ENJOY SONOMA COUNTY'S FINEST WINERIES WITH LA BELLE VIE TOURS

Sonoma County has more than four hundred and fifty wineries. La Belle Vie Tours is a local wine tour company devoted to showing you which of these wineries are worth every drop. The owner Michele Rulmont is a friendly, earnest woman with a passion for wine. She has been a Sonoma County resident for 20 years. The Wine Tour was originally a 'side hustle’; a clever way for her to show off the fantastic region of Sonoma. In 2018, Michele participated in the Veganuary challenge and came to the epiphany that not all wine is vegan. This discovery led her to ask investigative questions about whether the wineries on her tour had a natural winemaking process – and to her surprise, most of them were already vegan. In her own words, she says, "They were already really glued into the whole process of not adding into their wines. A lot of them do natural fermentation, and they use natural yeast, they don't fine or filter." These wine tours not only highlight green wineries but provide insight into the vegan winemaking industry.

La Belle Vie Tours provides an enriching trip through Sonoma's countryside, where you can learn about the land and the vineyards all while having a unique wine tasting experience. Though tours generally start 10-11 am and end around 4-5 pm, the times will vary based on what tour you choose. The Farm Sanctuary & Vegan Wine Tour begins in Sonoma Plaza. You will be transported to Charlie's Animal Sanctuary, and then to your two wineries, where you will have the privilege of witnessing the beauty of both Kenwood and Carneros. 

You arrive at Sonoma Plaza. A grey SUV picks you up. You are driven in a nice, air-conditioned vehicle to the first stop: Charlie's Acres Farm Sanctuary. Here you will get a guided tour and meet more than 120 farm animals. Charlie's Acres is a non-profit organization founded by Tracy Vogt – an animal lover who grew up volunteering at animal shelters. She rescued many dogs and cats including a chihuahua named Charlie, of whom the sanctuary is named after. This place aims to not only rehabilitate animals who were either abused or fated to be slaughtered, but to instill compassion in the general public for these creatures. By having an intimate connection with them and hearing their stories, you will carry a reverence for other life forms around you and develop an understanding of why plant-based eating is the way to go. The weather is good. You're trekking through the tall grass – a dark spotty thing, a baby pig named Carrie, zooms past your feet. Amongst the crew are a cast of characters: Hombre the Turkey, Petunia the Pot-Bellied Pig, Ginger the Goat, Mitchell the Cow and many others. The sheep are grazing peacefully, and the baby ducklings are wading in the pond. It is hard to imagine what other fate these animals might have had if they surrendered to the horrors of the meat industry. After the tour, you will be treated to a vegan box lunch and drinks. You are presented with four options: 1) a roasted caprese sandwich on ciabatta bread with vegan mozzarella cheese, 2) a sandwich packed with roasted tomatoes, zucchini, sprouts red onions, vegan aioli and vegan pepper jack cheese, 3) a pita falafel in a pita wrap, and 4) a grilled BBQ tofu sandwich on ciabatta. You will be given the chance to confirm your lunch order immediately after your booking. After an hour and a half, you'll depart to two of the local vegan wineries on the tour.

One of these wineries is Domaine Carneros. This 18th century French-inspired manor overlooks Carneros' rolling hillside. You can sample everything from white wines, red wines, and rose wines, along with an elite food pairing experience. You can curl your fingers around the stem of your glass of Pinot Noir and enjoy gourmet food like caviar, and a charcuterie board spread with accompanying dips. There are also vegan food options available. At Domaine Carneros, the secret to the wine is in the richness of the land. Take the vintage Chardonnay, grown in the Tula Vista vineyard: a combination of rich clay soils and breeze from the Petaluma Gap. Or the Pompadour, an early vineyard from the 90s; located right on the south side of Old Napa Road. This land is where clones of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are harvested. The Domaine Carneros experience is for those with a sophisticated palate:  you get history, culture, and luxury – and all while sipping bubbly wine from a gorgeous terrace. Just like the winery itself, the wines here are more than just palatable – they're exquisite. 

From Carneros, you will make your way over to Kenwood where the Deerfield Ranch winery awaits you. Wine tasting in a cave may sound archaic, but the location is cozy, sleek, and intentionally designed by owner Rob Rex's brother, Michael Rex to make you feel right at home. The cave is an impressive 23,000 square ft with a wine tasting room referred to as the Grand Room at its heart. Your guides are friendly and excited to tell you about the history of the ranch, and the process of how the wines are made. You can almost smell the wine emanating from the aged barrels you pass through the tunnel. Once you reach the Grand Room, you'll find your seat on the couch; enjoy a glass or two while your hosts tell you all about the business. The wines are a beautiful color- bold complex flavor profiles and low in acidity. Wine connoisseurs may enjoy learning about their signature Clean Wine. This vegan wine is low in sulfites and histamine- ingredients that can often cause an allergic reaction in wine drinkers. The property is what makes this such a distinct experience, but the wine and the hosts are really what makes this the perfect event to invite a small group of friends to.

The tour is rounding to an end. You've seen and tasted the best of wines that Sonoma has to offer. Basked gloriously in the scenery while supporting your local businesses. Late afternoon is rolling around the corner and it's time to head back to Sonoma Plaza. La Belle Vie Tours wants you to engage in your local community while also creating long lasting memories. When you do a wine tour you take home more than just a bottle of wine. You take home an experience. 

*The wineries that were visited may be subject to change. You may have the option to choose which one you want to visit if you book a private tour. For this experience, the wineries visited were Domaine Carneros and Deerfield Ranch