I am often asked my preference between Napa and Sonoma...and this question is somewhat 'loaded' for me as we have a vineyard in the Alexander Valley (Sonoma County). One could just assume that we are partial to Sonoma, but there are many great and different things about both wine growing regions. For us, it actually started in Napa Valley where Kirsten and I were married in the rustic setting of an old stone school house owned by my mother-in-law not far from the old Christian Brothers winery on Redwood Road. That event took place just over 30 years ago on a beautiful warm summer evening. It was during the many months leading up to our wedding that our love affair with wine began...at that point I never imagined that we would have a vineyard some day. We would travel up and down Highway 29 and come across many 'gems' of restaurants like 'Mustards Grill' and wineries like Whitehall Lane which were back then, not as crowded...(at least you could always get a seat at the bar at 'Mustards' where locals often sat and shared stories of the wine business.) We enjoyed discovering this Napa region which has a very unique feel and has certainly become world renowned for Cabernet Sauvignon. The change in latitude came when my in-laws sold the stone house and purchased acreage on a hillside above Geyserville...wow, what a view! We observed first hand the ins and outs of a vineyard being developed from scratch on this hillside which included the steep 'heroic' planting of vines. From this beautiful place we were able to venture out and discover the best of what Sonoma County had to offer! Geyserville was just a 'blip' on the map where there was literally a gas station, a family run Italian restaurant, and a 'mom & pop' hardware store. For excitement we always headed a little further south to Healdsburg, which
was still going through some
growing pains. Back then, Healdsburg was a quaint little town with a
grassy town square and the butcher, bank and baker were the main
storefronts...there was a restaurant in the center called Bistro Ralph
(still there and thriving) that offered a very simple menu of
French/American Cuisine. We spent many afternoons driving down Highway
128 to Healdsburg winding through beautiful vineyards and we discovered
the Jimtown Store which became our go to for picnic provisions! South along
the 128 were the Robert Young Estate Winery and Jordan Vineyards and Winery both are a must
for some quality Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Red Blends. Today
the town of Healdsburg is bustling with an abundance of great restaurants and
tasting rooms to choose from. For instance, renowned restaurateur
Charlie Palmer built the Hotel Healdsburg and since opening in 2001, this hotel has been credited with redefining Healdsburg as a luxury destination. The 55 rooms are a study in simplicity and the Dry Creek Kitchen offers Americana food and a great list of Sonoma County wines. The great thing is the range of choices in food joints ranging from killer burgers and truffle fries at the HBG to the amazing 'small bite' dishes at Willis Seafood and Raw Bar! Of course before heading back home we always plan a stop at the Healdsburg Downtown Bakery and Creamery for home made ice cream and sticky buns for breakfast! There is so much to do and enjoy, I am only scratching the surface but there is much more Sonoma territory to cover to make my case so I must move on! Next we will wander into the Sonoma Valley and the town of Sonoma for a totally different feel!
Here are some more great Healdsburg links:
Flying Goat Coffee
Spoon Bar & Restaurant
Selby Tasting Room
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