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Guerneville – A Secret wine town in the Russian River

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Guerneville has wine
Visit Guerneville

Visit Guerneville for wine and other fun activities

Guerneville is a sleepy little town on the banks of the Russian River in Sonoma County. The town is 150 years old and, for most of those years, has been a resort and vacation destination for San Francisco and Bay Area residents. In the 1970s, Guerneville became a friendly travel destination for the San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQ community. Guerneville is artsy, hippy, and eclectic.  Growing up in San Francisco, we visited Guerneville almost every summer. Today, Guerneville looks just about the same as it did when we visited with our parents. Guerneville is a town to be explored. Here are some fun things to do in Guerneville.

Visit Guerneville for wine

Guerneville is in the heart of the Russian River Valley wine appellation or AVA. This is where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay thrive. These grapes love the morning fog and the cooling afternoon breezes from the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Coast is only 13 miles away. Here are three wine stops to choose from while spending time in Guerneville.

Korbel winery - Guerneville fun
Korbel for sparkling wine and history

Visit Guerneville for family activities

Armstrong Redwood State Natural Reserve

So many old and tall trees in Armstrong

Armstrong Redwoods is one of the amazing places to visit in all of Sonoma Country. Take a short hike of one mile and you will see some of the most spectacular trees in the world. Come in the early morning and beat the crowds. When it is quiet, you can almost hear the Redwoods whispering to one another. Another idea is to pack a lunch and enjoy the Redwood picnic area. The nature walk is very informative, great for both adults and children of all ages. The Redwood Trees will leave you with inspiration.

Look up to enjoy the Redwoods

Life on the beach

During the summer season, many love to enjoy activities at the lovely Russian River beaches. Head down to Johnson’s Beach for swimming, wading, sunbathing, and canoeing. Here is a link to find everything about Johnson’s Beach. Stay safe; the Russian River has many deep holes. Stay in the designated swimming areas.

Fishing

Kings Sporting Goods - best place for fishing information and other river fun
Kings Sporting Goods – best place for fishing information and other river fun

In Guerneville, be sure to go to King’s Sporting Goods. The place has been there for over 60 years. The Russian River has fishing all year round. In the winter months, it is all about Steelhead Fish. I have never caught a Steelhead, but I have seen people battle this fish. It is a fight for 30 minute or more. In the summer months, it is fishing for small-mouth bass. King’s can you get started on the secrets of fishing on the Russian River.

Walk the town

Take an hour or more to explore Guerneville. Walk Main Street and the side streets to get a feel for life in this small resort river town. You will be sure to find some different and unique shops. At the Bank of Guerneville Building, now Guerneville Bank Club, you can view historic photos of the Russian River and buy gourmet ice cream and goodies from the Chile Pies Baking Company. Another attraction is the old Guerneville 5 &10 Store. It dates back to 1949. Take a walk across the historic Guerneville Bridge (1922) now closed to auto traffic. Here you can get a bird’s eye view of the Russian River and Johnson’s Beach.

Guerneville 5 & 10
Guerneville 5 & 10

Lodging and Restaurants

Boon hotel in Guernevll
Enjoy the solitude at the Boon Hotel and Spa in Guernevlle

Dining and lodging in summer months can be a challenge. Book early.

Another option for visiting Guerneville is to take a day trip from Healdsburg. Take Westside Road from Healdsburg town center for 12 miles. Turn right onto River Road and proceed to Guerneville. This route will take you through some of the most scenic backroads in wine country. Healdsburg has many more options for dining and lodging. Whatever you decide, a trip to Guerneville is lots of fun.

If you like the Guerneville trip, you might also like these Russian River Valley outings

Hidden Wine Country Town of Occidental

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Healdsburg, Sonoma, Windsor, and Santa Rosa are the hot wine towns of Sonoma County wine country. If you like less hubbub, more solitude, and less wine snobbery, try visiting the town of Occidental. 

Occidental is in the Russian River Valley wine appellation, about 30 minutes west of Santa Rosa, CA.  Occidental is secluded, but in just a short distance there are many exciting activities that await the traveler. The scenery is breathtaking, with lovely rows of vineyards flanked by the magnificent Coastal Redwood Trees. 

