Hi

My friend and I will be at this event in November: http://www.wineroad.com/annualevents/2

When I go to buy tickets on line, they want to know which winery we want to start at, I have no clue where to start. If you go to the website and click "buy tickets" there is a map of wineries. Any advice would be appreciated.

If it helps, we are staying at this hotel: http://www.dtsonoma.com/

Thank you,
Johanna

Are you planning to go for both days?

You're staying in Rhonert Park so I would do 1 of 2 choices, start all the way to the north at say Dutcher Crossing or Silver Oak and then work my way south OR drive out SR 116 to River Road, start at Gratton Ridge and then proceed along 116 tasting as you go, until River Road, then head towards Healdsburg on Westside Road starting at Korbel. Enjoy no easy choices - way too many good places to visit that make a logical route almost impossible.

For pure logistical reasons, I'd pick up my tickets at one of the more southern wineries - either near Santa Rosa or Sebastopol. That would be closer to your hotel and then you can go in any order after that you want. If you don't have a preference for a particular winery, then I'd pick based on the food. Yum! I'd probably start with the Poenta a la Puttanesca at Dutton Estate or the Wild Mushroom & Brie Crostini at Dutton- Goldfield (both in Sebastopol).

Yes, I know that may be a backward way to choose a winery - but some of my favorite wineries are ones I wasn't familiar with before I stopped. This event looks wonderful! How could you go wrong!

Hi!

Yes, we are doing both days. Really looking forward to this, it's been 9 years since I have been to San Francisco and the Wine Country. This event looks like a lot of fun! Starrs, I like your idea of picking based on the food! ;-)

Johanna

Okay, I took a closer look at the wineries (I still would pick up my ticket at one of the most southern wineries and then move north.

My last trip to the wine country was with DF, his DD and her friend. We were there for visiting mostly and got a REALLY late start. So late that we spent most of our time at the wineries grouped together on Dry Creek Road - Family Wineries, Kokomo Winery, Papapietro Perry, etc. They are next to the Dry Creek Olive Oil Company and I LOVED the olive oil company. Small but nice and I brought oo home. Loved it! Especially liked parking once and tasting several wines from several wineries without moving the car.
http://drycreekolivecompany.com/
We then traveled north to the Truett Hurst winery and loved that one too. There's a nice little trail behind it to the creek and we hung out there on a fallen tree for a while. (I'll post a pic on FB). I LOVED the port at TH and am still sorry I didn't send some home. By that time the tastings were winding down (they did give us a discount at the start since we were starting so late) so we drove up to Lake Sonoma. None of us had been before and we weren't ready to head back to SF so we set off. It was a beautiful drive and I took lots of great pics. We saw snow-covered mtns off in the distance.
http://www.parks.sonoma.net/laktrls.html
It was a wonderful way to end a wonderful day.

Oh, on the way up we stopped at the Dry Creek General Store which is a gourmet grocery and deli. LOTS of great stuff to eat. There's an old fashioned bar (think saloon) at the end of the building.
http://drycreekgeneralstore1881.com/

As I said before, I like wandering and discovering wineries I'm not familiar with, but these are the ones I know I like their wines -
Clos du Bois
Korbel - a must do if you like sparkling
Rodney Strong
La Crema

There are some real experts on this board who will give you great suggestions. That's my list...well, that and picking from the menu items.

topping

Just 1 persons view, but my don't misses every time I go north...all in the Healdsburg area but don't know if they are part of this event.
Ridge Lyton Springs (zinfandel)
J Vineyard or Iron Horse (sparkling wine)IMO, Korbel is a distant 3rd.
Mazzocco (chardonnay)

My advice for this event is to go early to any of the favorite wineries.
This event is a ZOO ! I've been to it during times
you couldn't even get close to Twomey or La Crema.
Hope the weather will be good for you while you are here !

R5