Only 45 minutes from San Francisco, Sonoma County is a food and wine lover’s paradise. Like a fine wine that breathes, opening to a rich and rewarding experience, #LifeOpensUp in Sonoma County. Plan your Sonoma County getaway at Sonomacounty.com. There are so many festivals and events happening year-round, let the events calendar be your guide. The Jordan Winery Estate in Healdsburg is family owned and operated since 1972. The winery chateau houses winemaking facilities, a kitchen, dining room, guest suites, a tasting library, and wine cellars. Set along a most picturesque vista, the winery produces cabernet, chardonnay as well as estate extra virgin olive oil. Jordan offers a unique loyalty program based on a lifetime of spending. Customers are rewarded with curated experiences from summer picnics, sunset suppers, private dinners, charcuterie tastings, champagne tastings and the ultimate, a stay at the chateau.
Jordan Winery Chateau, Healdsburg Alexander Valley
The three-hour Estate and Winery Tour is a delightful way to immerse in a farm/vineyard-to-table tour of the estate. It’s a driving tour with beautiful settings for wine tastings paired with chef’s hors d’oeuvres. Along the way, visit with farm animals, pick ripe fruits and vegetables from the gardens, taste honeycomb from the apiary and sample local raw sheep’s milk cheese paired with the smooth finish of a Cabernet with hints of cherry. jordanwinery.com
Jordan Winery Chateau Block Tasting
The town center of Healdsburg is charming; be sure to visit on a farmer’s market day. Stop into Peter Seghesio's Journeyman Meat Co, a salumeria, proudly serving family recipes of meats cut, cured and crafted by hand. The acclaimed winemaker and farmer serves a menu of 11 hand-crafted salumi, wine and salumi pairings and wood -fired pizzas. journeymanmeat.com
Willi's Wine Bar Truffle Fries photo by Loren Hansen
As soon as you walk into Willi's Wine Bar in Santa Rosa, you feel welcome and that's a testament to owners Mark and Terri Stark. Willi's was destroyed in the Tubbs fire, and many employees lost their homes. The Starks were able to staff the employees at their other restaurants and the majority have returned to the newly opened Willi's Wine Bar.
The concept is a menu of international small plates. These are the most generous “small plate” servings I’ve ever seen! Each dish is sensational from the simplest: a local cremini mushroom salad with shaved aged parmigiano; an incredible warm spinach salad, with goat cheese, dates, cracked almonds and pancetta vinaigrette; skillet roasted shrimp with Fresno chilies lemon and garlic. Desserts are stellar: Meyer Lemon Pudding Cake with Lavender roasted strawberries and the Flourless Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Mousse and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Outstanding food, casual vibe, friendly staff, reasonable prices. starkrestaurants.com It's a haven of healing mineral waters at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa. Set atop an ancient thermal mineral spring, the Willow Stream Spa invites guests to rejuvenate in the resort's indoor and outdoor mineral waters- 4 geo-thermal pools, indoor and outdoor jacuzzis, hot waters, cool down showers, showers with exfoliating scrubs, a Watsu® Pool with handicapped access designated for one-on-one in the water massage therapy. Cabanas designed for up to six people are a favorite along with a pink champagne cart serving pool-side bubbly.
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn
Rooms are spacious with extra comfortable, plump mattresses. Sante is the resort's celebrated dining room serving breakfast and dinner. Other dining options include Sonoma Golf Club Grill, poolside at The Water Tower Bar and the Spa Café. 38°North pours over 50 wines by the glass along with small plate pairing menu. Hotel guests are invited to a complimentary wine tasting daily from 4:30-5:30. Resort guests have access to Fairmont’s 40,000 sq. ft. Willow Stream Spa with a menu of every imaginable treatment and the Sonoma Golf Club’s 18-hole championship course. Fairmont.com