There many attractions in Occidental but two restaurants, the Union Hotel and Negri’s Italian Dinners, draw many locals and tourists. It has been a long tradition for vacationers along the Russian River resort area to have dinner at one or both of these restaurants during their vacation stay. The Union Hotel has been serving up dinners since 1897, and Negri’s started in 1943.

Wine Country Getaway to Occidental – Details

Grove of Old Redwoods just outside of Occidental

How to get to Occidental

From San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, take Highway 116 from Highway 101 in Rohnert Park. We are going the back roads here, where you can discover so many excellent wineries and cozy restaurants. Sebastopol is a fun town, but for this trip stop in Graton for lunch. Two places not to miss for lunch, Underwood Bar and Bistro or the Willow Wood Market. Both are local favorites and often winemakers will dine for lunch here. Underwood Bar and Bistro has a varied menu and the Willow Wood Market Cafe focuses on hot sandwiches. Wineries in the area are Red Car, Merry Edwards, Dutton, and Marimar Estate.  See Occidental Map below.

Where to stay in Occidental

The Inn at Occidental

Dining in Occidental

Carmelized onions and arugula pizza at Hazel’s

Things are busy in Occidental, but the restaurants are not yet back to pre-pandemic operations. As of our visit, June 14th and 15th, the Union Hotel and Negri’s restaurants are open only on weekends. Hazel’s is also a good option, serving wood fire pizza and other main dishes. They are open Wednesday to Sunday. On one night of our stay, we bought deli sandwiches and side salads at the Bohemian Market and ate on the patio at the Inn. In Graton, Sebastopol, and Guerneville, there are more restaurant options, but you have to drive along the windy roads to get there and back. Stay safe and eat in Occidental.

Wineries to visit

This area is very much Pinot Noir and Chardonnay country. In and around Graton are terrific wineries. Follow this Wine Route. – Remember COVID has changed the way wineries take visitors. Even though things have re-opened, wineries are opting for reservations, with few drop-in visits offered. You need to plan in advance to taste wine. Our favorites in this locality are Merry Edwards, Lynmar. and Marimar Estate. If you are looking for other whites and reds, the Dry Creek Valley Wine Trail is 30 minutes away.

Vineyards at Miramar Estate – notice the Redwood Trees at the top of the vines

Other Activities

The Redwoods – view, hike, and enjoy

Drive any of the backroads from Occidental and you will see amazing groves of Coastal Redwoods. One close by hike is the Grove of Old Redwoods. From Occidental, take Coleman Valley Road to Joy Road and then a right on Fitzpatrick Lane. It is 1.4 miles on Fitzpatrick Lane to the parking lot and entrance is on the right. The hike is short but the beauty is stunning. This ancient grove of Redwoods will clear your mind and rejuvenate your spirit. If you love the Redwoods, this is an area not to be missed.

A beautiful and peaceful area near Occidental

Drive to Bodega Bay or Jenner by the Sea

Bodega Bay is a wonderful playground for visitors. There are great restaurants, art galleries, fishing, kayaking and much more. From Occidental take the Bodega Highway to this beautiful area. The ride is spectacular and only 20 minutes away.

Jenner is the spot where the Russian River empties into the Pacific Ocean. Highway 1 has fantastic ocean views, plus several spots to enter the beach areas. About 12 miles ahead is Fort Ross State Park. Back in the day, Fort Ross was a Russian trading village. On the windy road to reach the Park, there’s a turnoff to Fort Ross Vinyard, about 2 miles up the hill. Reservations are required.

To get to Jenner from Occidental, take the Bohemian Highway to Monte Rio. Turn onto Highway 116 heading west to the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, either going or coming, stop in the old lumber milling town of Duncans Mills. The population is only 175, but the interesting shops are a bonanza for boutique shoppers looking for unique items.

Cool shopping in Duncans Mills

Russian River Beaches

During the summer months, the Russian River beaches attract sun-bathers, swimmers, and fishing. Two close by beaches from Occidental are the Monte Rio Community Beach and in Guerneville, Johnson’s Beach. If you need fishing advice, head to King’s Sport and Tackle in Guerneville. King’s is an institution in the Russian River. They also rent kayaks and other outdoor equipment.

