Russian River Winery RecommendationsThis section provides Russian River winery recommendations for those visiting the Russian River Valley appellation. This wine region has some of the best Sonoma County Pinot Noir wines. There are over 180 Russian River Valley wineries that are spread out in an area between Santa Rosa and Healdsburg. This wine region is a little more spread out than some of the neighboring wine regions. This section provides some Russian River winery recommendations in and around Santa Rosa. It’s also provides suggestions for Healdsburg wineries and many others. Wineries In and Around Santa Rosa So Many Reds to Choose From: Hanna Winery I recently visited Hanna Winery, a Russian River Winery, near Santa Rosa and I really enjoyed my visit. This winery is also so close to Santa Rosa that it took us only a few minutes to get there. This tasting room is one of two for Hanna Winery. The one we visited is located on Occidental Road about half way between Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. It’s also the original “Home Ranch” location for this winery. We visited first thing on a Saturday morning and it was a great time to visit. We were the only ones in the tasting room and received wonderful treatment from Mary. As we tasted, she provided us with some history of the winery. It was also fun to hear more about the family that owned the winery and the background on the unique labels. We also tasted a number of their wines. My favorite was their Hanna Pinot Noir wine. This wine is grown in the Russian River Valley location. It’s 100% Pinot Noir and is medium bodied. It has a nice berry flavor and I really enjoyed it. I really liked almost all of their wines. Two of my other favorites were their Hanna Alexander Valley Merlot and the Bismark Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. They also had some fun and interesting red wine blends. At its Russian River winery location it also has a cute patio area in the back, along with more parking. If you happen to pull into the front and see just the two parking spots, then keep driving to the west side of the building. There is a large lot that holds probably around 20 to 30 cars behind the tasting room. Hanna Winery Russian River Winery Tasting Room Web Site Address: www.hannawinery.com Tasting Room Hours: Open daily from 10am to 4pm
9280 Hwy 128, Healdsburg, CA 95448 Tasting Room Hours: Open daily from 10am to 4pm
Two For One: Balletto Winery & Dutton Goldfield The people at Balletto Winery & Dutton Goldfield had the right idea by combing their tasting rooms into one location. This gives you double the tasting at just one Russian River winery location. This tasting room is also located on Occidental Road, half way between Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. It’s only about a mile down the road from Hanna Winery. When we visited recently, we tasted a number of great wines at these two wineries. Since we were in a Russian River winery, we focused our attention on their great Sonoma County Pinot Noir wines. I had two favorites from my tasting at these two wineries. The first was the Balletto Estate Pinot Noir. This wine is grown and produced in the Russian River Valley appellation. My other favorite from this visit was the McDougall Vineyard Pinot Noir. This is grown in a vineyard along the Sonoma Coast which has the perfect climate for amazing Pinot Noir wines. This tasting room also had a great patio area in the front. It was equipped with picnic tables and heaters, so you could enjoy an outdoor picnic even if it is a little chilly. Address: 5700 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95448 Web Site Address: www.ballettovineyards.com, www.duttongoldfield.com Tasting Room Hours: Open daily from 10am to 4pm
Healdsburg Wineries The town of Healdsburg is technically located in the Russian River Valley appellation. However, it’s the location where Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley meet. You’ll see a handful of these wineries in other sections too. This is because the main vineyard for the winery might be located in Dry Creek Valley or Alexander Valley instead of Russian River Valley. Either way, all of my recommendations have great wines and I think you should stop by for a visit. Many Pinot Noir Wines to Taste: La Crema Winery If you like Pinot Noir wine then this Russian River winery is the place for you. The La Crema Winery tasting room is located right in the town of Healdsburg. They are considered part of the Russian River Valley region. The great thing about La Crema is that they have a variety of different Pinot Noir wine. You should try a number of their Pinot Noir wines to select the one you like the best. La Crema red wines at their tasting room start at around $24 and go up to around $50 a bottle. La Crema also widely distributes some of their wines throughout the US. Look for them in your local super market or wine store. Address: 235 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, California Web Site Address: www.lacrema.com Tasting Room Hours: Open daily from 10:30am-5:30pm
Amazing Zinfandel Wine & Large Picnic Area: Seghesio Family Vineyards Seghasio Family Vineyard’s tasting room is located right in the town of Healdsburg. It’s a great sized tasting room that also has a large garden and picnic area in the front. I think Seghasio is best known for their highly rated Zinfandel wines. It’s one of my favorites. You can also taste some of their other great red wines such as their Pinot Noir wine, Petit Sirah and their Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Before, after or during your tasting, you can also head outside to play a little Bocce ball. This is such a fun Russian River winery to visit that I highly recommend you swing by if you are in the area. Address: 14730 Grove Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448 Web Site Address: www.seghesio.com Tasting Room Hours: Open daily from 10am-5pm Additional Information: The building that houses the tasting room is so large that they are able to accommodate events. If you have a special event coming up, you should check out some of their options that hold anywhere from 6 to 120 people. Call 707.433.3579 for more information.
