Sonoma County is best known as a wine destination. Here’s a smattering of wineries we visited on a trip hosted by Jordan Winery.
Jordan Winery
WINERIES WORTH VISITING
Jordan Winery is both wild and refined. During our visit to this storied winery that’s been in business since 1972, we saw a coyote, birds, turkeys and donkeys on the nearly 1,200-acre property. Roughly two-thirds of the land is open and wild. The main building you’ll spot not long after you drive up the winding road leading to Jordan was modeled after French chateaus in Bordeaux. The 58,000-squarefoot elegant chateau came complete with ivy-covered yellow walls, fountains and quaint patios where you can enjoy expansive views of the area’s green and rolling hills. Expect top-notch hospitality. We stayed on property in a stunning guest house where we were served a fresh breakfast daily. A spectacular bouquet was waiting for us on the counter. During our visit, we enjoyed a hike through the vineyard. We loved seeing and tasting the grapes straight from the vine. The property is gorgeous, and you’ll truly appreciate how expansive it is when you traverse it on foot. We got to see the winery’s olive trees – Jordan makes splendid olive oils too – and on-site farm. Plucking and tasting fruit straight off the tree is an experience you need to have. If you drop the fruit, feed it to the hungry donkeys nearby.
Lambert Bridge Winery
During our stay, Jordan was offering an outdoor dining experience. We tried Jordan’s signature wines along with some delicious fresh California cheeses, meats and salted focaccia bread that we could not stop eating. Jordan is known for its chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon. Wines are made by Maggie Kruse with a European style that’s known for emphasizing the wine’s fruit and acidity. We fell hard for the cabernet. We took home a bottle of the 2010 Cab and are saving it for a special occasion. This blend is a complex, palette-pleasing experience that we wish would last forever.
Lambert Bridge Winery
DaVero Farms & Winery is a biodynamic winery that uses Old World techniques to grow all the grapes and produce. The winery doesn’t use any chemicals or pesticides. Expect lush greenery and many different animals (we saw piglets and a cat) throughout. DaVero exclusively crafts Mediterranean varietals due to Sonoma having a similar climate to Italy. We enjoyed a private Discover the Farm tasting. We sat at a long table underneath the natural covering of a willow tree that made for a serene experience. We then sampled six of DaVero’s wines, two olive oils and one balsamic vinegar. The olives are grown from trees brought over from Tuscany in the ‘90s. Our favorite wine here was greco. The wine had almost an orange tint to it and a crisp finish that we’re still thinking about months later.
Lambert Bridge Winery
Family-owned Lambert Bridge Winery (named after a nearby historic trestle bridge) produces small lot wines that you can taste by while you take in the winery’s bucolic setting. The well-tended garden features, green grass, flowering plants and trees sprinkled throughout. We ate a picnic lunch here during our last afternoon in Sonoma. We sampled a bottle of the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc that was light, refreshing and citrus-y. Pack or purchase a picnic to enjoy with your wine. The scenery at Flowers Vineyards & Winery is breathtaking. Flowers is idyllic California. The interior setting includes soaring ceilings and wood tables indoors that could be in any design magazine and outdoor seating areas where you can relax outside enjoying food and wine underneath a canopy while the area’s rolling hills and expansive skies surround you. Sample the coastal estate pinot noir and chardonnay. Flowers has been making these blends for more than 30 years. We loved the sweet, crisp chardonnay and rose.
Bricoleur Vineyards
Located about eight miles from Healdsburg in Windsor, Bricoleur Vineyards beckons with gorgeous views and stellar wines. The main building resembles a modern farmhouse complete with wooden floors and walls and tall ceilings. There isn’t a bad view anywhere. After you’ve purchased your wine, enjoy it alfresco as you admire the scenery. During our visit, the staff treated us to a stellar multi-course meal. Our two favorites were the 2018 Kick Ranch Viognier paired with a Roasted Corn Agnolotti, Calabrian chile, cotija, cilantro, shishito pepper and lime along with a 2017 Estate Pinot Noir with a Pork Rillette. We brought home a rose, pinot noir and viognier from Bricoleur. Idlewild Wines has a tasting room that’s a few steps from Healdsburg’s main downtown square that has an urban, modern feel to it. Tastings are by appointment. We enjoyed a private tasting and food pairing in the back room of Idlewild’s downtown Healdsburg location. Wines here are inspired by the Piedmont region of Italy. We brought back a bottle of the 2017 Barbera – a deep, dark red with a dry finish.