More Photos

Handy Map of the Occidental Area

Geyserville Inn Revamps

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Geyserville is a hidden wine town surrounded by wonderful, exciting wineries. Geyserville is the gateway to the vineyards and wineries in the Dry Creek Valley and the Alexander Valley wine appellations. If you are looking to explore this fantastic wine region of Northern Sonoma County, consider the Geyserville Inn for your place to stay.

walling road winecountry
Vineyards on Walling Road in Geyserville wine county

We have lodged many times at the Geyserville Inn and always have enjoyed the rooms and the location. But now the Geyserville Inn is even better. The inn has been revamped, and the rooms are more comfortable and lavishly decorated. Yes, the room prices have increased, but the Inn remains on the affordable side of lodging in Sonoma County .

Geyserville Inn
Geyserville Inn – newly remodeled rooms – walking distance to restaurants and tasting rooms

About Geyserville

Geyserville is about a ten-minute drive north of Healdsburg. While Healdsburg is one of the best wine cities anywhere in California, Geyserville is a secret gem with enough attractions to keep any wine traveler happy for a few days.

Geyserville Visitor Center
Plan your trip at the Geyserville Visitor Center

Our favorites in Geyserville

A getaway to Geyserville is always a very rewarding trip for us. A slower pace prevails, and it’s often more restful than Healdsburg. For lodging, the newly-remodeled Geyserville Inn is comfortable. Next door is the Geyserville Grille, and they serve all we need for a hearty breakfast.

Just a one-mile walk or ride to the south of town is one of the great secret restaurant destinations, Diavola Pizzeria. It is a local favorite, no reservations, so be prepared to wait. Next door, the Geyserville Gun Club & Bar (no guns seen here) is owned by the same Diavola folks. You can wait at the bar, and Diavola will let you know when your table is ready.

There are many wineries close by, but here are our favorites. Number one is Pedroncelli. It is a family-owned winery with very old Zinfandel vines. The wines are reasonable and, the last time we visited, the $10-tasting fee was waived with a purchase of wine.

Pedroncelli vines in the Fall

Up at the northern end of the Alexander Valley is another fun winery, J R Rickards. This a beautiful and scenic area. The vineyards are sustainably farmed and the wines delicious. This is a fantastic spot for a picnic lunch.

Frick Winery near Pedroncelli is also cool. Bill Frick is a one-man show. Just Bill and his seven acres of vines. Bill makes some very tasty Rhone-style wines. The drive along Walling Road to the winery is one of the prettiest in wine country.

Allow a couple of days for exploring the entire Geyserville wine scene. If you have more time, head over to the Dry Creek Road area for many more wineries and scenic views.

100 Year Old Wineries Near Healdsburg

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100 year old wineries healdsburg

Korbel on the Russian River near Guerneville, California.

Sonoma County is one of the founding regions of American wine. In the 1800s, there were many vineyards and several wineries. Today, these four 100-year-old wineries represent the magnificent and historical past of California viticulture. The four wineries are a short driving distance from the town of Healdsburg. Plot your stay and trip and visit one or more of these Sonoma 100-year-old wineries.

Four 100-year-old wineries near Healdsburg

Korbel Champagne Cellars

There is a special place in our hearts for Korbel. At the ripe old age of 21, we visited our very first winery, Korbel Cellars. That first visit got us hooked and started our journey of visiting wineries and vineyards around the world. What an impact! Korbel was founded in 1882 by Francis, Anton, and Joseph Korbel. The Heck Family, the current owners, bought the winery in 1954. It is a big-production, sparkling wine house producing over a million cases per year with distribution worldwide. Korbel has an excellent 50-minute tour followed by a tasting. The Korbel tour takes you through the step-by-step process of making sparkling wine in the French tradition. You will also want to check out the fantastic rose garden and the luxurious tasting room. There is also a good deli restaurant, where you can eat while enjoying one of the most beautiful settings along the Russian River.

