05/25/2026
Nothing says “Happy Birthday” quite like a surprise limo waiting outside and a 5-hour escape through the Applegate Valley wine country. Put together by a couple Veterans as a surprise wine tour for Memorial Day weekend, this adventure included three winery stops, zero stress, and just enough wine to make everyone suddenly become professional photographers.
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Our pick up city was Grants Pass yesterday. The main husband’s wife was the birthday girl whom thought she had a large uber coming to pick them up (sly trickery by a cunning gentleman). The chauffeur texted him upon arrival to let him know he was outside staged and ready to present the limo, then the majority of the group hustled outside ahead of her to catch her reactions as she walked outside to discover a huge limo with a red carpet rolled out. The look on her face was priceless along with a few screams of amazement and joy! We did a bunch of photos with her on the red carpet with the limo, then the chauffeur became the photographer and did a few group shots.
Everyone remembers the time they rode in a limo… but the truly priceless part is when the limo is arranged FOR YOU by friends, family, and a witty husband. I’ve experienced it myself, and it really is an incredible feeling of love and joy knowing that it was done for you. The memories last a lifetime!
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Our first stop of the birthday adventure brought us to Wooldridge Creek Winery in the beautiful Applegate Valley. Known for their smooth handcrafted wines and incredible charcuterie boards, it didn’t take long before the birthday crew was suddenly “professional wine tasters”. Between the views, the laughs, and the birthday surprise, this Memorial Day weekend wine tour was off to a perfect start. After some time spent here, it was time to load back into the limo and head to the next stop. One person had purchased a bottle to share, but it wasn’t finished so the staff corked it and they brought it into the limo so they could enjoy it along the ride. Good thing the limo has a full bar with basically everything you need for enjoying beverages in there as well.
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After a short drive we arrived at Red Lily Vineyard, luckily the staff at Express Limousines had called ahead to let the wineries know they were coming today.
This is easily one of the most beautiful spots in the Applegate Valley, Red Lily had the birthday crew sipping wine right down by the river while pretending they weren’t already a little buzzed from the limo ride over. The grounds were absolutely gorgeous, the staff treated everyone like family, and Dawndee (the tasting room manager) made the tasting experience even better with her awesome personality and hospitality.
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When making the reservation with us, the husband had requested that the final spot to go to also have be a good spot to have food. Anywhere that serves alcohol has to also provide some sort of food… but he said the groups vibe would fit perfect with some wood fire pizza… so off to Schmidt Family Vineyards we go as our third winery — a place known for beautiful landscaping, relaxing atmosphere, and fantastic wines. With flower gardens, elegant tasting spaces, and a birthday crew fully embracing the Applegate wine life by this point, it was the perfect final memory for an amazing Memorial Day weekend adventure.
Towards the end, Casey the chauffeur was summoned to the tasting room from the limo via text to help get a couple cases of wine that they had purchased (they took full advantage of the discount code provided by us to get a sweet deal on an assortment of wine bottles). Now, how many of those bottles make it home to their wine cellar unopened before the ride home in the limo will be left to your imagination. Let’s just say everyone REALLY enjoyed the music, vibe, perfect weather, and possibly adult twerking in the back of the limo.
But as the chauffeur, I’ll never confess because…
“What happens in the limo stays in the limo” 🤣😁🤪
No names mentioned for privacy, except Casey’s. Hit the like if you read all this, I really appreciate it!
