These spoon-size portions of previous restaurant reviews by Jeff Cox include his overall rating, based on a four-star scale.

Price guide:

$ – Inexpensive, all entrees under $12

$$ – Moderate, entrees $12 to $17

$$$ – Expensive, entrees $17 to $24

$$$$ – Very expensive, entrees $24 and up

Backyard, 6566 Front St., Forestville, 707-820-8445, backyardforestville.com. The farmers, ranchers and fisherfolk who produce just about every ingredient of every item on the menu are listed by name — and they’re almost all from Sonoma County, and right around Forestville. This is great in-season, locally produced food, ably handled in the kitchen. The wines are local, too. On Wednesdays, a family-style fried chicken dinner is offered. When the place fills up, it gets too loud, and the service can be spotty, but the good locavore cooking helps smooth the rough spots. Reviewed 12/9/12. 2 stars. $$-$$$

Belly Left Coast Kitchen & Tap Room, 523 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-526-5787, belly707.com. Belly raises the bar for gastropubs in the North Bay, with wonderfully flavorful renditions of staples such as pizzas, burgers, steaks, barbecued pulled pork, crab cakes, salads and more. Chef Gray Rollin has been the tour chef for many popular music acts, and you can imagine band members appreciating his way with comfort food. Twenty-six beers on tap and 26 more by the bottle offer extensive choices for ways to wet your whistle and whet your appetite. Reviewed 4/28/13. 2½ stars. $-$$

Bistro 29, 620 Fifth St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-2929, bistro29.com. We’re lucky to have a restaurant in our area that serves the food of Brittany in northwestern France. The cuisine features beautiful buckwheat crepes, both savory and sweet, with myriad choices of fillings. Brittany is known for its excellent chicken and seafood, and chef Brian Anderson makes delicious entrees with locally sourced versions of both. Great wine list of French and local wines, too. Reviewed 5/19/13. 3 stars. $$$

Bistro Des Copains, 3782 Bohemian Highway, Occidental, 707-874-2436, bistrodescopains.com.  This very authentic Provencal-style bistro in the charming village of Occidental is the kind of place that a tourist, stumbling upon it, would write home about. Real-deal onion soup, raclette melted cheese, feuilleté of escargot, great pissaladière, mushroom crème brulee, braised rabbit in mustard sauce, steak frites with sauce Béarnaise, and so much more. Reviewed 3/17/13. 3 stars. $$-$$$$

Bravas Bar de Tapas, 420 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-433-7700, starkrestaurants.com/bravas. Owners Mark and Terri Stark traveled to Spain and fell for the wine-loving, snack-munching, pal-schmoozing culture of the tapas bar scene there. So they brought it back home to join their four other Sonoma County restaurants. The backyard of the pre-war house that’s home to Bravas was transformed into an al fresco venue for tapas-style conviviality. The snacks are extraordinarily diverse and delicious. Scads of Spanish and local wines and sangrias await. Reviewed 12/16/12. 3 stars. $$-$$$$

Café Citti, 9049 Sonoma Highway (Highway 12), Kenwood, 707-833-2690, cafecitti.com. Luca and Linda Citti found the key to success when they started their trattoria in Kenwood a couple decades ago: Forget fancy trappings and serve really good Italian food at reasonable prices. It worked (it always works) and Café Citti has been thrilling taste buds ever since. The basics — lasagna, tortellini or ravioli in brodo, rotisserie chicken, cannoli, tiramisu — are all here and done beautifully. It’s the kind of hole in the wall that pleases locals and visitors alike. Reviewed 10/28/12. 3 stars. $$

Café Lucia, 235 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, Suite 105, 707-431-1113, cafelucia.net. The same highly flavored Portuguese food that has made LaSalette such a hit over the years in Sonoma is now available in Healdsburg. The kitchen turns out dishes created by executive chef Manuel Azevedo, and his sister, Lucia, hosts and runs the business. The siblings are co-owners. It’s a bright and tasty addition to Healdsburg’s already-superior food scene. The caldo verde is perfect, seafood stew is terrific, and all the entrees shimmer with intense flavor. Reviewed 1/20/13. 3 stars. $$$