Tasting Room Hours 10:00 – 4:30 Monday through Sunday. Champagne Cellar Tour Hours 11 – 3:00 Monday through Sunday. Garden Tour Hours 1:00 and 3:00 Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Mondays.Garden Tours offered mid-April to mid-October. (707) 824-7000, E-mail: [email protected], Korbel

Simi in 1966

Simi Winery

Simi is another winery that we visited early on. I could not resist posting this photo taken in 1966. That is my son held by my mother while Janelle and I were inside the tasting room having loads of fun. Grandmothers always come to the rescue. In the photo, you can see that the tasting room was a mega-gallon redwood wine storage tank. We would walk down a few steps to the tasting bar where Isabelle Simi, in her 80’s was handling the wine tasting tasks. Isabelle was the daughter of Giuseppe Simi, who founded the winery along with his brother Pietro Simi in 1876. Isabelle ran the winery from Prohibition until she sold it in 1970 at the age of 84. For those of you old enough to remember Hollywood actress, comedian, and glamor queen, Mae West, Simi had a photo in the tasting room of Mae West with a sexy quote modified slightly: “Come up and Simi sometime.” That’s how fun the tasting room was to visit in those days. Simi Winery offers daily tours (11 am and 2 pm). The Simi tour leads you into the historic stone winery and gives a very informative look at winemaking. Simi owns prime acreage in the Alexander Valley and the Russian River Valley and can produce a lovely array of wines. Simi’s Pizza Café is open, but check the Simi Website to get the latest hours of operation. Today the winery is owned by Constellation Brands.

Tasting room open daily 10 to 5:00, (800) 746-4880. E-Mail: [email protected], Simi Winery

Foppiano Vineyards

operated by the Foppiano Family. With the sale last year of the Seghesio Family Winery, that makes the Foppiano Winery the oldest family-owned winery in the Russian River wine region. The family owns 140 acres of prime vineyard property in the Russian River Valley. The best part is that the family owns the land outright. That is one reason why their wines are excellent bargains and value wines. Their signature wine, a Petite Sirah, sells for $25 a bottle, an excellent price for this superb wine. Another great feature at Foppiano is their self-guided vineyard tour dedicated to the late Margot Patterson Doss. You may remember that Margot wrote a column in the San Francisco Chronicle encouraging people of all ages to walk and explore the San Francisco Bay Area. Pick up a brochure at the tasting room and take the walking tour that is probably a mile at the most.

Open daily, 11 to 5:00 Phone: (707) 433-7272 Email: [email protected], Foppiano

Seghesio Family Winery

Seghesio Winery began in 1895, growing grapes and producing bulk wines. Edoardo Seghesio founded the winery and was said to be the first one to bring in and successfully grow the Sangiovese grape. It was not until 1983 that they began to bottle premium wines under their label. Today the winery is most famous for its Zinfandel wines and, in particular, the Sonoma Zinfandel that has won numerous awards and is in many wine shops for under $20. In 2011 the Seghesio Family shocked the wine world by selling the winery to the Crimson Wine Group. The tasting room contains a lot of memorabilia and is a fun place to visit and taste wine. Seghesio also has a Bocce Ball court, should you feel the urge to have some friendly competition while sipping wine.

The tasting room is open daily 10 to 5, Seghesio

Healdsburg 100-year-old-wineries map

Additional information on this wine country

four 100 year old wineries in Sonoma
Cabernet at Foppiano

Wine Country Restaurants on Michael Bauer’s 100 Top 100 Restaurants

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Each year at this time, the San Francisco Chronicle and its food editor Michael Bauer announce “The Top 100 Restaurants.” These are restaurants that are in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area, including the wine country regions of the Napa Valley and Sonoma County. Michael Bauer and his staff dine at a restaurant three times before it is evaluated and reviewed. For the wine country traveler to the Napa Valley and Sonoma wine regions, this Top 100 Restaurant Guide is one excellent method of choosing restaurants with great wine and food. Sixteen wine country restaurants in the Napa Valley and Sonoma are on the 2016 list.

