 Armstrong
Redwoods
Home to the tallest trees in the world. The Coast Redwoods. Walk, picnic, bring
your dog. |
 Dry
Creek Road
Stunning winescapes and many wine tasting rooms. Leads from Healdsburg to Lake
Sonoma. |
 Healdsburg
The quintessential wine country town. Great lodging, dining and entertainment. |
 Biking
Wine country rides, maps, races, businesses, tours and more. |
 Lake
Sonoma
2,700-acre lake with 50 miles of shoreline. Boating, camping, fishing, biking,
hunting. |
Fun Wineries To Visit
Korbel California Champagne - A must on any
trip. See where the world-famous Korbel champagnes were first made more than 100
years ago, as well as how champagne is made today. Tours every 45 minutes in the
summer.
Ferrari-Carano
- Offers a tour of the winery daily, Monday thru Saturday at 10 am (reservations
required). Get an inside look at the winery, learn the history, tour the gardens,
see the winemaking facility and magnificent underground cellar.
J
Vineyards & Winery - Wines-appetizer pairings tailored to each wine served.
They use local and/or organic food products and change the tasting menu with the
region's seasonal offerings. Pairings by appointment only. Tasting room open daily.
Kendall Jackson - Experience the charm,
romance and flavors of the wine country. Tour culinary and aromatic gardens, explore
the viticulture exhibit or picnic in the shade of the 100-year-old walnut grove.
You won’t want to miss the tasting room. |
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 How
many wineries are there in area?
There are over 180 wineries/vineyards.
Do you have to be a wine expert
to go tasting?
No. Let anyone know it is your first time and they will be happy to provide
you with a wealth of information and get you started in the right direction. The
staff can give you wines in an order that will help distinguish the differences
between them.
Which
wineries should I visit?
It is not necessary to visit the wineries if you are unsure where to go.
You may wish to start by visiting a tasting room in town, sampling the wine bar
at your lodge, or attending an event. Then with some favorites in mind you could
visit the winery to learn more. If you know what type of wine you want to sample
you can visit wineroad.com and sort according to that specification to narrow
your options.
What is the best town on the Russian River for wine tasting?
If you are planning on driving to the vineyards or taking a tour, then
Guerneville and all towns east are close to many wineries (town
location map). Healdsburg has the most in-town tasting rooms. Monte Rio, Duncan's
Mills or Jenner although farther are no more than 20 minutes from the heart of
the wine region.
How does wine tasting work?
If you visit where the wine is made the staff will often start you off
with a tour of the facilities. The tour will end at the tasting room where you
get to notice for yourself the distinguishing features the guide explained. Whether
you visit the winery or a tasting room in town, there is generally a tasting order
recommended to best sample the wines' characteristics. For a beginners' how to
guide to the swirling and smelling ritual, click over to the online resources
page for a great collection of wine related articles.
What are the Russian River area appellations?
The two largest are the Russian River
Valley and Alexander Valley (the Russian
River flows through both). There is also the Dry
Creek Valley, Chalk Hill, Sonoma
Coast, and Green Valley.
Tell me about the appellations
The details of this task had been well done by the Sonoma
County Grape Growers Association. In general an appellation contains a certain
set of growing conditions such as temperature, soil and humidity that result in
distinctly unique tasting grapes.
What are my wine
tasting options?
1. At the winery
2. In town
3. Through a tour
4. At events
5. With lunch or dinner
6. At your lodge
How
much does wine tasting cost?
In general, if you go to the winery and visit their tasting room it is free. For
the $100 you would spend tasting somewhere else you can leave the Russian River
with 1-5 bottles of wine. |
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| Easy wineries to visit, areas to visit, other
things to do (armstrong, etc), what is happening at the different times of year
with the grapes and the process, events, maps of how to get there, resources from
the web. |
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