Lunch in the Russian River Valley Update

If you want to spend your entire day tasting in the Russian River Valley, there are few options for lunch without heading to the towns of Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, or Sebastopol. However, in the heart of the Russian River Valley sits the small town of Graton. Here you can lunch at Willow Wood Market or Underwood Bar and Bistro.

The similarly named restaurants have the same owners but the food and ambience are different.  Willow Wood, which is my favorite, serves a variety of salads, hot sandwiches, and polentas.  At one time, the restaurant was a small part of a larger market, but today the restaurant and carry-out bar occupy the entire space.  You can also dine outside in the small garden behind the restaurant.  Willow Wood is open for lunch from 11:30 - 5:00, Monday - Saturday.  Brunch is served on Sunday from 11:00 - 3:00.

Under Wood is larger with bar in the front.  The lunch menu consists of tapas and small plates.  Lunch is served between 11:30 and 2:30, Tuesday - Sunday.  A similar menu is offered at the bar from 2:30 - 5:00.

If you are a Pinot Noir or Chardonnay fan, you'll definitely want to spend some time in the Russian River Valley.  Stop in Graton for lunch and you won't be disappointed.  If you would like to include a private tour of the Russian River Valley, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com. 

Criteria for Tasting Room Reviews

I've been commenting on tasting rooms for over 4 years now and thought I should provide a little background on how I come to talk about a particular winery or tasting room.

First, I only comment on tasting rooms or wineries that I have personally visited.  Half of the wineries in Napa and Sonoma are not open to the public.  Of those that welcome visitors either by advance appointment or by dropping in,  I have visited about 125 of Sonoma's 270 wineries and tasting rooms and 145 of Napa's 335 wineries and tasting rooms.  The vast majority of those I have yet to get to require an appointment to visit.

Second, I operate under the assumption that the wine is good at nearly all of the tasting rooms in Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Counties.  Not every winery has wine that is going to be to your or my taste but the wines are generally good.  There are many people far more qualified than me who review wines.  Besides visiting wine country to taste wine is more about the experience than the quality of the wine.

Third, I generally only post positive reviews.  I want to give my readers information on wineries and tasting rooms to seek out.  Most tasting rooms are neither good nor bad; they're much like every other tasting room.  However some tasting rooms are special and are worth visiting.  Many factors contribute to a positive review including friendly tasting room staff, unique architecture, good value, an opportunity to meet the owner and/or winemaker, pretty scenery, an unusual tasting experience, and/or an interesting tour.  On the rare occasion when I say something negative about a winery or tasting room, it's because I think the visitor is not getting a quality experience.

Fourth, I do not get compensated for my reviews.  Many guests on my tours ask if the wineries give me anything to thank me for bringing visitors to their tasting rooms.  At the end of the year, a couple wineries may give me a bottle or two, but that's it.  I've never received anything for a positive review other than an e-mail thanking me.

I hope this background is helpful.  Let me know what you think.

Sit Down, Relax, and Enjoy Some Wine

When you drop in to taste at a winery, you usually stand up at the counter.  Wineries do this to help with turnover and for space considerations.  It's rare to find a winery, that doesn't require an an appointment, where you can sit down and relax with your wine.  But there are some!

In Napa, the three French-owned sparkling wine producers all have tables where you can sit with your wine.  My favorite is Domaine Carneros, which has servers who take your order and then bring your wines, cheese, and/or caviar to you. The view of the rolling vineyards from Domaine Carneros' terrace is beautiful.  Mumm Napa Valley is also very nice.  It too has servers and a lovely view from the patio.  However, Mumm does not offer any food.  Domaine Chandon is my least favorite of the three While it has tables in its tasting room and offers some food, it does not have servers.  When you want to get your next glass of wine, you must get up and return to the tasting bar.  Plus the view from the patio is not as nice as the views at Domaine Carneros or Mumm Napa Valley.

Frog's Leap in Rutherford offers a tasting of four wines, accompanied by some cheese, nuts, and dried fruit on the terrace overlooking its organic gardens and vineyards.  This is one of the more pleasant spots to sit and taste wine.

Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville has a large table in the To Kalon Room, where you can sit while you taste Mondavi's reserve wines.  On a cold day, it's nice to taste your wine by the fireplace.

In the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, Lynmar Winery has tables in the tasting room, on the patio, and next to the garden.  You order at the counter, but the friendly staff will bring your Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and/or Syrah to your table.

There may be other wineries where you can sit down while you enjoy your wine, but either I am forgetting them or have not yet visited the tasting rooms.  If you know of any, please comment below.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour that includes some of these wineries, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com

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New Sonoma County IPhone Application

Yesterday, the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau released an application (app.) for the IPhone to help visitors to the county.  As soon as I found out this morning, I immediately downloaded it.  The coolest feature is the wine section where you can search the wineries by varietal (type of grape).  So next time you are in Kenwood in search of a Barbera, you can use the app. to find out which wineries produce one, their distances from your current location, and how to drive to each one.  For me this is the best feature in the app.

