H’burg to Guerneville Loop: Westside, Eastside, Back to J Vineyards
Imaginative road naming must be headquartered here- Eastside, Westside- simple, but effective. Wine Road is 191 wineries and 56 lodgings clustered in a 30 mile radius and I am here to LIVE that truth! Just traveled out Westside Road to Guerneville- took me just about 1/2 an hour, and if trees were not on the docket for cutting on my route, I would have made it even faster. My plan was to head from Healdsburg to Guerneville- I wanted to visit Russian River Getaways for my Wine Road Concierge Member visit and also check in with a few spots in Guerneville, and then end up at J Vineyards & Winery for bubbles before returning to Wine Road HQ. So, headed out the relaxing and gorgeous Westside Road from Healdsburg to Guerneville- my destination: Russian River...
Read MoreCollier Falls
The hospitable, compact, handy and beckoning TR for Collier Falls up at the Timber Crest Farms is full of delights- wine tasting, gifts and cool wine-related items, Adirondack chairs on the porch in which to relax, as well as a lovely picnic area and bocce court. Collier Falls is all about sustainability and produces delicious wines the RIGHT way. Collier Falls believes that a wine is only as good as the land it comes from; winemaker Marco DiGulio makes the magic. The Wine Club makes you privy to cool wines and deals. The vibe is All Dry Creek, all the time, appreciation of the place, the beauty, life and the wines. 100% of the proceeds from the Collier Falls Syrah du Soleil goes to ALS Research. This winery was founded on romance, love and a true, pure...
Read MoreWoodenhead
I recently visited Woodenhead, where Burgundy meets California, just off River Road where it crosses Trenton, and noted an impressive broad range of visitors- a family with children in tow from Texas and folks from Quebec, as well as Bay Area regulars, all enjoying the warm atmosphere and staff (Zina Bower and Nick Stez were both on deck). (“Hard-headed” and “stubborn” are affectionate tags for Nick- thus the name of this winery was born….) The Tiki-inspired/decorated TR, whimsical touches, three artists in rotation, gifts, great wines including a tasty sparkler, great views and inviting picnic area make this a favorite stop. The view from the TR deck is spectacular, sweeping across the Santa Rosa plain of the RRV eastward, like...
Read MoreRiver, Laguna, Frei & Graton Roads: to Graton for Lunch.
Wine Road: 191 Wineries and 56 Lodgings clustered within a 30 mile radius- it is true- and I want to show you! I wanted lunch and I wanted to have it at the Willowood Market in Graton, CA. I had heard tales of fresh tomato salads, ling cod sandwiches, chicken prepared deliciously many ways- consumed in their quaint general store location- outside back patio, cool interiors: I took Highway 101 to the River Road exit- here are the Wine Road members I could visit on this simple route: The Vintners Inn and John Ash & Co.: Next up, Old World Winery. Heading off River Road, a brief detour to the North: the Kendall-Jackson Wine Center: Or, off of River Road, you could head south on Fulton Road to Wood Road: Robert Rue Vineyards: Back up to River Road, left...
Read MoreDuchamp Hotel
Private, secluded, elusive, hidden- all these descriptors are strikingly applicable to the charming, stylish Duchamp Hotel, seemingly lost from view yet in a fantastic location just a block off the downtown Healdsburg Plaza. The style of this small, luxury hotel is understated, arty, minimalist, relaxing, comfortable, inviting. The artistic vibe, evident in the architecture and painstaking remodel of these exquisite California bungalow-styled Villas, circled around the pool, lounging area and olive-tree decorated grounds, carries through in all the luxurious attention to detail and comfort; The New York Times succinctly sums it up: “Warhol didn’t sleep here, but you can.” To steal from Elle Magazine: “SoHo in Sonoma….” The...
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