New Distillery & Tasting Room Arrives in Healdsburg

Another tasting room comes to Healdsburg. This time, it's spirits - not wine.


Healdsburg – top destination for fine wine, food and luxury hotels – is gaining ground as the place to go for craft spirits. This week, the town further asserted itself on the spirits scene with the opening of a new tasting room, Young & Yonder Spirits, just steps from the Healdsburg Plaza.

Established in 2013 in Cloverdale, Young & Yonder Spirits is the brainchild of Josh and Sarah Opatz.

Raised in Healdsburg, Josh Opatz discovered his love for artisanal adult beverages through his father, award-winning viticulturist Pete Opatz. He met Sarah, a graphic designer in San Francisco, and the two joined forces (by marriage and career) to pursue a dream of creating high-quality craft spirits. (Josh’s step-brother Shane Harlan is also a partner in Young & Yonder Spirits.)

Located across the street from Healdsburg City Hall, the Young & Yonder 1,000 square-foot space offers tasting flights that include the company’s Armont Vodka, H.O.B.S. Gin, Y/Y Distiller’s Series Lime Vodka, as well as their newest creations – Fellows and Foragers Absinthe and Stave Robber Rye Bourbon. Guests will also be able to sip on special seasonal cocktails and there will be distillery tours, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the hands-on production.

The Opatzes seized the opportunity to open the Young & Yonder space in Healdsburg when zoning laws enabled them to pair their production facility with a tasting room.

“We are so happy to join a community where quality agriculture and artisanal products are the focal point,” said Sarah Opatz, “between the great wine, beer, and craft spirits in the area, both visitors and locals will surely find something to fall in love with.”

Young & Yonder Spirits’ tasting room and distillery is open Thursday through Sunday, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., 449 Allan Court, Healdsburg, 707-473-8077, youngandyonder.com.