Wineries
Benovia Winery
3339 Hartman Road | Santa Rosa | website
Leather couches, floor-to-ceiling hearth, and stellar views make for a cozy place to enjoy Benovia’s unfiltered pinot noirs and lightly-oaked chardonnay.
Chalk Hill
10300 Chalk Hill Road | Healdsburg | website
Founded nearly four decades ago, this spectacular 1300-acre property features 300 acres of vineyards, wilderness areas, a stunning culinary garden, and an equestrian pavilion. The hospitality center has a fireplace and culinary pairings like local salumi and cheese, and caviar. Plus, with the higher elevation, views over the Russian River Valley and Mayacamas Mountains are endless.
Croix Estate
1406 Wood Road | Fulton | website
Croix Estate owner and winemaker, Kirk Venge, likes to push the envelope. Which he does through practices like no crushing and native fermentation on his single-vineyard, terroir-driven Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel. Croix Estate’s intimate Russian River winery is a cozy spot to enjoy their stellar wines.
La Crema at Saralee’s Vineyard
3575 Slusser Road | Windsor | website
Nestled on a knoll overlooking Saralee’s Vineyard, the new La Crema Estate is housed in a charming historic barn that dates back to 1900. A stone hearth, wood-burning fireplace, and welcoming visitors’ center make it a lovely place to taste through the array of top-notch La Crema wines -- Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Gris from cool-climate, coastal appellations.
Lambert Bridge
4085 West Dry Creek Road | Healdsburg | website
Lambert Bridge’s posh, lodge-style tasting room is warmed by a stone fireplace, carved wood hearth, and vaulted ceilings. It’s the place you want to taste on a rainy day. Plus, their experiences include local cheese and charcuterie plate.
Lynmar Estates
3909 Frei Road | Sebastopol | website
Lynmar Estate is a stunning winery nestled in the hills along the Laguna de Santa Rosa -- the largest tributary of the Russian River -- and also shares a border with Sonoma County’s richest wildlife preserve. Only 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Lynmar Estate enjoys a maritime climate, with warm days and cool evenings, that creates an ideal setting for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Marine Layer
308 B Center Street | Healdsburg | website
One of the newest additions to the area, Marine Layer offers Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines sourced from premiere Sonoma Coast vineyards. The approach includes sustainable farming, heritage clones, hand-harvesting, and an obsession for quality. With oversized couches, a cozy fireplace, and a cool soundtrack Marine Layer is a great place to cozy up for the afternoon.
Passalacqua
3805 Lambert Bridge Road | Healdsburg | website
The Passalacqua family has been growing grapes in California for five generations, and their roots run deep in Dry Creek Valley. Their intimate winery has breathtaking vineyard views and small-lot handcrafted wines -- including single-vineyard Zinfandels and estate Cabernet Sauvignons -- that showcases a deep understanding of terroir.
Robert Young
5102 Red Winery Road | Geyserville | website
Robert Young is an iconic Alexander Valley producer and a family-owned grower of premium grapes for 160 years. Their new Scion House tasting room is set on a knoll overlooking the 448-acre ranch with sweeping views of the valley. Settle in to taste through their small-lot estate wines, like their lush Chardonnay, bold Cabernets, and sublime Bordeaux blends.