Bravas de tapas

Bravas in Healdsburg, tapas extraordinaire

Healdsburg

  • Bravas Bar de Tapas
  • Madrona Manor
  • Shed Cafe

Sonoma

  • Oso

Napa

  • Bistro Don Giovanni
  • Ninebark
  • Oenotri

Yountville

Ciccio in Yountville

Ciccio Pizza in Yountville

  • Ad Hoc
  • Bottega
  • Ciccio
  • French Laundry
  • Redd
  • Redd Wood

St Helena

  • Press
  • The Restaurant at Meadowood
  • Terra

Helpful Wine Country Traveler Inforamtion

On the wine walk in Healdsburg

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We were in Healdsburg last Tuesday and Wednesday while El Niño gave us a break between storms. The sun began to play hide-and-seek, starting around noon on Tuesday. With the threat of showers in the forecast, we decided to spend the afternoon on a wine walk in Healdsburg. Our first stop was the Healdsburg Bar & Grill for lunch. It’s always a decent lunch, very casual and warm. The grill has a nice selection of wines by the glass. Janelle had the Buehler Chardonnay for $8, and I had the Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel for $10.

While on our wine walk, we took a look inside two new restaurants: Kinsmoke, in the location of the old Center Street Deli, gives an added alternative to food options in Healdsburg. Kinsmoke is all about barbecue. Food is available by the pound. The salads are centered around smoke and barbecue flavors. There is counter service so that wine country buffs can order food and head to the wineries for a picnic lunch. Folks we talked to said the food is fantastic.

healdsburg wine walk

Cool mural on the Healdsburg wine walk

The Persimmons Restaurant opened last week and is in the location of the closed Charcuterie restaurant. It also adds a new touch to the Healdsburg restaurant scene, Asian fusion food. Danny Ma is the chef, and he has partnered with the two Diaz Brothers who have other successful restaurant businesses in Healdsburg.  We will wait for our next trip to Healdsburg to try these charming restaurants, but we gave the new Ralph’s Martini House a try that night. 

On the wine walk in Healdsburg

Williamson tasting room

Williamson on Matheson Street

Williamson Winery

This is quite a wine tasting room! It is a favorite spot on even a quiet winter day in Healdsburg. There were at least four staff members working the tasting room. The cool thing about the Williamson tasting room is the complimentary tasting for the first four wines. Plus, each wine is paired with cheese dabbed with various spices, jellies, and nuts, depending on the wine. The food provides a useful learning tool with a before-and-after taste with the wine. All the food pairings work! For $10, you can try two of the very expensive red wines. They do a nice sell job in the tasting room, and now Williamson has over 4000 club members. With that number of wine club members, no distribution of their wines is needed. The 15,000 cases of wine produced are all sold out of the tasting room or their online wine shop. Janelle and I thought the wines were very good, but unfortunately a little on the pricey side. The Sauvignon Blanc, more in the style of a White Bordeaux or Sancerre, was $28. That’s just too steep for me to enjoy when I can find a good French version for $15 in a wine shop. However, the complimentary tasting is a definite draw. I do not believe any other tasting room on the Healdsburg wine walk* has complimentary tasting. The Williamson tasting room is open daily from 11am to 7 pm and is located at 134 Matheson Street.

Banshee tasting room

Banshee tasting room on 325 Center Street

Banshee Wines

Banshee is one of the few winery successes of the now-defunct Crushpad (make your own wine) in San Francisco. Three friends started Banshee back in 2007 at the Crushpad, and today they are wildly successful producing 40,000 cases of wine per year.  We loved the casual atmosphere of the Banshee tasting room. Lounging chairs and a sofa provide a relaxing and laid back environment. Our server, Brandon,  was low key, cordial, and very knowledgable. “No rush, no fuss,” could be the mantra at the Banshee tasting room. Tasting is $20 for six wines. The Banshee wines were more reasonably priced than at Williamson, plus there were more Pinot Noir wines to taste. One other nice extra at Banshee is the availability of wines by the glass or by the bottle. The Banshee tasting room is open daily from 11am to 7 pm.

