Scott Greenberg
WTOP Wine Contributor
WASHINGTON — Last week, we took a quick spin through Napa Valley. This week, we continue our Passport to Wine Country series with a visit to Napa Valley’s big brother: Sonoma County.
I say “big” because Sonoma is about 75 percent larger by land mass than Napa Valley and includes several specifically distinctive appellations, including a dry inland region and a coastal region.
We’ll tackle Sonoma Valley in two parts, beginning this week with a few of the more notable wineries around the bucolic city of Healdsburg.
But first — a reminder on a few things you’ll want to keep in mind before you go.
If you want to make the most of your wine-travel experience, there are a few things you need to know. With so many people visiting wineries and so many wineries to visit, it definitely pays to spend some time planning your trip before you go in order to avoid crowds and get a better-than-average reception during your visit.
Many wineries may charge a small fee for tasting a flight of their wines. Often, these fees are waived for groups that have appointments set up by wine shops or other wineries.
If you don’t have a friend in the business, consider hiring a company to set up your visits. I like to send friends to Cellar Pass, an online winery booking site that will create a custom tasting tour of California wineries, catering to the size and tastes of your group. I have also heard good things about Small Lots Tours, a company that specializes in family-run operations in Sonoma and Napa.
Regardless of where you go, here are a few useful dos and don’ts that will make your visit more enjoyable.
A Few do’s:
- Reconfirm all of your appointments. It goes a long way with the winery to demonstrate goodwill.
- Leave plenty of time between appointments so that you have time to spend at each winery without having to cut your visit short or rush off to the next one.
- Consider hiring a car or van service or ask someone in your group to be the designated driver.
A Few don’ts:
- Don’t show up late. Most wineries have a lot of things to do and people to see, particularly during harvest, so show up on time.
- Don’t show up unannounced unless the winery specifically lists hours during which they are open to the public.
As for my specific recommendations, here are a few of my favorite wineries to visit in Sonoma Valley:
Rodney Strong Vineyards
11455 Old Redwood Highway
Healdsburg, California 95448
707-431-1533
In 1962, legendary dance performer Rodney Strong went from toe-tapper to grape-stomper when he and his longtime dance partner, Charlotte Ann Wilson, married and purchased vineyard land and an old winery in Windsor.
His wine, made from estate-grown grapes, eventually garnered so much attention that he was able to raise enough equity to buy land in Sonoma County, where he created a “boutique winery within a winery” that offers premium, small-lot wines. In addition to the wonderful wines, there is a celebrated summer music festival where picnickers can enjoy top acts while sipping wine under the stars.
Dry Creek Vineyards
3770 Lambert Bridge Road
Healdsburg, California 95448
707-433-1000
dcv@drycreekvineyard.com
Located just a few miles outside of Healdsburg, Dry Creek Vineyards was the first new winery established in the Dry Creek Valley after Prohibition.
MIT grad David Stare had a vision to plant Sauvignon Blanc in the Dry Creek appellation. That decision led to cementing the winery’s legacy as one of California’s most important wineries. Today, David’s daughter, Kim Stare Wallace, and her husband, Don Wallace, are at the helm of DCV. Now, they produce over 25 wines from 10 different varietals, including Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc and, of course, Sauvignon Blanc.
Matanzas Creek Winery
6097 Bennett Valley Road
Santa Rosa, California 95404
707-528-6464
info@matanzascreek.com
This out-of-the-way winery, tucked into the middle of Bennett Valley, boasts gorgeous grounds where lavender fields compete with vineyards for your attention. Its park-like setting makes this a great picnic location.
Take in the scenery of oaks and olive trees while enjoying a bottle of the wonderful Merlot. The Sauvignon Blanc has quite the reputation, too. Stop by the gift shop for lavender soaps, lotions and other products made from lavender grown at the winery.
Ram’s Gate Winery
28700 Arnold Drive
Sonoma, California 95476
707-721-8700
info@ramsgatewinery.com
The wines and the architecture here offer visitors a strong sense of place. The winery, opened in 2011, resembles the weathered farmsteads that dotted the landscape 100 years ago. Wines are crafted from grapes locally sourced, imbuing each sip with the taste of place.
Food and wine pairing options are available — from a simple chef-packed picnic to pair perfectly with the wine choice, to the “Behind the Gate” experience that’s part tasting, part cooking class.
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