Healdsburg: a guide to Sonoma's dreamiest town
Jordan Winery
Healdsburg Overview
Healdsburg is located in northern Sonoma country along the Russian River, and is perfectly positioned to enjoy some of California's (and the world's for that matter) best wine and tasting experiences. Healdsburg somehow manages to be cute and cozy while also being one of the more chic downtown's in Northern California's wine country. With great food and tasting rooms downtown, and easy access to three wonderful wine regions (Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley), there's really something for everyone, assuming they like wine :) Stay tuned for my 3 days in Sonoma itinerary, full of tasting rooms, bike rides, and great food.
Where to stay
Harmon House - Harmon House and its sister hotel h2hotel are beautiful, nature-inspired hotels that are perfectly situated in downtown Healdsburg. Harmon House & h2hotel are both LEED Gold Certified, and are the perfect balance between stylish comfort and environmental responsibility. Harmon House features a secluded, creekside picnic area to enjoy a meal or bottle of wine, a chic rooftop bar, and a solar-heated pool for those who want to stay on-site and enjoy the amenities. For those who want to venture out, borrow one of the complimentary bikes to pedal about town for up to 3 hours. All of these beautifully appointed features and my favorite part of this hotel is the sparkling and still water bars on every floor (does anyone else end up dehydrated on every vacation and inevitably and regrettably dip into the minibar's $7 bottle of water?). Oh, and did I mention free valet parking and Tesla / universal charging stations?
h2hotel - this is the sister hotel to Harmon House and offers all of the green-chic amenities and appointments, plus when you stay at one of these hotels, you get to enjoy all the goodness from both hotels. While Harmon House offers the roof top vibes of , h2hotel houses SpoonBar, a great spot for complimentary breakfast, happy hour drinks at the open-air bar, or a seasonal dinner (vegan options seem to be limited, so be sure to ask ahead of time if they can accommodate preferences).
Best Western Dry Creek Inn - Ok, a Best Western wasn't my initial pick for a wine country getaway (nothing against BW, but it doesn't exactly evoke thoughts of chic and cozy), but this is up there as my top recommendation for where to stay in Healdsburg, especially if you plan on being out and about most of the day. The prices here are always good (by Healdsburg standards at least), parking is easy, the rooms are perfectly adequate and clean, and you are only a mile or so away from all of the happenings downtown.
The Madrona - Just outside downtown, this restored Victorian estate offers individually styled rooms, beautiful grounds, and one of the most exciting on-site restaurants in the area (worth visiting even if you don’t stay). Think candles-and-cocktails energy over pool-and-bikes — romantic, design-forward, and blissfully calm without feeling remote.
The Madrona Hotel & Restaurant
Wineries to visit
Healdsburg is situated in and close to several wine regions (or AVAs - American Viticulture Areas) that are easily accessible from downtown Healdsburg:
Dry Creek Valley - known for delicious Zinfandels (beautiful red wines, not the sickeningly sweet white zins that were popular in the early 2000's)
Russian River Valley - known for some of the best California Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays
Alexander Valley - think bold Cabernet Sauvignon
When choosing wineries to visit, I consider a combination of 1. the setting, 2. the wine, and 3. the experience. I look to curate a trip around a blend of most beautiful settings, best tasting wine, and different types of experiences (tours vs. tasting vs. food pairings). Some of my favorite wineries to visit do not make my favorite wines and vice versa.
One other word of advice when planning a trip, try to find a mix of physical settings - one sprawling on the valley floor, one in the hills with views down on the valleys, a wine cave, a farm-like setting, etc.
Will all of these wineries be home runs for everyone? No. It totally depends on your style, your mood (I've repeated wineries and loved then one trip and been sort of 'meh' about it the next time), who you're with, and many other factors, so do a little planning and go in with an open mind to every unique experience.
Note that not all wines from recommended vineyards are guaranteed to be vegan-friendly. Many red wines use egg whites or other animal derivatives in the fining process. I've tried to note which ones have confirmed they use no animal derivatives, but please do your own research to confirm.
Jordan Vineyard and Wineries - Jordan always makes my list of top wineries to visit, period. The grounds are stunning and their experiences are absolutely top-notch. The best experience offered in all of California wine country IMO is Jordan's Estate Tour & Tasting, a three hour guided tour that whisks you away to the far corners of the estate, ending the most glorious glass building with panoramic views from high up on the hill top. The wines, olive oil, food (they accommodate vegan brilliantly), and people are wonderful, and this is absolutely a MUST DO. The alfresco lunches are also special experiences and I'd highly recommend.
Aperture - Aperture is a newer estate with a minimalist, modern tasting room that feels fresh and airy. The focus here is on Pinot Noir, grown in small lots that showcase subtle differences in terroir. The clean, modern architecture with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking rolling hills is enough to make this a stop on your itinerary.
Gary Farrell Vineyard & Winery - Gary Farrell is one of the gems of Russian River Valley and happens to be one of my personal favs when it comes to both visiting the winery and the delicious pinot noirs (their chards are also very good, but it's not my personal fav wine in general). Gary Farrell sits high on the hilltop with beautiful views of the Russian River Valley. Unlike many red wine producers, Gary Farrell does not use any animal products in the fining process, making these wines vegan-friendly. On my last visit, I let them know I was vegan ahead of time and they had a lovely complimentary plate of nibbles for me to enjoy along with my wine and the beautiful views. Tastings are $45 per person and take about an hour.
