It was the maiden flight of our new balloon, ‘Rhapsody,’ and we launched from the Kendal Jackson Wine Center, centrally located in the expansive Sonoma Valley, offering spectacular views of our Russian River growing appellation. During the balloon’s inflation, Dave watched with keen interest. I couldn’t help but chuckle when one of our crew members jokingly asked Dave if this balloon event might be underscored by his hit song, ‘Crash.’ He raised a single eyebrow and laughed heartily as he climbed into the basket.

After takeoff, with a camera operator and the winemaker from Simi Winery on board, the conversation quickly shifted to describing the various grape varietals and the influence of the coastal climate, particularly the cool fog patterns that are so favorable to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. Flocks of sheep grazed below, and redwood trees were visible to the west. We covered a relatively short distance before finding a suitable landing spot.

Local residents noticed us as we stood waiting for the chase crew to arrive, and it didn’t take long for word to spread that a famous musician was in the basket. Dave graciously allowed people to approach the basket and take photos with him. The production crew then transported Dave and the others to another filming location while we packed up the balloon.

It was a wonderful and memorable day, and particularly fun to meet and get to know Dave, who is one of my favorite songwriter/musicians. We were also happy to support the introduction of his new label, Dreaming Tree Wines.

Not so mean when he’s in MY kitchen

Wine Country Balloons was specially chosen for Gordon Ramsay’s American Road Trip with Gino D’Acampo and Fred Sirieix, as they traveled across the U.S. by RV.

The production company sought the perfect vineyard setting for the three travelers to take off in a balloon, heading to their next surprise winery destination. We were happy to oblige and presented them with a selection of our exclusive launch sites. The process was enjoyable, interacting with the visiting British production team, who were meticulous in their preparations for the entire crew’s arrival in the coming weeks.

Once the plans were finalized and pre-flight preparations were complete, the specially designed RV arrived with the three celebrities. Drones flew overhead, and the camera crew was on hand as the inflated balloon, ‘Koda,’ stood ready for boarding. Thankfully, it was a perfect day for flying. After some pre-flight banter, the balloon gently lifted off the ground with the camera crew, director, and talent. I piloted in a separate compartment, close to where Gordon Ramsay was standing. True to the nature of ballooning, the lush vineyards below, combined with the clear blue skies above, contributed to the tranquil, panoramic view of the spectacular Russian River Valley they were seeking. It didn’t take long for our famous guests to discover the ‘zen’ effect of balloon travel, as there is no sensation of wind movement. I had a pleasant exchange with Gordon, who I must say was particularly easygoing and congenial. I asked him if he had ever been in a balloon before. When he answered, “No, I haven’t,” I took the opportunity to suggest that, beyond his role for the cameras, he might want to tune in to this unique environment for its own sake. He seemed to react immediately to this idea, taking a deep breath, looking around, and saying, “Yeah, this is really special, isn’t it?” I enjoyed witnessing his warm smile. Quite different from his famous persona, I found Gordon Ramsay to be a very kind and congenial fellow.

The experience was great in many ways; however, I had to bite my tongue when Fred described the setting as the beautiful ‘Napa Valley,’ which was clearly incorrect. We who fly balloons exclusively in Sonoma’s Wine Country know that our comparatively expansive flight corridors and the characteristic diversity of Sonoma’s wine-growing region are special. Although Napa was notably the first well-known and publicized ‘wine country,’ it actually comprises only 15% of Northern California’s wine country. Sonoma has become the premier place to fly balloons and offers a number of growing applications, far more diverse than Napa.