Rued Winery
Family working together for over 125 years with current 6th generation attachment to their land in the Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys defines Rued Winery. On my recent visit it was quipped that when the prune business dried up (ahem!), Rued went from prunes to grapes- please note that Healdsburg used to be the Belt-Buckle of the Prune Belt, so all the Rued prunes changed over, but the love of the land and the expertise at agriculture, did not change. Small-lot, hand-crafted wines are available at the welcoming, bright TR with views through glass of the inner workings of the winery, and also through the flexible Rued Wine Club. Spring has sprung at Rued- Rosebush by the front door to TR houses a surprise: Venturing inside, the TR beckons- great bar to...
Read MoreStonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate
I love especially the winding, verdant approach to Stonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate, which ends in the stunning reveal of this largely-underground, state-of-the-art, winery facility. Stonestreet’s rugged 5100 acre Alexander Mountain Estate, just across the valley from the winery, with 400 separate vineyard blocks in the 800 acres planted to vines, produces spectacular, high-elevation wines, and can be visited by guests with a number of offerings that include tours, tastings and spectacular picnic lunches. There is also a Wine Club, the Pinnacle Program, with even more insider opportunities for members; at Stonestreet you will experience the pinnacle of the mountain, the pinnacle of quality and the pinnacle of warm, friendly...
Read MoreDrive from Chalk Hill Road through the Alexander Valley
I often like to walk a route and blog it; here is a fun route that I drove. My day did not, of course, include all the wineries in the Alexander Valley or the Chalk Hill AVA’s, but it is a beautiful, easy drive, and I will show you which of our Wine Road Winery Members you will see along the way with my chronicling of all their roadside signs. You will see just what I saw- use a Wine Road Map and you cannot go wrong!- Chalk Hill Road, to Highway 128, which becomes Alexander Valley Road, to Healdsburg Avenue. I started at Chalk Hill Estate Winery. Moving from the Chalk Hill AVA to the Alexander Valley AVA, here is Lancaster Estate. Next is Field Stone Winery. Next is Hanna Winery – Alexander Valley. Next is Alexander Valley Vineyards, aka ...
Read MoreTaste Alexander Valley, 21 & 22 May 2011
I was out greatly enjoying TAV and was tweeting where I was going and what I was seeing. This is the TAV 14th annual- clear skies, some contrasting billowing clouds on the edges for enhancement of the spring-time radiant blue, and this wrist-banded, annual, exemplary Event was off and running for the weekend! Wine and fantastic food pairings, special wine sales, Library Tastings, bands, singers, art- hold onto your glasses! Over 30 participating wineries; best get started. I check in at Field Stone Winery, noting the festive air with the stone, underground cellar bright, doors open to catch the breeze; there are delicious Pulled Pork Sliders followed by tasty chocolates, with great Field Stone wines to sample, including some Library Selections; great...
Read MoreL & M Motel
“Charming”, “quaint”, “classic American motel”- all these words spring to mind when visiting the established in 1945 L & M Motel, named by Sunset Magazine in May 2011, One of the Best 50 Hotels under $150 in California. And it IS- family owned and run always, the L and M in the name were Louis and Marie who founded the motel- their family continues the tradition with flower gardens, remodeling, outdoor fire pit and picnic/bbq area, comfy Adirondack chairs scattered throughout the grounds, new decor and helpful, warm staff. Many of the rooms include retro-kitchenettes and baths that will take you back to the 1950′s with amazing tiles, sinks and clever, compact Efficiencies. ...
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