Wanting to impress a group of Napa innkeepers with a one-of-a-kind winery, Holme Grown paid a visit to Teachworth this afternoon. We were hosted by owner Joan Teachworth, a Nebraskan by way of Texas, who makes fewer than 200 cases of Cabernet sauvignon each year on her Diamond Mountain estate.

Her Cab is grown organically on two sloping, one-acre vineyards lying between 700 and 850 feet in elevation. Each vineyard has distinct soil and sun conditions, allowing her to produce three unique wines. All Teachworth Cabernet is aged for 30 months in new French Oak barrels, hand bottled at the winery, and aged an additional two years before release.

Ever wonder where Holme Grown Brand California Ecotourism gets it's biodiesel fuel? Well, we source it all from a chain of Bay Area gas stations called "Rotten Robbie." The particular station we use is on Guerneville Road in Santa Rosa.

Tom Robinson, president of Rotten Robbie, said the choice to start offering B20 biodiesel, a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum-based diesel fuel, was out of environmental concern and to provide another option to customers.

"As a private brander, we want to be able to provide as many options to the consumer as possible to maintain a competitive market," Robinson said. "This is a bit of an experiment to see whether there is a market for B20 and whether it can become a viable alternative fuel option."

Clark Claudon Vineyards

Yesterday Holme Grown visited Clark Claudon Vineyards in the undesignated Ink Grade section of Napa. There we met Tom and Laurie, who are farming with a sensitivity to the soil and surroundings through the use of sustainable agriculture. This includes a permanent cover crop to attract beneficial insects and control erosion, owl and hawk boxes to attract rodent predators and groves of French prunes where the Anagras Wasp, enemy to leaf hoppers, can live. We tasted some of their Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon after touring the vineyards in our Mercedes. We'll be back for sure!

2009 Summer Pricing

In a nod to the current economic climate, Holme Grown Brand California Ecotourism is expanding its pricing options to allow guests to save green while going green. All are flat rates that can be spread among up to six passengers per car.

With our new A la Carte option, which runs at $75 per hour, your Holme Grown guide will work with you to customize your day for as long as you want it to last. Because lunch and tasting fees are not included, guests are able to save by packing their own picnic, and by selecting wineries that either waive fees with purchase, or have smaller tasting fees.

And now our original All Inclusive option, which still runs at $125 per hour, includes an organic picnic lunch for up to six from Whole Foods Market of Napa. Previously this was a $20-per-person add-on.

And remember, dinner transportation anywhere in Wine Country is available for $50 per hour.