Inspiration Vineyards and Winery, providing wines, grapes and inspiration from the RRV, AV and DCV, in impressive, comfy, colorful garagiste digs along the Santa Rosa Wine Trail.

Inspiration Vineyards and Winery, convenient along the Santa Rosa Wine Trail and also part of Follow the Olivet Road, hand-crafts delicious, food-friendly, affordable wines from respected and well-known AVA’s, proving that A little inspiration makes every day a celebration.  With inspiration going back to family roots close to the turn of the last century, Barbara and Jon Phillips have been producing wines since 1999, and also are winegrowers, knowing that it all begins in the vineyard.  Inspiration Wine Club Members receive guaranteed allotments of these wines and other perks, especially ease of purchase!  Their Tasting Room/Production facility is well-designed for both purposes, and the warmth of hospitality is echoed in the cool design, modern colors, bar and architectural and design elements at this fun winery location, often enticing a tasty food truck to park right outside.  Jon and Barbara have a great love of dogs, and their three Inspiration Vineyards Winery Dogs are often in residence, wagging, welcoming and wriggling.  Inspiration travels, too, and hits the road often, participating in some great events.

Jon & Barbara, always inspired!

The colorful, well-appointed tasting room.

Jon in his office space, back in the day....TR was just being completed...love those progress shots!

Asia, handy with the construction phase too, just misplaced her ball....

The distinctive, inspiring neon TR clock...

The friendly crew is event ready....

Winemaker/Proprietor Jon Phillips: THE food and wine pairing connection!

Asia is ready for Play Ball!

Here’s looking at you, kids.

TR

Asia welcomes you! She is open for biz!

TR goes up against the ABC.

Like all Fussbudgets, (think Lucy in “Peanuts”- the world’s greatest one)  I learned the hard way how to quell my urge to kibbutz to bureaucrats, perfecting the demure downward glance, the Forrest Gump smile, and the softly uttered “What, Wha”?? I just cannot hear you through your bullet proof plexiglass!” phrase to get what I want: an approved ABC  (Alcoholic Beverage Control) Special Event Permit, only $25, but seemingly made out of some sort of golden fleece, even better than Indiana Jones’ Ark of the Covenant.  After all, you know it must be important when the government groups these three basic things together: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms- Explosives are now in there too, but do not get to add their initial- thus the Bureau of, as in BATF.  Good that Alcohol gets top billing.

Jason and the Golden Fleece or TR and her ABC Event Permit?

ABC Special Event Permit: Better than THIS, for sure!

I was uninitiated to this quest.  Our Wine Road Office Manager, Lynn Thomas, is very well-versed in this- but Jury Duty had commandeered her, so I was elected.  I could not have engineered a better Comedy of Errors had I been Shakespeare….many trips to D Street in Santa Rosa and back to the ‘burg….complex forms, incorrectly filled out, missing signatures, missing signers…behind the eight ball on timing- time, not on my side- dismal rain and then incredibly clement weather with temps soaring into the 90′s when I was vehicle challenged!  NOW I know…in future, I will knock them dead…but in the meantime:

My initial volley- heading to Santa Rosa to get the signatures on the form along with the Event Map….it is raining…and dismal and lonely- perfect for an odyssey or an Iliad….or a drive to Santa Rosa:

Wine Road World HQ...leaving the safety....

Chariot...of fire....been having some troubles with the A/C.

Gloomy day...nothing looks happy...permit for press event here...

Seriously? Sheriff has to sign off on the permit...I am outside the regular parameters of time...officer takes my form and says they will call me when it is ready. I cozy down in the waiting room. He calls over to me, rather impatiently, that they will telephone me- it WILL take DAYS. I use the Forrest Gump/Can't hear you outlined above. A Lieutenant signs my form!

Leave your soul behind?

OMG....

They take my form- after briefly looking it over- not pleased with me because of my timing- but promising to call me when it is ready.  I need the stuff the next day or Monday- they do not know my tenacity, my Sisyphus- osity, how I resemble a JRT!

