If you’re into Italian varietals and biodynamic farming, you have to check out DaVero, just 1/2 mile from downtown. They make a killer Sangiovese and their flagship wine is a reserve Sagrantino that will age for decades. They are just releasing the 2013 vintage. Ask for Andrew their manager, he’s a rad guy and very knowledgeable.
Ceritas is walkable from town. By appointment only I believe.
Nn no particular order:
- I honestly thought SingleThread was just OK. When you factor in the QPR, I wouldn’t go back.
- Noble Folk makes some of my favorite ice cream
- Flying Goat is by far the best coffee around
- +1 to Ridge Lytton Springs, Unti, and Porter Creek
- I didn’t have the best experience at MacRostie but the winery is undeniably beautiful and wines are decent
- In Healdsburg proper but away from downtown, Hirsch and Ramey both have tasting rooms and both make great wines
- Williams Selyem is a must visit if you can get in
- I’ve had good experiences at Rochioli and they’re one of the few pinot/chard specialists who also make SB
- Apparently Flowers has a tasting room on Westside Road now as well (but of course you’d be contributing to college cheating scandal money
Valette is quite possibly one of my favorite dining experiences ever. We did a five course chef’s dinner. Food and service was unbelievable.
I’ve enjoyed Flanagan wines via friends over the years. Visited them at their new winery in 2017. They were redoing the vineyards at the time but based on recent photos it’s come around nicely. If you want something off the beaten path and overlooking the vineyards while you taste it’s a nice choice.
You’re in Zin country when in Healdsburg. I’d head over to Ridge for great Zinfandels and Rhone varietals . Iconic estate and they do vineyard tours. I’d also go to A Rafanelli for their Zin and Cabernet. A far as tasting rooms in Healdsburg, you have to go to Ramey as he’s a master of Chardonnay, but also visit Hirsch and Siduri as well.
If you want some of the absolute best BBQ, visit KinSmoke. A mix match of American regional BBQ. Order a la carte and they bring your order to the table. Pop open some of that Zin you might buy and enjoy the pairing. Zin and BBQ go together like white on rice!!!
Quivira… Love their sav blancs
For pinots and chards…
Williams selyem
Arista
Gary Farrell
Hartford court
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I have added many of these to my list. Now the only problem is to narrow it down!
Has anybody mentioned Seghesio???
Not Mentioned yet but hit up Joseph Swan and Woodenhead. In Healdsburg proper hit up Davis Family if and when you visit Holdredge right across the street. In the Dry Creek Valley hit up Frick for some rhones and Preston for nice wines and great bread.
Second Porter Creek. Rochioli is a nice stop but not sure what they will have available to taste.
Isn’t Ramey nearby ?
I try to start the day out at A. Rafanelli (need to call ahead a reserve a time, but a favorite of mine going back years), then just down the road is Quivera, nice zins and whites. I’d also suggest Ridge, fun tasting, and many options, including a Monte Bello flight (last year it was 2006, 2007, 2014), but I am sure it changes often. I’ve not eaten in Healdburg, but we usually go to Catelli’s or Diavola which are in Geyserville, and quite good.
Many great visits to be had in or around Healdsberg. Since you like Pinot and Chardonnay I would put a tasting at Ramey high on my list. It is right in Healdsberg. You will need to make a reservation.
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Seghesio is very near downtown. I am all zin’ed out but I love their Barbara, Aglianico, Vermintino and Arneis. Can’t really find those on the store shelf.
Portalupi in town is a fun spot, also like their Barbara and Charbono. They also have a table wine that is served in milk jugs, which has a really cool story behind it - I gift everyone on my team a bottle of this every xmas. Super nice people.
Barn Diva is awesome
Chalk Board is awesome. We loved the octopus starter so much we ordered it again for dessert.
Enjoyed the tasting there a couple weeks ago so much we signed up for their wine club! My first wine club ever.
This made sense on several levels, including attractive pricing for club members, access to wines you otherwise can’t find, and most importantly the wife loves Zin and I otherwise buy very little of it. Now I can drink these instead of what she picks up at Safeway, etc. 
We were in Healdsburg this past weekend and went to Hartford, Idlewild, and Lioco. Hartford was not our style at all – the wines seemed out of balance (either very tannic or too ripe/sweet/jammy) and ridiculously overpriced. Idlewild was quite interesting – very good Barbera and Arneis, but the Nebbiolo had absolutely nothing in common with “real” Nebbiolo. At Lioco, everything was great, highly recommend it!
I had a great experience last summer at Pasterick just out of town. Small family operation with fantastic Syrah in Dry Creek Valley. My wife and I had a one-on-one appointment with Gerry (the owner) in their fabulous wine cave. Great experience and couldn’t recommend more. The wine was fabulous as well - very Northern Rhone in style. For high-end dining, the restaurant at Madrona Manor is fantastic (arrive early and enjoy a drink on the porch, that has some great view of the valley).
Seghesio has a wine-paired lunch that’s worth the effort of making an appointment:
https://www.seghesio.com/Visit-Us/Chefs-Table
the old vine cellar flight is also great:
https://www.seghesio.com/Visit-Us/Old-Vine-Cellar-Flight
You can taste Pete Seghesio’s excellent zins (and pinot and chard) at his meat market in the same building as Single Thread (Pete owns the building):
FRICK WINERY - Bill Frick does a terrific job with Rhone varietals - one of my favorite Sonoma wineries -
Here’s a diverse list. All were great, for different reasons.
We had a great time at the Thumbprint Cellars tasting room on the square. They make a lot of wine that’s relatively cheap. Just a really fun vibe about this place that comes through in playful blends. https://thumbprintcellars.com
Incredible view from the Gary Farrell porch. Tasty wine, but a bigger operation than we like. https://www.garyfarrellwinery.com
Really like the tasting at Wes-Mar because it’s a small operation and you taste with the owners. It’s in a warehouse, but the personal touch is awesome. We get a handwritten note from them every year with their offering. https://wesmarwinery.com
Also loved Papapiertro Perry. North of Healdesburg. Good size, good wine. Well organized. https://papapietro-perry.com/
Had a great tasting at Merry Edwards where we tasted the exact same wine at different temperatures. Was eye opening the difference in taste. Not sure if this was a regular tasting. This has an old school feel to it. Offerings are sent out by mail. Recently sold, so I’m not sure it has the same feel. Great wine. https://www.merryedwards.com
Others I have on my list to try are: Williams-Selyem, Rochioli
I had one of the best meals of my life at Guiso Latin Fusion. Chalkboard is really fun, and also immensely enjoyed Bravas. We had The French Laundry in the same week and I ranked it my third favorite meal of the trip (too hard to live up to the hype).