The home has nearly 7800 square feet of total living space and sits on 56 acres overlooking the Oak Knoll District AVA. (Paul Rollins / Sotheby’s International Realty)
A 56-acre vineyard estate with 7,766 square feet of living space is currently on the market for $25 million. It is currently the most expensive property listed in Napa.
Construction of the 4,950-square-foot main residence, which overlooks the Oak Knoll District of the Napa Valley American Viticultural Area, was completed in 2002 by owners Betsy Moulds and her late husband, Steve Moulds, of Moulds Family Vineyards. It was designed by notable local architects Ed Keiner and John Kasten, and crafted by builder Dale James and landscape architect Jack Chandler. The interiors were designed by Erin Martin of Martin Design in Napa, who handpicked every piece of furniture for the home.
The main residence has three bedrooms and two bathrooms and features vaulted ceilings with exposed wood beams, wide-plank hickory-pecan floors and a great room that opens to a covered 2,022-square-foot deck that can accommodate 100 guests, according to the listing.
Martin, who said she “was given free rein to run with [her] ideas,” chose a neutral color palette for the interiors of the home to create a blank canvas that would help showcase the many artifacts the Moulds had collected during their travels.
In addition to the main house, the sprawling estate incudes an additional 7,322 square feet of entertainment areas, including an entertainment barn, a two-bedroom guest house and a two-bedroom apartment.
Views from the main residence include the property’s own nine-acre Cabernet vineyards. For new house owners interested in making wine, there’s an area for processing grapes and a wine cellar.
Click through the above gallery for a peek inside the home.
For more information on this home, contact Hillary Ryan of Sotheby’s International Realty – St. Helena Brokerage, 707-312-2105, 707-200-2488, 1229 Adams Street, St. Helena, hillary.ryan@sothebys.realty, sotheybys.com
Click through the a above gallery for a peek at the new In-N-Out location.
Hold onto your Double Double, because a new In-N-Out restaurant is opening tomorrow in Santa Rosa.
According to a press release, the Southern California-based burger joint and point of cheeseburger pride for West Coasters since 1948 will open its fourth Sonoma County location Thursday.
The forthcoming In-N-Out will be located at 2532 Santa Rosa Ave., on a busy section of the local artery connecting the north and south ends of west Santa Rosa.
Though potentially heavy traffic from the restaurant’s famously long drive-thru lines has locals concerned, Santa Rosa’s planning commission conducted impact studies and approved plans for the 3,900-square-foot eatery in 2020. There will be 76 indoor seats and 76 outdoor seats, plus access to the restaurant and drive-thru lane on both Yolanda and Santa Rosa avenues.
Signs announcing the new location were posted in June 2022. There are currently three In-N-Out restaurants in Sonoma County; in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park and Petaluma. The first Sonoma County location, in Rohnert Park, opened in 1996.
Mabel’s Gone Fishing (San Diego) is among 10 California restaurants that have been added to Michelin’s Bib Gourmand list. (Eater BNR)
A week before the much-anticipated reveal of California’s 2023 Michelin star winners on July 18, the international restaurant guide disclosed an amuse-bouche of 10 new Bib Gourmands — restaurants offering good food at a good value.
According to the news release, Michelin inspectors have chosen 143 California Bib Gourmands this year, including the 10 new additions. Frustratingly, none of the shiny new Bibs are in Wine Country — not in Sonoma nor Napa counties, nor north of the Golden Gate Bridge. But four of the newcomers are in the Bay Area: Bansang (San Francisco, Korean cuisine); Bombera (Oakland, Mexican cuisine); Petiscos (San Jose, Portuguese cuisine); and Snail Bar (Oakland, contemporary cuisine).
“The inspection team and I are very excited about these ten restaurants joining the wide array of Bib Gourmand restaurants already in the great state of California,” said Gwendal Poullennec, the International Director of the Michelin Guides.
