LizaMarie

this is our second trip to wine country. we usually can handle several wineries in one day. there are just so many and I would hate to miss out on somewhere great. we stick to red wine.

we are staying in Healdsburg (love it there!) and I picked out mostly biodynamic/organic vineyards. we are stopping at just two places in the Napa area en route to Healdsburg from San Francisco mostly because we are members at one of them and they offer perks for that. So I don't think I want to go anywhere else in the Napa area. Mostly looking for recommendations in the Russian River, Dry Creek, Alexander Valley area.

here is my tentative list...

manzanita/salerno

williamson

Preston

truett hurst

Michel-Schlumberger

quivira

arista

porter creek

russian river brewery

possibly benziger but it's kind of out of the way....

we've already been to:

Napa area:

V Sattui

Artesa

Chimney Rock

Uncorked at Oxbow

frank family

rombauer

freemark abbey

Del Dotto

Goosecross

peju province

st supery

Frogs Leap

sonoma and north:

viansa

Cline

Gundlach Bundschu

Foppiano

Matanzas

Chautea St Jean

DeLoach

Bella

Ridge

Seghesio

Rochioli

hop kiln

gary farrell

rosenblum

Tomsd

Dang - you have already toured some of the best. Chateau Montalena is very pretty and I love the caves at BeauLieu, or is it BV? Always get them mixed up. Have fun.

Tomsd

And Sonoma Curter was one of the first to go all stainless steel (or mostly very mechanixed, etc.) Very interesting winery started by a fellow from one of my alma maters - the AF Academy.

NeoPatrick

A Raffanelli, if you are willing to be on a waiting list to buy or order and pay an average of $40 for any of their three red wines. They are definitely WORTH it! And the "by appointment only" small tasting room is a delight, particularly if one of the family greets you.

But that's a really nice list you've assembled.

zootsi

DeLormier near Geyserville is a very good, low key winery in a beautiful setting. Close by is Cappola's which is a Disney for adults type place, but fun. Further south, Jacuzzi is also worth visiting, one of the few places that specialize in Italian type reds.

rjw_lgb_ca

I strongly recommend Benzinger-- well worth any detour. Spring for the full tour, since it gives a great overview of biodynamic wine making. And for the record, the wines are great too.

I would also recommend Imagery, which is run by a Benzinger sibling. Lovely property, beautiful wines, great pourers. Especially if you're a small group, where you can get quality time to chat up the pourers and get extra tastes (if you're lucky, they'll pony up sips of their artisanal port).

Paradise Ridge's main facility in Santa Rosa is supposed to be stunning (weddings are held there all the time). I have not been there yet. I have, however, been to their satellite tasting shack in Kentwood. It is quintessential eccentric northern California style: Literally a shack by the Sonoma Highway, with its tasting patio next to a chicken coop. Don't let it keep you away. The pourers are really cool and the wines are-- to put it bluntly-- awesome. On a hot day, their sparkling Shiraz is sublime.

Domaine Chandon in Napa is recommended for the insight into the champagne-making process (following classical méthode champenoise) and the nice facilities. Do try their still wines; they have fantastic pinot meunier and pinot noir varietals (gotta order some!).

I wish I were going with you....!

rjw_lgb_ca

Sorry-- I meant Paradise Ridge's tasting shack in Kenwood. Santa Rosa, Kenwood-- either way you will be tasting some great wine. Enjoy yourself!!!

NewbE

I strongly recommend Unti, in the Dry Creek Valley. They are a biodynamic winery specializing in Italian varietals, and in our experience everything in their lineup is terrific. We bought a case back in May that just arrived (thanks, Florida temps!) and fell in love all over again.
http://www.untivineyards.com

Since you listed a brewery and are staying in Healdsburg, I'll also put in a plug for Bear Republic Brewery, which has a tasting room just off the square. Great stuff, especially the Black Racer (a black IPA). Enjoy your trip!

kendracb

We loved Hall Rutherford. You need a reservation and they are a little pompous, but the views are well worth it.

mrt

We were recently in Napa valley and went on 4 tours during the crush. After going on 4 tours you start seeing and hearing the same presentation. Here are 2 wineries that are different:
Castillo de Amorosa winery in ST Helena. It is a castle and pretty good tasting after the tour. There is nothing like it. The owner spent 40 million building it.

Far Niente winery in Oakville. Very high end winery. We had a private tour for 4 people. Beautiful grounds and you see the owners' private exotic car collection. You need a reservation.

I would stay away from the larger wineries and commercial tours. St Supery is a good tour but you did it already.

Birdie

Merry Edwards.

Diamantina

I would second Raffanelli--great Zin. I would also second Benziger--gorgeous vineyard, gorgeous wine and biodynamic to boot!

If you like Chardonnay, then, yes, I agree with Tomsd, visit Sonoma Cutrer (very pretty grounds, too). Far Niente, which mrt recommends.

Birdie wisely recommends Merry Edwards. Edwards is a bit of local legend.

My vote would be to revisit Ridge and Seghesio. Always good, and newly release vintages are worth trying.

sheilasmartin

Rosenblum Cellars opened a tasting room in Healdsburg! Delicious Zin's, and a nice location on the Healdsburg square. Check it out!! You will not be disappointed!

AJPeabody

Maybe instead of looking for new wineries with more of the same, why not head to the more rural and friendly wine areas to the north? I'm thinking the Russian River and Anderson Valley areas.

The wineries are not cheek by jowl close together, the wines are different from the usual suspects of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, and there is scenery. Then, if you head further on to Fort Bragg, there is the North Coast Brewing Co, with its brewpub and nice beer flights for tasting.

Another tactic is to pick a few places that do not have walk-in tours and arrange private visits. It's actually quite easy to do, and will get you treated like royalty.

AJPeabody

What I was trying to say, is this time skip the well known places and find your own discoveries. Don't stop at a place you've heard of.

Tomsd

And as for Zin - my wife's nephew loves the good quality that has been produced in the past few years - and he used to joke about going to wine tasting parties in SF where the "usual" cab was about $100 - and he would bring his $30 Zin - and they would ask - what's that?

He would say "That's my Cab Killer."

However - I still have yet to find a Zin I really like but at those prices (less even for some old vine Zins) - I keep trying.

Tomsd

And Diama: I am still partial to the old style Chards - full bodied - and Oaky with some Vanilla - even though I do also like the Montrachet wannabes they are making today.

The best Chard I ever had (old style) was at the former Zellerbach winery- circa '83 - called Hanzell (after a British Dame had sold it?) - and we were there during the grape crush - and the vintner's wife showed us around (private appt) and poured us a wonderful Chard and then her husband joined us at the end of the day. We were doubly lucky because half a case had been returned from a restaurant that had gone out of business and we snapped it up.

Here is some more info: http://www.nytwineclub.com/!lcxes9dl...lla-Chardonnay

"Hanzell Winery holds a special place in my heart as it is close to where I live in Sonoma County, and is believed to be the oldest continuous plantings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the Western Hemisphere. The winery is arguably considered to be one of the finest producers and I love how this wine makes me swoon with its wonderful balance of citrus, minerality and acidity. It is such a versatile wine to pair with food from seafood to chicken. Better yet, just I give it the proper chill and settle in with a friend and raise a glass to Ambassador JD Zellerbach who started this winery nearly 60 years ago." – CM, Chef

Tomsd

And here is the webpage for the Hanzell winery - with great/historical pics of it's founding.

http://www.hanzell.com/vision.html