Yes, the wine country is open. Tasting is outdoors and mostly by reservation. Visitors are back, but in fewer numbers. The fact is that small artisan wineries are hurting. The smaller wineries do not have the lavish outdoor tasting areas or big PR companies to promote their brand and bring in tourism.

The boutique wineries do not make a lot of wine and, because of this factor, there are no channels for distribution. They rely on tourists. They count on getting their wines into restaurants. How many boutique wineries will be able to survive by the time the Pandemic is over?

In Sonoma wine country, an idea grew to help the artisan wine producers. It is Vinopal. Vinopal and a select number of small wineries will partner to offer wine sales at distributor prices. Vinopal will enable these wineries to sell directly to the consumer and not to a middle-man. It is a Win-Win for both the winery and the wine consumer.

The consumer who joins Vinopal will be able to see a wine for sale each day. For example, the first wine on the docket is Red Car Sonoma Chardonnay. It has a 91-Point rating and lists for $38. The price on VinoPal is $26. Purchase four-to-six bottles, and shipping is free.

The consumer gets a great wine deal, and the winery keeps itself in business. WineCountryGetaways is working with Vinopal as an Affiliate. When a reader registers at Vinopal by clicking on the link below and later buys wine, we get a small commission. It will help us defray Web hosting and other business fees. You will be helping out the small wineries. Don’t let them be gobbled up by the big wine companies.

Join now: Link to Vinopal and today’s wine bargain.

Geyserville is In

Don’t get me wrong, I love Healdsburg and its many choices of lodging, restaurants, and shopping. But Geyserville has many advantages over Healdsburg.

• Not as pricey
• Laidback lifestyle
• Fewer people, less noise, and more relaxing
• Easy access to wineries in Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley
• The perfect atmosphere for the wine country enthusiast

Geyserville two-night getaway

Here is a great suggestion for a two-night getaway to Geyserville. For lodging, book the Geyserville Inn. There is also the Hope – Merrill House, a fun B&B. We like the Geyserville Inn because the rooms have recently been remolded, the price per night is a bargain, and the staff is very friendly.

Day One

For lunch, we have two options. If the weather is warm, consider a picnic lunch. On the way up to Geyserville, stop in at Big John’s Market in Healdsburg. The market is just off the Dry Creek exit on Highway 101 and on the way to Geyserville. Big John’s is a gourmet’s delight. Big John’s has a fabulous salad bar, cheese shop, and olive bar. Their deli sandwiches are delicious. If the weather is not cooperating, then head up to the Geyserville Grill for lunch.

Now it is time to head to one of the nearby wineries to enjoy some wine tasting. For Day One, let’s explore the Dry Creek Valley. Take Canyon Road and head over to Dry Creek Road. Whether you turn right or left, the choice of wineries is dazzling. The majority of wineries on Dry Creek Road have picnic facilities.

We suggest these two wineries for tasting and picnicking: Forchini Vineyards & Winery is a quaint and small family-run winery. Forchini is to the left, 2 miles away. Forchini is open on Saturday and Sunday, but will take visitors by appointment the other days of the week. Call and the owners will likely serve you. The vineyard views are fantastic. Ask your server to point you to the Old Vine Zinfandel vineyards dating back to the early 1900s.

Turn right and head to Unti, a three-mile jaunt. You will need to call ahead to schedule a tasting at Unti. You will not be disappointed. Unti has some unusual varieties of wine to enjoy. Unti is also a small family-owned winery with deep roots in the Dry Creek Valley. Excellent vino here!

Dining in Geyserville

Diavola Pizzaria is an Italian cuisine delight. Diavola is popular and does not take reservations. If you must wait for a table, it is well worth your time. The pizzas and pastas are authentic Italian. Our favorite dish is the spaghetti with pork cheek ragu.

Catelli’s is in its third generation of family ownership. The restaurant is more formal than Diavola. There is a full bar and a great selection of Italian foods on the menu. Catelli’s takes reservations. You will likely need them.

Best bet for breakfast is the Geyserville Grill.

Day Two in Geyserville

Start the day by taking a walk from the Geyserville Inn to the town center for an excellent cup of brew. Or, walk along the Geyserville Road heading north that is parallel to 101 Highway. It is a quiet road with not much traffic.

For Day Two, let’s visit two wineries in the Alexander Valley. We recommend Francis Ford Coppola’s Winery and J Rickards Winery.

Francis Ford Coppola Winery is very busy, with many attractions besides wine. There is a huge outdoor pool and deck area for visitors to enjoy. If you love the game of Bocce, there are four professional courts. There is also movie memorabilia from the many films produced by Francis Ford Coppola. The desk where the Godfather sat is always fun to view. There is also a classy restaurant, Rustic. And of course, many good wines to try.

J Rickards Winery

From the Geyserville Inn, the J Rickards Winery is just a few miles away at 24505 Chianti Road. J Rickards is a fun winery to visit. The staff is terrific, as are the wines. Chances are you might meet either the winemaker, Blaine Brazil, or Jim Rickards himself. The winery is a great spot for a fun picnic among the vineyards. They do have box lunches from Big John’s Market. Check the J Rickards Website for details.

For dinner on the second night, try Diavola or Catelli’s, whichever one you missed on the first night. The Geyserville Grill is also an excellent choice if you do not want to go too far away from your lodging. By the way, Uber and Lyft operate extensively because of the nearby casino. If you want to head into Healdsburg, these two companies should be available for you.

Day Three – heading home

If you have any time available, drive south to Healdsburg and give yourself time to explore the downtown area. There are many shops, tasting rooms, and art galleries to explore. We like to breakfast at Costeaux Bakery before heading back home.

