Dates: July 28/29, 2023
Cost: 800.00
Join Anna Maria Ponzi, Owner of AmPonzi and Company and Mia Sheppard Owner of Juniper River Adventures and Outfitter for 20 years; for an Oregon food and wine experience on the Lower Deschutes River. This is an opportunity to get to know and appreciate regional wines, paired with locally sourced food, prepared by the river guides, while rafting and camping on a desert canyon, under starry nights.
Maria helped her parents establish one of the state’s first vineyards and wineries in the North Willamette Valley in 1970, Ponzi Vineyards. Her 50+ plus years of growing up among the vines and the cellars offer a rare insight into Oregon’s now world-renowned wine industry. A selection of curated wines will be presented, alongside some wine education and plenty of insider storytelling.
Learn more about Maria in this articule; Oregon’s Willamette Valley through the eyes of Winemaker Maria Ponzi
Join us for this intimate and active adventure with some of the state’s most expert river and wine guides for a memorable weekend in one of Oregon’s most beautiful rivers.
Side activities include fishing (rods and gear not included), off trail hikes.
Day One: Meet the group at Mack Canyon boat ramp at 8:30am. We will float about 15 miles that is gentle with a couple class II-III rapids the first day. The guides will hand out dry bags. There will be a safety talk, life jackets and boat assignments. We will use 16 foot rafts. One boat will be set up as a paddle raft that you can help paddle and the other boats will be rowed by guest a guide. On this first day there is opportunity to see native American pit houses and petroglyphs.
Come lunchtime, we’ll pull over for a delicious picnic, paired with wine. Your guides will lay out an abundant spread of cold cuts, cheeses, veggies and breads. Lunch is accompanied by a salad, fruit, cookies, cold water and beverages. After lunch we will continue to float down river until we arrive at camp. Once at camp, you can settle in, go fishing, take a nap or read a book and relax. In the evening enjoy appetizers and wine while Maria shares the enchanting history of Oregon wine, as our guides prepare dinner and dessert. Hand-selected wines will accompany the meal. After dinner relax and enjoy more stories, or just sit back and gaze at the stars.
At Camp: All of the camping gear is supplied by Little Creek Outfitters with the exception of your sleeping bags and pillows. Camp is set up by the gear team, when we arrive at camp, your tent and cot for the night will be waiting for you and setup. Tents are double occupancy. We provide cots and sleeping pads that will be sanitized before each use. We set up a camp toilet with a privacy tent and hand-washing station, additional hand sanitizer will be available. Our set up is nothing short from “Glamping.”
Day Two: Coffee will be ready by 6:30am. Breakfast will be at 7:30am. After we eat a hearty breakfast and our gear has been loaded back onto the boats, we get back on the “D”. The adventure continues with exciting Class III-IV rapids such as Colorado, Rattlesnake and Gordan Ridge and a short hike to see pictographs. Come lunchtime, we’ll pull over for a delicious picnic. After lunch we will continue to float down river until we arrive at the take out at Heritage Landing, of HWY 84, East of the Dalles.
What is included in the price:
Camp gear and set up except pillow and sleeping bag
All food except breakfast the first morning and dinner the last night
Oregon wine
Expert Guides
River permits
What is not included:
Vehicle shuttle to the take out is additional 100.00 per vehicle, gratuity, fishing license
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