Thursday, January 28, 2016

Wine Tasting in Healdsburg



Sonoma in January possesses a unique kind of beauty. Temperatures hover around a toasty 59 degrees, the rain spits from the thick fog cloaking the mountains, naked vines stand in stark contrast along the rolling patchy green hills. I'm relaxed and happy to be here for the first time with my best ladies. 
On Saturday morning after an early check in at the Renaissance Marriot Lodge at Sonoma Resort + Spa our driver, David, of Intimate Wine Tours whisked us off to Healdsburg, a small city located in Northern Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley where we tasted wines at Bella Winery and Yoakim Bridge. Because of the 1:30 Patriots playoff game we only had time for two tastings before booking it over to Lagunitas Brewery in Petaluma to ensure prime seating in front of their one TV!
$10 tasting / beautiful wine caves / relaxed tasting atmosphere /
gorgeous property / excellent Zinfandel.
9711 W Dry Creek Rd
Healdsburg, CA 95448

$10 tasting / intimate yet lively tasting room run by a spunky couple /
great Zins and a really delicious 2010 merlot.
7209 Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448

noshed on soft pretzels + smoked pork nachos /
tasted unique beers - a range of hits and misses.
1280 N. McDowell Blvd
Petaluma, CA 94954
Post Lagunitas and a Patriots Win(!!) we headed back to The Renaissance Lodge where we were just in time for wine tasting happy hour, along with the rest of the hotel guests. After some hotel lobby shenanigans it was off to Sonoma Plaza for one last tasting. Our good natured driver who is now off the clock joins in on the fun at Roche Winery Tasting Room before bidding us farewell until tomorrow. We make our way across the square for dinner featuring inventive contemporary 
Portuguese cuisine at La Salette. Pictured is the Tasca Tasting Platter: Fried Goat Cheese, Spicy Fried Pig Ears and Escargot in Garlic Butter.
popular downtown Sonoma tasting room 
outdoor patio on the square
122 West Spain St.
Sonoma, CA 95476

Cozinha Nova Portuguesa
452 First St East
Sonoma, CA 95476  

3 comments:

  1. We went to Lagunitas on our honeymoon and I absolutely loved it there! The atmosphere was great, and the tour was a lot of fun, too. We even randomly ended up sitting next to people from Massachusetts - small world!

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  2. What a fun day! I know the rain wasn't ideal, but they definitely need it!

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  3. All of that looks and sounds amazing. I was going to go back this year, but with our wedding i had to decline the trip offer with my girlfriends :(

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