Canneti Roadhouse, 6675 Front St., Forestville, 707-887-2232, cannetirestaurant.com. Canneti Roadhouse primarily serves Tuscan food that chef/owner Francesco Torre learned to love as a child in Italy. That means a local version of the Mediterranean diet, with lots of fresh vegetables, olive oil, bread and meat (especially game). A four-course seasonal Tuscan tasting menu is a good bet, and each course can be paired with wine. During clement weather, there’s al fresco dining out back. Reviewed 5/26/13. 2 stars. $$$-$$$$

Chalkboard, 29 North St., Healdsburg, 707-473-8030, chalkboardhealdsburg.com. This hideout for tired tourists and thirsty, hungry locals is a refreshing break from the insistent gentrification going on around it in Healdsburg. A full bar offers cocktails in a comfy setting, and the rustic décor encourages patrons to relax. The small-plate dishes of chef Shane McAnelly are modestly priced and tasty, and include the best sliders in town, raw items, house-made pastas and seafood. Reviewed 6/23/13. 2½ stars.  $$

Chef Patrick’s, 16337 Main St., Guerneville, 707-869-9161, chefpatricks.com. Although the food is billed as California-French, it also includes several Italian dishes. And since chef Patrick is Vietnamese, there’s a Southeast Asian accent to some of his cooking. His many influences do not result in chaos, but rather in a refined cuisine that includes fish, fowl and beef. He likes to amp up the flavor of such popular dishes as beef ragu, which is all to the good. Reviewed 2/10/13. 2½ stars. $$-$$$

Cindy Pawlcyn’s Wood Grill and Wine Bar, 641 Main St., St. Helena, 707-963-0700, cindypawlcynsgrill.com. Renowned Napa Valley chef Cindy Pawlcyn (Mustard’s, Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen) is making perfect pizzas in the wood-fired oven at newest restaurant. The menu also features all-American favorites such as crispy calamari, rosemary roast chicken, short ribs, rib-eye steak and of course, a juicy burger. The wine list is huge, with likely the most wines by the glass of any restaurant in Napa Valley. Reviewed 12/23/12. 3 stars. $$-$$$$

Empire Napa, 1400 First St., Napa, 707-254-8888, empirenapa.com. An upscale, contemporary cocktail lounge with small plates of excellent, international-style food, with influences from Europe, Asia and the Americas. Patrons sit on comfy couches and sip beautifully made cocktails from low tables while watching the jellyfish in their tanks. Snack around the menu, and stay until 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The carrot cake is the best ever. Reviewed 7/7/13. 3½ stars. $$-$$$

Heritage Public House, 1901 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-540-0395, heritagepublichousesr.com. This is the perfect place to hang out, sample two dozen beers, ales and ciders from all over California (exclusively), and enjoy pub grub that’s a cut above average in provenance and quality. The focus is on good ingredients well prepared: fish tacos, big, beefy burgers, salads, sandwiches, fish and chips and nightly specials. Reviewed 10/6/13. 3 stars. $

Hiro’s Japanese Restaurant, 107 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-763-2300, hirosrestaurant.com. Hiro’s is an exceptional Japanese restaurant. It goes beyond just fresh and lovely versions of the usual Japanese dishes (although it does have them on the menu) to bring true gourmet Japanese cooking to Sonoma County, including hard-to-find dishes of interesting seafood specialties. From the arty décor to the swift and smiling service, it’s a real pleasure to dine at Hiro’s. Reviewed 8/25/13. 3½ stars. $$-$$$