Additional important Healdsburg Info

MacRostie’s new digs on Westside Road

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MacRostie tasting room

The MacRostie tasting room as seen from Westside Road

MacRostie Winery and Vineyards on Westside Road

After 28 years of making very fine Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Sonoma Valley, Steve MacRostie finally has his dream tasting room and Pinot Noir winemaking facility.  It is a beautiful piece of vineyard property located on scenic Westside Road that runs along the Russian River. There are many beautiful attractions along this road, and the MacRostie Estate House adds another element of splendor to the area.

steve-macrostie

Steve MacRostie – wine pioneer in California

Early on in his career, Steve established himself as pioneer winemaker with his tantalizing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. Steve began making wine in 1974 and soon became interested in producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in a true Burgundian style –  fresh, crisp, and food friendly. In 1987 he established his MacRostie label and began producing wine in Sonoma Valley. He sought out vineyards in the Sonoma Coast region that provided the terroir ingredients of fog and cooling breezes. His main winemaking facility is in a warehouse-style building in Sonoma Valley. The opening of the MacRostie Estate House in the Russian River Valley marks a new era in Steve MacRostie’s winemaking career.

MacRostie tasting room

MacRostie Estate House

What a wonderful spot to enjoy Chardonnay and Pinot Noir! We visited the Estate House last week. As we walked toward the entrance, the doors opened and we were greeted with a delightful glass of Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. This is standard for all visitors who arrive at the tasting room. What a very nice welcoming touch. Beautiful vineyard views of the Russian River Valley surround the tasting room.  Besides the welcome glass of wine, there are two other features seldom found in a wine tasting experience. Wine tasting at MacRostie is sit down, elegant but not over the top. One can sit outside on the terrace or in the main area at tables or on a relaxing chair or sofa. The server comes to you and explains the wine. The staff goes through some serious training, so a tasting is very educational. A second added touch is a side-by-side comparison of wines. There are two glasses at each table setting, sometimes three depending on the tasting. This gives wine country travelers the ability to compare two wines of the same varietal made from different vineyards or in a different style.  We tasted the Russian River Valley Chardonnay alongside a vineyard Chardonnay, the Wildcat Mountain Vineyard.  In the Pinot Noir category, we enjoyed the Russian River Chardonnay and the Goldrock Ridge Vineyard from Annapolis on the Sonoma Coast.  The side-by-side tasting is a great way to educate your palate and to discover the subtle differences in two wines.

MacRosite seated wine tasting

Outdoor wine tasting with fantastic views of the Russian River Valley

The MacRostie Estate House also has a separate small winemaking cellar equipped with state-of-the-art winemaking equipment. This is where Pinot Noir will be made from the 2015 harvest of their Russian River Valley vineyards. These days Steve takes a secondary role in the winemaking, tending to more of the vineyard management and business aspects of the winery.  The main winemaking duties belong to Heidi Bridenhagen, who handles the majority of the winemaking duties.  Steve says he appreciates the fresh ideas that the young people he hires bring to his winemaking methods.

To get to the MacRosite House, take Mill Street under Highway 101. Mill Street becomes Westside Road. Drive for about nine minutes on Westside Road and look for the winery on the right.  Take it slow and enjoy the beauty of this area of wine country.  The MacRostie House is open daily from 11am to 5 pm. Reservations are recommend especially on weekends.

Additional wine country details

Ketcham Estate

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Ketcham Estate winery

Mark Ketcham and his Pinot Noir wines

About Ketcham Estate

This is one winery I had never heard until one of our wine friends arranged for us to meet Mark Ketcham and taste his Ketcham Estate wines. Our friend Pat bid on this special wine tasting with Mark Ketcham at a school fundraiser. We are happy she had the winning bid and even happier she asked us to tag along. The tasting took place in Mark’s fabulous house in the Russian River area near the town of Healdsburg. Mark is one of many successful business owners we find today in the world of wine who, once retired from their successful businesses, decide to start a winery.  As the old saying goes, “To make a small fortune in the wine business, one must start with a large fortune!” Mark Ketcham has long been a wine aficionado, especially of Burgundy wines. When he sold his computer company, he set out to find the perfect spot for growing Pinot Noir grapes. As we sip his Pinot Noir wines, he tells us that he evaluated over 100 properties using a Harvard Business School evaluation method.  His home and his estate vineyard are located at the northern end of the Russian River Valley.  His vineyard is a stone’s throw from J Vineyard and Rodney Strong. But Ketcham has one thing not found at either one of those wineries, and that is water. There is a creek that runs along his property and provides a substantial water table. The clones of Pinot Noir Mark is using grow in a lateral direction. He chose those Pinot Noir clones so they would have some struggles in finding the necessary nutrients, instead of growing strait down into the water table. Mark has hired a full-time vineyard manager and has provided a home for him and his family on the property. Kudos to Mark on providing for his employee.