Wine Tasting in Downtown Healdsburg: Lake Sonoma Winery The Lake Sonoma winery tasting room is located right in Healdsburg. This Russian River winery has a convenient location that makes it a great first or last stop to your wine tasting day. Step inside this beautiful tasting room and enjoy some of the best wines they have to offer. One of my favorites is their Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. You should also try their Cabernet Sauvignon wine from the Alexander Valley and their Saini Farms Dry Creek Valley Old Vine Zinfandel. Address: 340 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, California 95448 Web Site Address: www.lakesonomawinery.com Tasting Room Hours: Open daily from 10am to 5pm Tours: No tours available, since the tasting room is in a different location from the vineyards
Other Russian River Winery Recommendations The winery recommendations in this section are located in other parts of Russian River Valley. Beautiful Vineyards, Evening Concerts: Rodney Strong Vineyards Rodney Strong Vineyards another great Russian River winery and is located in the northern part of Russian River Valley, just to the west of Healdsburg. It’s a beautiful winery that has a number of great wines. The large tasting room at Rodney Strong is located right on the Old Redwood Highway. It has a large tasting room and gorgeous views from the balcony. They also have an area available for picnics. The wine tasting is great too since they have a number of wines to choose from on their list. You can choose from their Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs, the Rodney Strong Merlot or the one of the many Cabernet Sauvignon wines. The range of their prices is great too. You can pick up some wine for around $19 a bottle or buy a more expensive reserve option for around $50 to $60. This winery also has concerts. Check the schedule before you visit. You can do some tasting and then head right out to a concert. The concerts usually start just as the tasting room is closing around 5pm. Address: 11455 Old Redwood Hwy, Healdsburg, California 95448 Web Site Address: www.rodneystrong.com Tasting Room Hours: Open daily from 10am to 5pm Tours: Tours are usually available from 11am to 3pm (based on staff availability at the time), you can also do a self guided tour from 10am to 5pm
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Off the Beaten Path: Freestone Vineyards If you want a winery that is not as well known, then you should visit Freestone Vineyards. The tasting room is located just outside of Freestone, CA off Hwy 12. It’s a great location for a small, quaint tasting room. The Freestone vineyards are located just a few miles down the road, but all tasting is done in their guest center in Freestone. The vineyards are set just a few miles from the cool Pacific Ocean, which is the perfect temperature for a perfect Pinot Noir wine. Although it will take you a few more minutes to get to this winery, the experience is worth the trip. They also have a great patio. Bring along your lunch and enjoy it along with one of their great Pinot Noir wines. Address: 12747 El Camino Bodega, Freestone, California 95472 Web Site Address: www.freestonevineyards.com Tasting Room Hours: Open Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 11am to 5pm
Enjoy your visit to Russian River Valley. It’s an amazingly beautiful wine region with nicely crafted Pinot Noir wines. If you decide to stay the night, your best options are to stay in Healdsburg or Santa Rosa. To find a great place to stay, visit the section Healdsburg Hotels or Santa Rosa Hotels for my recommendations. Most of the wineries have limited hours during the holidays. All prices quoted are estimates and may be changed at anytime by the individual winery. Return to the Sonoma Wineries page from the Russian River Winery Recommendations page
|
