March 25, 2026 (Healdsburg, CA) — Hawley Winery, a family-owned winery in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, is proud to announce the launch of a new weekly Falconry Experience beginning Friday, April 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM. Offered every Friday thereafter, the experience invites guests to explore the ancient art of falconry with Hawley Winery founder and expert falconer of 67 years, John Hawley, alongside a guided tasting of estate wines.
Blending Hawley’s passion for handcrafted wines and the centuries-old practice of falconry, the new experience offers guests the rare opportunity to walk the organically farmed vineyard rows while learning firsthand about birds of prey, their role in viticulture, and their significance to the Hawley family story.
Guests will enjoy a flight of Hawley wines during the experience. Reservations are now available on the winery’s website. Pricing is $85 per guest, with a special rate of $65 for wine club members.
Falconry: A Family Tradition
Founder John Hawley became a licensed falconer as a teenager, long before his distinguished winemaking career began. After decades as a pioneering California winemaker—including roles as winemaker for Clos du Bois and
Kendall-Jackson—John returned to falconry when his sons Paul and Austin stepped into leadership at Hawley Winery.
“Falconry requires patience, respect for nature, and discipline—the same qualities that go into making great wine,” says John. “Sharing that connection with our guests feels like the most natural next step.”
As a licensed falconer, John has trained and rehabilitated birds including Kestrels, Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, Goshawks, and Peregrine Falcons. Falcons also serve a vital role in vineyard bird abatement, protecting ripening grapes from starlings during harvest.
A Commitment to Conservation
Hawley Winery has long supported raptor rescue and rehabilitation programs throughout California, donating more than $15,000 to organizations such as:
- The Bird Rescue Center of Sonoma County
- California Foundation for Birds of Prey
- California Raptor Center at UC Davis
The Falconry Experience continues that legacy of stewardship and education.
Founded in 1996 by John and Dana Hawley, Hawley Winery is a small, family-owned winery in the heart of Sonoma County. John Hawley has been a commercial winemaker since 1980, crafting award-winning wines for major California wineries before establishing his own label. Today, the winery is run by John and his sons Austin and Paul Hawley, who continue the family tradition of creativity, craftsmanship, and sustainable farming.
Artist Dana Hawley has been a professional painter since 1980, and her work is featured in the Hawley Tasting Room & Gallery in downtown Healdsburg. Creativity runs deep in the family—Austin builds handcrafted furniture from reclaimed wood, while Paul is a filmmaker and photographer in addition to working in the wine and brewing industries.
Hawley produces small-lot, sustainably farmed wines from their Dry Creek Valley estate and surrounding Sonoma County vineyards.
Experience Details
Falconry & Wine at Hawley Winery
- Every Friday at 10:00 AM
- Beginning February 6, 2026
- Dry Creek Valley Estate — 6387 W Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448
- $85 per guest | $65 wine club members
- Reservations required at hawleywinery.com
Guests will enjoy:
- Guided vineyard walk
- Falconry education and demonstration
- Estate wine tasting
- Connection with a true family-run winery
To Book and for more info:
https://www.hawleywine.com/falconryexperience
