Week in Sonoma / Napa

As a local, I can point out a couple of things. First, Sonoma is a town in Sonoma County, just like Napa is a town in Napa County. Windsor and Sonoma are not very close to each other.

I would skip all the big winery tastings. There are many, many small tasting rooms that you will enjoy much more and get a very personalized experience. One of my favorites is Porter Creek on Westside Rd.

Willy's Wine Bar in Santa Rosa is worth a stop. Small plates and excellent local wine list.

The Flying Goat in Old Railroad Square (Santa Rosa) or Healdsburg is the best coffeehouse in the area.

You must make a trip to the ocean. Coleman Valley Rd. out to Bodega Bay is a beautiful trip.

Rent a bike in Healdsburg and ride out West Dry Creek Rd. Do the loop thru Geyserville and Jimtown if you are up to it.

While you are at it, stop in the Jimtown store for lunch or a snack.

The bakery in Freestone is to die for (weekends only).

Have fun...

Dave

Thanks.

Since your a local, I was curious if you had any suggestions for a place to enjoy new years eve. My wife and I are looking for someplace fun that will have some other non-locals... not sure if anything comes to mind.

We are willing to drive a bit some of the days to see some of Napa and other areas of Sonoma (in case that adds some other 'must do' stuff to the list).

Thanks again!

We don't go over the hill to Napa much so I'm not really qualified to make any recommendations there (besides, Sonoma County is so much better).

As far as New Year's Eve, I'm also not much use since I'm usually in bed by 10pm. I haven't seen much advertising yet in the local paper, but I'm sure there are parties at the downtown Santa Rosa clubs.

I don't know what you like to do, so the 'must do' list is variable. Santa Rosa has a Snoopy museum (C. Schulz lived here). There are hot springs in Calistoga (Napa County). The Farmhouse Inn on River Rd. is one of the finest local restaurants, some think better then the $$$ ones in Healdsburg. San Francisco is an hour's drive south.

Other wineries I like include Seghesio, Stryker, and Iron Horse. There are so many that you really can't go wrong.

Dave

Meeker & Mazzocco were two tastings we enjoyed very, very much this past summer. Moshin was also a very nice experience, with wonderful wine and hospitality.

As for restaurants, we had a nice dinner at Zin's in Healdsburg. We have had wonderful meals in Sonoma at El Dorado Kitchen and Della Santina. The latter is a bargain, by the way, with wonderful ambience and service.

Enjoy!

I'm just curious what the special appeal of non-locals is? My wife and I have spent more than a few New Year's at Mendocino. For most of them, we ate well at the name restaurants and it was always excellent.

Most recently, we had a simple dinner at the local bar/pub, populated by locals, and it was outstanding fun. Perhaps it was just the change of pace, but the lack of pretense made it a particularly great time.

Though I'm sort-of local (I live about 40 minutes from downtown Sonoma, and slightly less than than that from Yountville), let me suggest, reveling with the locals might be more fun than doing the tourist gig.

If you're looking for the big-time Napa experience, there are many obvious places to go. Personally, I'd suggest making sure to include at least some of the following:

Vincent Arroyo: small producer, a lot of personality, great wine, the winemaker is often pouring Summers: small producer, make sure to try the Napa Charbono Dutch Henry: small producer, Scott (winemaker) is often pouring Honig: Outstanding fruit-driven style, great attitude Ehlers Estate: Very elegant wines; superb Claret-style Zin, for example. Cakebread: a low-key Napa veteran Sequoia Grove: surprisingly little hype for great wine Sawyer: another small producer worth visiting Heitz: known for big Cabs, don't miss the Ports Bennesere: haven't been in a few years, great small producer

There are many more fine choices around Napa Valley. The Big-Timers are all fine places to taste, but the smaller places are more interesting.

As others have pointed out, do not miss Dry Creek. Bella, Rochioli, Armida are just a few that spring to mind (as cliche as it is, Armida's Poizin is quite a wine in an over-the-top package; if you give it as a gift, make sure the recipient understands it is meant to be consumed and not just looked at). I'm not even scratching the surface; I'd suggest asking your server at dinner what wineries the locals like - and trying them first.

Cheers, Dana

For a selection of recommendations made in this newsgroup over the past

3-5 years, check out the relevant topics in our FAQ, the address of which can be found in my sig.

Mark Lipton

You might also try dinner at Cafe Citti in Kenwood - a local favorite on hwy 12 between Windsor and Sonoma, and just down the road is Wellington vinyards much more low key than the name suggests. Good Zin and occasionally excellent Viognier.

Merry Edwards is in Windsor and makes some of the best Pinot Noirs and Sauvignon Blancs in the area.

Thanks everyone, this information is all great... I really appreciate it. Keep it coming!

Thanks!

I'll second the recommendation of Merry Edwards's wines, but the winery may not be in Windsor any more: they opened a new winery facility on their own Coopersmith Vineyard earlier this year. See for details:

Mark Lipton

As a way out of towner (Minnesota), the only other suggestion I can make is to tour the wine country on Monday through Thursday. There are lots of folks who head up to the wine country late Thursday afternoon.

JMHO Dick R.

I meant to write:

"Personally, I'd suggest making sure to include at least some of the following smaller producers:"

Sorry about that.

