On a bright and sunny afternoon in June, I had the distinct pleasure to accept an invitation for a trail ride high in the hills above Sonoma. Rafael Hernandez, owner of Wine Country Trail Rides, was eager to show me first hand, the ins and outs of his business.
You may be familiar with Hernandez and his team of enormous, cart-pulling mules from their weekend jaunts around the Plaza. But – being a horse-man at heart – the rest of the time you’ll find Hernandez in the saddle, guiding tourists and locals alike on surreally beautiful trail rides through the Valley’s vineyards and hills of chaparral.
According to Hernandez, it was he who first pioneered the trail ride concept back in the late 90’s in Napa’s Chiles Valley, following a hiatus from a highly successful polo career. Luckily for us, Napa was not as horse-friendly as Hernandez imagined and in 2000, he brought Wine Country Trail Rides to Sonoma County instead. Since then, he has trotted the business around Sonoma Valley, starting first on the Roche Winery property at the entrance to Sonoma and later, in and around Larson Family Winery in Schellville. He now plies his trade at the Emery Estate Winery, John and Deborah Emery’s spectacular 360-acre spread atop Gehricke Road.
Hernandez has a 16-horse mix of thoroughbreds and quarter horses that can accommodate rider skills levels ranging from novice to expert. There are also sport horses available to those rare but qualified riders. For me, he chose Belle, a big, beautiful steed with some pluck. After giving me a refresher on basic horsewomanship – it’s been a few years – and a quick lesson on his rules for safety, he saddled up the rest of our assemblage – John and Deborah Emery, owners of the estate, and friend of the Emery family, Jamie Aldridge. We set off, the house dogs, Max and Chablis, along for the ride, nimbly sidestepping the horses at every turn.
After a few glamour shots of the group, we began our ride in earnest, with Hernandez constantly checking to see that I was comfortable and content in the saddle. Once convinced, he relaxed, chatting amiably as we toured the incredible property, planted primarily in Cabernet Sauvignon grapes but with a mix of other Bordeaux varietals thrown in for good measure. Over hill and dale we ambled, the horses falling into their preferred pecking order, pausing only to attempt a leaf nibble here and there. Rounding a corner, we came upon the bucolic Emery pond, complete with sandy beach and chaise lounges. Sweeping views of the Valley below met us at every turn and the ride, not too easy, not too difficult, was a welcome and relaxing end to a busy week. All too soon it was time to return to the stable with Hernandez leading the way as we took a shortcut directly through the vineyards. All in all, it was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon and one that I would heartily recommend to both locals and those visiting our Valley.
Hernandez offers trail rides for a reasonable $100 per person for a one-and-a-half hour session, although he asks for two hours of time that includes a brief orientation period. Rides can be scheduled in the morning, during lunch, the afternoon and at sunset. Interested parties can also tack on a lunch component to their rides and, Hernandez is more than happy to accommodate anyone desiring a ride longer than the usual hour and a half.
Wine Country Trail Rides can be reached at 494.0499 or Rafael@vineyardrides.com.
Photos by Melania Mahoney
