, which include blue herons, snowy egrets, and much more (bring the camera!).
Go Karting Adventure
We’ll take you to one of the top go karting venues in the US for a half-day course in state-of-the-art, race-prepared Sprint Karts, which are capable of speeds in excess of 60 mph (but suitable for novices and experts alike). We’ll learn the fundamentals of go kart racing—from racing lines, braking methods and acceleration, to cornering forces and vehicle balance. Professional instructors will coach the drivers on their performance after each track session to help them lock in what they learned behind the wheel, and we’ll enjoy a gourmet box lunch on site.
Rising Star Startups
Meet the rising star startups of the wine world, whose creativity and entrepreneurialism are shaking up the industry. We’ll introduce you to the visionaries behind the most exciting new wine, food and services of the moment, and turn you loose to chat strategy, growing pains, cash flow management, new technology tools, and whatever else gets you going. There will, of course, be wine… and a delectable wine country lunch to fuel discussion.
Mindfulness Retreat
Tune out the noise and distractions, and head to wine country for a game-changing team retreat. Professional instructors will lead a private seminar on mindfulness and attention training, sharing invaluable strategies for managing focus and workplace demands in the digital age. Reconnect with the breath, discover meditation-worthy natural settings, and savor mindfully crafted food and wine from local Napa Valley artisans.
l’artiste
Discover Napa’s rich artistic culture with an exclusive look into the area’s art, architecture, and landscapes. We’ll get you into the galleries, museums, and private studios of the most talented artists and collectors of the valley. We can also facilitate your own artistic endeavors—just ask! Photography, painting, sculpting, drawing, metalwork, glass… it’s all here.
Mind Bending Wine Blending
Indulge your winemaker fantasy for the day, and learn the ins and outs of blending red wine from a professional. By the end of the day, you’ll have serious bragging rights, your very own custom cuvée blended to your exacting specifications, and probably some very blue teeth.