Eddie and Frasier! TR might as well be sitting on his lap....

Uh oh- call from ABC- form improperly filled in- need a famous signer to sign ASAP….time is running out!  I head back- no longer rainy- hotter than the blazes.

Classic vehicle for hot trip back, late Friday afternoon.

I get warnings just like Uncle Buck that my car is on fire...just a little oil! (Truck is just about paid off....)

Ah- so sparkly in the sunshine!

Yikes- picking up the forms and making sure that I get what is wrong...hard to do with my head hanging so neutrally low....

Some beauty shots on my way out; I am feeling emboldened!

Taking that form back to the River Office- fixing the error with White Out- ah ha- call from the John Hancock I need who just happens to be working out at a local gym…I head back there and procure (ahem) the correct signature and collateral information, tension is rising.  But it is now well past 5pm on a Friday.  Cool my heels until Monday 8AM….

Lot's wife and I- lots (hahahaha) in common this weekend....

Ditto Han Solo. (who is named "Han" without a final "S" for goodness sake?)

C. S. Lewis and I are feeling it....

Different Chariot this 7:30AM Monday morning (thanks, Tony!)- down I head, the sun just burnishing the sky...a hot day in store....

Aargh...back again.

Bonus! I am now the Mayor of the ABC on Foursquare!

Worth it!!!

They will “call me” as soon as it is ready….I genuflect my way out of the office…

Difficult to move effectively.

I decide that in order to get that incipient ABC Permit, for my Press Event tomorrow, I will need to just make sure I am present near their office just in case they call….my strategy works!

On my Walk-About in Courthouse Square, I find many Peanuts characters....

The Original and Emulated Fussbudget: Lucy Van Pelt

Closeup, Mr. DeMille.

Woodstock...not a real bird.

Wow- like granite counter-tops, Mr. DeMille...still not real.

A real bird...smart, utilizing the fountains right next to Occupy Santa Rosa ( I belong to Preoccupy....)

Clever real bird...no offense to Woodstock, named for a rock concert or a rather dull spot in upstate New York?

Oh my- ABC just called- my Permit is ready….I sashay on over….

"Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!"

You just CAN'T get a bad shot of this building!

Bowing, scraping….I head on in and procure (ahem) my ABC Permit, just in the nick of time!  Just trying to do the right thing!

Thanks for the ABC Special Event Permit!

Back to the chariot- hot!

The Miles of ABC Tears....

Eureka, hallelujah! The Ark of the Covenant, aka THE ABC SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT! And my parking permit...I forgot the bag of sand to offset the weight of this golden idol when I left the ABC...

Tracy picking up the ABC Special Event Permit.

My expression....

Here’s looking at you, kids.

TR

Better than my Federal Case to Remember...much better to have an Affair to Remember!

Hi Jerry!

Dutcher Crossing Winery out Dry Creek Road, almost to Dutcher Creek Road, a gorgeous location among the vines.

Debra Mathy, Proprietor and Guiding Star of Dutcher Crossing Winery, knew her destiny would bring her to this special place in Dry Creek Valley, to pursue excellence in small-lot wine production, as exemplified and symbolized by a special, treasured gift from her father, a vintage high-wheel bicycle, housed  in the TR, which has become the emblem of the the winery and symbolic of Debra’s high standards in vineyards, wine-making by Kerry Damskey, DCV wines and hospitality.  Nestled in a gorgeous spot in the vineyards with panoramic views of Dry Creek Valley, the country-styled, impressive, perfect for this location barn-tastic winery building beckons and welcomes the guest with a cool TR, outdoor venues, special events and an adaptable, full-some, personal Wine Club.

Picnic-A-Looza!

Debra has a very special Winery Dog Extraordinaire: Dutchess!  (After Dutcher….thus “Dutchess”….both winery and dog pronounced like the regular “Dutch” + er)

Debra and Dutchess....

Sweet Dutchess all ready for her closeup, Mr. DeMille....

