Thanks, I’ll add those. Had Applewood under restaurants but have never stayed there.
4-25-14
Added more places to stay.
Added Breweries and Brew Pubs section
Don’t be afraid to suggest your favorites!
I will be in the area next month.
Who are the can’t miss Zinfandel producers if you only had one day in the area?
My wife and I tend to lean towards smaller producers, but would be willing to try just about anything.
Chris, you don’t indicate where in Sonoma you will be but in the Russian River area I would suggest Joseph Swan, Woodenhead and Limerick Lane. For Dry Creek Valley Ridge, Mazzocco, Mauritson, Nalle and Dashe.
My apologies, we are staying near Healdsburg.
Thank you for the info.
Sonoma Valley: Bucklin, Bedrock, Ravenswood
RRV: add Wine Guerrilla in Forestville (don’t let the name fool you)
Since you are in Healdsburg take Sean’s Dry Creek reccos and run with them. Aslo Valdez Family has a tasting room on the corner of Healdsburg Ave and Mill St downtown.
875 River Road, Fulton CA
95439 707-326-9699
On the north side of River Road just after getting of 101 on the way to Guerneville. Across the street from Old World Winery.
M-Th by appt.
F-Su 11am-4pm
Thanks,
Evan
For Healdsburg hotels - can add Honor Mansion. Pricey and a bit overly precious, but good breakfasts, helpful staff (for getting reservations, etc), and beautiful grounds (bocce court, outdoor massage, etc).
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In the old Farmery Barn?
Yes, the place has some interesting history. I’ve been talking to some of the older winemakers about it recently.
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[quote=“Brian Tuite”]In the old Farmery Barn?
Added Honor Mansion and updated Fogline status.
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Does anyone know if they allow corkage at Zin in Healdsburg?
Oops, never mind. I see that they do, for $20.
While I’m at it, let me just add that this is a great thread. Thanks to Brian and to everyone who has added info to it along the way. My wife and I are visiting Napa for 8 days in June and will be spending two of those days in Sonoma. Planning our visits has been a breeze because of this thread. Thanks, all!
We just got back too, from a week in Healdsburg and a week in Napa.
Stayed at a Home Away place this time, but have to give a recommendation to Camellia Inn, where we stayed last trip. Reasonable, comfortable, delicious breakfast. But most of all, walking distance to the square and all the restaurants.
Best meal was Barndiva, hands down. We hadn’t gone before due to $25 corkage, but the food and setting were amazing. We almost drove back from Napa for more Lobster risotto, and my duck breast/duck confit with huckleberries dish is in my top five ever.
We weren’t hard core tasters this trip, at all. But were able to make appointments at three places we have been buying from for a while, and all were outstanding. Fred Scherrer, Hardy Wallace, and Chris Cottrell were all really great guys to talk to and they all make amazing wine. Chris wins best setting, hands down. The vineyard is a masterpiece. Hardy wins Mr. Congeniality by a bit, though. If you’ve met him, you know what I mean.
Learned a lot, but a big takeaway is always take a jacket to a warehouse or cellar tasting.
Best new to us tasting would be Wesmar with Denise, close second was Holdredge. John wasn’t there, we had missed communications. But his new employee is a charmer. It was her second day, but the wines did speak for themselves.
And a last note, we went to Russian River Brewing for lunch so my husband could try Pliny. He’s a former home brewer, and very picky. He liked it, but prefers a local Marble Red ale. And as a “glutard”, there was nothing for me at RRB. They probably wondered what I was doing there.
Brian, thank you for your post. This is very helpful.
Funny? Whether intended or not it comes across as homophobic and insulting. I think the moderators should delete these posts.
Really? Information is insulting? I didn’t read anything negative into the post. I live a short 7 minutes from Guerneville and have passed through town during Bear weekend. There can be some interesting goings on that could come as a shock to some people. It’s something that I wouldn’t want to spend the next two weeks trying to explain to a young child.
Now please understand that I come from. Family where 3 of my 4 siblings are gay. I am in no way homophobic and/or insulting to LGBT folks. I feel like it is a service to people with children whom they would rather not expose to bare asses in leather g-strings and big burly guys getting affectionate in public outside the Rainbow Cattle Company. Parents appreciate the ability to prepare themselves to answer the obvious questions that will arise from their kids. Knowing what events are taking place advance is helpful. I see it being no different than informing parents to be aware of when Spring Break is occurring in Ft Lauderdale and planning their family visit accordingly.
Not being able to discuss these types of things openly here and moderating them out is just as insulting to me. Reverse discrimination so to say.
My 2¢
Sorry – just seeing this. Brian – thank you for the quick reply.
Robert – At the time I provided that information, I thought subtlety was best – however I forgot the tendency around here to throw stones first and educate yourself later.
Lazy Bear Weekend in Guerneville has a well-earned reputation for overt and public displays of sexuality. Gay, Straight or Texan Sheep Infatuation – it makes no difference. A simple car ride down the Guerneville main drag on that weekend with your 7/8/9 year old will spawn a week’s worth of questions that no parent wants to deal with at that stage. Indeed, I witnessed this exact situation while I worked at a winery in the area – a family dropped by after a ‘scenic’ afternoon drive on the wrong weekend. I would make the same recommendation to families who take a day trip into San Francisco the same day as the Folsom Street Fair – a very good friend almost had the exact same problem while on the way home with his family from a Giants game, save for his quick thinking and iPhone games that were close at hand.
Your reaction to my post is unfortunate, however as I originally suggested, Google is your friend when formulating your own informed opinion.
Less wino types ask me, and I’m guessing all of us, “Where can I go in Sonoma and have a nice view and a picnic?” And then they call back next time and ask, “soooo where else??” and eventually I’m at a loss.
Could that attribute be added somehow?