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Nicki Pruss

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Contact Information

Office:  (707) 265-0932 

Cell:  (707) 738-3117

Email: Click here 

Other

Focus Areas

​Grape growing regions of California specializing in the American Viticultural Areas (AVA) in:      

  • Napa                            

  • Sonoma

  • Solan

 

Information I enjoy sharing

  • Insights into the history, art and science of grape growing and winemaking.

  • Regional History, the Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve, Sustainable Farming & Wine Country trivia.

  • Demystifying wine for consumers 

 

Additional Tour Services

  • Wine Education: guided Wine Tastings, guided Vineyard Tours

  • Hands-on Wine Blending Seminars

  • Food & Wine Pairing Experiences

 

Group Size

  • Small (1-10)

  • Medium (11- 50)

 

Group Types

  • Individuals

  • Couples

  • Corporate

  • Families

 

Tour Types

  • Site Visits

  • Team Building Activities

  • Step-On Guide/ Narration

  • Hospitality Desk

  • Wine Country Bike Tours

  • Dine-A-Rounds

  • Transportation Dispatch

Languages I Speak

  • English

 

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Bio

Nicki is a native Californian who was born and raised a stone’s throw from the Pacific Ocean in a place “where the mountains meet the sea”. It was in this backdrop where her interest in the biological sciences and respect for the environment began. After formal schooling was completed she moved north. A sense of adventure and a desire to experience Europe “en velo” sent Nicki biking & camping her way through Belgium, Luxembourg &, most fortuitously, the wine growing regions of Germany and France. It was on the Atlantic coast of Bordeaux with a delicious glass of Sauvignon Blanc in hand where she had her “Eureka” moment. Inspired, she returned home to CA & began a new journey to study viticulture and enology.

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Training, timing and opportunity aligned when Nicki was accepted for a harvest internship at the iconic Cabernet Sauvignon producer, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. This temporary opportunity morphed into a full-time position. Over time, Nicki rose through the winemaking ranks to become the first female winemaker at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. She oversaw the production of Cask 23, FAY, SLV and Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon as well as Karia Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and White Riesling. After a total of 15 years at SLWC Nicki moved on to her own small wine project and is currently available as your wine country sherpa. As she says, “come take a walk in the vineyard with me and I will guide you through with a winemaker’s eyes”.

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Education: B.A. Biological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara.. 
                  D.P.M., William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine
                  Certificate in Viticulture and Winery Technology, Napa Valley College
 

As an event planner with demanding clients who want to see everything in a compressed amount of time, I have found the services of the tour guild lifesaving. Not only do they make me look good, they make the local, personal connection that charms my guests and makes them feel more than just tourists. They're not only guides, they are superb hosts for any visitor.

 

Michael Christman, President, OPTS Ideas, New York City

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