The app. also lets you find lodging, sorted by "Hotel/Motel/Lodge,"  "Inn/Bed & Breakfast," "RV/Camping,", and "Vacation Rentals."  This too is a helpful feature but the listing is not complete for the county.  I assume this is because some businesses choose not to be a member of the Bureau.

Other features include Breweries, spas, restaurants, museums, events, nightlife, and spas.  These you can sort alphabetically or by distance from your current location.  A great improvement for the next release would be to be able to sort the restaurants by cuisine.  To find the app., visit the IPhone Applications Store and select iVisit Sonoma County.

All in all, this is a great app. for wine lovers.  The tourism folks in Sonoma County really do a terrific job, whether they work for the Tourism Bureau, the Wine Road Northern Sonoma County, or the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau.  Their neighbors to the east could learn something!

If you want to take a private tour of Sonoma County wine country, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Special Events in Wine Country

Nary a week goes by without individual wineries or groups of wineries having special events to entice folks to visit.  It's hard to keep track of all of the festivals, special tastings, and food pairings being offered.  Some of the more fun events are offered by the associations that represent wineries in particular regions.

The Wine Road Northern Sonoma County represents the wineries in the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valleys of Sonoma County.  Its website has a good listing of events in this part of wine country.  The Wine Road offers three major events each year, Winter Wineland (1/16 & 17), Barrel Tasting (3/6, 7, 13, & 14), and A Wine and Food Affair (11/6 & 7).  In addition, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley offers Passport to Dry Creek Valley on April 24 and 25.  Russian River Valley Winegrowers has its annual Grape to Glass on August 20 - 22.  Finally, the Alexander Valley Winegrowers has an annual Taste of the Alexander Valley, usually during the first weekend in June.  (2010 dates have yet to be announced.)

The Anderson Valley Winegrowers has two annual events.  The first is the International Alsace Varietals Festival on February 20 and 21.  Later in the year, they celebrate Pinot Noir at the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival from May 14 to 16.

The Lodi Wine and Visitor Center sponsors a Wine and Chocolate Weekend on February 13 and 14 and celebrates Zinfandel at the ZinFest from May 14 to 16.

The 20th annual Savor Sonoma Valley is being held on March 20 and 21 by the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance.  The Alliance also sponsors Passport to Sonoma Valley on May 15 and 16, 2010.

Hospitality de Los Carneros offers two events each year:  April in Carneros on April 17 and 18 and Holidays in Carneros on November 20 and 21.

The wineries along the Silverado Trail in the Napa Valley have their own association, the Silverado Trail Wineries Association, which sponsors an annual Silver Pass Weekend.  The 2010 date has yet to be announced.

This is just a small sample of wine-related events in Northern California.  Monterey wineries sponsor events, as do those in Paso Robles and the Sierra Foothills.  It's tough to keep track of all the fun things to do in wine country.  The best resource I have found is Local Wine Events.  Visit the website for listings of wine events throughout the country.  You can also subscribe to the free, weekly newsletter of events in the regions of your choice.

If you would like to have a private tour of wine country during one of these events, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Coffee in Wine Country

Sometimes a cup of coffee hits the spot in wine country. Fortunately, there are a few options for getting a good cup of Joe or an espresso drink.

In the Napa Valley, you can visit the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company at 948 Main St. in Napa or 1400 Oak Ave. in St. Helena. Good coffee is also available from the Calistoga Roastery at 1426 Lincoln Ave. in Calistoga. Two gourmet groceries also serve good coffee: Dean & DeLuca at 600 S. St. Helena Hwy. (Hwy 29 just south of St. Helena) and Oakville Grocery (corner of Hwy 29 and Oakville Cross in Oakville). Lastly, the Yountville Coffee Caboose opened a few months ago and serves a good cup of hot java and all the regular espresso drinks from the caboose just south of the V 1870 shopping center (6523 Washington St.)

In Sonoma County, Flying Goat Coffee serves excellent coffee from three locations: 324 & 419 Center St. in Healdsburg and 10 Fourth St. in Santa Rosa. The Santa Rosa location is in historic Railroad Square and has the best pastry selection.

In Graton, which is in the heart of the Russian River Valley, you can get coffee to go at Willow Wood Market.

In the town of Sonoma, Barking Dog Roasters is located just off the plaza at 201 West Napa St. Sunflower Caffe on the west side of the plaza (421 1st St. West) also serves good coffee and espresso drinks. If you're further up the Sonoma Valley, you can get coffee to go at the Glen Ellen Village Market, in the center of town at 13751 Arnold Dr.

When you take a private wine country tour with Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel, you can stop for coffee at any time. For more information, phone (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or send an e-mail message by clicking here.

Blue Heron Custom Tours Featured on "Wine Time with Tracy"

Check my friend Tracy Logan-Immordino's blog, "Wine Time with Tracy," to learn about our recent tour of the Alexander Valley with concierges from some of San Francisco's best hotels. Look at the December 1 posting entitled "Holidays Along Wine Road." (I'm the guy with the beard on the far left of the photo. Tracy's to my right in the red jacket.)