Other newcomers to the Bib Gourmand category this year are Carnes Asadas Pancho Lopez (Los Angeles, Mexican cuisine); Cobi’s (Santa Monica, Asian cuisine); Eat Joy Food (Rowland Heights, Taiwanese cuisine); Mabel’s Gone Fishing (San Diego, seafood); Maligne (Seaside, Californian cuisine); and Villa’s Tacos (Los Angeles, Mexican cuisine).
The complete list of Bib Gourmand restaurants will be available on July 18, along with the California Michelin star list, following the live ceremony in Oakland.
We’re not entirely sour grapes about the whole thing, though. Despite having no Wine Country restaurants debut on the Bib Gourmand list this year, last year eight local restaurants maintained their Bib Gourmand status, including Healdsburg’s Chalkboard; El Molino Central, Valley Bar + Bottle and FolkTable in Sonoma; Khom Loi and Ramen Gaijin in Sebastopol; Stockhome in Petaluma; and Glen Ellen Star in Glen Ellen.
Like this year, there were no new additions to the Bib Gourmand list from Sonoma County in 2022.
While the stars remain the restaurant world’s most coveted awards, being selected a Bib Gourmand by Michelin inspectors is also an honor and can put a restaurant on the map. To be considered for the Bib Gourmand category, restaurants must serve two courses, a glass of wine or dessert for around $40 or less — a tall order in California.
Today, the Michelin Guide comprises a series of guidebooks and announces awards annually across countries, regions and cities — there’s a Michelin Guide for France, but also one for Paris. In the United States, awards are announced in cities like New York City or Washington, D.C., and statewide, in the case of California.
The Michelin guide, launched by French tire company Michelin in 1900, began awarding stars to fine-dining establishments in 1926. In 1955, it introduced a second designation for restaurants deemed a good value by Michelin inspectors. It became known as Bib Gourmand in 1997 and was indicated in the guidebook with an image of the tire company’s mascot, “Bibendum,” also known as the Michelin Man.
Looking for a new spot to enjoy an al fresco meal this summer? Online restaurant reservation and review platform OpenTable has included two Sonoma County restaurants in its annual list of “100 Most Popular Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in America.” Two Napa Valley restaurants also made this year’s list.
Click through the above gallery to see the top local picks for outdoor dining, according to the online reservation platform.
OpenTable’s best outdoor dining list, which features 31 restaurants in California and seven in the San Francisco Bay Area, was created by analyzing over 13 million reviews.
The online reservation platform noted in a press release that outdoor dining increased 20% in May and 19% in the first half of June (June 1–15), compared to 2022.
“With many restaurants elevating outdoor dining spaces for summer and beyond, this list represents dining destinations with incredible outdoor – and culinary – offerings,” said Susan Lee, Chief Growth Officer of OpenTable.
In Sonoma County, the al fresco dining season is already in full swing. What’s your favorite place to dine outdoors? Here are a few of ours.
Damien Carney of Avinage, with his wife Shree Starkman, in Petaluma. (Tina Caputo)
Wine and vinyl make a fantastic pairing; just ask Damien Carney, the owner of Avinage wine shop.
On Sunday, July 30, Carney is teaming up with Petaluma’s Rain Dog Records for VINYL, a pop-up record sale at his downtown Petaluma wine shop. Offering thousands of used LPs for sale, the event will also feature North Bay record vendors RadioThrift, Think Records, Spinning Threads, and Half Tone Sound.
The all-day vinyl fest will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Avinage’s mezzanine level. A live DJ will spin records throughout the day as attendees comb through the music offerings.
For Carney, the event is a chance to utilize the store’s upstairs space in a fun and interesting way while bringing new people into the shop. He’s also a bit of a record fanatic.
“I always play vinyl in the store and I thought it would be fun to have a pop-up record thing,” he says. “I’d gotten to know the guys at Rain Dog a little because I go there a lot to shop, so I asked them if they’d be interested in a collaboration.”
Though the Avinage permit doesn’t currently allow Carney to pour wine in store, he will be selling bottles to go at the event and recommending wines to pair with customers’ vinyl purchases.
