When Valley Wellness Collective owner Kelly Fiore heard about Visit the Santa Ynez Valley’s inaugural food, wine and experiential event, Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley, she knew she wanted to get involved.
“Imagine a long weekend of food and wine events where you can start the day refreshed with a morning wellness workshop,” Fiore said.
“I loved the idea of four days enjoying the delicious fruits of the valley and jumped at the opportunity to contribute to the overall experience by offering a variety of morning workshops Friday through Sunday, Oct. 18-20, called Wake Up with Wellness! to start the day off right,” she said.
The Wake Up with Wellness! events all run 9-11:30 a.m. with two offered daily throughout the Santa Ynez Valley. Refreshments included with light fare available.
The series opens Oct. 18 with two morning wellness workshops: Yoga Dance & Juicing at Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos with Emma Davis of Yoga Dance Magic, followed by a juicing seminar led by Kimberly Zimmerman, health coach and owner of The Juicy Life.
Also offered that Friday is Bikes & Brunch where participants will ride Pedego Electric Bikes through the Santa Ynez Valley wine country ending at Sogno del Fiore, an boutique winery in Santa Ynez.
Ashley Gheno, chef and owner of Dolce Catering, will prepare an organic brunch with food sourced from local organic farms and pair each dish with wines from premier wineries in California sourced by Jerry Fiore of Sogno del Fiore Wine Club.
On Oct. 19, wellness warriors can start their day at Koehler Winery with two yoga teachers from Bloom Yoga. Lynette Kufeldt will teach restorative yoga followed by sound healing with Lisa Jay.
For more relaxation, a Spa Day will also be available at Koehler on Saturday with two seminars: an essential oils workshop lead by Cathi Russell of SYV Essential Oils and a facial care workshop taught by Heather Grace Skincare.
All events at Koehler Winery conclude with light fare and a wine tasting flight featuring five of Koehler’s premium estate-grown wines.
The weekend ends with two rejuvenating events in Buellton and Los Olivos on Oct. 20. In Buellton, participants can take a guided Trek & Tour with 360-degree views of Pence Vineyard, a biodynamic winery and working ranch to high-caliber performance horses, Black Angus cattle, Longhorns, and organically raised chickens.
The tour ends at a pond where Julie Metheany of Bloom Yoga will lead an Align & Flow yoga workshop. A private tasting of Pence Vineyard’s estate wines and light fare will end the workshop.
On the other side of the valley in Los Olivos, the wellness series will feature a Pedego electric bike tour to Clairmont Lavender Farm where participants will learn the history and uses of lavender from Sean Everette Crowder, owner of Clairmont Farms.
Crowder will guide participants through the process of making organic lavender sachets and mineral-salt blends to take home.
“When we first spoke to Kelly [Fiore] about hosting experiential morning workshops during Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley, we knew it was the right fit,” said Shelby Sim, CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley.
“Visitors can participate in one-of-a-kind experiences all day long and leave the valley feeling reinvigorated,” Sim said. “We want everyone to enjoy all that the valley has to offer.”
Fiore adds an extra incentive for attending the workshops: “Giving back to the community is an important component to all of our events. Each Wake Up with Wellness! workshop will donate a portion of proceeds to Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) Coalition of Santa Ynez Valley.”
For information or to buy tickets for Valley Wellness Collective’s workshops, visit www.ValleyWellnessCollective.com.
— Kady Fleckenstein for Valley Wellness Collective.