Sonoma Valley Itinerary Critique Please
 

DH and I are heading to Healdsburg for 3 days in September. We get in Monday night and check in (staying at the Old Town Apartment run by Camellia Inn). I am a big cheese fan and I enjoy wine (zins, pinot, syrah, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc. DH is a big wine fan--really likes big reds as well as sweet Alsace type wines and gevertz(??) (I cannot spell that word for the life of me!). Here is my current thought on itinerary. I am not going to be drinking all of this--I intend to spit and/or share DH's glass. We will also tour one winery--not sure yet which one. Please let me know your thoughts on this itinerary/vineyard choices. Thanks!!

Tues:
Russian River Valley, Wine Tasting at Selby in Healdsburg, Farmers Market (cheese), dinner at Zinfandels
Wineries to include: Hop Kiln, Gary Farrell, Hartford Family. (supposedly Rochioli is good but I can't find it on the current Russian River map--is it still there?) Possible others include: Rodney Strong, Martinelli, Hanna

Wednesday:
Plaza Farms in am (cheese), Dry Creek Valley, Dinner at Cyrus.
Wineries to include: Michel Sclumberger, Preston, David Coffaro, Ridge/Lytton Springs, Bella. May include Mazzoco and Ferrari-Carono

Thursday:
Cheese shop stop, Alexander Valley, Dinner at Dry Creek Kitchen.
Wineries to include: Alexander Valley, Stryker Sonoma, Clos du Bois, Locals Tasting Room. May do Rosso & Bianco--not sure.

This agenda is amazing! How did you do your research?

I get almost all my research from these boards! I printed out 2 complete threads on Sonoma Valley wine country. (I planned a week in France completely from these boards!)

I started with the Fodors book and I added 2 others (I just feel comfortable with more info) I used the online websites recommended here for reservations (food and lodging). And I paid attention to the winery recommendations from other posters.

The cheese part (the 2 stores) were noted in the guidebooks. I also checked out the California cheese website for artisan cheese makers.

Then it comes down to--is this doable? Is this the best use of our time? And that is where all these great fodor members come in--thank you!

Hmmmmm.
Healdsburg is considered Sonoma County North, <u>not</u> Sonoma Valley.

Sonoma Valley is Kenwood, Glen Ellen,town of Sonoma, Boyes Hot Springs, etc. All of which are about an hour's drive south/south east of Healdsburg.

Also, Plaza Farms is closed. There was never a cheese shop, per se, in Plaza Farms. Bovolo may have carried some cheese - and they are the only tenant remaining of what was Plaza Farms - the rest of the space is a Copperfield's Bookstore.

Rochioli is nearly next to Hop Kiln.

In Alexander Valley, plan to have lunch at the Jimtown Store.
You do have rezzies for Cyrus, yes ?

R5

Thank you for the info. Plaza Farms closed? Well, I'm glad I know now as opposed to when I show up! I was looking for cheese in general there. The actual cheese shop is listed as being on Center with a name like &quot;The Cheese Shop&quot;. I emailed the owner and saw the website. I am hoping it has not closed. (??)

By next to Hop Kiln, do you mean &quot;walk across the driveway&quot; or hop back into the car and go up the next driveway?

We do have reservations at Cyrus and Dry Creek Kitchen. I have to call for Zinfandel.

Have I given sufficient time for the wineries we want to visit? It is hard to get a feel for driving distances--IME mileage is not the best predictor when driving small roads/country side. TIA!