Onboard Experience
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Winemaker Happy Hour
Meet & mingle with Don Burns, winemaker of Turtle Rock Vineyards & Kit Kuyper of Hawks Hill Ranch Winery as we kick off the week of a lifetime by sharing stories, history and some of your favorite wines!
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Wine Pairing Dinner
Enjoy a personally curated culinary experience, perfectly matched with the best of Turtle Rock Vineyards wines.
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Rare & Library Wine Experience
Don’s raiding the cellar to share some coveted Turtle Rock Vineyards bottles that you probably don’t have in your wine collection!
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Dessert Wines of Portugal Tasting
Experience the rich and diverse flavors of Portugal’s finest dessert wines, from luscious Ports to rare Moscatels, in this tasting guided by our wine hosts.
YOUR HOST WINEMAKER
Don Burns
Turtle Rock Vineyards
A Paso Robles native, Don Burns grew up surrounded by the region’s evolving wine scene, with early inspiration from his uncle’s winery, Westberg Cellars. After studying ag-business at Cal Poly, Don’s passion for winemaking deepened during his time in fine dining, where he developed a love for Rhône varietals. Returning to Paso in 2007, he worked alongside Justin Smith of Saxum Winery, gaining invaluable experience in sustainable, high-quality winemaking. Don launched Turtle Rock Winery with his wife, Claudia, crafting exceptional Rhône-style blends that have earned critical acclaim, including multiple 99-point ratings and a perfect 100-point score for their 2019 G2 Syrah. Committed to family-run, terroir-driven winemaking, Don continues to elevate Paso Robles’ reputation on the global wine stage.
Hawks Hill Ranch Winery - Kit Kuyper
Nestled within the western hills of the Paso Robles Adelaida District AVA, you'll discover the delightful haven of Hawks Hill Ranch Winery. Spread over 32 acres of Kit Kuyper's sprawling 240-acre ranch, this vineyard boasts a remarkable mosaic of soil variations, slope orientations, and microclimates - a rare combo that's a treasure trove for any vinophile. But hold on, it's not just a vineyard – it’s where Kit’s family, furry friends, and livestock call home amid the vineyard, orchard, and farm. Hawks Hill Ranch has earned a reputation within winemaker circles as a premier vineyard for growers. Beginning with the 2015 harvest, Kit decided to keep some fruit for a special endeavor and began crafting his very own signature wine. Cheers to a story that's as flavorful as the grapes themselves!
