Healdsburg Wine Country — Stay Healdsburg

Nestled in the Dry Creek Valley, Healdsburg is perfectly positioned in the center of three of Sonoma County’s renowned wine growing regions. With the Alexander Valley to the northeast and Russian River Valley to the south, area wineries are producing exquisite varietals from hearty Zinfandels to delicate Pinot Noirs.

Alexander Valley to the north is home to around 40 wineries in a Mediterranean climate. The Pacific Ocean keeps winters wet and cool, while summers are hot and dry. Rocky diverse soils, southwest facing vineyards and benchland slopes contribute to high quality tannins and intense fruit flavors, while the higher elevation adds color and structure to the wines. Here, bold Cabernet Sauvignon is king, but Merlot and Chardonnay are also prolific.

History is important to many of the Alexander Valley wineries. Trione Winery and Jordan Winery are just two examples of multi-generational winemaking families who keep it a family affair. A visit to Soda Rock Winery comes with a sense of history and place. The vineyard sits on the site of Anderson Valley’s original General Store built around 1870 and the Wilson family has made preserving the property and making great wine its mission. Film lovers will appreciate the Hollywood nostalgia on display at Francis Ford Coppola Winery. The Oscar-winning director brings La Dolce Vita to his winery, which produces more than 40 wines. The property is an all-day experience with tours, dining and a pool for enjoying the Sonoma County summer.

The 16-mile-long, two-mile-wide Dry Creek Valley is one of the smallest American Viticultural Areas. Its more than 60 wineries produce an array of wines with Italian, French and Mediterranean roots. Perhaps best known for its Zinfandels, the Dry Creek Valley is easy to explore through tastings, vineyard hikes and blending classes. Don’t be surprised if the winemaker is pouring you a glass at the tasting bar. There’s an inviting vibe to the area, which is peppered with vineyards that have been in the same family for generations.

Zinfandel has been called America’s heritage grape and has been growing in California since 1852. The Dry Creek Valley is home to one of the densest concentrations of Zinfandel vines in the world and though it’s the area’s signature grape, it is far from the only one. Dry Creek Valley winemakers produce high quality Bordeaux and Rhone-style reds as well as other Italian varietals. The area’s position between two rivers lets grapes grow in the hot summer days with cooling coastal breezes in the evening. The climate combined with gravelly clay soil create perfect growing conditions for grapes.

Dry Creek Vineyard was the first new winery established in the Dry Creek Valley after Prohibition and a vision to plant Sauvignon Blanc. Today the second generation of the Stare Family is continuing the family business with a new focus on sustainability. The family behind Comstock Wines has been growing grapes in the county since 2002 and has been crafting their own vintages since 2012. The tasting room, which opened in 2015, features the Dry Creek Valley signatures - Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Chardonnay. Ferrari-Carrano has been producing nationally-acclaimed wine in the Valley since the late 80s. Their 24 vineyards have been named a Certified California Sustainable Vineyard for their dedication to conservation and their Fume Blanc was the subject of a 2005 novel.

The nearly 14,000 acres of vineyards in the Russian River Valley benefit from the cooling fog of the Pacific Ocean. More than 80 wineries are crafting delightful wines stretching from Healdsburg south to Sebastopol. The Russian River Valley is a Pinot Noir lover’s heaven, but the region’s warm days and frequent fog help produce fine Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc as well.

With so many fantastic Pinot Noirs in the Russian River Valley, it’s near impossible to taste them all - but it’s worth a try! Cartograph, a newer winery right off the Healdsburg Plaza, is a great place to start with vintages going back to 2009. Gary Farrell Winery’s small lot, artisan Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay can be enjoyed in their relaxing tasting salon, overlooking a blanket of vineyards. Rodney Strong Vineyards have been producing Sonoma County wine from 14 estate vineyards for more than 50 years. Sipping a glass of estate-grown Pinot Noir on the tasting room’s terrace is a quintessential wine country experience.

Healdsburg marries the charm of a traditional agricultural community and the tastemakers that have made it a world class culinary destination. The town is home to more than 80 wineries and tasting rooms, including more than 30 around the downtown plaza. For a full list of our wineries, visit our website.