Five Hidden Gems In and Around Healdsburg
Don’t let the name “Big Cab Bigger Hair” fool you. I’m a Pinot Noir lover through-and-through and I drink a lot of Northern California Pinot Noirs. There are some fantastic Pinot Noir producers in Sonoma County and this list only scratches the surface of some of my favorites. Here are some highlights from five of my top hidden gems – unique, boutique wineries who are all producing exceptional Pinot Noir.
*A quick note – these are all reservation only wineries, and they fill up quickly during the busier months, so make sure you plan ahead and make reservations in advance.
Lynmar is absolutely lovely. The property is semi-secluded and sits on the Quail Hill vineyard next to the Laguna de Santa Rosa. A visit to Lynmar can include a full lunch prepared by their incredible Estate Chef, David Frakes – and much of the food comes from the gardens you sit amongst during your tasting. Specializing in top flight Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Lynmar produces outstanding Russian River Valley wines. The Pinot Noirs are crafted for the Cab lover in all of us – they’re big, they’re luscious, and they can age (that’s also a fun way of saying be sure to decant these beauties when you pull their corks). I’ve been a wine club member for over two years and every visit to this spot puts a huge smile on my face.
Location: 3909 Frei Road, Sebastopol
Highlights: Walking through the culinary gardens and Quail Hill vineyard; the Lynmar Lunch (offered in warmer months); excellent chef prepared food available to purchase with your tasting
Must try Wines: Block 10 Pinot Noir; Monastery Pinot Noir; Anisya’s Blend Pinot Noir
Visit: Open by appointment only. Tastings start at $30 per person. Consider splurging for the Lynmar Experience – an exceptional three-course food & wine pairing ($85).
A visit to Benovia is exactly what a classic Russian River experience is all about. From the warm, family style hospitality, to the beautiful rustic property, and the delicious wines, Benovia is a place you want to call home. Offering Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Grenache, there’s sure to be a wine you’ll love. Obviously, the Pinot Noirs stand out for me. La Pommeraie and the Martaella Estate Pinot Noirs are my favorite of the six Pinots produced by Benovia – consistently awarded year-over-year, and with accessible price points, it’s hard to beat a visit and tasting to this diamond in the rough.
Location: 3339 Hartman Road, Santa Rosa.
Highlights: Strolling through the Martaella vineyard; exceptional hospitality; beautifully renovated Ranch House tasting room.
Must try Wines: La Pommeraie Pinot Noir, Martaella Estate Pinot Noir, Bella Una Pinot Noir (if available).
Visit: Open by appointment only. Tasting experiences start at $30 per person.
Of all the wineries on this list, this one might be the most off-the-beaten-path – and with good reason. Littorai is a completely biodynamic winery. Every vineyard site owned, farmed, or sourced by Littorai is biodynamic. The belief in alternative farming practices makes Littorai truly unique – and it truly shines through in the wines. Ted Lemon is one of the most heralded winemakers in the world, and was the first American ever to be named a head winemaker of a French Burgundian estate (Domaine Guy Roulot). Lemon and Littorai produce what I believe may be the best wines in all of the Russian River Valley (and I think they rank among the best in the United States, if not the world). The property is a marvel, and your appreciation for how important farming and viticulture are to winemaking will be forever changed after a visit. This is an uber special place, and the wines are out of this world.
Location: 788 Gold Ridge Road, Sebastopol – tucked away on the Sonoma Coast.
Highlights: Biodynamic farming practices; a connection to place and history; world class wines.
Must try Wines: Hirsch Vineyard Pinot Noir; Mays Canyon Vineyard Pinot Noir; Pivot Vineyard Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley Vin Gris.
Visit: Open by appointment only, Monday through Saturday. Tastings start at $40 per person.
If you’re part of the “in crowd” and someone considered “in-the-know” then you already know about Reeve. But if you don’t, you should make it a point to pay a visit to this fun, cool, laid back, unpretentious, good-vibes-only winery. The brainchild of Noah Dorrance (of Banshee Wines fame) Reeve produces a host of excellent wines at very attractive price points (wine for anyone, if you will), and chief among these are the various Pinot Noirs. Sourced from vineyards in Anderson Valley, Santa Cruz, Mendocino, and the Sonoma Coast, each wine offers something specific to terroir and they inevitably spark conversations over which one is your current favorite. Also of note, and I’d be crazy to not call it out, the Rosé, Riesling, and Sangiovese Noah crafts are all stunningly great. The property is situated a mile back off Dry Creek Road and is rustic-chic wine country setting that you won’t want to leave. On top of everything, there aren’t enough superlatives for the hospitality team. You feel like you’ve known them as friends forever and they make everyone feel like family – just some of the many reasons I’m a proud wine club member.
Location: 4551 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg – about 1 mile past the Dry Creek General Store and 4 miles from Healdsburg.
Highlights: Gorgeous property; superlative hospitality; the place to be in Healdsburg.
Must try Wines: Sonoma County and Chalk Hill Sangiovese; Vonarburg Vineyard Riesling; Mirama Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir; Tanbark Mill Vineyard Pinot Noir; Ya Moon Pinot Noir (if you want to geek over carbonic fermentation).
Visit: Open by appointment only 7 days a week. Tastings are $35 per person.
Full disclaimer, this is the only tasting room (not winery) that made the list and I’ve yet to visit. However, I have visited their vineyard site in Cazadero (located on the extreme Sonoma Coast and where they used to host visitors prior to opening their current tasting room just off the Healdsburg Square). Hirsch Pinot Noir is some of my absolute favorite. I’ve posted about these wines (Chardonnay, too) in the past, and I can’t get enough. Low alcohol, terroir driven wines that exude stunning bouquets, incredible flavors and mouthfeels, and impressive structures. They’re built to be classy, floral, finesse wines – precisely what I think of when I think of Pinot Noir. Beyond their own wines, the Hirsch vineyards are some of the most sought after in all of California – so much so that infamous producers like Williams Selyem, Failla, and Littorai (mentioned and highlighted above) source from these vineyards that soar over 1,000 feet above the rugged Sonoma coastline. The wines are not to be missed if you can get your hands on them.
Location: 57 Front Street, Healdsburg – just off the Healdsburg Square.
Highlights: Pinot Noir that’s changed the game and put the Sonoma Coast and Fort-Ross Seaview AVAs on the map.
Must try Wines: San Andreas Pinot Noir; West Ridge Pinot Noir; East Ridge Pinot Noir; Block 8 Pinot Noir.
Visit: Open by appointment only, Thursday through Sunday, 11am to 4:30pm. Tastings start at $35 per person.
I’d love to hear from you! Have you been to any of these wineries?