Bricoleur Vineyards
DRY CREEK VALLEY
Dry Creek Valley is an AVA or an American Viticultural Area that’s northwest of downtown Healdsburg. Here are two places we’d recommend you check out in Dry Creek Valley. Dry Creek Peach and Produce is a boutique peach farm where you can find 30 peach varieties. All the fruit here is handpicked and sorted. Peaches are left on trees until they fully ripen. We got to eat some of the freshest, juiciest peaches we’ve ever tasted and brought home some Peach Jam we’ve been enjoying on toast. The farm is only open during the summer months from Memorial through Labor Day. But you can taste the peaches at the Healdsburg Farmers’ Markets on Saturdays.
Dry Creek General Store
Established in 1881, the Dry Creek General Store is worth a stop. The deli inside this historical landmark serves up noteworthy sandwiches. In between winery stops, try a hearty sandwich like the True Italian. This store also sells bowls, cups, vases and food products. Enjoy your sandwich outside on the patio tables or Adirondack chairs and watch the cars drive by on Dry Creek Road.
Downtown Healdsburg
DOWNTOWN HEALDSBURG
Downtown Healdsburg is filled with charming boutiques, restaurants and art galleries. The main square is worth a stop. Find a gazebo, trees, green grass and benches throughout. Consider popping into a few boutiques. Browse the latest best-selling books at local chain Copperfield’s Books.
Downtown Healdsburg
Discover artwork from local artists at the Healdsburg Center for the Arts. See contemporary art from international and national artists at the three-story Erickson Fine Art Gallery. Located in a historic Palladio-style building, Erickson features limited edition prints, paintings, mobiles hanging from the ceiling and a sculpture garden. Find chic apparel from all over the world at the contemporary boutique Bon Ton Studio.
Harmon Guest House
WHERE TO STAY
Downtown Healdsburg’s 39-room Harmon Guest House is a modern oasis with a blend of Scandinavian and Japanese architecture.
Harmon Guest House
Our balcony door opened to the hotel’s lush interior courtyard. One of the hotel’s dining highlights is the open-air The Rooftop. The food and drinks are casual and delicious. We sipped on a sweet cocktail called The Watermelon and feasted on tasty small, sharable plates like Truffle fries, tacos and a Lobster BLT.
Dry Creek Kitchen
WHERE TO EAT
We were wowed by notable New York City-based chef Charlie Palmer’s fine dining outpost Dry Creek Kitchen.
Dry Creek Kitchen
One of the on-site restaurants at luxe Hotel Healdsburg, Dry Creek Kitchen offers an expansive dining room that comes complete with a charming patio that faces Healdsburg’s downtown square. We couldn’t get enough of our perfectly cooked salmon, warm focaccia and creative “lobster” corn dogs. Being in wine country, Dry Creek Kitchen celebrates a local winemaker by pouring their wines once a month as part of its Maker of the Month.
Dry Creek Kitchen
We devoured tapas on the outdoor patio of Bravas Bar de Tapas, located inside a gray house off Healdsburg’s main square. To kick off dinner, we started with a sweet Kiwi to My Heart cocktail, a blend of tequila, kiwi simple and lime. Our personal favorite tapas included the seasoned just right Patatas Bravas served with a spicy tomato sauce and a heaping dollop of aioli and the crispy, can’t-stop-at-one Fried Eggplant chips served with truffle honey and rosemary.
Bravas Bar de Tapas
Founded in 1881, Oakville Grocery is a breakfast and lunch spot with a gourmet food and wine market. Expect pastries of all stripes, fresh cheeses, Oakville Grocery-branded products tote bags and food products. We enjoyed a hearty Smoked Salmon sandwich featuring Sky Hill chevre, preserved lemon, pickled onion, arugula, tarragon and artisan bread paired with a latte. Look forward to handmade pies and small-batch ice cream Noble Folk Ice Cream & Pie Bar. We sampled the Mint Chocolate Chip that tasted just like real mint plucked straight from a garden. Costeaux French Bakery is a charming farmhouse chic spot that has been in business since 1932. Anticipate rich, French food. Under the glass case, see artisan breads, cakes, tarts, cookies and muffins. Don’t miss the irresistible and decadent chocolate croissants.