The Wine Road Northern Sonoma County is an association of wineries and inns in and near the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valleys. It publishes the best wine country map in Northern California. If you like small, family-run wineries that produce great wine, then you'll want to visit the Wine Road. If you like friendly inns, bed and breakfasts, and hotels, then stay at one of their members. For more information visit www.wineroad.com.

Better yet, take a private tour of the Wine Road that is customized to your tastes and interests and wine. For more information contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or at Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Best Sonoma County Restaurants - 2009/2010

The new "Zagat 2010 Bay Area Restaurants" and "The Michelin Guide San Francisco, Bay Area, and Wine Country Restaurants 2010" were recently released. Here's an update on the critics' favorite restaurants in the Sonoma County.

The only restaurant Michelin awarded three stars was The French Laundry in the Napa Valley. Michelin awarded two stars to four Bay Area restaurants with Cyrus in Healdsburg being the only Sonoma County recipient. Thirty-four restaurants received one star. The Sonoma County recipients are Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant in Forestville, Madrona Manor in Healdsburg, and Sante in Sonoma city.

Only 1 of the 25 most popular Bay Area restaurants according to Zagat is in Sonoma County: Cyrus. Not one other restaurant in Sonoma County made Zagat's most popular list.

The top rated restaurants for food in Sonoma County according to Zagat are Cyrus (29 points), Applewood Inn and Restaurant in Guerneville (27 points), and Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant (26 points).

"The San Francisco Chronicle's" top rating is four stars, which were awarded to one Sonoma County restaurant: Cyrus. Three Sonoma County restaurants received 3.5 stars: Madrona Manor, Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant, and Dry Creek Kitchen (Healsburg). Eight restaurants are the recipients of three stars.

Lunchtime on my tours in Sonoma County usually finds my guests in either Healdsburg or the town of Sonoma. My favorite lunch spot in Healdsburg is Willi's Seafood, which features small plates of the freshest seafood. In Sonoma city, I recommend The Girl and the Fig for French influenced California food and Della Santina's for Italian cuisine. If you would like to take a private tour in Sonoma County that includes a meal at one of these great restaurants, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Wine Clubs

When visiting wineries, many of my guests are invited to join the winery's wine club. Few tasters have heard of such clubs prior to their first time winetasting. Most winery's have wine clubs as they provide the winery with a steady source of customers. Small wineries, in particular, are dependent on successful wine clubs in order to stay in business.

The clubs vary slightly but usually do not require a fee to join. Most clubs send their members one case (12 bottles) of wine per year. Some wineries ship two bottles six times per year, others three bottles four times per year, still others four bottle three times a year, and many send six bottles twice a year. Some clubs let you pick the wines you want; others send you a mix of wines selected by the winery. Most wineries include wines in their club shipments that are not available to the general public. Most clubs give you a discount on the wine. The savings on the wine may cover the cost of shipping. If you join the club, most wineries will give you an immediate discount on purchases while you are visiting the winery and will waive your tasting fees. In return you agree to receive a minimum of one or two shipments. After receiving the minimum, you can usually cancel at any time. Most clubs offer discounts on all wine purchases. Many wine clubs have special parties and events for members.

I am a member of three wine clubs and think they are good deal in certain circumstances. The first issue to consider is whether you like the winemaker's style and the variety of wines produced by the winery. If the winery produces six different types of wine and you only like the Cab, the wine club is probably not for you.

Another issue is whether your drinking will keep up with the wine you receive. Be careful about joining too many clubs. If you end up with too much wine that cannot be stored properly, you could end up with a lot of spoiled wine.

Be sure you have your wine sent to an address where someone 21 or over will be physically present to sign for the wine. FedEx and UPS will not just leave the wine on your porch or give you a note to sign. The shippers are required to hand the wine to someone who is of legal age. The best bet is to ship the wine to your business, provided you trust your receptionist not to drink the wine.

I think receiving six bottles twice a year is far better than receiving two bottles six time per year. The fewer shipments, the more you save on shipping. Also, make sure the club does not ship during your hot weather months. You don't want your wine cooking in the shipper's truck as it travels through Arizona in the summer. Most wineries do not ship to club members in the summer but a few do. If you are scheduled to receive a shipment when it's still hot, ask the winery to hold the wine until cooler weather arrives. Most are glad to do so.

A few wineries push their clubs pretty hard. Most use a soft sell. Some don't mention their club unless asked. When you visit a winery, you are under no obligation to join the club or to buy any wine. Only join the club if you will enjoy getting the regular shipments of wine. If you do join the club, have fun. It's fun to get good wine that you won't find in your local wine shop.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

2009 Harvest is Underway

We're now approaching the end of the 2nd week of harvesting in Sonoma and Napa Counties. The first winery to harvest appears to have been Gloria Ferrer, which picked some grapes in the Sonoma Valley on August 10.