Can’t make it to the Vinyl event? Check out these local record stores for a rotating selection of new and used albums throughout the year.
RadioThrift
This funky Santa Rosa shop offers an array of used LPs, vintage clothing, cassettes, turntables, art, collectibles, and more. The shop also makes regular appearances at thrift events and pop-up record sales. 1005 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, instagram.com/radiothrift
Rain Dog Records
Founders and Partial Cell bandmates Gabriel Hernandez, Jon Del Buono, and James Florence founded Rain Dog in 2021 when pandemic lockdowns put a damper on live gigs. What began as a fun way to make some cash turned into a bona-fide brick-and-mortar business selling used and new records of all genres. 1010 Petaluma Blvd. N, Petaluma, raindogrecords.net
Spinning Threads
Vintage clothing, band t-shirts, and used vinyl join forces at this combination record store and thrift shop in downtown Sebastopol. You may just find a treasure among the store’s many bins. 137 N. Main St., Sebastopol, facebook.com
The Next Record Store
Formerly known as the Last Record Store, until one of the original owners retired in 2021, the Next Record Store buys, sells, and trades new and used vinyl, plus CDs. You can also pick up a turntable if you’re not already equipped. 1899 Mendocino Ave., Suite A, Santa Rosa, the-next-record-store.square.site
Coming Soon: Paradise Found
After three decades selling records in Boulder, Colorado, Paradise Found owner Will Paradise is opening a second store in downtown Petaluma this fall, in the former Field Works space. The shop will offer used and new vinyl across genres, along with CDs, t-shirts, and turntables. 316 B St., Petaluma, paradisefoundrecordsmusic.com
Additional Sonoma County luxury establishments that were recommended by Forbes include Farmhouse Inn (pictured) and Farmhouse Inn Restaurant in Forestville and Hotel Les Mars in Healdsburg. (Farmhouse Inn)
This article was originally published in July 2022.
Los Angeles is the place to go if you’d like to get a glimpse of a few celebrities but Wine Country also attracts its fair share of stars who, like everyone else, come here for the world-class wine, farm-to-table fare and beautiful landscapes.
The Hollywood Reporter published an article stating that Sonoma and Napa counties “have more to offer than ever before” and that some in Hollywood have “found solace” here during the pandemic, including singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers, actress Elizabeth Olsen and singer Kelly Clarkson.
For those really eager to see celebrities on their next Wine Country outing (or at least experience the area like a celebrity), there are online directories, like Galuxsee, that allow people to “search, save and share travel plans based on where celebrities have been.”
With the help of the Hollywood Reporter, Galuxsee, The Press Democrat and some social media sleuthing, we’ve compiled our own list of favorite celebrity spots in Sonoma and Napa counties. Click through the above gallery for all the details.
Summer is almost here and we are ready for some beach fun in the sun. To help combat your Vitamin D deficiency, we’ve rounded up a few coastal campgrounds in Sonoma, Mendocino and Marin counties that allow you to stay right by the beach. Remember to check rules and regulations for each campsite.
Doran Beach Campground, Bodega Bay: Bordered by the breezy Bodega Harbor, Doran Regional Park offers 120 campsites year round and plenty of amenities, including potable water and restrooms with electrical outlets and coin-operated showers. Campground reservations are required. 201 Doran Beach Road, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3540.
