One of the most unforgettable experiences in wine country is the private vineyard tour and tasting at Danza del Sol Winery. Their Grapes & Gears tour goes beyond a standard vineyard and production room visit, taking guests out into the vineyard in a UTV. You’ll taste wines in their vineyard of origin, and along the way take in views of horse trails and rolling hills that look like they belong on a luxury golf course or resort out in Tuscany.
Upon arrival at the winery, we were greeted in the tasting room by Executive Director Walter Carter, our guide for the day. This is a gentleman with a background in fine dining, and he’s an expert at creating memorable experiences for his winery guests, whether you’re a wine novice or connoisseur. He poured us each a taste of Danza’s NV Espumosa, a sparkling blend, to “sake up our palate” while we chatted about our preferred styles of wine. Then off we went into the vines in one of Danza’s small but tough utility task vehicles. Listen to Walter talk about his approach to hospitality here.
As we drove past Orange Muscat, Syrah, and Gewürztraminer vines — the first of its kind in the valley — Walter shared a bit of vineyard history. The grounds were first planted with Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc grapes back in 1972 by Dr. William Filsinger, who opened Filsinger Winery in 1978. The Zinfandel vines have since been relocated, and the winery has changed hands a couple of times, but the Sauvignon Blanc vines remain in place and are thick, gnarly, and gorgeous. We caught a few right at bud break, so we stopped to take a few photos and taste the light and fruity 2023 vintage—perfect with oysters or shrimp scampi, explained Walter.
Next, we zipped to the top of Viognier Hill, where we were treated to an incredible view accompanied by a taste of their beautiful 2023 Viognier and splashes of the 2023 Chardonnay and 2022 GSM. The winery created a seating area right at the edge of the vineyard where you can take in the entire estate. The 40-acre property is spectacular with low, undulating hills and a neighboring horse farm. We even witnessed a small group of riders sauntering by on a trail just below us. It was a misty morning, and though we were just a few miles from home, we felt completely transported. Just the three of us on top of the world. I loved that Viognier, by the way, and happily took home a bottle at the end of the day.
Eventually, we had to move on, so we wound our way down toward the barrel room, past Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, more Gewürztraminer, and Grenache, which Walter said grows there in “abundant,” huge clusters. We motored along rows of Tempranillo and flew past the beautiful barrel room that’s now used for weddings and events.
On our way back to the winery buildings, we circled briefly by Danza’s production room for a glimpse of their Europress grape-presser and the crusher and de-stemmer, affectionately nicknamed Lucy and Ethel, respectively. Pausing for one last look out at the vineyard, Walter shared future plans for the winery, including a new space for members and ideas for a future speakeasy in what is now the main, public tasting room.
Our final tastings took place in the elegant wood-beamed member lounge which will eventually become the main tasting room. We were presented with slate trays, each with three elegant small bites of charcuterie and cheese designed to pair perfectly with pours of Danza’s subtly strawberry and easy-drinking 2023 Rose of Grenache, the bold, dark cherry and spice 2021 Estate Tempranillo (another favorite), and sweet, peachy Orange Muscat.
The winery is the sister property of Masia de la Vinya Winery, and Justin Knight oversees the winemaking at both facilities. Danza is known for the wide variety of wines they offer: Grenache Blanc, Vermentino, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, and Albarino on the white side of the menu; GSM, Madrona, Tempranillo, Barbera, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon on the red side. And that doesn’t even touch on the 4 or 5 sweet options. Which is all to say that this outing can easily be curated specifically to each guest’s palate.
The experience can accommodate up to 8 guests and must be reserved in advance. Tour del Vino arranged our visit as part of our day out in wine country. It can also be arranged directly with the winery.