Mark admits that although he knows much about wine, he would never attempt to make wine. That, he leaves up the specialist. It is rather curious that Mark has had three or four winemakers since the first vintage of 2002. He began with winemaker Mike Browne of Kosta-Browne fame, and we got the vague notion that Mark must be quite demanding in what he expects in his wine. Mark recently hired a new winemaker, Mark Topel. Mark and his wife Donnis own the Topel Winery and have a tasting room in downtown Healdburg. The Topels’ winery is located in Hopland, about 35 miles north of Healdsburg. Mark and Donnis purchase grapes from Mark Ketcham, and I am assuming that is what led to the  Ketcham winemaking stint for Mark Topel. It was very fun to try the three Ketcham Pinot Noirs, different vintages and from different vineyard plots. The Pinot Noirs are well made and very delicious, and I think priced correctly compared to other Pinot Noir wines in the Russian River Valley.

Ketcham Pinot Noir

The bookcase is a secret passageway to Mark Ketcham’s wine cellar.

What we most enjoyed about our visit was when Mark took us downstairs and into his “man cave.” He walks towards a bookcase and reaches behind a book and viola! The bookcase is a doorway that swings open into a fabulous and well- stocked wine cellar. I spotted Burgundys, Bordeaux’s, Napa cult cabs, and even an Nebuchandnezzar bottle of Veuve Cliquot. A Nebuchandnezzar holds 20 regular bottles of wine. Holy smokes!

This was a special tasting for the school fund raiser. Normally all the tastings at Ketcham Estate are by appointment and done in the vineyards. Check the Ketcham Estate Website for additional information.  Should you want to visit other wineries in the area, check our Old Redwood Highway Wine Trail.

Wine Country Bocce Party

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Bocce party winery

A friendly disagreement on the Bocce Court. Always bring a measuring tape.

How to plan a wine country Bocce party

As we swing into the tourist season in wine country and you plan your next wine country getaway with your friends, think about playing a game or two of Bocce at a winery. This is exactly what we have done once a year for the past ten years. There are several wineries that have one or more Bocce courts for visitors. We have played with our group at Larson Family Winery, Brutacao, and Francis Ford Coppola. Here is a complete list of wineries in California wine regions that have at least one Bocce court.

This past week, we gathered our group of friends for an enjoyable and highly competitive all-day Bocce tournament at the Francis Ford Coppola winery. They have four beautiful Bocce Courts and we used three for the tournament. We reserved the courts well in advance for a weekday and arranged for Coppola’s Rustic Restaurant to serve us a buffet lunch of sandwiches and salads on the lovely winery terrace.

We had seven couples play in the Bocce tournament. The great thing about Bocce is that, at this level, everyone has a chance to win. We do a complete round robin tournament, meaning each team plays all of the other teams at least once. We modify the rules a little to speed up the game. Here are some Bocce tips. Be sure to bring a tape measurer to settle any arguments about which ball is closer to the Pallino.

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We plan other wine country activities around the tournament. The day before the Bocce games we meet at a winery for a tour, tasting and lunch. This time around we chose Truett-Hurst in the Dry Creek Valley. What a beautiful and peaceful spot to enjoy food and wine. Most of us stop at Big John’s Market in Healdsburg beforehand to order deli sandwiches or choose from the delicious items in their salad bar. More on the Truett Hurst Winery.

We booked rooms at the Geyserville Inn, which is very close to our Bocce venue at the Francis Ford Coppola winery. The inn has a beautiful outdoor area and we meet there for wine and appetizers before heading off to dinner. Have you eaten at the Diavola Pizzeria and Salumeria in Geyserville? This Italian restaurant is a gem in the Sonoma wine country. The restaurant recently added a wonderful patio area and, when the weather is accommodating, it is a delightful place to dine. We arranged for a special menu and as you can see from the photo in slide show, Diavola treated us like VIP’s!