Important Geyserville Resources

• Geyserville Wine Trail
• Alexander Valley Wine Trail
• Things to Do

About mustard season in wine country

In the Napa Valley and Sonoma County, and in other wine regions, it is the mustard season in wine country. The Napa Valley once had an annual “Mustard Festival” that ran from January to the end of March. A whole set of events were featured around the mustard plant. The idea of the event was to draw visitors to the area during this beautiful season in wine country.

The Mustard Festival may be long gone, but the mustard plant puts on a show during this time like no other. It is beautiful! Where did the mustard plant originate in wine country? Folklore has it that the Franciscan Missionaries dropped mustard seeds as they walked through the countryside looking for sites to establish Missions.

Today there is some wild mustard growing here and there, but many vineyard managers will plant mustard as a cover crop. Mustard seeds will continue to grow year after year without a need to replant. The seeds sprout after the first heavy rains in December, and usually one month later the plants display their wonderful bright yellow color. At the end of March, when the pruning of the vines is completed, the mustard plant is plowed under. Such is the life of the mustard plant in wine country.

Because of the astonishing rainfall in December 2018 and now in February, mustard is flourishing. Mustard looks it best on any type of day. It is a wonder. 

 

Additional information on wine country

• Napa Valley Wineries
• Sonoma Valley Wineries
• Sonoma County-Healdsburg

• 

• 

• 

• 

Stony Hill Vineyard sells to Long Meadow Ranch

Stony Hill Vineyard, one of Napa Valley’s oldest family-owned winery, has sold to another Napa Valley winery. Stony Hill Vineyard is a unique winery in the Napa Valley. Stony Hill is tucked away, hidden from the roadway. Tasting is by appointment only, and only a few visitors are scheduled each day. Wine case production is approximately 5000 cases per year, with Chardonnay the flagship wine. The Chardonnay is noted for its beautiful balance, and not for heavy oak or buttery and creamy flavors like one finds at most Napa Valley wineries. The wines are mostly sold to long-time loyal customers, local restaurants and online.

We have visited Stony Hill Vineyard on many occasions. One of our wine friends, Mike Beltran, knows Mike Chelini well. Mike Chelini has been the winemaker at Stony Hill Vineyard for the past 45 years. He is the longest-tenured winemaker in the Napa Valley. We love taking a barrel sample of all the wines and walking through some of the hillside vineyards. Mike Chelini is also a member of an exclusive lunch club. They call themselves the G.O.N.A.D.S.  What does that mean? I wrote an article back in 2008 on Mike Chelini, Stony Hill, and the exclusive lunch club. Read it here.

Fred and Eleanor McCrea founded Stony Hill 70 years ago. The good news in this sale is that the buyers, Ted and Laddie Hall (who currently own Long Meadow Ranch), and the McCrea family are old friends.  It seems that too often with the sale of a Napa Valley winery, a wine conglomerate or an investment group buys the winery. I’m always disappointed to find a long-time winery selling to the big dealers of the wine industry. Give us the good old days of the Napa Valley!

 

 

 

This is a sponsored guest post by Napa Wine Tours

Using A Party Bus for Napa Wine Tours

The beautiful rolling hills of Napa Valley invite thousands of visitors every month, and rightfully so. This is a destination known around the world for its splendid beauty, warm weather, as well as the wine making industry. This relaxing area is filled with opportunities for enjoyment and education, especially if you’re interested in the process that goes into your favorite adult beverage. Boasting internationally known wineries such as O’Brien Estate, V. Sattui and Darious, you’re in for an exceptionally memorable winery tour. There are options to visit the tasting rooms, lounge on the patio areas, or embark on a tour with the knowledgeable staff. You can customize your Napa Valley Wine Tours based on your preferences for atmosphere, eating options, and wine type, and that’s a great thing if you happen to have a group along for the ride.

Using professional transportation for your Napa experience is something that should definitely be considered. After all, you want to experience whatever is on your itinerary in the most convenient fashion to enjoy it to the best of your ability. If you’re new to the area, finding directions and navigating your way to potential wineries will prove to be a bit challenging. This is why both visitors and residents of the area take advantage of limousine and party bus rentals for their Napa winery tours and sightseeing. We always recommend checking in with wineries beforehand to ensure that they’re able to accommodate these types of vehicles at their estates and vineyards. It’s worthy to note that some of the smaller spots will require appointments and reservations that can be booked up well in advance, so this is another important reason to open up communication before planning a special getaway with your loved ones. This will result in a smooth transition from one winery to another, and no confusion on either side!

With a party bus or limousine, a professional chauffeur with first hand experience of the venues is able to whisk you from one destination to the next. This way, you wont have to worry about things like finding a designated driver, holding back on your tasting options, or dealing with the process of driving to multiple wineries and vineyards in one day. It will be an entirely smooth process of hopping from one quality spot to the next. You can either plan your own itinerary, or ask the driver for some suggestions, as they’ve been in the drivers seat for plenty of events such as this. There’s no way to have a bad time when you’re enjoying local hot spots and enjoying their selections along the way! It’s a perfect way to celebrate an anniversary or bachelorette party.

The features that can be found inside luxury transportation vehicles make it even easier to decide on reserving a limo or bus for your adventure through Napa Valley. There is upholstered leather seating found in the spacious interior, and the cup holders make it easy to enjoy some of your newly purchased beverages on the road if you so choose. There are high-quality audio systems with sub woofers and auxiliary capabilities, and this means you get to pick your playlist! The neon lighting and television screens are more amenities to consider. You’re guaranteed to have a relaxing experience socializing with your guests for the duration of your travels.

A Walk in the Vineyards

On a quiet morning, we walk in the vineyards in St. Helena in the Napa Valley. Listen to the sounds of Fall and view the beauty of the vines at this time of the year.