Debra appreciates and utilizes the bicycle as her favorite form of transportation; how apt that her father’s iconic gift has become so integral a forward motion icon to the direction of   her Dutcher Crossing Winery.  Both Debra and Dutchess are usually to be found at the winery, greeting all visitors to this very special, personal place.

Here’s looking at you, kids.

TR

Sbragia Family Vineyards on Dry Creek Road- closest winery to a dam site (Warm Springs, that is!)

Sbragia Family Vineyards, (suh-BRAHJ-uh) where the wines are intensely personal, not just in terms of terroir but in the legacy and winemaking heritage of the Sbragia Family, are floating above Dry Creek Road at the northern end of the DCV, at home on a hillside with spectacular views of the surrounding vineyards and countryside, home to weddings and other special events, daily tastings and an impressive multifaceted Wine Club with all sorts of F & B, giving its members special access to the Sbragia family of wines.  The view from the terrace is spectacular, and during special events draws quite a lingering crowd; the annual SFV Annual Burning Dam Party  in conjunction with the CDF training exercise raises money for charity and provides an amazing party and spectacle- while making the dam fire safe- win/win with wine!

Gorgeous Sbragia Fall vineyard shot- was also a Cover Shot for the Wine Road Heaven Condensed Map....

Another spectacular, oft used shot....

A Wine & Food Affair 2010

Guests enjoying the views from the terrace, AW&FA 2010....

I do, I do!

Burn baby, burn....(well, I AM from Berkeley....)

Those Dam Burning T-Shirts!

They keep us safe!

I like how Winemaker/owner Ed Sbragia puts it perfectly and most succinctly:

SBRAGIA FAMILY VINEYARD IS A DREAM THAT I’ve had for some time, a small, family-owned winery making limited, individual lots of wine from grapes grown in select blocks of my favorite vineyards. I’ve always had one foot in Sonoma and the other in Napa. Both areas mean a lot to me emotionally. I’m more attached to Dry Creek because it’s where I raised my kids. But the wines that I’ve made at Beringer are like children, so Napa is also a very special place for me. Either way, the wines are intensely personal, an expression not only of terroir, but of my family’s winemaking heritage.

Here’s looking at you, kids.

TR

Russian River Vineyards and her winery restaurant, Corks, ensconced along Route 116 in the RRV.

Russian River Vineyards, on  Route 116 , presents Corks Restaurant, as well as an incredible wedding & special events venue, historical merlot  vines and winery story, Russian Fort Ross inspired buildings, as well as a full assortment of delicious wines, meticulous winemaking, and Wine Club, warm hospitality and an historical feel, going back to the late 1960′s.  Such architecture!   Not to mention the Winery Dog Extraordinaire, Chester!

Chester the RRV Corks Winery Dog...

Happy Dog.

Chester is playful, cute, personable and sweet...just like his winery.

I mentioned famous, right?

Aged redwood, Russian-style-intriguing architecture.

Ditto...all Fort Ross-ish....

What a great building; I am intrigued....

All in the details.

Russian River Vineyards in the RRV...surrounding the winery and Corks Restaurant.

I am a pretty big sucker for Trompe L'oeil....

Russian River Vineyards, organic all the way, and a Bat Magnet - has one of the largest bat colonies in Sonoma County with over 1000 bat members.

A perennial Bohemian favorite….

As a wine country destination, Russian River Vineyards sports the rare bird: a winery restaurant!  Executive Chef Todd Davies innovates a California-styled, locavore Wine Country menu that pairs beautifully and rightfully so with the wines.  Not only can he prepare a chop, he HAS awesome chops….

What a perfect spot for a wedding or lunch, dinner, wine tasting….

Here’s looking at you, kids.

TR

Historic Grande Dame: Hotel La Rose, 100 years and going strong!