Wright’s Beach Campground, Bodega Bay: This sandy beach campground at the Sonoma Coast State Park offers gorgeous ocean and sunset views. There’s plenty of fun outdoor activities here, including whale and bird watching, hang gliding and hiking the Kortum Trail to other nearby beaches. Campsites include restrooms, picnic tables, food lockers and a fire ring. There are no potable water filling areas; fill up water tanks at Bodega Dunes. Visitors are advised to avoid the ocean as Wright’s Beach is one of the most deadly in California. It boasts a 200ft drop off, a violent undertow, and some of the worst rip currents and sleeper waves on the Sonoma Coast. Sonoma Coast State Park, 7095 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3483. parks.ca.gov
Bodega Dunes Campground, Bodega Bay: Within walking distance of beaches and the town of Bodega Bay, this year-round campground in the Bodega Harbor is a popular place for whale watching and horseback riding. The rough waters along this stretch on the coast prohibit wading and swimming. Campsites include restrooms, showers, picnic tables, food lockers and a fire ring. 2485 Highway 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875-3483. parks.ca.gov
Ocean Cove Campground, Jenner: Just north of Fort Ross in the nook of a rocky cove is Ocean Cove Store and Campground, with 20 acres of campsites right on the Pacific Ocean. Amenities include hot showers, fire pits, picnic tables, chemical toilets and a boat ramp. With fishing, scuba diving, and nearby golf and hiking trails, this campground is a great place to relax or enjoy summer activities. 23150 Coast Highway 1, Jenner, 707-847-3422. oceancove.org
Gualala Point Campground, Mendocino County: The Gualala Point Regional Park’s small campground is nestled along the Gualala River in a grove of redwoods. Various trails connect to the beach and coastal bluffs, and the area is a great place to go picnicking or whale watching. The park features flush toilets, electrical outlets and a coin-operated shower. Campground reservations are required. 42401 Highway 1, Gualala, 707-785-2377 parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov
Caspar Beach, Mendocino County: In the small coastal town of Caspar lies the campground of Caspar Headlands State Beach, located in a deep, sandy cove and bustling with kite flyers, boogie boarders and fishermen. The tent sites, sheltered by near 100-foot canyon cliffs, offer showers, picnic tables and fire rings, and full hookups are available for RVs. 4441 Point Cabrillo Drive, Caspar, 707-964-3306.
Caspar Beach RV Park and Campground: Located just north of Caspar Headlands State Beach, this RV park and campground features newly remodeled facilities and a variety of amenities, including coin-operated showers, a game room, wifi and full hook-ups. In addition to RV sites and tent sites, there are also cute and rustic cabins (for two or families). 14441 Point Cabrillo Drive, Mendocino, 707-964-3306 casparbeachrvpark.com
Westport Beach RV Park and Campground, Mendocino County: Located some 17 miles north of Fort Bragg, just off Shoreline Highway 1, this 50-acre privately-owned campground offers beachside camping in the sand, on grassy sites and along a creek. Campers can wander along the private sandy beach, wade, surf, boogie board and play frisbee, or take advantage of seasonal fishing and abalone diving. Accommodations include 75 full hook-up RV sites, 50 tent sites and five group sites. 37700 North Highway 1, Westport, 707-964-2964. westportbeachrvpark.com
Anchor Bay Campground, Mendocino County: This private, six-acre beach campground, stretched along a narrow gulch lined with ferns, redwoods and other native coastal plants, offers serene campsites on the beach complete with fire pits, picnic tables and water hookups. Popular beach activities here include fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, surfing or simply watching the waves lap the shore. 35400 South Highway 1, Gualala, 707-884-4222. abcamp.com
Lawson’s Landing, Marin County: This family-owned and operated fishing and boating resort and campground at the mouth of Tomales Bay has been open since 1957. Since the late ’50s, generations of families have come to stay here, enjoying activities like clamming, boating and hiking. The campground is open year round. 137 Marine View Drive, Dillon Beach, 707-878-2443. lawsonslanding.com
Wildcat Camp, Marin County: This seaside campground is an ideal location for backpackers. The eight open meadow campsites, located on a bluff with stunning views of the ocean, have access to several gorgeous hiking trails, including a two-mile round-trip walk to the Alamere Falls. Reserve online, by calling 877-444-6777 or walking into the Bear Valley Visitor Center during normal hours of operation. 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station.