The principal grapes being picked now are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for sparkling wine, a little Pinot Noir for still wine, and Sauvignon Blanc. Harvest seems to be running about a week behind last year. While weather is unpredictable, harvest is likely to run through the end of October. Usually Cabernet is the last grape to be picked.

Harvest is a fun time to visit wine country as good smells abound, sweet grapes can be sampled, and the wineries are abuzz with activity. As a result, September and October see many tourists in wine country especially on Saturdays -- the busiest day of the week. If you must winetaste on a Saturday, visit wineries that require advance appointments as they tend to be less crowded.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour and avoid some of the crowds, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or at Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Northern California: An Explorer's Guide

This new guidebook, written by San Francisco resident, Michele Bigley, was just released on June 1. It's a great resource for travel in San Francisco, the Bay Area, and all of Northern California - from Big Sur to the Oregon border.

Here's what Michele had to say about Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel, "A wealth of knowledge, Rick takes folks on customized tours of the Bay Area, Wine Country, Central Coast, Mendocino, and even the Sierra Foothills. You tell him what you want and he'll create the ideal trip. He knows more about wine and food than most."

Many thanks to Michelle for the nice review. If you're planning a trip to San Francisco, you can pick up "Northern California: An Explorer's Guide" at most good bookstores.

If you'd like to take a tour with a guide who "knows more about wine and food than most," please phone me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me at Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Wineries with Gardens

Yesterday, a guest inquired about visiting wineries with beautiful gardens. I hadn't really thought about this but, after a little thought, my top three recommendations were Matanzas Creek, Ferrari Carano, and Kendall Jackson's Wine Center; all in Sonoma County.

Matanzas Creek lies east of the city of Santa Rosa in Bennett Valley. The winery is surrounded by a spectacular lavender garden. If you visit in June, when the flowers are usually at their peak, you will see hillsides covered in purple flowers surrounded by native grasses and olive trees. Matanzas Creek is located a fair distance from other wineries, so you have to make it a destination. If you enjoy beautiful lavender, you will not be disappointed. The winery is open for tasting daily from 10:00 to 4:30. Tours are available by prior appointment at 10:30 and 2:30 from Monday through Friday and at 10:30 on Saturday.

Ferrari Carano is located at the northern end of Dry Creek Valley. Formal French/Italian gardens surround Villa Fiore, the winery's visitor center. When you arrive at the winery, you can stroll along the paths and bridges among the more than 2,000 species of plants in this very sculptured garden. The garden includes over 10,000 tulips and daffodils. If you phone (707) 433-5349 in the late winter/early spring, you can find out if the flowers are at their peak. Ferrari Carano is open daily from 10:00 to 5:00 for tasting. Tours are offered by prior appointment at 10:00 from Monday through Saturday. Appointments may also be made for private tastings for groups of six or fewer from Monday through Saturday.

Kendall Jackson's Wine Center is located in Fulton, between Santa Rosa and Healdsburg. The tasting room is surrounded by culinary and sensory gardens. The sensory gardens are divided into sections containing flavors found in the various wines produced by Kendall Jackson. The Red Wine Sensory Garden has sections devoted to Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Cabernet, and other red varietals. The White Wine Sensory Garden includes sections featuring Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and other wines. The Culinary Gardens include a variety of vegetables and hers. Complimentary tours of the gardens are offered daily at 11:00, 1:00, and 3:00, weather permitting. There's not much to see during the winter months, so try to visit between March and October. The tasting room is open daily from 10:00 to 5:00.

Other wineries have pretty gardens, but these three are at the top of my list. If you would like to take a private wine country tour that includes visits to these wineries, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Casual Lunch in the Russian River Valley

Graton is a small town in the heart of the Russian River Valley. Its business district is one block long but houses two nice, casual restaurants for lunch: Willow Wood Market and Underwood Bar and Bistro. The similar names are no coincidence; the restaurants have the same owner.

Both are good, but I prefer Willow Wood. I like both the atmosphere and food a little better at Willow Wood. I also like the option of dining outside. Willow Wood's lunch menu features a number of excellent salads, sandwiches, and dishes featuring polenta. My favorites are the smoked trout salad and roast pork tenderloin sandwich. On Sundays, Willow Wood also serves brunch, with a menu that includes many egg dishes. Willowwood Market serves lunch from Monday to Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. On Sundays, brunch is served from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Underwood's menu is a little more substantial than Willow Wood's. The lunch menu includes a selection of oysters, salads, sandwiches, fish and pasta selections, and other hearty dishes. Underwood is open for lunch from Wednesday to Sunday from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

Nearby wineries include Lynmar, Iron Horse, and Dutton Estate Sebastopol Vineyards.

If you would like to take a private tour of the Russian River Valley that includes lunch at Willow Wood Mark or Underwood Bar and Bistro, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel by calling (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or by clicking here.

Bubbly in Sonoma County

The Russian River Valley is the place for sparkling wine in Sonoma County. This wine region produces world class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, two of the three grapes used in Champagne. (The other is Pinot Meunier.)