Costeaux French Bakery in Healdsburg is our “go-to” destination for breakfast on our final day. The bakery supplies a wide assortment of bread and pastries for many restaurants in Healdsburg and Santa Rosa. They also serve a fabulous full breakfast. Most of us then spend a couple of hours or more in Healdsburg. We think it is the best town in any wine country region in California. There is something there for all.

So let’s get going here on your first Bocce game. Start small, perhaps with two or three couples. Choose a winery with Bocce courts and head out for a fun and exciting time in wine county.

 

Paradise Ridge Winery Revisited

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image of Paradise Ridge winery

Paradise Ridge Winery

It is always fun to visit Paradise Ridge, a winery off the beaten path in Sonoma County. We purchased another Travelzoo deal, this one for the Fountaingrove Inn in Santa Rosa. Just a couple of miles away from the Inn is the Paradise Ridge Winery. This is one of the few wineries in California wine country that is located amidst a residential area. The winery and its estate sit on the hills above the main city of Santa Rosa and afford fantastic views.

The Byck Family purchased the land in the early 1970’s. At that time Santa Rosa was a sleepy farm town far away from San Francisco. But in the next 25 years, Santa Rosa became a very crowded and busy city with many housing developments and new freeways. Luckily for the Byck Family and wine lovers, their land was purchased before the boom began, and that is why the Paradise Ridge Winery is adjacent to an upscale housing tract.

This was our third visit to the winery, always a very pleasant and relaxing visit. The winery makes a boutique amount of wine, at the most 6000 cases a year. 80% of that wine is sold directly to wine club members and visitors to the tasting room. The winery also has a tasting room in Kenwood in the Sonoma Valley. The rest of the wine is sold to restaurants and a few select wine shops and markets. You are unlikely to find the Paradise Ridge wines anywhere else but at the winery.

We like the wines very much at Paradise Ridge. Our favorites include red wines from the Rockpile AVA and Monte Rosso Vineyards . These two vineyards provide unique character to red wines. Both have what the winemakers say are a reflection of a “sense of place.” The Rockpile vineyards are 2000 feet above sea level and sit above Lake Sonoma. The vineyards sit above the fog line, getting warm sun in the mornings and afternoons. But it is the late afternoon strong winds from the Pacific Ocean that stress the vines of Rockpile. The vines sit on a steep hillside on very rocky soil, and these vines deeply penetrate the soil in search of water. Over at Monte Rosso in Sonoma, owned by the Gallo Family, the vineyards are in a red rock soil that imparts an aroma and character that is distinctive. Once you smell and taste a Monte Rosso, you will long remember its character.

The one issue with these vineyards is the Paradise Ridge contracts for the grapes and those leases are year-to-year, so there is no guarantee that the winery will be able to make these complex reds in future years. The winery also produces a delightful estate Sauvignon Blanc and an aromatic Russian River Chardonnay. Paradise recently produced its first Pinot Noir, which is quite spicy and exciting.

Besides the excellent-tasting wines at Paradise, there are two other features for wine country lovers. The view is fantastic. There are plenty of picnic tables on the tasting room patio. Pack a lunch and purchase a bottle of the crisp and clean Paradise Ridge Sauvignon Blanc, and enjoy the view and the serenity of the area. When you’re done, work off your lunch and wine with a walk through the “Spirit of Man” exhibit. This exhibit consists of several sculptures that are very intriguing. Stroll and ponder. The exhibit leaves later this year, so check the winery’s Website for more information.

On the terrace at Paradise Ridge

On the terrace at Paradise Ridge

Paradise Ridge has also found a niche for itself in the wedding department. It can seat some 250 guests and, with the view and wine, it is an ideal venue for a wedding. Paradise expects to host 60 weddings in 2014.

The tasting room is open daily 11am to 5 pm. Check the Website for a two-for-one tasting coupon.

CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY REGIONS:

Carneros • Livermore • Lodi • Mendocino • Monterey • Napa Valley • Paso Robles • Santa Barbara County • Santa Cruz Mts. • Sierra Foothills • Russian River • Sonoma Valley

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