Dana

I'd love any suggestions for places for New Years. I've been searching a lot and having trouble finding someplace and since we get in to town only a day before new years eve I'd love to have my plans settled upon before then.

Thanks again !

I'll echo the Jimtown cafe choice, even though it may be a bit chilly to sit on the patio this time of year. And as long as you're out that way, I'd definitely hit Hanna Winery. It's more towards the upscale side, but not pretentious, and some of their wines will knock your socks off.

Downtown Geyserville has a couple of must-hit spots. A new tasting room called Locals (as opposed to non-locals, heh) provides samples from nine different wineries. Tell Diane the guy from Seattle who wants to move to Geyserville says hi. Meeker is literally across the alley from Locals.

About 100' north on the same side of the street is a restaurant called Santi. People have raved about it, but they always seem to be closed when I'm in town.

I'm not sure I'd bike that Dry Creek/Guerneville road this time of year. It was hairy enough driving it a week ago, a day after a brief rainfall. But if you take Highway 116 through Sebastopol, et al, you'll be astounded at the beauty of rolling hills of grape leaves in their fall colors.

Grab a copy of the current West County Gazette, a freebie published out of Forestville and distributed county wide. It's got several good articles on local wine shops, including a feature on Sophie's Cellars in Monte Rio. One cool thing Sophie's has done is arranged with some local restaurants to waive corkage on wine you've purchased at the shop. The restaurants are also listed on their web site,

(Shop is closed Wednesdays.)

Korbel has a brand new facility on the River Road just east of Guerneville. Best wine shop in downtown Healdsburg is probably the Wine Shop, lol. Run by Pedro Rusk, on the corner at 331 Healdsburg Ave.

Wineries I wanted to hit this time but couldn't get to included: Rochioli, Davis-Bynum, Hop Kiln (all near each other) Ferrari-Carano. Also, if you can catch them open, Windsor Vineyards is a small operation that does "vanity" labelling. I tasted their very decent petite syrah back in August.

If you go to Cloverdale, check out LeVin Winery & Vineyards, owned by Holly Harmon. Among other things, Holly is the daughter of Art Clokey, pioneer creator of claymation and "Gumby." Holly illustrated the recently published book, "Gumby Gumby Goes To Hollywood."

Zat enough? Oh, btw, an article in a Seattle neighborhood paper last week bemoaned the priciness of Napa, where tastings now cost $25 at some wineries. (Excuuuuze me for asking the obvious, but why do you think I go to Sonoma instead?) OTOH, Visa Signature has a promotion deal with at least 51 Sonoma wineries to waive tasting fees and/or provide other discounts. Info and a participating wineries map at

You're running out of time. Better get busy! :)

JJ

Just a couple of comments from the local. Davis-Bynum is no more. They got sold and the tasting room is now called something else. As far a cycling, my recommendation was West Dry Creek. Dry Creek and Guerneville Rd. are not even close to each other. Email me if you want more detailed cycling suggestions.

The best local rag for events and entertainment is The Bohemian

You should be able to find something to do on New Years in there.

blkcat at gmail dot com

Dave

Yeah, I heard it was sold to Rodney Strong , but I thought they were going to keep the name for now. Back in August, the Spectator reported, "Rodney Strong will focus solely on the latter two varieties (Russian River Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) under the Davis Bynum label." Here's the full article:

A better choice, for sure. I guess my point was that a lot of those roads are rather narrow, and a little rain can make them downright treacherous. I'm sure you've experienced the "new breed" of California drivers. :)

JJ

I haven't been there since the name change, but the tasting room on Westside Rd. (major cycling route) was closed for a couple of months and there is now a new sign out in front with a new name that escapes me.

Actually, I find most of the Sonoma County drivers to be very tolerant of cyclists. I do avoid the roads around the wineries during major event weekends when there are too many "tasters" on the road. Otherwise, Sonoma County has some of the best cycling in America. Levi Leipheimer lives here.

/d

They sold their name and label only. The same people are still there pouring River Bend which has been their on and off second label for the last 30 years.

John Ash used to have a good New Years celebration (before John left) I think it is somewhat in the category of a Wendy's these days. I am sure there is a big todo at Sonoma Mission Inn. Coppola (nee Chat Souverin) will likely have a function.

I think one of the best things that you can do in Sonoma is to make reservations at the wineries for a tour (especially the ones that are open to the public on a regular basis) You will get much better treatment and taste better wine. You can avoid tasting fees if you concentrate on just one wine that they are most famous for. Tell them that you don't want to do an across the board tasting but just the Zins or Chards or whatever. You will usually get into some wines they don't pour for the public.

Check out Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa if you want to buy anything.

This is generally also the case if you show up on an "off day," especially in the "slow" season. I aim for Mondays and Tuesdays; on my Oct. 1 visit to a top-rated Alexander Valley winery, the place was almost empty. Later that day at a Dry Creek house we were the only two people in the tasting room. That not only allowed us to taste some exceptional wines -- and buy some that were no longer for sale to the general public -- but at one winery I was invited to photograph areas that were usually off limits during "visiting hours."

Bottle Barn rocks! It's the only retailer I know that didn't jack up the price on the '99 Hanna cab after the WS gave it a 92 several years ago. Another good discount option is the various BevMo stores scattered around the Bay Area.

JJ