Zin and Bordeaux Varietals in the Alexander Valley

When I take guests on tours of the Alexander Valley in Sonoma County, one of my regular stops is Stryker Sonoma Winery. This small winery produces about 7,000 cases a year. However, winemaker Tim Hardin is a creative soul and likes to make small lots of wine. Thus, the 7,000 cases of wine are divided among approximately 22 red wines and 4 whites, with lots as small as 100 cases. One of Tim's specialties is wine from Bordeaux varietals, including a good number of Cabernet Sauvignons, a few Merlots, and small amounts of Petite Verdot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Semillon. Tim also loves Zinfandel, so he produces at least eight different wines from this varietal.

The winery is a sleek, modern building with floor to ceiling windows in the tasting room. Thus, you can gaze out at the vineyards while tasting Stryker's many wines. The tasting room staff are friendly and eager to tell you about Stryker's wines and the various wine regions from which Stryker sources its fruit.

The winery is located on Hwy. 128, north and west of the city of Healdsburg. The tasting room is open daily from 10:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. You may just drop in for tasting. Tours can be arranged by prior appointment. Stryker offers more than one tasting menu, so fees vary.

If you would like to take a private tour of the Alexander Valley that includes a stop at Stryker, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Healdsburg Garagista

Most people have a romantic vision of Wine Country. They picture the vineyards and beautiful tasting rooms. Seldom do they expect to visit a funky warehouse in an office park. Yet many wines are not made anywhere near where the grapes are grown. Some of the most famous wines in the State are made in industrial sections of Wine Country's towns and cities.

This week I had the pleasure of visiting one such winery: Manzanita Creek. This small producer of Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Syrah is located amongst the warehouses and office parks of Healdsburg. When you walk in the door, you will be greeted by one of the owners, either William or Jack Salerno. My group had the pleasure of meeting Jack, who told us a few good wine country stories.

Normally I do not taste when I take customers to wineries. However, my guests said to me, "Rick, you have got to taste this wine." So I did. I like wines with a lot of fruit, and Manzanita Creek's wines were a perfect match for my palate.

I highly recommend a visit to Manzanita Creek if you want to taste good wine and don't care about a fancy tasting room. You will enjoy the wine and meeting one of the Salerno brothers. You might want to call before stopping by to make sure someone will be there. The winery's phone number is (707) 433-4052.

Manzanita Creek is a little hard to find. The address is 1441-B Grove Street in Healdsburg. Exit US101 at Dry Creek Road and turn right. Then turn left on Grove and keep an eye out for the small sign on the left a few hundred yards down the road. Better yet, let me include a stop at Manzanita Creek on your private wine country tour. To book a tour or to get more information, please call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Pinot Noir in the Dry Creek Valley

"The Dry Creek Valley is too hot to grow Pinot," you say. You are right. But you can buy grapes from other wine regions with the cooler climate that Pinot needs and still locate your winery in Dry Creek.

This is what Papapietro Perry Winery has done. Founded by longtime friends Ben Papapietro and Bruce Perry, this small winery produces acclaimed Pinot Noir and a small amount of Zinfandel. "Wine Spectator" recently included a feature on California Pinot Noir that rated all of the Papapietro Perry Pinot Noirs they tasted 90 points or above.

When you visit Papietro Perry, you are likely to find Bruce Perry or his wife, Renae, pouring for you. Ben is there less frequently but during harvest look through the open garage door and you are likely to see him working with the grapes. You should be able to taste a few Pinots and one or two Zinfandels. However, production is small and the winery frequently sells out of its various releases.

The tasting room is located at 4791 Dry Creek Road in what might be called a winery park. Adjacent to the same parking lot are Amphora and Peterson wineries, as well as the tasting room for Family Wineries of the Dry Creek Valley. Papapietro Perry is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. When you visit Dry Creek, take a break from the Valleys excellent Zinfandels and Cabernets to taste some excellent Pinot Noir. Better yet, let Blue Heron Custom Tours take you on a private wine country tour that includes a visit to the Dry Creek Valley and Papapietro Perry. You can schedule a tour by calling me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or sending me an e-mail message by clicking here.

Nice, Small Cafe in Healdsburg

I recently ran into a concierge friend on the plaza in Healdsburg who had just lunched at the nearby Palette Art Cafe. My friend said she had had a nice meal at this small cafe, which I had never seen. So I decided to check out.

Turns out this pleasant cafe and gallery is in the back of the building at 235 Healdsburg Avenue, just south of the plaza. The La Crema tasting room is in the front of the building facing the street.

The menu contains a nice array of salads, sandwiches, small plates, and fondues. It's a perfect spot for a quality lunch, with no fuss. They also have some nice wines. So if you want a light dinner with a glass of wine, the Palette Art Cafe might be the spot for you.