The three principal producers of sparkling wine in the Russian River Valley are Iron Horse Vineyards, J Vineyards and Winery, and Korbel. All three are well worth visiting.

Iron Horse has a simple, outdoor tasting area atop a hill covered with vineyards. Tasting bubbly on a sunny day while gazing out over the rolling hills of vineyards is an only-in-California experience. Don't expect any fancy dump buckets here. Just throw whatever you don't want to drink onto the grass. The winery offers flights of still or sparkling wines at various prices from 10:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Tours are offered by prior appointments on weekdays. Iron Horse can get crowded on weekends, so try to visit on a weekday when you will get more personal attention.

J Winery provides a nice contrast to Iron Horse. The tasting is much more upscale looking. A flight of four still and sparkling wines is offered daily. In addition, J recently started a tasting of their small-production wines in their main tasting room. For a special experience, visit the Bubble Room on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. With a prior appointment, you can taste J's white, red, and/or sparkling wine paired with delicious foods.

Korbel is the westernmost tasting room in the Russian River Valley. It's not near other wineries, so make sure you want to invest the driving time to get to Korbel. When you arrive, you'll find beautiful brick buildings, a nice cafe with indoor and outside dining, a large gift shop, and more types of sparkling wine than any other producer in Sonoma or Napa County. Korbel also offers regularly scheduled tours.

Carneros, which lies in both Napa and Sonoma Counties, also produces excellent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Gloria Ferrer, the American outpost of the Catalan cava house - Freixenet, produces high quality bubbly in the Sonoma side of Carneros. The tasting is pretty simple at Gloria Ferrer. Walk up to the counter, order a glass of bubbly, and take it to a table in the tasting room or on the terrace overlooking the vineyards. Gloria Ferrer offers tours, but call first to make sure they will be offered on the day you plan to visit.

If you would like to take a private tour of Sonoma County's sparkling wine producers, please feel free to call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Dining at a Winery

Most visitors to wine country are surprised to learn that it is nearly impossible to dine at a winery. To protect the agricultural nature of Sonoma and Napa Counties, the areas outside of the towns and cities are zoned agricultural. As a result, restaurants are prohibited in the agricultural parts of the counties.

Some wineries do wine and cheese pairings. V.Sattui, in the Napa Valley, has a delicatessen where you can pick up food to take to the winery's picnic area. However, in Napa County, only one winery has a full restaurant.

Domaine Chandon has had a restaurant since its visitor center opened in 1977. Its restaurant was allowed to continue when the zoning restrictions where enacted. Etoile serves upscale California/French cuisine in a refined dining room. On a nice day, enjoy the garden view while lunching on their terrace. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from Thursday - Monday, except in November in December when it is open from Thursday - Sunday and in January when the restaurant is closed.

Only two wineries have restaurant permits in Sonoma County. Francis Ford Coppola bought the old Chateau Souverain winery a few years ago. Along with the winery came a restaurant permit. The winery is now Rosso and Bianco, where Coppola produces his mid-priced wines. When Coppola took over ownership, he started serving very good Italian food in the winery's restaurant. Unfortunately, the restaurant, still unnamed, is closed for remodeling. Hopefully, when the restaurant reopens, the food still will be good and diners will once again be able to enjoy a meal on the terrace overlooking the vineyards.

In the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, the old Topolos winery had a restaurant. The winery, along with the restaurant, closed a few years ago. The property was sold and is now called Russian River Vineyards. The tasting room is open, but the restaurant has not yet reopened.

Many wineries have permits for private events. If you are coming to wine country with a large group, you can arrange a private meal at many wineries, some of which have spectacular settings.

If you want recommendations for wineries to host your private meal or wish to take a private tour of wine country, please feel free to call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Cozy Winery in the Russian River Valley

It was cold outside. When my group walked into the tasting room at C. Donatiello Winery they immediately gravitated to the leather chairs in front of the fire place. They would have been content to just stare at the fire, but Pinot Noir and Chardonnay awaited them.

C. Donatiello is a lovely new winery on Westside Road, southwest of Healdsburg, in the Russian River Valley. The winery focuses on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the grapes that made the Russian River Valley famous. Not only can you taste an array of wines in the cozy tasting room, but you can also stroll through the surrounding organic aroma gardens. Plants in the garden represent the flavors and aromas associated with Pinot and Chardonnay.

During the summer, C. Donatiello hosts a number of events, including concerts by well-known musicians. You can here the likes of Booker T. Jones while picnicking on the terrace next to the aroma garden. Space is extremely limited, so check the winery's website for a list of upcoming events.

The tasting room is open daily from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

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

Winetasting During the Holidays

Many tasting rooms operate on different schedules during the weeks of Christmas and New Year's. If you are planning on doing some winetasting in Northern California during the holidays, you might want to call your favorite wineries in advance to make sure their tasting rooms will be open. If that's too much work, here's some general guidance.

Most wineries will open and close at their regular times each day from December 21 through January 3, except on December 24, 25, and 31 and on January 1. A few of the small wineries will close for a few days during this period.