Kirby Cove Campground, Marin County: Located just north of the Golden Gate Bridge at Battery Kirby, this 400-acre campground offers spectacular views of the iconic bridge and northern San Francisco. Visitors like to explore the area by foot or bike, picnicking and taking in the views. The historic army battery, in use from 1898 to 1934, is also worth checking out. The Point Bonita Lighthouse and Nike Missile Site SF-88 are close by. There are five overnight camping sites. 948 Fort Barry, Sausalito, 415-331-1540. recreation.gov
Kristen and Ted Talley, French wine importers, at the end of the bar, were at the friends and family soft opening at The Punchdown Natural Wine Bar + Bottle Shop on Friday, May 12, 2023, in the Barlow in Sebastopol. (Erik Castro / For The Press Democrat)
D.C. Looney and Lisa Costa are eager to make friends in Sonoma County. The couple, who met as harvest interns at standout Pinot Noir producer Williams Selyem Winery in 2007, have longstanding ties to the area. Now, with the opening of their new wine bar, The Punchdown, at The Barlow in Sebastopol, the couple aim to build a community around their lineup of natural wines.
The Punchdown in Sebastopol is the second location for the couple’s burgeoning wine bar business. Their first Punchdown location, launched in Oakland in 2010, was a 2022 James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Wine Program. Now, they’re excited to expand their focus on natural, organic, and biodynamic wines — those produced with minimal sulfur dioxide (SO2), native yeast fermentation, and no fining, filtering or additions of any kind.
Izzy Juarez, left, and Wesley Hammond stocking the wine cooler at The Punchdown Natural Wine Bar + Bottle Shop at The Barlow in Sebastopol. (Erik Castro / For The Press Democrat)
“We’re really looking forward to bringing people together, especially those in the wine, food, and restaurant industries, to give them a taste of something a little different,” says Looney. “Who knows? Maybe we’ll introduce some local winemakers to natural wines, and they’ll be inspired to make their own.”
Looney and Costa plan to offer the area’s largest selection of natural wines under one roof.
Hundreds of natural wines from around the globe line the shelves, including selections from France, Italy, Australia, the Republic of Georgia, California, and beyond. Bottle prices are fair, and there is a special shelf for wines under $25. Wine flights and wines by the glass can be purchased at the bar along with small bites like charcuterie, spiced carrot dip, Spanish olives, fresh bread from Red Bird Bakery, and imported tinned fish.
Inside, the new wine bar has a rustic, handcrafted appeal, with salvaged redwood slabs topping the communal tables and reclaimed sequoia wood for the service bar, enhanced with Japanese shou sugi ban wainscoting applied by the couple themselves. Looney and Costa also sourced gnarled local grapevines to install on the walls.
“We want to do all we can to showcase the history of this region, while also bringing something a little different to the county,” explains Looney.
As a young student, Looney gained an appreciation for organic, biodynamic, and natural wines during a study abroad program in France. Over time, he says he and Costa started to feel put off by conventional winemaking techniques, which can include a number of additives. Natural wines, he believes, have a nuance and complexity all their own, and better reflect a sense of season and place. “You can make good, clean wine that doesn’t have all the life stripped out of it,” says Looney.
The couple, who are now raising their young daughter here, say Sonoma County is an ideal place for a bar focused on natural wines. Sonoma is where they met and fell for each other as harvest interns, and it’s also where they fell in love with California. “Salt Point State Park is like our vacation home,” says Looney. “We love camping and foraging for mushrooms, so it’s a great place to turn everything off and enjoy our hard work.
Lisa and I knew it was inevitable we would start a business in Sonoma County, because we love it so much.”
The Punchdown Sebastopol at The Barlow, 6770 McKinley St. 510-788-7877, punchdownwine.com
Tucker Taylor with a patch of Oyster Leaf, Mertensia maritima, in the Kendall-Jackson culinary gardens, Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Taylor sells what he doesn’t use to Michelin star restaurants around the Bay Area. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)
Native to the wild, rocky shores of Scotland and Northern Ireland, Mertensia maritima — also known as the oyster plant — has a deep, salty secret.
