About the Tour

Location: This tour departs from and returns to Silver Penny Ranch

Address: 5215 Lakeville Hwy, Petaluma, CA 94954

Cost: $175 per person

Featuring:

• Silver Penny Farm
• Nicasio Valley Cheese Co.
• Achadinha Cheese Co.
• Goat Rock Cider
• Barber Lee Spirits

Come and learn about the rich history of the Silver Penny Ranch.  This property is owned by Sue Conley, co-founder of Cowgirl Creamery/Tomales Bay Foods, and her beloved Nan Haynes.  The pastures nourish Brian Gilardi’s sheep and host hives of honey bees for Sola Bee. Silver Penny Ranch is currently providing housing for people in the food and farming community and also hosts meetings and retreats in contemplative gardens and meeting rooms.  Cheese is a part of every menu and is an element of education on sustainable farming and environmental stewardship that is offered to all visitors.

From Silver Penny you will travel to Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, California’s only organic farmstead creamery. Third generation dairy farmers, the Lafranchi family has been ranching in Nicasio for over a hundred years, and began crafting farmstead cheese with organic milk from their herd of Holsteins in 2010.  Tour their beautiful pastures, visit the creamery, and taste their award-winning cheeses that capture the sense of place on this 1,150-acre family ranch. 

Relax and enjoy the scenic 30 minute ride back to Petaluma and a visit to Achadinha Cheese Company, family farm and creamery nestled in the verdant Petaluma hills.  Jim and Donna Pacheco, with help from their four children, milk cows and make cheese inspired by their family legacy and the Old World traditions of Portugal.  Tour the farm, meet their animals, learn more about their dairy practices and taste their unique farmstead cheeses. While you are here, you will enjoy a boxed lunch that includes cheese from our local creameries. 

Next up is a visit to Goat Rock Cider Co. where you will meet owner/cider maker Trevor Zebulon. Here you will enjoy several dry hard ciders and learn how a passion for organic cider inspired the creation of one of the very few certified organic cider companies in California.

Lastly, to cap off your tour you will make a stop in at Barber Lee Spirits. They specialize in harder to make, unique styles of spirits. Dedicated to traditional methods of distillation, they do everything painstakingly by hand (no computers allowed). Tradition and Sustainability are big priorities at Barber Lee Spirits. They use non-gmo and organic grains, herbs, and fruits to craft their expressive spirits.

*Transportation for tour included in ticket cost
**All sales are final and events take place rain or shine.