Wine Country Weekend

A couple weeks ago, my husband Nick and I spent a weekend in Healdsburg, one of northern California’s famous grape-growing regions. The last time we were here, Nick did an Ironman race, which means he swam, biked, and ran past 140-something miles of vineyards while sipping nothing but Gatorade and weird goo. It was pretty much the opposite of wine tasting. So, we came back to do it right this time. Here’s a look at some of our favorite spots, which came recommended by fellow food-and-wine-loving friends.

We loved the vino and the vibe (picture creekside picnicking, sheep, and even more blooms) at Truett Hurst so much that we joined their wine club.

We learned a bit about biodynamic farming—and how it enhances the flavor of the wine—at Quivira. I’d love to come back for one of their farm-to-table dinners.

With this kind of bar setup at Barndiva, cocktails were a must. June in July, a mix of strawberries, house-made horchata, and rum infused with vanilla beans, was delicious, as was the food.

Here’s a snap from the passenger’s seat. “I remember running by this,” said Nick after every other vineyard. You will never hear me speak such words.

Bella was a cute spot with wine caves, live music, and hula hooping, which is even more fun with rosé.

But we didn’t come just for the grapes. We also stopped at Russian River Brewing Company to stock up on Nick’s favorite beer, the award-winning Pliny the Elder.

If you have any favorite wine-tasting spots in California and beyond (have passport, will travel), please spill them in the comments.

Follow Once Upon a Blog

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Instagram - Twitter - Pinterest