Nibble one of its fleshy, succulent-like leaves and you’ll taste a distinct flavor of oysters. It’s a trait that’s not gone unnoticed by some of the world’s top chefs, who’ve found culinary gold in the plant.
Tucker Taylor, an esteemed master gardener and director of culinary gardens at Jackson Family Wines, remembers the first time he learned of the seaworthy plant. It was about 15 years ago, when he was overseeing the culinary gardens at the French Laundry restaurant in Yountville.
“I received a text from chef Thomas Keller, who was in Lyon, France, at the time,” Taylor said. “He was raving about these oyster-flavored leaves he’d tasted and sent me a photo.”
After figuring out the botanical name of the plant — Mertensia maritima — Taylor ordered the seeds from a French website.
“I don’t speak French, so that was quite a challenge,” said Taylor, smiling. “But I’ve been growing the plants ever since.”
Oyster leaf — also known as oyster plant, seaside bluebells and sea lungwort — is a member of the Boraginaceae family, which includes borage, forget-me-nots, comfrey, heliotrope, bluebells and other flowering plants.
A perennial herb native to the British Isles, where it’s now found primarily in north Scotland and Northern Ireland, the oyster plant also grows in parts of Greenland and Scandinavia and in New England on the rocky shores of Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont.
Growing in low mounds with silvery, blue-green leaves that trail over the ground, the oyster plant produces bright bluebell-like flowers at the tips of its wandering stems.
In the culinary garden at Kendall-Jackson winery, neat rows of oyster plants are grown between the walnut trees, which give them respite from the hot afternoon sun. While they typically thrive in cooler habitats, Taylor said, the plant grows well under moderate temperatures like those in Santa Rosa.
A taste of the sea
Whether it’s grown on the steps of the sea or in a Sonoma County garden, the fleshy leaves of the oyster plant really do recall the taste and texture of its namesake bivalve. They’re curious and briny, with a viscous quality some may find appealing.
To Michelin-starred chefs throughout the Bay Area, however, the oyster plant tastes like gold. That’s why they turn to Taylor to source the rare delicacy.
“In the beginning, I went out on a limb and sold the leaves for $1 apiece,” Taylor said. “We were making $1,000 a week just on oyster leaves. Now we sell them for 50 cents apiece because the seeds are now sold domestically and more farmers are growing them.”
That doesn’t mean oyster leaves are easy to find. Taylor said he has a waiting list of chefs eager to buy them.
Currently, Taylor supplies the leaves to two dozen restaurants in the Bay Area that have a combined total of 30 Michelin stars. With three additional greenhouses scheduled to be built on the Kendall-Jackson property, he hopes to have the growing space to supply an additional dozen restaurants.
As for how chefs are using oyster leaf on their menus, Taylor said the leaves are typically served fresh, although they also can be cooked to mellow their flavor.
“I’ve had oyster leaf topped with a dollop of crème fraîche and a spoonful of caviar, which really enhanced the flavor of the leaves,” Taylor said. “But I’ve also had it incorporated into a pasta dish, and it was really delicious.”
Those pining for a taste of the curious leaves can sample them on Kendall-Jackson’s Seasonal Garden Tour and Tasting, where they’re brushed with a shallot-infused mignonette gel to mimic the taste of a fresh oyster. They’re also served as part of a crudité cone alongside other freshly picked treasures.
A plot to plant creativity
Oyster plant is just one of the uncommon delicacies Taylor grows in the 4-acre culinary garden at Kendall-Jackson. Other items of intrigue include ice lettuce from Africa, celtuce from China, Asian crosnes, Japanese radishes and 10 varieties of mint — like strawberry, orange, pineapple and chocolate. And that’s just the beginning.
As for why he’s passionate about growing rare produce, Taylor said it’s his way to play a part in the creative culinary process.
“Chefs are in the business of entertaining guests, and I like to think of myself as entertaining chefs,” Taylor said. “I try to share their mindset — how is something going to read on a menu, or the different colors, flavors and textures of a particular dish. I’m growing the colors for the chefs to paint with. I’ve always geeked out on that collaboration.”
