Building Community Through Wine

by Jennifer Halleck

Ross and I have been building community through wine for over 20 years.  This includes creating experiences with our Inner Circle Members that include wine.  We’ve hosted adventures locally, nationally, and around the world. They include  kayaking,  SF Giants games, Broadways shows with Josh Groban, Vintner Dinners with Celebrity Chefs, trips to Cuba, Honduras, Italy, even Kenya, and South Africa for Wine & Wildlife Safaris .

The Pandemic interrupted our traveling, but I got back in the saddle last month for a 7-day Wine Safari in South Africa with 14 Inner Circle members.  And it was a blast!

I can’t convey how truly extraordinary this trip was, but I’ll give it the old college try.

We all met in Johannesburg the night before our adventure began.  Everyone arrived at different times. We gathered for dinner and I finally spent time with members who I know mostly through email.  Everyone immediately bonded, sharing our common love of Halleck Vineyard wines. Our guides, Tricia and Kevin, led the way.

The first morning we bussed to a shopping area with a myriad of African art and curios. It gave us a day to acclimate to the time change and our new surroundings.  To complete the acculturation process, in the afternoon we visited the Lesedi Cultural Center where 4 different tribes demonstrated how they live, how they dress, and performed their tribal dances. A delicious lunch and dinner were provided.  Our sleeping accommodations were in well-appointed tribal huts.

The next morning we were off to the game safari.  We stayed in one of the luxurious camps along the river of a private reserve. In the mornings,  we could drink coffee and watch the elephants and their babies playing in the river. Our individual sleeping tents were extremely comfortable, with hardwood floors, en-suite bathrooms and balconies over the river where we watched giraffes walked by.

For the next seven days, we woke up at 5ish, enjoyed a continental breakfast,  then jumped in the open safari trucks as the morning golden sun painted the landscape and animals.  Later in the morning, our three vehicles convened to enjoy coffee, teas, muffins, and cookies in the bush.  Most safari groups end their morning safari at 9am, but we stayed out until 1 or 2, returning for a quick lunch at the lodge. After some rest, we’d then head back out from 4 to 7.  Upon our return, the staff would have a long table set up with a beautiful 3 course meal. We’d busily chat about the animals spotted, scenery gawked at and share photographs.  The food was outstanding!  Halleck wine was carried to Africa in our customized wine luggage, and each night, open bottles lined the long table.  Everyone loved being able to sip the beautiful wines of Sonoma County all the way out in South Africa!

The animals were fantastic!  We saw a plethora of bull, baby and nursing elephants, zebras, giraffes, rhinos, monkeys, impalas, kudus, hyenas, buffalo, wildebeest, lion prides with their cubs.  Several times we arrived just after a kill and watched the circle of life in real time.  The crème de la crème was a cheetah mother with 5 baby cheetahs.  Kevin, our guide, informed us that this was a rare encounter, an experience wildlife photographers dream of.

Kevin Dooley is an award winning Wildlife Photographer,  receiving the “Highly Honored” Award in Natures Best Photography International Awards 2024. One of his most outstanding photographs now hangs at the safari lodge.  Whether you love taking photos with your iPhone or with a 600mm zoom lens, Kevin taught the tricks-of-the-trade for every guest in our group.

On our last evening, we all enjoyed a “Sun Downer”, safari’s version of a tailgate party.  As the daytime temperatures were receding from 90 degrees, we drove out into the game reserve near sunset to enjoy our ice cold 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, including cheeses and crackers, and watched the sky light up in shades of pink.   I’m not sure our wine has been sipped anywhere quite as exquisite!

With seven wonderful days behind us, we all concurred that the whole experience surpassed any of our expectations.  The rooms, the lounge, the food, and especially the staff and guides were incredible, and we are now a bonded group of friends who love to travel, drink Halleck wine, and photograph wildlife.  No doubt we will get together again.

We really did Build Community Through Wine and it is incredibly satisfying.  I’d love to do a different trip next time.  Thoughts are being tossed around for future international trips such as a Tiger safari and Taj Mahal in India, Black Bear safari and glaciers in Alaska,  or a wine cruise through the Baltic States. Adventures closer to home being considered include scuba diving with sea lions in La Paz Mexico,  a Bourbon tour in Kentucky, and golf at Bandon Dunes.  The common denominator will always be Halleck Vineyard wines. 😊

If you have any exciting “Building Community Through Wine” ideas, let us know.  This is your club; help us make it fantastic.

We have a 2025 Wine South African Safari already planned.  Join us!