Castle Hot Springs’ Desert Vines event set for March 31

As experiential wine travel continues to rise as one of 2026’s most compelling luxury travel trends, a new generation of oenophiles is seeking immersive wine travel destinations where sipping meets storytelling, education, and a true sense of terroir rather than a simple pour. 

Enter Castle Hot Springs, an off-grid desert retreat where wine travel is reimagined far from vineyard rows and tasting rooms. Through Desert Vines, the resort pairs world-class wines with its working geothermal-fed farm and hyper-seasonal desert terroir, creating a rare contrast between cultivated vineyards and an untamed Sonoran landscape. Set across 1,100 acres of remote desert wilderness, the series reframes wine culture through a springtime lens of renewal, where fresh harvests from the on-site farm meet legacy-driven vintners in a setting that feels both elemental and unexpected. 

On March 31, the resort invites guests to taste a sense of place through every pour and pairing as the resort welcomes Dante Mondavi, fourth-generation vintner and farmer, for a Desert Vines wine dinner rooted in legacy and stewardship, featuring wines from Continuum Estate, RAEN Estates, and Sentium, each offering a thoughtful expression of place and purpose. Highlights include:

• A Legacy-Driven Wine Lineup: Hosted by Dante Mondavi, featuring wines from Continuum Estate, RAEN, and Sentium, showcasing generational winemaking philosophies and site-driven expressions of California terroir. 

• A Hyper-Seasonal Culinary Experience: A reception with grilled oyster and Mokum carrot butter-dipped radish paired with Barons de Rothschild Champagne, followed by Maine lobster with honey citrus butterhorn alongside Sentium Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, Two Wash Ranch Cornish hen with RAEN Royal St. Robert and Bodega Vineyard Pinot Noirs, Imperial American Wagyu ribeye cap with Continuum and Novicium Sage Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon blends, and a fromage course featuring Shaft’s blue cheese, farmhouse white cheddar mousse, honeycomb, and brûléed brioche.

• A Terroir-Driven Setting: Set within Castle Hot Springs’ desert landscape and farm-driven culinary program, blending culinary storytelling with a sense of place that reframes how and where wine culture can thrive.

• An Immersive Wine Education Experience: Enjoy guided tastings, masterclasses, and intimate sessions with leading winemakers and sommeliers, while exploring terroir-driven winemaking philosophies, site-specific expressions of classic and rare varietals, and the art of wine pairing through elegant, course-driven dinners. Programming unpacks how climate, soil, and craftsmanship shape flavor, with thoughtfully led tastings and curated pairings designed to deepen understanding of both wine and cuisine in a desert context.

• Event Details: March 31, 2026 | $300 per person