Exclusive Wine Experiences Set for the First Annual “Sonoma Valley Reserve”

Private, Themed Daytrips Planned for May 14 – 15, 2011

(Sonoma, CALIF.) — Sonoma Valley Reserve, a new upscale wine event set for Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15, 2011 includes transportation and lunch for visitors who will experience Sonoma Valley’s classic wineries in a completely new light. This inaugural event, which replaced Passport to Sonoma Valley, is actually a series of themed daytrips that will showcase rare offerings and hidden gems of Sonoma Valley wine destinations, many of which are seldom open to the public. Twenty-three unique tours will please any palate; and the daytrips are great for team-building, showers, reunions, girlfriend get-aways and corporate entertaining. Tickets are on sale now.

“Our vintners have teamed up to create an upscale event that provides a passport to Sonoma Valley,” said Maureen Cottingham, Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance Executive Director, “It would otherwise be impossible for people to visit many of the stops on the daytrips.” The motor coaches seat only thirteen to twenty-four people per vehicle, so the groups are small. Sixty-one wineries are participating in the event featuring the twenty-three unique tours. Examples of some of the tours include:

 Meet the Winery Rock Star Tour – Behind every benchmark Sonoma Valley winery, there's a leader whose vision helped create its worldwide reputation. On this tour, participants will meet some of Sonoma Valley's most charismatic and creative personalities, and taste the wines for which they've gained global acclaim.

 Bridal Tour – Seeking the perfect Sonoma Valley spot for your wedding day? From panoramic views to vineyard vistas, this tour will help find the wedding location of a lifetime.

 All Access Tour – An exclusive opportunity to gain access to wine destinations rarely open to the public and others that are accessible by appointment only. This tour provides the chance to find those wineries known only by the most experienced Sonoma Valley visitors.

 Food and Wine Pairing Tour – Embark upon a tasting tour unlike any other. Wineries will reveal the complex and magical art of pairing wine with food. Palates will be thrilled with perfect pairings created from the fresh and abundant local foods of Sonoma Valley.

Produced by the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance the first annual Sonoma Valley Reserve will feature a schedule of themed tours that take guests on a treasure hunt throughout the appellation. Each tour includes four winery visits, comfortable transportation by California Wine Tours and a wine country picnic lunch featuring fresh local ingredients. In addition, on Saturday the tours end at the Sonoma Valley Reserve Marketplace where wines – many not available elsewhere – will be available for purchase. Rabobank, N.A. is the Presenting Sponsor of Sonoma Valley Reserve.

Tickets for Sonoma Valley Reserve are extremely limited and on sale now at $85 for one day or $135 for two days.

Sonoma Valley Reserve ticketholders can depart from Sonoma, Mill Valley or San Francisco. For an additional nominal fee ($30
per person), round-trip motor coach transportation from San Francisco and Mill Valley will also be available. For tickets visit
www.SonomaValleyWine.com or call 707-935-0803.

About Rabobank, N.A.
Rabobank, N.A. is a California community bank that provides personalized service and a full array of quality products to individuals, businesses, and agricultural clients. With nearly 120 retail branches, including branches in Sonoma and Napa, we serve the needs of communities from Redding to the Imperial Valley through a regional structure that promotes local decision making and active community involvement by our employees. www.rabobankamerica.com.

About Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance and Foundation The Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance (SVVGA) is a non-profit trade organization serving over 500 members who share a mission to promote awareness of Sonoma Valley’s grapes, wine, and history as the birthplace of the California wine industry.

The Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Foundation (SVVGF) is a non-profit 501c.3 organization that has raised over $8,000,000 for local Sonoma Valley charities. For more information on the SVVGA and SVVGF, please visit www.SonomaValleyWine.com.

Journalists: For more information, to speak with an event representative or to inquire about press credentials for the first annual
Sonoma Valley Reserve please email or call Lisa Adams Walter at (707) 255-0300 or lisa@adamswalter.com.