Most wineries will close early on Christmas Eve and a few will be closed entirely. After 2:00 p.m., there are very few tasting rooms open on December 24. Wineries also may decide to close earlier than planned if business is slow.

All tasting rooms are closed on Christmas Day.

Most wineries will close early on New Year's Eve; although some will stay open until their regular closing times. After 2:00 p.m., definitely call prior to visiting a tasting room to see if it is open.

Only a handful of wineries are open on New Year's Day. I know that Nicholson Ranch near Carneros and V. Sattui in Napa are open, but I am sure there are a few more. Phone ahead of your visit to confirm if the tasting room will be open.

If you would like to take a private wine country during the holidays or in 2009, please feel free to phone me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here. Blue Heron will be closed on both Christmas and New Year's Day.

2 for 1 in the Russian River Valley

One tasting room, two wineries. That's what you'll find when you visit Balletto Winery and Dutton-Goldfield Winery.

John Balletto has been farming for over 30 years; first vegetables and now grapes. In 2001, the family began making Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from grapes they grew. Since then, they have expanded their vineyards to approximately 400 acres and added Zinfandel, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, and Syrah to their portfolio of wines. The family continues to sell most of their grapes to some of the area's top wineries.

Dutton-Goldfield Winery makes wine at Balletto Winery and pours their wines in the same tasting room. The winery was founded in 1998 by Steve Dutton and Dan Goldfield. Steve and his family manage over 1,000 acres of vineyard. Dan's passion is Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which he first made at La Crema and then at Hartford Court, before moving on to Dutton-Goldfield.

When you visit the Balletto and Dutton-Goldfield Tasting Room, you will be able to sample current releases from both of these small producers. Friendly staff will guide you through one or both winery's wines. The tasting room is located at 5700 Occidental Road, just west of Santa Rosa and is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

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

Indoor and Outdoor Tasting at Lynmar

If you enjoy Pinot Noir and/or Chardonnay, I recommend visiting Lynmar Estate in the Russian River Valley. The winery had a tasting room in Graton for a number of years, but moved into a stunning new home on the estate a few years ago.

When you approach the tasting room, note the creek that seems to magically disappear. You'll then enter a modern salon with high ceilings and a tasting bar at the far end. You are welcome to stand at the bar while you taste, but outdoor, seated tastings are offered on nice days. Two tastings are available: an Estate Tasting for $10/person and a Reserve Tasting for $25/person. Both include tastes of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. On Thursdays - Sundays, with 48 hours advance notice, you can have food pairings with your wine. Sipping wine while gazing at the Quail Hill Vineyard on a sunny day is a pleasant way to spend an hour.

Lynmar is also a great venue for special events and private luncheons. I've tasted chef Sandra Simile's work a couple of times and enjoyed her meals immensely.

Lynmar is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. If you would like to take a private tour of the Russian River Valley that includes a stop at Lynmar, please phone me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Food and Lodging in the Russian River Valley

One of my favorite restaurants is outside the small town of Forestville in the Russian River Valley. The Farmhouse Inn is a Michelin one-star restaurant serving excellent California cuisine. I have eaten at the Farmhouse a few times and the meals have always been superb. Of course I am a sucker for a good cheese course, and the Farmhouse Inn has one. You'll probably want some wine with your meal and you are sure to find something tasty on the restaurant's 20-page wine list. The restaurant is open for dinner from Thursday through Monday.

After your scrumptious dinner, you probably won't want to drive far to go home or to your hotel room. The Farmhouse solves that problem for you. Just walk across the driveway and spend the night (or two) in one of the Inn's well-appointed cottages. All of the rooms have queen or king beds. Many have fireplaces. Some rooms have jacuzzi tubs or saunas. There's no TV reception at the Farmhouse, but rooms are equipped with DVD players and flat-screen TVs. Bring your own discs or borrow some from the inn's library.

Even though you will go to sleep feeling well sated from dinner, you will probably wake up ready for some breakfast. That's no problem as a delicious country breakfast is included with the price of your room.

Lodging prices vary depending on the season and day of the week. During summer and fall try to reserve your room and/or dinner well in advance to avoid being disappointed.

Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel can pick you up at the Farmhouse to take you on a tour of the Russian River Valley and other nearby wine regions. To book a tour, call me toll free at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Zin and Syrah in the Russian River Valley

This past weekend I had a chance to take guests to one of my favorite little wineries -- Limerick Lane. This small, family-run winery features Zinfandel (red, not pink) and Syrah. Currently they produce four Zins, a Syrah, and their signature 1023 - a blend of Zin and Syrah. (1023 is the winery's address.) All of the wines come from the winery's vineyards, making Limerick Lane an estate winery.

But what makes Limerick Lane special is the laid back feeling and knowing that this is a real winery supporting local families; not just one of dozens of wineries in a big corporation's portfolio. Because the winery is small, they frequently sell out of wine. Thus, you are unlikely to be able to taste all of their wines during your visit. For example, 1023 is released in December and is usually sold out by early March.

