My husband and I will be in SF for a wedding in two weeks. We are going out a day early and staying in Marin for the wedding. We got engaged in Napa and we really enjoy poking around the area - we%26#39;ve been back to Sonoma, and now husband wants to check out Russian River Valley. Any suggestions on a good day trip to Healdsburg or the surrounding area? DH loves pinot noirs and I am a big fan of zinfandels. We plan on poking around the internet between now and then, but I thought maybe someone here could point us to some lesser known gems. Thanks!!
Russian River Valley trip Qs
Alexander Valley is my vote for a good day trip in Healdsburg%26#39;s surrounding area.
Zins. If you%26#39;re in Healdsburg, there%26#39;s no need for a trip. Healdsburg has some little tasting rooms that show-off tiny wineries%26#39; offerings. There are some old-vine zins represented. They get really good. Lytton Springs is within ten minutes driving from Healdsburg to the north on the west side of Hwy 101. Ridge is in Lytton Springs. They have my favorite zins. Both Rosenblum and Ravenswood will have tasting rooms in the area too. Ravenswood%26#39;s main tasting room is in the town of Sonoma. By the way, in yesterday (Aug 30)%26#39;s news, Gov Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have made zinfandels California%26#39;s state wine.
Pinots. It seems like everybody in the Alexander Valley specializes in Pinots. There%26#39;s lots of wineries in there. Alexander Valley is the path from just north of Healdsburg towards Fort Bragg.
Russian River Valley. I think of Forestville and Guerneville. I dropped by a number of lesser known wineries in there and nothing is very memorable. There is a little bar there that does jalapeno beers though. That%26#39;s kind of unique. Korbel is there. Korbel%26#39;s specialty is neither zins or pinots. I suspect that TA regular Forestvillian would have some input on this area.
Russian River Valley trip Qs
Try the Rodney Strong Wineries for their reserve ZIN--Quite good.
Lot%26#39;s of good Pinots along Westside Road. Also, you should drive out Dry Creek as far as Lake Sonoma.
Yes--you are visiting the right area for superb Zins and Pinots!! Since you%26#39;re only doing a daytrip, I%26#39;ll try to limit my suggestions--somewhat. Zinfandels: Everett Ridge (W. Dry Creek--on the edge of the Russian River Valley with great views, also has very nice Pinots); Roshambo (has edgy art gallery too), Belvedere (beautiful gardens there), both are along Westside Rd. Lake Sonoma and Rosenblum both having tasting rooms in d/t Healdsburg and I enjoy their Zins. Pinot: Lynmar (Frei Rd. nr. Sebastopol); Rochioli, Arista, Moshin and Gary Farrell (all 4 along Westside Rd.) and Martinelli (River Rd. a few mi. west of #101)--they also make some great Chardonnays! The list could go on and on. I think StateRef will weigh in with his favorites too. For dining, suggest lunch or dinner in Healdsburg. Zin (Center St.) is tops for dinner and I hear that Manzanita (Healdsburg Ave.) is serving lunch in addition to dinner--we%26#39;ll go there for dinner tomorrow nite. Dinner at the Forestville end of the Russian River Valley: Farmhouse Inn (on River Rd. nr. Wohler Rd.) or Mosaic in d/t Forestville.
J Winery has a great pinot! I don%26#39;t care for the tasting room because they charge, which I find annoying. They give you food and call it a ';paring';. I love the Westside road area in Healdsburg. There you will find Roshambo, Armida, and Belvedere. Good places to taste and enjoy nice scenery. Healdsburg is a great little town to walk around. My favorite restaurants are Ravenous, (which is sometimes hard without reservations) and Willi%26#39;s. They don%26#39;t take reservations at Willi%26#39;s. If you get a chance,travel down the road to Windsor, which has a cute little downtwn with great shops and some little restaurants. I don%26#39;t care for Langley%26#39;s there. It used to be good, but lately the prices have gone up and the quality is not as good!
Have fun!
RNCathy--Have you been to Mirepoix Restaurant on Windsor River Rd. recently? We%26#39;ve loved our dinner (and lunch) experiences there in the past, but haven%26#39;t been for a while. Just too many good places, I guess. I cannot keep up with all the new shops and restaurants around the Windsor Square! If you have any recommendations re: new places to eat, let us know. We did eat at Langley%26#39;s not long ago and were pretty happy, but I know what you mean about the prices. Yet they are going up all over it seems. Hard to go to dinner at many places and get out below $100 per couple--and that%26#39;s w/o a bottle of wine!!
Pinot Noir:
Forestvillian%26#39;s list is A+. I agree with Rochioli, Moshin, and Gary Farrell in particular. All on the Westside Road of Russian River.
Rochioli tasting room probably will not be serving their pinot noir, at least not their very best. Nothing wrong with their Estate Pinot., though.
If you are there on a week-end, you may also try Joseph Swan, 2916 Laguna Road, just off of River Road.
Zinfandel:
In addition to other posters advice, you must stop at Seghesio Family Vineyards, 14730 Grove Street, on the outskirts of Healdsburg, south of Dry Creek Road. I%26#39;m not sure you can classify them as ';lesser known'; though. In that category, go to Wilson Winery, 1960 Dry Creek Road.
On my list for the next time out is Family Wineries, 4791 Dry Creek Road. I have heard great things about Papapietro Perry there.
Please give us a trip report!
Enjoy!
L
(I hate doing this) but yes, you can get reservations at Willi%26#39;s! Go to www.opentable.com before your trip! We always do out of town reservations this way! Plus, you get points when you use them, how great! I%26#39;m a huge Zinfandel fan and I absolutely love Rosenblum in Healdsburg%26#39;s town square. Tasting is free and it%26#39;s one delicious vintage after another. Plus, they are fun in there and it%26#39;s usually lively without being crowded.
Oh yes, Ref, Papapietro Perry Pinot is fantastic!! We have a case of it here!! Not wimpy at all, very full and complex.
Holy Cow, I came to the right place! Thanks for the great suggestions - my husband sat over my shoulder and was thrilled to read all the posts. Unfortunately, dinner won%26#39;t be possible as we will attend the rehearsal dinner, but since we are on Central time, we plan on getting an early start. I promise a trip report, too.
Thanks all!
od
Holy Cow, I came to the right place! Thanks for the great suggestions - my husband sat over my shoulder and was thrilled to read all the posts. Unfortunately, dinner won%26#39;t be possible as we will attend the rehearsal dinner, but since we are on Central time, we plan on getting an early start. I promise a trip report, too.
Thanks all!
od
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