Upcoming Wine Tours
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Canada's (Not So) Hidden Gem
If you’re looking for a quick getaway during the height of fall colors, consider joining me in Ontario, Canada just north of Niagara Falls. From October 30 - Nov 2 you'll visit Canada’s premier wine producing region: Niagara-on-the-Lake. This quaint town was burned to the ground during the War of 1812 by the Americans as the war raged over Lake Ontario. Today, it’s a beautiful little town situated at the lakeside of Canada’s premier fruit producing region.
You will visit 8 of the best wineries the region has to offer and still have time to tour the Canadian side of Niagara Falls as well as Niagara-on-the-Lake itself. You'll arrange your travel to the Buffalo, NY airport and meet me at the baggage claim area. You must arrive there by 11:40 am on October 30th. The best flights to take from Nashville (to maximize our time) are:
Oct 30: Southwest 2674 and 1516. Departs Nashville at 5:20 am and arrives in Buffalo at 11:40 am with one stop.
Nov 2: Southwest 1308 and 1598. Departs Buffalo at 3:40 pm and arrives in Nashville at 9:45 pm with one stop.
You’ll stay in the Hilton Garden Inn Niagara on the Lake, which is ideally located to visit all the places you want to see. Your cost, which does not include airfare or meals, is $1050 per person, based on double occupancy. The single occupancy supplement is $300.
If you’re not aware of the world-class wines produced in Canada, this is the perfect opportunity to be introduced to them. The region produces outstanding Riesling, Pinot Noir, and perhaps most notably, ice wines. If you’re not familiar with ice wines, you’ve definitely got to take this trip!
Only 6 passengers can take this trip so act quickly if you want to go.
PANAMA CITY EXPLORER: CASCO VIEJO, PANAMA CANAL & SOBERANIA NATIONAL PARK
April 21 - 24, 2025
In partnership with Kensington Tours, Ltd., Root to Stem Wine Tours, LLC offers this exciting opportunity to visit Panama. Copa Airlines, which is headquartered in Panama City, Panama, offers a cost-free layover in Panama on flights transiting Panama City. Copa offers flights to numerous destinations in Central and South America; this trip will give you an idea of where to go on your layover visit.
Trip summary
Panama City - the place where modern engineering and Spanish colonial history collide. The masterpiece known as the Panama Canal is one of mankind's most remarkable engineering feats, though it did not come without sacrifice. Take to the canal with a private guide and come to understand the great accomplishment, and great loss, that effectively bridged the gap between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Also learn about the 1519 Spanish colonial settlement of Old Panama, the first ever by Europeans on the Pacific coast. Its ruins stand as a reminder today of the historic sacking of the city by privateer Henry Morgan. Venturing out from the city and through the jungle, you'll even have an opportunity to encounter an indigenous community, pushing away modernity to maintain its traditional roots. All this and more on a tailored adventure through one of Central America's most dynamic capitals.
TUE, APR 21, 2026
Day 1
Welcome to Panama!
A package with any necessary vouchers or information you may find useful will be awaiting your arrival. For your convenience, an English-speaking guide will be waiting for you outside of Customs, holding a sign with your name on it. This representative will direct you to your awaiting vehicle and driver, and accompany you to your hotel to assist with check-in.
In the late afternoon, join your guide in the hotel lobby and head to Casco Antiguo, Panama City's colonial quarter. Step back in time as you walk through this district, surrounded by colonial houses, narrow avenues and impressive churches. Focusing on Panama's early history, your guide will delve into the background of both the city and country as you explore its many sites of interest. With over three centuries of history, you'll discover firsthand why Casco Antiguo was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and as the sun sets and casts a golden light over Plaza de Francia and the Metropolitan Cathedral, take in the outstanding architecture as locals begin to take to the street, bringing to a whole new dimension to this dynamic barrio.
Soon you'll settle in for a well-earned cocktail at a rooftop. After your refreshment, you will be returned to your hotel.
Accommodations: Central Hotel Panama, Deluxe Rooms with Breakfast
WED, APR 22, 2026
Day 2
Historic City Tour & Canal Tour (with Lunch, 6.5 hrs)
Discover the colonial heritage of Panama and visit the famous Panama Canal on a full day, privately guided tour. Meet your guide in the morning and head to the ruins of Old Panama. Here, climb up the Cathedral Tower and visit the Old Panama Museum to gain a better understanding of the history of this Central American nation. Next, head to Casco Viejo, dating back to the XVII century, and listen to your guide describe the events that led up to the establishment of the capital in its current location. Here, take in the lovely colonial houses, picturesque narrow roads, and impressive churches as you make your way to the French Plaza. Your day continues as you transfer to the Miraflores Locks on Panama Canal, where large ships can be seen as they make their way through the canal. Marvel at this feat of human engineering and see informative exhibits. Now that you’ve worked up your appetite, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before venturing out to visit small towns surrounding the canal. In the late afternoon you will return to your hotel in Panama City.