The gallery displays the works of local artists. You can see works in both the cafe and in the gallery space on the other side of the courtyard. Works may also be viewed at the gallery's website: www.palette-art.com.

The cafe is open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. On weekends, they open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 11:00 p.m. on Saturday and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. If you are thinking of heading there on the late side, call first -- (707) 433-2788 -- to make sure they didn't close early.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour that includes a stop at the Palette Art Cafe for lunch, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Picnicking Along the Russian River Wine Rd. - Part II

Now that you have your picnic supplies, it's time to find a nice spot to enjoy your lunch.

In the Alexander Valley, two wineries have nice picnic areas. Field Stone Winery, at the southern end of the Valley (10075 Hwy. 128), has picnic tables under the trees near the winery. This shaded area provides a perfect respite to lunch with one of Field Stone's wines. More information on Field Stone is available in my June 21, 2006 post.

In the northern half of the Alexander Valley sits Stryker Sonoma (5110 Hwy. 128). This winery is best known for small lots of Bordeaux varietals and Zinfandel. The friendly tasting room staff will help you find the perfect wine to accompany your lunch. The picnic tables are just outside of the beautiful tasting room. Some tables are partially shaded, while others receive direct sunlight. So this may not be the best spot on the hottest of days. The rest of the year, you will enjoy your view of the nearby vineyards while eating your lunch and drinking a Stryker wine. Stryker is very close to the Jim Town Store (mentioned in my last post), where you can purchase your picnic supplies.

Two of my favorite picnic spots are both in the Dry Creek Valley - Lambert Bridge Winery and Passalacqua Winery. Both of these wineries have lovely picnic areas overlooking their gardens and the surrounding vineyards. Picnic tables are situated so you can sit in the sun or shade. I previously wrote about Passalacqua in my May 30, 2006. So you can check this post out for more details on this small winery.

Lambert Bridge is located at 4085 W. Dry Creek Road and sells its wine exclusively from the winery. If you want to taste Lambert Bridge's Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Viognier, Chardonnay, and other varietals, you will have to visit. If you visit on a weekend, I recommend tasting the reserve wines in the barrel room.

In the Russian River Valley, I recommend picnicking at either Arista Winery or Hop Kiln Winery. Arista has one of the most beautiful gardens in all of wine country. While tasting Arista's Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, you can sit in a formal Japanese garden and enjoy your lunch. The sound of the nearby waterfall only adds to the tranquility. Arista is located at 7015 Westside Road.

Hop Kiln Winery is, not surprisingly, located in an old hop kiln. Prior to Prohibition, hops were widely grown in both Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. At Hop Kiln you can have a lovely picnic beside the duck pond or in the old fig garden. Hop Kiln is located at 6050 Westside Road.

If you would like to take a private, custom wine country tour that includes a picnic at one of these lovely wineries, please call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Picnicking Along the Russian River Wine Rd. - Part I

Like my recent posts on the Napa Valley, I'll divide my recommendations for the Healdsburg area into two parts. This posting will feature places to pick up picnic supplies.

The town of Healdsburg is where the Russian River, Dry Creek, and Alexander Valleys meet. On the southeast corner of the plaza (Matheson and Center Streets) is a branch of the Oakville Grocery, which I wrote about in the first part of my Napa picnicking post. Like the original in Oakville, this outlet is an excellent place to buy cheeses, deli meats, sandwiches, and salads.

In the Alexander Valley, the Jimtown Store, has wonderful sandwiches that you can either eat at picnic tables in the back of the store or take with you to one of the wineries. The store is located on Route 128, just west of the intersection with Pine Flat Road.

Not as upscale at the Jimtown Store is the Dry Creek General Store at the intersection of Dry Creek and Lambert Bridge Roads. Here you can pick up good sandwiches to eat at the picnic tables out front or take with you to your next winery stop.

Unfortunately, the Russian River Valley does not have a place in the heart of the wine region to pick up supplies. If you are heading that way, you may want to stop at the Whole Foods Market at 6910 McKinley Street in Sebastopol to get your food before you head further north.

In the next post I will recommend some wineries with beautiful picnic areas. Meanwhile, if you would like to take a private wine country tour that includes a picnic in the Healdsburg area, please call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Old Vine Petite Sirah in the Alexander Valley

Field Stone Winery is one of my favorite wineries in the Alexander Valley. This small winery produces around 8,000 cases of wine per year and has a wide selection of varietals available. There is sure to be at least one wine to suit your taste.

My favorite white wine is Field stone's Viognier. The winery produces a very small quantity of this Rhone varietal and reserves most of each year's production for the winery's wine club. As a result, the wine is not often available for tasting. If it is, try it. If you are a Viognier fan and it is not being offered for tasting, ask if they have some for sale. You might be able to sneak a taste if they have an open bottle.

