Looking for a stunning adventure that just oozes the epitome of the laid back LA lifestyle? Look no further than the Malibu Wine Hikes http://www.malibuwinehikes.com/. Nestled in the legendary hills near Malibu, this is a must do when you are in the area or looking for some outdoor time and spectacular photos.
Located at Saddlerock Ranch, The hike covers about 2.5 miles in total, so make sure you have your walking shoes on..heels are definitely not a good idea. The duration of the tour will take 2-2.5 hours to complete. There is no wine tasting during the hike. Everyone will receive a bottle of wine to-go once the tour concludes.
There are some very exciting and unexpected things along the way..
If you’ve spent time hiking in or even just traveling through the Malibu side of the Santa Monica Mountains, you’ve likely passed the Malibu Wines tasting room (or maybe seen some of the shuttle vans transporting tasters to and from some off-site parking areas). Malibu Wines is a family owned and operated local business that began when Ronald Semler purchased land from the previous owners following a fire in 1979.
Semler and his family (9 children — all of whom have worked on the ranch at some point) planted avocados on the property before transitioning some of that space to winemaking grapes in the late 90s.
Now the property is known for its festive tasting rooms and wine safaris- check to see if they are running when you inquire,’ where you can tour the gorgeous property on a large, open-top vehicle. But if you’re looking to enjoy those grounds with a bit more quiet (and maybe try to burn off some of those wine calories before the tastings), the Wine Hikes are a wonderful option for you. A true grand and beautiful adventure!
Today the property has 90 acres devoted to viticulture. They grow more than eight different varietals of grapes, including cabernet, merlot, syrah, malbec, sauvignon blanc, viognier, and mouvedre.
If you selected a giraffe-feeding hike when you booked your trip, you’ll also make a quick side-trip to the property’s exotic animal area. The ranch houses zebra, llamas, alpacas, water buffalo, and other animals — most of which are rescues from the entertainment industry. Check before you book to see if this option is available.
Stanley the Giraffe is the most well-known of these animals, and for an extra fee your group can feed the tall guy (and maybe get some giraffe kisses, too).
The ranch is also home to an archeological site called The Cave of the Four Horsemen, a collection of Chumash pictographs that is not only the largest and best-preserved rock art site in the Santa Monica Mountains, but is also the only known site with a depiction of horseback riders along the entire coast of California.
Although the Chumash lived in this area as long as 5,000 years ago, most of the remaining paintings in the Cave of the Four Horsemen are no older than 1500 years and as late as the late 1700s.
The current hypothesis is that the central panel of this expansive mural depicts a meeting between the chief of Humaliwo (Malibu) and the Portola expedition in 1769.
After the pictographs, the hike continues through some truly stunning sections of the property. On clear days, the views north toward the Santa Susanas are nothing short of spectacular.
Once the hike has concluded, your guides will join you on a shuttle to the Malibu Wines tasting room, where you’ll be treated to a flight of wine tastings and have the chance to pick up any snacks you’ve ordered ahead of time (you are also welcome to pack your own food in if you’d like).
For more info -http://www.malibuwinehikes.com/new-index
