By Paul Franson

Visitors can now tour Napa Valley’s most innovative winery and farming operation. Visitors to Long Meadow Ranch are chauffeured to the mountaintop location to explore its vineyards and winery, historic olive groves and olive oil frantoio (production facility), in addition to the cattle and horse operation and gardens.

The tours utilize the winery’s six-wheel, open-sided Pinzgauer vehicle to tour the 650-acre ranch high above the Napa Valley floor. The winery offers three tours, each beginning at Long Meadow Ranch’s Rutherford Gardens on Highway 29. The two-hour “Pinzgauer Excursion” is by vehicle, the “Ranch Hike” by foot. Both include wine and olive oil tasting. “Experience the Excellence” adds a vineyard picnic lunch featuring LMR’s Highland beef, fresh organic produce, olive oils and estate wines.

All tours are by appointment only. The basic tours cost $75 per person and those with lunch $150. (707) 963.4555.