The Field Stone wine that really grabs me is their Petite Sirah. Produced from vines that are 109 years old, this luscious wine may be too big for those who like lighter reds. But it is a favorite of mine as well as of the Sonoma County Harvest Fair's judges, where it frequently wins a medal. If you want to see the gnarled vines that produce this luscious wine, ask in the tasting room if it is ok to walk behind the winery to visit the vineyard.

Not only is there a lot of good wine at Field Stone, but the tasting room staff is among the most hospitable and friendly in Northern California Wine Country. Nancy, Kevin, and the rest of the staff will welcome you to the winery. Field Stone is located at 10075 Hwy. 28, southeast of Healdsburg.

If you would like to take a private Wine Country tour that includes a visit to Field Stone, call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Fresh Seafood in Healdsburg

One of my favorite lunch spots in Healdsburg is Willi's Seafood and Raw Bar. This lively spot features small plates of fresh seafood, which are great for sharing. Their lobster and crab rolls are among the best in the Bay Area. They have tasty ceviches, skewers of grilled seafood, salads, fried oysters, and many other wonderful dishes. Accompany your meal with a local Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc and you will have a tasty lunch. You can dine either inside or on the patio in front of the restaurant.

Willi's is also open for dinner, so stop by in the evening if you are overnighting in Healdsburg.

Willi's is located at 403 Healdsburg Avenue, one block north of the Healdsburg Plaza. The phone number is (707) 433-9191.

If you would like to take a private, custom tour that includes a visit to Healdsburg and lunch at Willi's, make a reservation by calling (866) 326-4237 or e-mailing by clicking here.

Picnicking in the Dry Creek Valley

My favorite spot for picnicking in wine country is the terrace at Passalacqua Winery in the Dry Creek Valley. This small, family owned winery produces about 4,000 cases of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The terrace overlooks Passalacqua's neighbor's vineyards as well as the hills above the valley. Life doesn't get much better than enjoying a nice lunch with a good bottle of Passalacqua wine while gazing out over the lush vines on a warm, sunny day.

Before you start your lunch, be sure to taste Passalacqua's wines so you can purchase a glass or bottle to accompany your meal. The friendly staff will guide you through the full range of available wines.

Passalacqua is located at 3805 Lambert Bridge Road. The tasting room is open daily from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. You can pick up picnic supplies at the Oakville Grocery in nearby Healdsburg or at the Dry Creek Store, at the corner of Lambert Bridge and Dry Creek Roads, a half mile from the winery. As at all winery picnic areas, you may only consume wine purchased at the winery.

If you would like to take a custom wine tour that includes a visit to Passalacqua, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Garagista in Dry Creek Valley

The term garagista derives from a French term that is used to describe small producers of wine. I use it with affection to describe a few small wineries, one of which is Deux Amis Winery. Located in the Dry Creek Valley, Deux Amis specializes in Zinfandel and also produces some Petite Sirah. Deux Amis (two friends in French) is a partnership of Phyllis Zouzounis and Jim Penpraze. Founded in 1987, today the winery produces around 1,500 cases of wine.

I enjoy their wines so much that I am a member of their wine club. Thus, I can look forward to semiannual shipments of their delicious and well priced wines. If you would like to taste Deus Amis' wine, they are usually open to the public on Saturday afternoons or you can call for an appointment. There's nothing fancy about their tasting room, just a table amongst the barrels of aging wine in an unadorned warehouse. No spit buckets here, just dump any unwanted wine in the drain on the floor.

Deux Amis is located at 1960 Dry Creek Road, in the front of the building that houses Wilson Winery's tasting room. You can call (707) 431-7945 if you want to schedule an appointment to taste their wines. Better yet, let Blue Heron take you on a tour of the Dry Creek Valley. You can schedule a tour by calling (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mailing me by clicking here.

Lunch in the Russian River Valley

The Russian River Valley is home to wineries producing some of California's best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. I always recommend visiting this part of wine country to my guests who love Pinot. However, lunch options are limited.

Last week, I was invited to lunch at a wonderful restaurant on the east side of the Valley: John Ash & Co. Located in the Vintners Inn, John Ash features the best of California Cuisine. This restaurant was one of the first in northern Sonoma County to feature fine dining utilizing the freshest of ingredients. My group was treated to wonderful crab cakes and pork loin. Dessert options included the biggest piece of chocolate cake I have seen in many years and a tangy meyer lemon cheesecake. Vintners Inn is owned by the Carano family, who also own Ferrari-Carano Vineyards. So lunch was accompanied by three of their fine wines including their well-known Fume Blanc and a Black Muscat dessert wine that was too sweet for my taste, but loved by everyone else in my group. We enjoyed all of this great wine and food while gazing out at beautiful vineyards.