This past weekend, my guests were able to taste Limerick Lane's Late Harvest Furmint. I had never heard of this grape and learned that it is a Hungarian varietal. Limerick Lane may be the only winery in the U.S. producing wine from Furmint. In addition to the Late Harvest Furmint, the winery produces a dry Furmint, but is currently sold out of this wine.

Limerick Lane's tasting room is located at 1023 Limerick Lane and is open daily from 10:00 - 5:00.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour that includes a visit to Limerick Lane, please call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Friendly French Cafe in Occidental

Last February I wrote about the small town of Occidental in the Russian River Valley and the Inn at Occidental. At that time, I did not have the opportunity to dine at the well-regarded Bistro des Copains. So on a recent overnight in Bodega Bay, I decided to drive the 30 minutes to check out this restaurant.

It was a typical winter's night in Occidental. The rain was pouring and the winds were blowing. When we entered the cozy restaurant, we were warmly greeted by owner, Michel Augsburger. We had many tables to chose from as not many folks were venturing out on this wet, chilly Monday night. We selected a window seat and decided on a red wine to help ward off the cold. While we were in California's wine country, Michel helped us select a French red to accompany the Provencal cuisine.

The bistro offers a very reasonably priced three-course tasting menu that changes daily. Since cassoulet - one of my favorites - was featured, my choice was easy. My wife opted for a salad and a thin-crust pizza. The food was good and the service casual and friendly. I definitely recommend dining at Bistro des Copains if you find yourself in West Sonoma.

I'd be happy to help you plan a vacation that includes a visit to the Russian River Valley or the Sonoma Coast. Just call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Zin and Gewürzt in the Russian River Valley

Twice I have had the opportunity to take folks to Harvest Moon Estate and Winery in the Russian River Valley. This small tasting room features friendly staff and good wine.

Harvest Moon is owned by Bob and Ginny Pitts. On my recent, visit their son and Harvest Moon's winemaker, Randy Pitts, stopped by the tasting room, talked about his philosophy of making wine, and poured my guests some of his limited production Pinot Noir.

As you approach the tasting room, you are likely to be greeted by the Pitts' friendly dog. You'll then see the small production facilities off to your right. Harvest Moon only makes around 2,000 cases of wine so they don't need a lot of equipment.

Harvest Moon produces three different Zinfandels, a still and sparkling Gewürztraminer, a Late Harvest Zin, Pinot, and Cab. Not all of the wines are available for tasting, but you should be able to taste some Zin and Gewürzt when you stop by. When we visited, the winery was pouring its 2007 Early Harvest Gewürztraminer, the first wine I've seen from this year's harvest. My guests also tasted a barrel sample of Harvest Moon's Late Harvest Zinfandel.

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

The Tasting Room Experience - Part II

A couple of weeks ago I commented on how an unfriendly staff person can ruin the tasting room experience. This past week I saw this issue again, but this time the result was a much improved tasting experience.

Last week, some guests wanted to visit Hartford Family Winery in the Russian River Valley. I had avoided taking guests to this winery because of two bad experiences I had around the time Blue Heron first opened. On both occasions I was served by the same man and both times found him to be an unbearable snob. As a result, I never took folks to taste at Hartford.

Over the past few months, one of the staff at De Loach Vineyards encouraged me to give Hartford another try. So, when my guests requested a visit to Hartford, I was pleased to have the opportunity to see if new staff would improve the tasting experience. I am happy to say that the tasting experience was excellent. The staff member who served us was friendly and knowledgeable about Hartford's single-vineyard Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Plus the visitor center is located in a pretty building surrounded by lovely vineyards. I will definitely add Hartford to my list of tasting rooms to visit.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour that includes visits to Hartford Family Winery and/or De Loach Vineyards, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Pinot and Zin in the Russian River Valley

While the Russian River Valley is best known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, there are some excellent Zinfandels produced in the eastern end of the Valley. If you enjoy Pinot Noir and/or Zinfandel, I highly recommend visiting DeLoach Vineyards.

DeLoach started making wine over 30 years ago. Some of its wines receive fairly wide distribution, but a trip to the winery will enable you to taste some small lot Pinot, Zin and Chardonnay. DeLoach offers two tastings. The Russian River Valley Appellation includes 5 tastes for $5 and the OFS and Vineyard-Designate Tasting costs $10 for 5 tastes. I recommend the latter tasting as it enables you to taste some of DeLoach's smaller production wines. The friendly and knowledgeable tasting room staff usually are not sticklers for the five-taste limit. One tasting fee is refunded for each bottle purchased.

If you plan ahead of time, you can schedule a tour of the winery and learn more about their move to biodynamic farming. Eric, the tasting room manager, will likely lead your tour. His wit and knowledge will ensure that you have an enjoyable hour.