This year, Anderson Valley celebrates its 40th anniversary as an American Viticultural Area, or AVA. A lot has happened in this part of western Mendocino County since the appellation was designated in 1983, but it remains one of Wine Country’s best-kept secrets.
Even though Anderson Valley is located just an hour’s drive from Santa Rosa, this mostly rural area feels like a different world, with its majestic redwood forests, stately oaks, cooling creeks and the Navarro River, all framed by vineyards. Tucked inland near the coast, the area enjoys cool ocean breezes, making it a great destination on hot summer days.
Here’s where to eat, drink, stay and play during an Anderson Valley getaway.
Day 1
Settle in after your leisurely drive up Highway 128 mountainside with lunch at Lauren’s at the Buckhorn. Named for founder Lauren Keating, the casual wood-framed eatery looks like a saloon, but surprises with an ambitious menu hopscotching American, Asian, Italian, Mexican, and Cal-Med cuisines. There’s a full bar, too, showcasing lots of local wines, plus craft cocktails like the remarkable, tangy margarita spiked with local beets and serrano chiles.
Nosh on coconut prawns slicked with sweet chile glaze, or nibble on a zesty dip of whole roasted garlic and local goat cheese. Then tuck into spicy Thai curry, Alfredo pasta tossed with wild chanterelles, or crispy tostadas piled with shredded chicken, black beans, cheese and avocado.
Check into Boonville Hotel, a chic, modern roadhouse that’s cozy with 17 rooms and cottages centered around an oasis of gardens, creeks and patios. The amenities are charming, ranging from hammocks on private decks and balconies to fireplaces, slipper bathtubs, and vine-draped porches and sunrooms.
Check into Boonville Hotel, a chic, modern roadhouse that’s cozy with 17 rooms and cottages centered around an oasis of gardens, creeks and patios. (Boonville Hotel)The amenities are charming, ranging from hammocks on private decks and balconies to fireplaces, slipper bathtubs, and vine-draped porches and sunrooms. (Boonville Hotel)
Visit Goldeneye Winery, one of the most luxurious tasting venues in Anderson Valley (it comes from Dan and Margaret Duckhorn, of the famed Duckhorn label). Relax on the patio overlooking the gardens, fountain, the flagship Confluence Vineyard, and redwood forest.
Then enjoy the Estate Wine Tasting with Cheese & Charcuterie Pairing, and add a “barkuterie” board for your pup – it includes various bites like peanut butter biscuits, duck sausages, chicken apple sausage coins, and chicken wrapped sweet potatoes. And be sure to grab a bottle of the crisp, bright Goldeneye Brut Rosé sparkling to enjoy at your hotel later.
Order a “barkuterie” board for your pup at Goldeneye Winery in Anderson Valley. (Goldeneye Winery)Disco Ranch wine bar and specialty market boasts an impressive array of Mendocino wines (both still and sparkling), plus interesting European bottlings. (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)
Cap off a busy day with a casual dinner at Disco Ranch. The wine bar and specialty market boasts an impressive array of Mendocino wines (both still and sparkling), plus interesting European bottlings (Austrian Sparkling Pinot Noir!). Owner Wendy Lamer also puts together a variety of tapas that make building a full meal fun. Dig into smoked salmon and boursin on cucumber rounds; smoked duck breast sliders on Hawaiian rolls with sour cherry jam; roast beef sliders with balsamic caramelized onion chutney and Dijon mustard; and tins of Ortiz Spanish yellow fin tuna and mussels in escabeche.
Day 2
A delightful breakfast will be delivered to your room or cottage – granola, yogurt, fruit, scones, hardboiled egg, juice and coffee.