Railroad Square in Santa Rosa, a movie/picture-perfect, small town slice of Americana, is anchored on the north by the lovely Hotel La Rose, an impressive Georgian revival-styled three story edifice, constructed of locally quarried stone back  in 1907, featuring vintage rooms in the Main and Carriage House, guest concierge, European breakfast, Specials, Packages,  free parking, all amenities and The Iron Stone Restaurant right on the premises to further carry on the tradition of welcoming guests to this convenient, historic, friendly location.  Meeting facilities, Group accommodations, Green Initiatives, convenient location, even a Hotel Blog, make Hotel La Rose a great property.  The historic aspects of the building are intriguing to me, and the past inspires the present, making this a truly romantic spot.

History, romance....

Great on-site bar and restaurant just off the lobby.

The Iron Stone Restaurant.

Street-scene- entrance to Lobby and Restaurant.

Cozy Lobby.

Three stories....cool!

View from one of the guestrooms in the Main across towards the Carriage House.

Queen room, Main house.

Street-side, from the north, sunset....

Iron Stone exterior.

Here’s looking at you, kids.

TR

Carol Shelton.

Carol Shelton, UC Davis educated, co-owner of and winemaker of Carol Shelton Wines, is widely sited as the most awarded winemaker in the United States, a fan of and producer of numerous wines, and best known as the Queen of Zin who has Mastered the Zen of Zin; Carol does not just set out to make her favorite zinfandel, she sets out to make the best zinfandel in the world.   She employs a “hands-on approach”, from start to finish, working closely with her growers, choosing the best fruit, and directing growing practices, paying close attention to all details, using her choices in barrels as her spice rack.   Carol likens winemaking to cooking: “a delicate balance between science and art or intuition.“  In fact, Carol says that “Wine is the blending of art and science.”

Carol concocting....

Barrels are her spice racks....great racks! (Carol especially loves words and word play....)

Carol and her business partner and also husband, Mitch Mackenzie, welcome visitors to their cozy tasting room in its urban location in an industrial-chic winery building along the Santa Rosa Wine Trail.  Both Carol and Mitch have wicked good senses of humor and I just love the clever, whimsical names coined for each of their delicious single-vineyard designated wines.  It is so very clear that Carol loves words and wines!

You make my heart sing!

Home to Carol’s Bunch Cellar Club,  with the adorable mascot, Rocky, Carol Shelton brings it with wines, hospitality and great events.  Food and wine are also paired here beautifully, and shared.

Rocky up at Rockpile.

Events spill over into the working parts of the winery, like the Barrel Room.

The Barrel Room on a work day.

Carol and Mitch.

Here’s looking at you, kids.

TR

Spring always makes me think of this James Thurber cartoon,  with its painful, ironic, true insight into romantic relationships, and also the take on the coming of glorious spring after the dead of winter:

'I SAID THE HOUNDS OF SPRING ARE ON WINTER'S TRACES- BUT LET IT PASS, LET IT PASS! That repetition of the "but let it pass" line says it all about connubial bliss....this couple is obviously not traveling on Wine Road!

So true, so true….Wine Road TRULY is Heaven Condensed- 186 Wineries and 54 Lodgings clustered in a 30 mile radius and I live that motto daily.  I am out and about along Wine Road, today traveling Westside Road- Spring is clearly here.

While visiting Gary Farrell Winery:

The Rose of Spring at Gary Farrell.

Westside Road next takes me to Matrix Winery, where the wisteria and California poppies take my breath away:

The annual Matrix Winery Wisteria Display.

Heading towards Healdsburg, I check in at Twomey Cellars to see their springish view to the east:

Hey- is that Mount St. Helena?....

Hmmmmm....

The view east with Twomey in the frame....Napa is over there for sure....

Hey, Mill Creek Winery has a new cool sign!

Alderbrook Winery looking springish:

Heading up further north now to Trione Vineyards & Winery on Geyserville Avenue, for an annual springtime favorite industry event, Here Comes the Sun, so very Beatles:

The landscape is budding out all over!

Forever Frisky!

Double-whammy double Wine Road Member signs! Show them with PRIDE! We love our members!