John Ash & Co. is located at 4350 Barnes Road, near the River Road exit off US 101. Reservations may be made by calling (707) 527-7687.

If you want to taste some great Pinot Noir and have lunch at John Ash, take one of my Hidden Vineyards Tours. Reservations may be made by calling (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mailing me by clicking here.

J Vineyards and Winery

Two weeks ago I had the special opportunity to lunch in the Bubble Room at J Vineyards and Winery. J is located in a beautiful facility at 11447 Old Redwood Highway, just south of Healdsburg. The winery was founded in 1986 by Judy Jordan, the daughter of Tom Jordan of Jordan Vineyard and Winery fame. Originally focusing on one wine - J Vintage Brut - today the winery produces sparkling wines, pinot noir, chardonnay, a delicious Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio in Italian) that I was privileged to taste, and other wines.

J offers food and wine pairings in its main tasting room for $12/person. If you want a more intimate and leisurely tasting experience, then make a reservation for a tasting in the Bubble Room. Here you may spend up to two hours tasting limited release wines. Chef Mark Caldwell prepares interesting and well thought out food pairings for each of the wines. Tasting in the Bubble Room costs approximately $30/person. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling 707-431-5430.

The wines and food change regularly, but you can be assured that whatever you taste at J will be wonderful.

If you would like to take a private, custom tour of the Russian River Valley that includes a visit to J, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Wonderful Food at the Madrona Manor

On Tuesday, I was treated to a delicious meal at the Madrona Manor, a stunning Victorian mansion outside of Healdsburg. The mansion was built in 1881 and today contains an inn and restaurant. Nine rooms, as well as the restaurant, are located in the main building and more rooms are located in out buildings.

We were expecting a five course meal with a different wine paired with each course, but chef Jesse Mallgren through in an extra appetizer, a sorbet to cleanse our palates, an extra desert, and a truffle to make sure we went to sleep with an appropriate sugar buzz. I particularly enjoyed the Alaskan Char,the Painted Hills beef filet, and the chocolate souffle. I am not a beef eater, but the filet was one of the tastiest and tenderest pieces of beef I have ever enjoyed.

The Madrona Manor is the perfect spot for a romantic weekend. The inn is located at 1001 Westside Road, just west of the charming town of Healdsburg. You can phone the inn at (800) 258-4003.

Beautiful Day In Wine Country

Yesterday I took a family to the Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys for a day of winetasting. What a gorgeous day it was. I've always said the most beautiful days are between winter storms, and yesterday proved that to be true. After our abundant rain, the hillsides are a lush green and the yellow mustard is blossoming in the vineyards. With the nearly cloudless blue sky and temperature in the 60s, it was a perfect day to visit wine country.

My guests visited seven wineries, tying the Blue Heron the record for most wineries visited in an eight-hour tour. Yet the day was not rushed. Being a Saturday, we visited one of my favorite small wineries. Deux Amis (two friends) is the perfect example of a great boutique winery. Winemaker Phyllis Zouzounis and co-owner Jim Penpraze produce about 1,500 cases of luscious, full-bodied Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. The winery and tasting room fit into a small warehouse at 1960 Dry Creek Road, outside of Healdsburg. When you stop by, not only will you get to taste great wine, but you'll always get to meet at least one of the owners. Yesterday, my guests met both Phyllis and Jim, tasted four great wines for free, and learned about winemaking as Phyllis topped off the barrels. Deux Amis is usually open on Saturday afternoons. If you want to visit at another time, call (707) 431-7945 to make an appointment.

If you would like to take a custom, private tour to visit Deux Amis and other wonderful boutique wineries, call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Two New Russian River Valley Tasting Rooms

I just returned from two days of drinking good wine and eating delicious food in the Russian River Valley. During my journeys I was introduced to two beautiful new tasting rooms.

Arista Winery was founded in 2002 and focuses on Pinot Noir. They also produce Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurtzraminer, and Zinfandel. The tasting room is in a beautiful Japanese-influenced building that is surrounded by formal gardens atop a hill, making this a perfect stop for a picnic. Arista is located at 7015 Westside Road, near Healdsburg. The tasting room is open Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday and Wednesday by appointment.

Lynmar Winery is older than Arista, having been founded in 1990, but its stunning hospitality center is brand new. Lynmar produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Your tasting experience includes wine and food pairings. On a nice day, you can enjoy your wine on the hospitality center patio and gaze out at the Quail Hill vineyard. The winery also has facilities for group meetings and luncheons. Lynmar is located at 3909 Frei Road, near Sebastopol. The hospitality center is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Russian River Valley is best known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. If you want to take a private tour of this beautiful part of wine country that includes visits to Arista and Lynmar Wineries, please call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.