MacRostie Winery - MacRostie is a super popular winery in Russian River and for good reason! The contemporary tasting building is gorgeous, the panoramic views are breathtaking, and the wines are decent. On top of it all, MacRostie is committed to sustainability, from water conservation to energy efficiency, composting and waste reduction. Taste 5 of their chardonnays and pinot noirs for $35 per person.
Lambert Bridge - Elegant, estate-driven wines in a refined but approachable setting. A nice stop if you’re looking for something polished without being stuffy.
Dry Creek Vineyard - Dry Creek Vineyard is a 50 year old family-owned winery serving up delicious Zinfandels in the heart of Dry Creek Valley. I highly recommend picking up lunch at Dry Creek General Store just down the road and enjoying it on DCV's picnic grounds. Like most Dry Creek wineries, the vibe is super relaxed and the people are so warm and welcoming. This is a great spot to stop if you're doing a biking tour of Dry Creek. Tastings are $25 per person.
Quivira Vineyards - Quivira is set in a beautiful, laid-back setting, with vineyards on one side and an organic garden on the other. Quivira primarily produces organic and sustainable Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc, along with other Rhone varietals. Not only do you get to taste five of their wines when you visit, but the highlight is definitely strolling through the garden to see all of the fruits and veggies they produce and be inspired by their commitment to a balanced, sustainable property. Another great stop if you're biking around Dry Creek.
Ridge - Their commitment to sustainability and phenomenal zinfandels make their Lytton Spring location a wonderful stop for any wine lover.
Flowers Vineyards and Winery - Known for cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with dramatic coastal-influenced vineyard sites. More refined than rustic.
J Vineyards - Sparkling wines in a more commercial environment, but worth a visit when you're inevitably craving some bubbly after all of the zins and pinot noir.
A. Rafanelli - Traditional, family-owned wineries that excel at classic Napa and Sonoma reds. They aren’t flashy, but they deliver a solid tasting experience, and the staff is warm and personable. Perfect for adding a slower, more intimate pace to a day of tasting.
Bella Winery - Known for Zinfandels and wine cave tastings. A fun, slightly different experience.
Reeve - Small-production, thoughtful wines with a relaxed tasting experience. Great if you want something more intimate. Long, winding drive to get to the tucked-in tasting room surrounded by some cutie farm animals and great vibes. They don’t grow their grapes on property, but the Kelly and Noah Dorrance have a lot of history sourcing high quality grapes and building a wine brand (Noah previously co-founded Banshee Wines and Kelly was an early employee), so it’s worth checking out what they’re up to.
Where to eat
Plank - My absolute favorite spot for coffee and breakfast. Super vegan friendly and they've never let me down. I'm not sure I can recommend anything else because I always get the BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato), but the burrito and avocado toast also look delicious. Plus they have all sorts of vegan cakes, coffee, and more.
Dry Creek General Store - build your own vegan sandwich to-go and enjoy at one of the nearby vineyards, like Dry Creek Vineyards!
Otoro - I haven't seen Otoro show up on many "best of" lists that tend to recycle the same popular restaurants, probably because it's newer and in a little office complex without the wine country vibe, but honestly the vegan sushi here was absolutely delicious and probably the best value meal you can get in Healdsburg.
Little Saint - Healdsburg most coveted restaurant SingleThread is a 3-Michelin Star fine dining restaurant serving Japanese-inspired fare with many of the ingredients grown on their very own farm. Now, I am not against shelling out for a special experience and SingleThread has been on my list (haven't confirmed if / how well they'll accommodate plant-based), but I am SO PUMPED for their new venture Little Saint, which should open in Spring 2022. Little Saint is in one of my favorite building (what used to be SHED) and is taking the brilliant minds and produce of SingleThread and making it plant-based (and less expensive). Seriously cannot wait.
Bravas bar de Tapas - Not the most vegan-friendly menu as-is, but they make the list for their patio, which is a nice landing place to unwind after a day of wine tasting. Try the pan con tomate, patatas bravas (sans aioli), and ask about any other items that might be veganizable. It does drive me a little nuts that they have so many tapas and very few are vegan, but hopefully they'll add some if we can keep asking.
Valette - A nice restaurant in the heart of Healdsburg that usually has one vegan (or veganizable) entree and a knowledgable, accommodating staff.
The Madrona - Very produce-forward menu, much of which is sourced from the estate garden. Stop by for brunch, lunch, dinner, or even just a drink to experience the vibe and gorgeous grounds (also see above about staying at The Madrona).
Things to do
Bike Rentals - stay tuned for a Healdsburg by Bike post!
Shopping
Wine Tasting Rooms in downtown Healdsburg
I’m sure there’s some great outdoor activities, but it’s never been my vacation style to seek these out :)
If you've been to any of these places or have had good experiences anywhere else, please let me know! I try to go to Sonoma and/or Napa twice a year, and I'm always looking for new spots to try! I'm also working on curating a fully vegan-friendly winery list, so stay tuned for more.
