WELCOME TO WINE COUNTRY BALLOONS

EXPLORE BEAUTIFUL SONOMA COUNTY

We have far more wineries & vineyard acreage than can be found in Napa Valley. Add to that, pastures, orchards, dense Oak forests plus the magnificent Redwoods. Because our flight corridor provides a greater variety of launch and landing sites, we assure our passengers a more spectacular and safer ballooning flight.

Experience the undulating valleys, the winding Russian River, the Geyser mountains, often times glimpses of the Pacific coast, and the rural quilt work of farming and agriculture.

CRAFTED WITH YOUR PLEASURE, COMFORT & SAFETY IN MIND

We have the newest, custom designed, and most comfortable flight balloons available, featuring secure, separated, high sided compartments/gondolas to comfortably accommodate groups from 2 to 6 passengers.

A SHARED EXPERIENCE

We are also able to accommodate larger groups of up to twenty, ideal for companies, wedding groups, and celebration events etc. Most of our custom made state-of-the-art, hand-crafted gondolas have step-in doors for easy access.

MEET THE PILOTS
Wine Country Balloons

Scott van der Horst
Scott van der HorstChief Pilot
Scott is the chief pilot in charge of operations for Wine Country Balloons and has been flying balloons since 1972 throughout Europe and North America. In addition to teaching numerous professional local balloon pilots to fly, he has performed 95% of the flights for this company since 1984, accumulating more than 8000 hours flying hot air balloons and and personally hosted more than 50,000 passengers.
Michael Vargas
Michael VargasPilot
Formally educated in aeronautical sciences at San Jose State University, Michael already had a commercial license in fixed wing aviation when he decided to become a balloon pilot. When he’s not flying he’s a full time Dad for 4 pre-teens.
Erik Eaton
Erik EatonPilot
Erik took his first balloon ride in 1990 and was immediately hooked. He spent many years crewing and chasing for other pilots and in 2000 he completed ground school earning his private LTA license. Once he received his commercial instructor license he has been dedicated to teaching new hot air balloon pilots to help grow the sport of hot air ballooning.
Daniel Claudon
Daniel ClaudonPilot
Daniel began flying balloons in Napa in 1985, followed by a 10 years flying over the Masai Mara Game Preserve in Africa. He flew a season in Canada, a few months flying balloons in Egypt, then back to Tanzania, living in the middle of the Serengeti where lions wandered through his home garden. At 48 years old he completed his airplane commercial, instrument, and multi engine ratings and became a dad for the first time at 50. Now he’s back in California, flying over the wine country and raising his 16 year old son.