Northern California wine grape growers are giving guests a unique opportunity, offering their land up for lodging and other experiences, as they struggle to survive amid the change in wine consumption.
Located in Lake County, “The Ripe Choice Farm Stay and Catering” owners Mark and Tammy Lipps have gone from making grapes to offering everything from their place as a wedding venue to special dining events, cooking classes, and even a place for guests to stay overnight offering “farm stay.”
There’s even the option to purchase a farm-grown locally sourced picnic or other meal options.
It’s all in an attempt to keep their 6-acre farm operating as the wine industry battles with a surplus of grapes with younger generations’ alcohol habits looking very different than their prior generations.
“Because of the flood of grapes we couldn’t sell them last year,” Mark Lipps told the Press Democrat.
The Lipps — who moved to the area from southern California’s Manhattan Beach in March 2020 — property includes not only rows of grape vineyards and orchards, but also a barn that can be used as an event facility and barn loft rentals for guests.
“The remarkable studio space is a modern barn loft within a 100-yr old barn on a working vineyard, orchard and farm. It is a fully open studio plan offering comfortable seating area, dining table, king bed, Egyptian cotton linens and a 4×6 walk-in rain shower. All with views of the farm,” a message on their website read.
They offer a place for those seeking a different kind of outdoor camping experience, offering guests a place to park their camper or RV.
The Nelson Family Vineyards, located about two hours north of the Bay Area in Mendocino County’s Ukiah, are also diversifying their offerings. Allowing a similar experience for visitors and guests through HipCamp, an online booking platform for campers.
“Nelson Family Vineyards, Ukiah, California RV sites set along a private ridge overlooking vineyards, pear orchards, and sweeping valley views,” a message on its social media page read.
“A 4th-generation working vineyard with an on-site tasting room, offering quiet, spaced-out stays surrounded by a real, working ranch landscape.”
The winery is just one piece of the sprawling 1,500-acre property, which is home to a variety of crops and 150 acres of wine grapes used to produce the family’s vintages.
More than six years ago, the family began welcoming campers, inviting outdoor enthusiasts to pitch a tent, soak in the sweeping views and sip wines straight from the source.
The Nelson Family Vineyards has been in operation for more than 65 years, but recently the family has branched out into hospitality, opening its sprawling property to overnight guests.
“Often people will do a tasting. Sometimes they’ll buy wine,” Nelson told the outlet.
He said the family is willing to try different things to stay in business, like making their own jams and honey for sale to customers.
“Sometimes, it works. Sometimes, it doesn’t. So we keep trying,” Nelson added.
Last October, the passage of Assembly Bill 518 opened the door for the potential of more private properties in the state to become “low impact camping areas.” The bill makes the campground permitting process easier for private areas to offer up RV parking, tent camp or camping areas.
The difficult chapter for the industry is due not only to record drops in alcohol consumption, but also because of the rising awareness of health risks tied to drinking, and fierce competition from alternatives like hard seltzers.
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