two days of wine tasting in sonoma county

[shastashark]

hello!

we're going up to sonoma in a few weeks and our base for the night will be healdsburg.

we both LOVE pinots and zins and plan to hit at least six wineries a day.

are there any MUST trys in the sonoma area (the russian river, dry creek, and alexander valley areas)? we're pretty familiar with all the different areas.

any suggestions would greatly be appreciated!

thanks!

[JustJake]

You could do far worse than making Hartford way down at the bottom of the Dry Creek/West Creek Rd area for a tasting of their terrific Pinot and Zins. Make sure to also try Bella as well for zins as well. Two of my favorite wineries - can't wait to return there next year.

[zinfanatic]

For some smaller and out of the ordinary - mostly suggestions here you go---Papapietro Perry makes some of the best Pinots in Sonoma. It is a small tasting room, crowded and friendly. Also Twoomey for SB and good pinot- not as good as PP. Also if you are Cab fan you should hit Silver Oak Sonoma. Their wines are pricey and you pay for tasting as at many places. Very high end look and feel, but good wines. Try Wind Gap in Forestville- all good. Very small place that you may have to make an appointment. Merry Edwards- great Pinots and a very good, though pricey SB- can arrange a private tasting at no cost if you call way ahead and make an appointment. Lymar is beautiful and makes good pinots and Chards. Red Car is fun and makes three price points of Syrahs and Pinots - all good. Pax or as it now is know Donelan makes great Syrahs.

[tom246]

Some good suggestions already. Be sure to hit Seghesio as they are located right in Healdsburg. Another couple I highly recommend are Talty on Dry Creek Road, they only make Zinfandel
http://www.taltyvineyards.com/

Also Rafanelli in the Dry Creek Valley makes an excellent zin (and other wines) and their wines are not distributed, you can only get from the winery
http://arafanelliwinery.com/

[bex109]

I agree that 6 wineries a day is far too ambitious. Most tasting rooms are only open from 11-4:30 or 5, so that's less than an hour at each including driving times, and without stopping for lunch.

Rocchioli is my favorite for Pinots. I like Mauritson and Seghesio for Zins, especially the ones from the Rockpile vineyards. Bella also has a great selection of Zins, and the wine caves are fun.

[CarrieWas218]

Six wineries a day is way too much. Not only will you get palate fatigue, but you will be exhausted trying to drive from one to another in such a short time and having to rush through tastings.

I would definitely hit Selby in downtown Healdsburg (right near Barn Diva which is about the best food in the area).

Other favorites are: Jordan, Alderbrook, Ferrari-Carano, Rocchioli, Ridge, Amphora, and Williams-Selyam.

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Ferrari-Carano
8761 Dry Creek Rd, Healdsburg, CA

[Melanie Wong]

Note that Jordan requires advance reservations and that Williams-Selyem is only open to the trade and members of its mailing list.

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Seghesio Family Vineyards
14730 Grove St, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Bella Vineyards
9711 W Dry Creek Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448

J Rochioli Vineyards & Winery
6192 Westside Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Alderbrook Winery
2306 Magnolia Dr, Healdsburg, CA

Amphora Winery
4791 Dry Creek Rd, Healdsburg, CA

Jordan Vineyard & Winery
1474 Alexander Valley Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Selby Winery
215 Center St, Healdsburg, CA

Ridge Vineyards - Lytton Springs
650 Lytton Springs Rd, Healdsburg, CA

Mauritson Winery
2859 Dry Creek Rd, Healdsburg, CA

[Malcolm Ruthven]

>Six wineries a day is way too much<

You can speak for yourself, but not for others. I've often tasted at six or more wineries or tasting rooms in a day with no problem.