How To Turn Water into Wine

Clifton Paul Fadiman said it best, "To take wine into our mouths is to savor a droplet of the river of human history."  Three Northern California whitewater rafting outfitters take his words literally and offer combination wine tasting and river rafting trips.  However, no other outfitter offers more river options and variety of vintners than O.A.R.S.

Two other California outfitters, Adventure Collection and Mariah, offer wine tasting trips, however, they are based solely from the South Fork of the American River.  Mariah offers a wine-tasting presentation in their Beverage Garden in their riverside camp and AC offers one-day rafting trips combined with one-day wine country touring.

O.A.R.S. wine tasting and river rafting trips offered this summer include:

1. Wednesdays June through August.  South Fork of the American River. One-day wine tasting tours 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. Guests visit El Dorado wineries of their choice, including Venezio Vineyards, Auriga Wine Cellars, Lava Cap, Boeger, Sierra Vista and Holly’s Hill Vineyards.  Wine tasting is followed by an evening’s stay at the historic American River Inn in Georgetown.
2. July 7th.  Rogue River in Southern Oregon.  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, California.  Meals are prepared by Chef Will Mooney, co-owner and Executive Chef of The Brothers Moon Restaurant in Hopewell, New Jersey.  Mooney is a Culinary Institute of America graduate and has an extensive background in fine food.  He is also a private Chef and teaches cooking classes throughout New Jersey.
3. June 14th.  Chilko-Chilcotin-Fraser Rivers in British Columbia.  Jon Langille from the All Seasons Café in Nelson, British Columbia, will present a hand-picked selection of old and new world wines for a lodge-based wine adventure on an O.A.R.S. Chilko Multi-Sport vacation.
4. August 23rd.  Tuolumne River near Yosemite National Park. Local Northern California wine experts, Kate and Craig MacDonald, will present a selection of wines hand-picked from some of their favorite wineries in California and abroad.
5. August 27th.  Middle Fork Salmon River. Ironstone Vineyards President and whitewater enthusiast Stephen Kautz will personally present his award-winning wines with gourmet cuisine prepared by an executive chef.
6. September 14th.  Hell’s Canyon/Snake River, Idaho. Robert Wolfe, president of Oregon Pinot Noir Club, and former editor of Food & Wine magazine, will offer a hand-selected assortment of outstanding Oregon Pinot Noir and other high-end Northwest wines.  Evening meals will be prepared by executive chef Adam Bernstein, owner of Adam’s Place Restaurant in Eugene, Oregon, which according to Frommer’s is, "One of the most elegant dining establishments in the city." Adam’s menu specializes in Northwest cuisine with European and Asian influences prepared with local organic produce and meats.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor