AG Venture Tours

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Ag Venture Tours & Consulting specializes in wine tasting, sightseeing and agricultural education tours of the Monterey Bay region of California. Wine tasting tours visit either the Monterey Wine Country (Salinas Valley, Carmel Valley) or the Santa Cruz Mountains. Sightseeing tours include the Monterey Peninsula (Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Carmel) or Big Sur. Agricultural education tours feature the world famous Salinas Valley. Our tours can be customized to your interests, offering both half and full day excursions. Our guides are friendly and knowledgeable with extensive backgrounds in the agriculture and the wine industry.

Individual Tours (2-12 Guests):
Half day (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm) tours cost $60-65/person (minimum of 2 guests, lunch not included) Additional $30 fuel fee for groups of
three or less.
Full day (10:00 am - 4:00 pm) tours cost $85-100/person (minimum of 4 guests, optional picnic or restaurant lunch).

Group Tours (Over 12 Guests):
Half day (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm) tours cost $50-80/person (lunch not included).
Full day (10:00 am - 4:00 pm) tours cost $75-120/person (optional picnic or restaurant lunch).

We offer a wide variety of guided tours and/or step on guide service. Any size group can be accommodated, please call for more information.

Each tour includes pickup and return at your hotel or residence, (individual rates include transportation in a comfortable 14 passenger van, group rates include van or bus transportation), expert guide service and commentary, wine tasting fees, entry fees, winery tour and vineyard walk. A cooler of cold drinks is available and maps and literature for each guest is included with each tour. Ag Venture Tours & Consulting is a full service tour operator with twelve year's experience that can organize any tour that you may be interested in. We are flexible with the tour schedule and will customize the tour to meet your interests. All tours are designed to be fun and educational. Foreign language interpreters can be arranged on request.

Carmel Valley Wine Tasting Tour
Wineries can include Chateau Julien, Bernardus, Heller Estate, Ventana, Cima Collina, Scheid, Talbott, Chateau Sinnet, Galante, Joullian, Parsonage, Joyce, Figge Cellers, Morgan, Boekenoogen, Baywood Cellers, Pierce Ranch, Wines of Carmel and Boete. Tour one winery to observe the wine making process. Observe Carmel Valley agriculture including Earthbound Farms organic produce stand, flower nurseries and a short vineyard walk. Full day (visit 3-4 wineries) and half day (visit 2-3 wineries) tours available.

Salinas Valley Wine Tasting Tour
Wineries can include Hahn Estates/Smith & Hook Winery, Pessagno, De Tierra, Paraiso Vineyards, Estancia, Wrath, Mer Soleil, Boekenoogen, Morgan, Marilyn Remark, Chalone, Manzoni Vineyard, Ventana and Scheid Vineyards. Tour one winery to observe the wine making process. Observe Salinas Valley agriculture including artichokes, vegetable harvesting, strawberries and a short vineyard walk. Full day tours only
(visit 3-4 wineries).

Santa Cruz Mountains Winery Tour
Wineries can include Barghetto, Bonny Doon, David Bruce, Byington, Hunter Hill, Hallcrest, Silver Mountain, Storr's, Soquel Vineyards, Roudon Smith Winery, Alfaro Vineyards, Windy Oaks, Vine Hill, Beauregard, Nicholson, Pelican Ranch, Poetic Cellars, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, Vino Cruz and Burrell School. Tour one winery to observe the wine making process. Observe central coast agriculture including artichokes and vegetable harvesting and beautiful redwood forests. Full day (visit 3-4 wineres) and half day
(visit 2-3 wineries) tours available.

Salinas Valley Agricultural Education Tour
Learn all about the Salinas Valley agriculture industry otherwise known as the "Salad Bowl of the World". Observe field harvesting, irrigation, planting, organic farming, etc. (lettuce, broccoli, artichokes, strawberries, grapes, etc.). Over 40 different crops, experienced knowledgeable guide to answer your questions. Learn where your food comes from! Full day and half day tours available.

Monterey Peninsula Sightseeing / Wine Tasting Tour
Tour includes sightseeing in Monterey, Pacific Grove, 17 Mile Drive, Carmel, Big Sur, in addition to wine tasting in Carmel Valley (Talbott, Joullian, Chateau Julien, Morgan, Bernardus, Parsonage, Ventana or Heller Estate). A fun combination of history, beautiful scenery and wine tasting! A stop for shopping can also be included. Full day and half day tours available.

Salinas Valley / National Steinbeck Center Tour
In addition to visiting two of the Salinas Valley wineries and touring the Salinas Valley agriculture, this tour includes a stop at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas to visit this museum dedicated to John Steinbeck. Full day tours only.

Horseback Riding / Wine Tasting Tour
After a beautiful one hour horseback ride in either Big Sur, Moss Landing, Pebble Beach or Carmel Valley, this tour is complete with visits to two wineries in Carmel Valley and includes a delicious picnic or restaurant lunch. Full day tours only. Please call for rates.

Family Fun Adventure (Kid Friendly)
Monterey half day tours include a drive along the coast looking for sea otters, sea lions, seals and whales. A stop at Dennis the Menace Park (playground), feeding ducks and geese and tidepooling also included! Full day tours can include attractions like the National Steinbeck Center Museum, Wild Things Animal Ranch in Salinas, Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park and the Santa Cruz area. Children must be accompanied by adults! Please call for rates.

Options To Include In Your Tour
Winery dinners, gourmet cooking classes, beer tasting, chocolate tasting, olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting, horseback riding, shopping, kayaking, mountain biking, etc.

Transportation for dinners, parties, weddings and shopping also available.
$85 per hour, 3 hour minimum.

Meet Your Tour Guide
Evan Oakes, owner and tour coordinator for Ag Venture Tours & Consulting. Since 1992, Evan has been working as an agricultural scientist for the University of California Cooperative Extension office in Salinas, California conducting research in vegetable and wine grape production.
He has agriculture degrees from both University of California, Davis and Fresno State University with a specialty in viticulture (grape growing). Evan spent two years in Australia working for a large vineyard and winery before working in Monterey County. Evan currently lives in Watsonville, California.