Budding out....burgeoning....

The springtime light floods this Trione building...one of my favorite places.

Reminds me of being in a ship on the Sea of Springtime.

Back in Healdsburg, over at the Haydon Street Inn:

The backyard at Haydon Street Inn.

Just around the corner from Haydon Street Inn.

The weather is mercurial- in more ways than one!  Temps have soared into the mid-nineties and then dropped to provide frost and its warnings.  Rain has surprised and sunny, warm days have popped up more frequently. Trees came down and the power went out yesterday in my River Office, so winter has not completely loosened its grip- but spring is gaining momentum.

Here’s looking at you, kids.

TR

Ah, young spring love....

Gary Farrell Winery out Westside Road, perched high atop its hillside, gazing out across the RRV....

Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery, a pioneer in producing single-vineyard Russian River Valley pinot noir and chardonnay, where the wines are as much about where they are crafted as how they are crafted, welcomes guests to its magical hillside home, a pleasant jaunt out Westside Road, with phenomenal Russian River Valley views, a spectacular winery, outside venue areas, gardens, and a warm, hospitable TR with fireplace, soaring ceilings, great bar and again, those fantastic views….Home to the Grand Crew Wine Club with lots of Features & Benefits, including members-only Events, the TR is the center of the action, glass doors opening the exterior hospitality space to the interior. Here you will find great wines, sweet Farrell Kitty Greta, new Terrace Tasting, where you can sit, sip and savor the stunning views in this spectacular setting, where the natural landscape and redwood trees give way to the more manicured grounds and gardens surrounding the winery, built with broad entrances and high ceilings to capture every bit of natural beauty.  I am always taken with a new vista on each visit.  The meticulously hand-crafted, single vineyard wines, showing off their layers of delicious complexity are a perfect complement.

The approach off Westside Road.

The climb begins up the enchanted hill....

The gorgeous doors leading into the Barrel Room.

Spring is just catching on today. Spectacular skies- cloudy one moment, sunshine the next.

View to the west, looking over the Russian River Valley towards the Pacific.

View west, slightly south....

That great fireplace...

Those spectacular soaring ceilings- beams and light seem to make up the structure.

The TR Bar with those panoramic views.

Lots of arty non-wine; reminds me of the wild turkeys out along the driveway.

The TR Cat: Greta the Farrell Cat...play on "feral"???

Cat closeup, Mr. DeMille. She blends in with the TR Oriental carpet....

View of winery building just along the visitor parking lot...spring is just starting to flower today.

Redwoods.

The curving driveway.

Ditto...affording more views of the RRV.

The natural surroundings blend with the manicured gardens.

Heading back down....

Here’s looking at you, kids.

TR

Old Crocker Inn, Cloverdale, on a hilltop in the Alexander Valley.

Old Crocker Inn, historic, rustic, private, built in the 1880′s by SF tycoon and railroad magnate, Charles Crocker as his hunting retreat, features five lodge accommodations and five cottage/suites, all with their own entrances, all with cozy, country-styled, comfortable appointments, a perfect couple’s retreat, or family reunion venue, wedding spot, completely child and dog friendly, perched on a hillside at the top of the Alexander Valley, with sweeping views of the vineyards and Russian River below.  A hearty full-breakfast is included with your stay, and hospitality is attentive to your needs and desires, with proprietors/innkeepers Tony and Marcia Babb offering area concierge service and Old Crocker Inn Passport to various tastings in the area.  From the knotty pine interiors to the pool, dining room, lawns and decks, this place has relaxation set to enjoy!

I like this!

Ditto....

I think these chandeliers are cool- these grace one of the common areas in the lodge.

The Dining Room.

An example of the delicious, full breakfast....

View from the terrace....

Away from the world, aerie in location, yet close to it all, this is more than just an inn- it is a resort that harkens back to the retreats of yesteryear, resonating with its historical roots and providing all the modern amenities.

Here’s looking at you, kids.

TR