Stop in to visit with Lulu Handley, proprietor of Handley Cellars, and daughter of founding winemaker, the late Milla Handley. Bonded in 1982, the winery and CCOF Certified Organic estate vineyards thrive with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gewürztramine – you can request a tour of the estate before heading to the nearby tasting room. Plan for some art education, too – when Milla was a child, her parents traveled to India, igniting a lifetime passion for collecting international folk art. These original acquisitions, as well as collections of Oaxacan, Balinese, and African folk art, are on display in the tasting room.
At Handley Cellars in Philo, request a tour of the estate before heading to the nearby tasting room. (Handley Cellars)Handley’s 2018 Riesling and 2021 Gewürztraminer in the Handley Cellars tasting room. (Darryl Bush/For The Press Democrat)
Next up is Brashley Vineyards, where Bram and Ashley Palm welcome guests with a tasting of five new-release, single vineyard wines (ask about the luscious and rare Pinot Noir Blanc – it’s fermented in a concrete egg). If you happen to stop in on a Monday between 11 a.m. an 4 p.m., you can also scarf winery chef Sean McTiernan’s delectable pizza hot off the grill.
Love up some lunch at Mosswood Market Cafe and Bakery. There’s so much to enjoy in this darling little café, starting with a steaming hot cup of masala chai. Tuck into a sautéed chicken wrap dotted with mango salsa. Paninis are made on Mosswood’s home-made rosemary focaccia, including a standout sammy of roasted eggplant, goat cheese, marinated red onion, and red bell pepper pesto. And the grilled Rueben is a favorite, stuffed with brisket pastrami, Gruyère and kosher sauerkraut on Fort Bragg Bakery rye bread.
But the empanadas are the real stars. Homemade every day, the golden, crusty bundles bulge with goodness like crisp bacon, potato and goat cheese, or chicken, black beans and feta. Just plan ahead – they are so popular they are almost always sold out by noon, so it’s best to order the day before.
Chill out with some Mother Nature time at Navarro River. The main stem begins less than 1 mile south of Philo at the confluence of Rancheria Creek and Anderson Creek, then flows through the Coastal Range to the Pacific Ocean. It’s a wonderful place to romp with your dog, admire an eleven-mile-long redwood tunnel to the sea, and swim in the gentle waters.
One of the things to know about Boonville Hotel is that you must reserve a dinner at the onsite restaurant during your stay (the restaurant is closed Tuesday and Wednesday). Which is a delightful commitment, since this is one of the finest restaurants in Northern California, under the direction of Michelin-star chef Perry Hoffman.
Reserve dinner at Boonville Hotel’s onsite restaurant. (Lucille Lawrence)Oysters with pomegranate kernels, Yorkville olive oil and shaved Fuyu persimmons with Penny Royal Laychee goat cheese, topped with pumpkin seeds, Piment d’Ville chili powder, lime zest, and bronze fennel sprigs at the Boonville Hotel. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)
The five-course prix fixe feast changes weekly, but always wows with spectacular fare like Mendocino Coast rock cod with summer squash, preserved lemon, garden chives and Aleppo pepper; or slow cooked pork with ruby grapefruit and vadouvan California brown rice, Thai basil and charred cabbage. Explore the wine list, too – small lot, locally crafted stars include Foursight Wines (foursightwines.com), and Thomas T Thomas Vineyards (thomastthomasvineyard.com).
Day 3
Stop in for a tasting at Phillips Hill Winery, set on what was originally an apple farm. The Anderson Valley began as an Alsatian white wine region, before moving into other varietals like Pinot Noir. Phillips Hill salutes this heritage with top-notch dry Riesling and Gewürztraminer. Owner Toby Hill often is in the house to lead tastings, held in a more than 100-year-old barn where the fruit was dried for transport.
Head back to the Santa Rosa area, stopping at Boonville General Store for some quick, to-go snacks of of gluten-free carrot bread, carnitas flautas, or a roasted seasonal veggie sandwich with smoked mozzarella on house-baked bread.
Recommendations
Lauren’s at the Buckhorn, 14081 Highway 128, Boonville, 707-895-3869, laurensgoodfood.com