If you would like to take a private, wine country tour that includes a visit to DeLoach Vineyards, please call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Private Tastings for Pinot Lovers

Two excellent producers of Pinot Noir in the Russian River Valley offer private tastings for visitors. Merry Edwards, a small but very well regarded producer of Pinot, offers "Taste with Ron." Twenty years ago Ron worked with Merry Edwards as cellar master at Merry Vintners Winery. Today, Ron offers private tastings in the company's offices in Windsor. You will not get to see the winery, but you will spend an hour with Ron as he walks you through some of Merry Edwards' current releases. Ron conducts tastings from Tuesday through Sunday at 9:30, 11:00, 1:00, 2:30 and 4:00. You can make an appointment with Ron by calling (888) 388-9050, ext. 31. When you book a tasting, Ron will send you a map to the hard-to-find tasting room. There is no charge for the tasting.

Another long-time producer of excellent Pinot Noir is Gary Farrell Winery. While Farrell recently left the winery, you will still taste wines produced under his supervision if you visit in the near future. You are welcome to just stop by the tasting room to taste Farrell's current releases. However, you can have a more intimate experience with their private tasting. You will get a tour of the winery and enjoy some cheese while you taste. To book a private tour, call (707) 473-2900. The winery is located at 10701 Westside Road, outside of Healdsburg.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour focusing on Pinot Noir that includes visits to Merry Edwards and/or Gary Farrell, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Santa Rosa Garagista

I've used the term garagista in previous posts to describe small wineries that operate in facilities that are slightly larger than a garage. Siduri and Novy Family Wines of Santa Rosa can be called a large garagista as their wines are produced in a pretty good sized warehouse.

Siduri is a small Pinot Noir producer that sources grapes from throughout California and from Oregon. Tucked away in an office park not far from the airport in Santa Rosa, Siduri produces some of the most highly regarded Pinot in the state. The same warehouse facility is used to produce Novy Family Wines. Novy makes wine from Rhone and other varietals.

Siduri is owned by Adam and Dianna Lee. Novy Family is a partnership of Adam, Dianna, and other members of Dianna's family.

A visit to the Siduri/Novy Family warehouse lasts about an hour. You'll sample wines from both wineries, tour the warehouse, and learn a bit about the challenges of being a small producer. If you are willing to forgo the agricultural setting of many tasting rooms and take yourself to an industrial park, you will not be disappointed. The wine is good and the tasting experience is entertaining and informative.

If you would like to include a visit to Siduri/Novy Family on a private tour of the Russian River Valley, I would be pleased to make the arrangements for you. Feel free to call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Sparkling Wine with a View

Standing on a hill top, tasting sparkling wine, and gazing out over the Russian River and Green Valleys is a nice way to spend some of your time in wine country.

Iron Horse Vineyards is a family-owned, estate winery that produces both sparkling and still wines; although, it is better known for its sparkling wines. The winery is located in the Green Valley AVA (American Viticulture Area), a wine region that is surrounded by the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County.

To visit Iron Horse, you will travel down the narrow Ross Station Road near Forestville and then climb to the top of a hill. Here you will find an outdoor tasting room that affords views of the nearby valley vineyards and distant Mt. St. Helena. The tasting area is nothing fancy, just some wood planks on top of old wine barrels. Supposedly three distinct flights of wine are offered: a sparkling wine flight, a regular flight of still wines, and a reserve flight of still wines. However, on my recent visits, the staff poured generously from all three flights and failed to collect the tasting fees when wines were purchased. Since pours are generous and you are likely to taste many wines, you might want to share your tasting with a companion.

Iron Horse is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. The winery is located at the end of Ross Station Road, which is a small road that intersects CA 116 between Sebastopol and Forestville. If you don't want to hassle finding Iron Horse, take a private, wine country tour. For more information, call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Lovely Russian River Valley Inn

In the southwest corner of the Russian River lies the village of Occidental. At one time, logging was the principal industry in this part of Sonoma County. Redwood trees were felled to meet the demand for lumber in booming San Francisco. The trains came to Occidental to pick up lumber for transport back to the city.

Eventually paved roads spread out to Occidental and other logging towns and the railroads died. Today, Californians want to preserve redwoods and logging is greatly restricted. As a result, Occidental is now a sleepy town with a downtown that stretches to fill two blocks. Its location not too far from the wineries of the Russian River and the beautiful coastline makes Occidental a wonderful spot to spend a couple days.

If you do venture to Occidental, the perfect place to call home is the Inn at Occidental. Each of the 16 rooms at suites at the inn have a unique themed. I stayed in the Wine Country Room, which came with wine bottles and collections of cork screws and bottle openers. My favorite themes were in the Safari Room and Marbles Suite. Regardless of the room you choose, you will have a large, comfortable place to call home during your stay in Occidental. The inn's owners and hosts, Tina and Jerry Wolsborn, will make sure that you have a comfortable stay. They will help direct you to nearby attractions and make sure that you are well fed. Your room comes with breakfast and an afternoon wine hour.

Relaxing at the Inn at Occidental is a great cure for the rush of modern life. Occidental has no cell phone service, so you will not be interrupted with pesky annoyances.

If you want to take a vacation that includes a stay at the Inn at Occidental, I would be pleased to help plan your visit. Feel free to contact 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.

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.

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.