Accommodations: Central Hotel Panama, Deluxe Rooms with Breakfast
Thu, APR 23, 2026
Day 3
Jungle Boat Cruise & Animal Rescue Center in Soberania National Park (6.5 hrs)
Discover the wonders of the rainforest on a privately guided tour taking you right into the heart of the Central American jungle. After getting picked up from your hotel you will be transferred to the Soberania National Park, one of the best places to spot tropical birdlife in the Americas. As you leave the Panama City limits behind, the buildings are slowly replaced with dense secondary and primary rainforest. Your adventure begins when you reach the spot where the Panama Canal meets the Chagres River. Here you will board a boat and head off on an adventurous ride across the Gatun Lake, passing by monumental cargo ships transiting the waterway. Turn into a true explorer as you look out for green iguanas, three toed sloths, crocodiles, toucans, and many more species that inhabit this biodiverse corner of Panama. Your boat will circle around the rainforest-clad islands, allowing you to observe and search for cheeky primates in the forest canopy. Following the boat tour you will head to Soberania National Park for a short hiking excursion through the jungle to the Rainforest Discovery Center, where you will be able to look for birds and other animals from a tower over the treetops. You may also opt to visit the Animal Rescue Center in Gamboa afterwards, where you can support and observe rescued sloths and a young jaguar from up close. Your tour concludes with a private transfer back to your accommodation.
Accommodations: Central Hotel Panama, Deluxe Rooms with Breakfast
Thu, APR 23, 2026
Day 4
Escape the hustle and bustle of Panama City as you visit the Metropolitan Park with a private guide. Located a mere 15 minutes away from the city’s downtown area, the park is considered to be the most accessible rainforest in the region. Together with several other protected areas, the park forms the ‘Interoceanic Biological Corridor’. Explore this lush corner of Panama City with your guide and learn about Central American flora and fauna. The walking trails of the Metropolitan Park allow you to get closer to countless bird species and numerous mammals inhabiting the jungle canopy. With a little bit of luck, you may even be able to spot the elusive sloth. Your tour concludes with a private transfer back to your accommodation.
You will be privately transferred between your hotel and Tocumen International Airport by a professional driver and an English-speaking guide.
April 25 - May 3, 2026
South America's Malbec Powerhouse
About Mendoza
Mendoza, a provincial capital of approximately one million people, gives you the chance to fully immerse yourself in Argentine culture. Long renowned for its world-class wines, Mendoza has become the center of Argentina’s wine industry, and because of its proximity to the mountains, a center for adventure tourism. A friendly city with sunny skies, a dry desert climate and broad sycamore-lined streets, much of Mendocino life is lived outdoors in plazas, parks and sidewalk cafés, where visitors have many opportunities for meeting and getting to know Argentines. In addition, Mendoza provides quick access to interesting outlying villages, mountains and rural recreational areas and is just a one hour flight from Santiago, Chile.
About the Trip
You will learn about the Argentine wine industry from the ground up—at plant nurseries (where grapevines are cloned and grafted), vineyards (where grapes are grown and harvested), wineries (where grapes are turned into a finished product), and restaurants (where consumers enjoy wine at the end of the production, marketing, and sales chain). You will also learn about Argentina’s gourmet locally produced food (much of it practically organic) by visiting farms and production facilities for olive oil, fresh fruits and vegetables. This is also a unique opportunity to see crops as well as food production facilities not found in the US. Group tastings and meals at top Mendoza wineries and restaurants will give you the chance to not only try locally produced fruits and vegetables but also immerse yourself in Argentine culture.
Housing
Our group will stay at the Portal Plaza Suites hotel, a locally owned hotel in downtown Mendoza (https://www.portalplazasuites.com/), close to numerous restaurants and shops and directly across the street from one of the five major parks in the central city (Plaza Chile). These comfortable suites have a clean and modern style and feature air conditioning, complimentary wi-fi, safe deposit box and a kitchenette.
Cost
The cost of the 9-day program is $3,900/person*, excluding airfare, some meals, and incidentals such as souvenirs, toiletries, and groceries. *Price is subject to change due to the extreme economic circumstances in Argentine. Price includes double occupancy lodging, breakfast every morning at the hotel, nine gourmet group meals outside the hotel, on-site transportation and guide services, and all excursions included in the itinerary. Single occupancy supplement: $1000. Although you may want to eat meals in addition to those provided for in the package, you will likely find yourself well satisfied.
Registration and FullPayment Deadline: February 15, 2026
Deposit: $1000/person due upon registration
Payment Options: Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, Check or Cash
MInimum Enrollment
To ensure the price and details of this program, a minimum of 14 individuals must participate. This is a package price - if you vary at all from the group itinerary you must pay any additional charges. Cost of the program may vary due to group size, exchange rate fluctuations and inflation in Argentina. Participants do not receive refunds for missed excursions or activities.