Jackson’s Bar and Oven, 135 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-6900, jacksonsbarandoven. This beautifully designed restaurant in the Railroad Square district is the place to meet friends and hang out. The wide range of drinks and a menu chockablock with well-crafted American dishes including burgers, pizzas, braised short ribs, fish tacos and great desserts – don’t miss the beignets – add up to a place you like to be in, with a staff that likes you in return. Reviewed 9/1/13. 3 stars. $$-$$$$

John Ash & Co., 4330 Barnes Rd., Santa Rosa, 707-527-7687, vintnersinn.com. This remains the most soigné restaurant in Sonoma County, and the Pat Kuleto-designed Front Room is the comfiest watering hole imaginable. Chef Thomas Schmidt keeps the restaurant’s reputation for fine food burnishing bright, using fresh, local and seasonal ingredients whenever possible. In fact, it was this restaurant that invented Wine Country cuisine. It’s a great place for celebrations of any kind. Reviewed 2/3/13. 3½ stars. $$$-$$$$

Pamposh Restaurant, 52 Mission Circle, Suite 110, Santa Rosa, 707-538-3367, pamposhrestaurant.com. This small but mighty Indian restaurant occupies a nondescript corner of a shopping center, but the food is anything but nondescript. It offers full-on Indian and Kashmiri cooking, with lamb, chicken and vegetable curries; a signature dish of lamb in an apricot and coconut sauce; and marinated and flash-cooked tandoori chicken. There’s also house-made yogurt drinks, perfect creamed spinach and soft cheese, and much more. Reviewed 7/21/13. 3 stars. $$

SEA Thai Bistro, 2323 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-528-8333, seathaibistro.com. The food at this upscale (many appetizers are $10 or more, many entrees $22) Thai restaurant can be very, very good, or not, depending on what you order. Generally, the featured entrees, such as the Angel Eggplant Chicken and the baked duck breast, are excellent. The spiciness is toned down for the American palate, and ingredients are organic or sustainably grown whenever possible. Reviewed 4/14/13. 2 stars. $$-$$$

Shige Sushi Japanese Kitchen, 8235 Old Redwood Highway, Cotati, 707-795-9753, shige-sushi.com. This small, cozy room in the heart of Cotati has a big surprise for lovers of Japanese food. This is one of the best Japanese restaurants in the North Bay. The appetizers alone are worth the trip — albacore with thin rounds of jalapeño peppers, poke salad, fried chicken karaage — and much more, all well-prepared by chef Shigekazu Mori. Reviewed 3/10/13. 3½ stars. $$

Social Club Restaurant & Bar, 132 Keller St., Petaluma, 707-238-0158, socialclubrestaurant.com. This smart watering hole in downtown Petaluma has a lot going for it. Several beers on tap and in bottle help the schmoozing along, while the California-style food is well prepared and tasty. The room is bright and airy, thanks to the many tall windows, and the staff seems genuinely pleased to greet and seat you. Cocktails are available, and the desserts are excellent. Reviewed 10/14/12. 2½ stars. $$-$$$$

Speakeasy, 139B Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-776-4631, speakeasypetaluma.com. One of the chief virtues of Speakeasy is that it stays open for food and drink until 2 a.m. every day. Chef Dindo Borja, originally from Guam, prepares an eclectic mix of sandwiches, tacos and tapas with influences from all over the Pacific. The Taco Trio is a winner: pork belly, chicken and salmon tacos are plenty for a meal. Yes, there’s beer and wine, but none of the hard stuff. Reviewed 5/12/13. 2 stars. $-$$

Taqueria Mi Pueblo, 800 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-762-8192, realmexmipueblo.com. Hefty portions and very reasonable prices make this taqueria and its four sister locations in the North Bay popular, indeed. The menu has just about every item you’d expect from a big taqueria, from individual tacos to big combo plates, molcajete stews and a $22 gigantic burrito that can serve an entire family. Oh, and the food is good, too. A full bar serves cocktails, including margaritas and daiquiris. Reviewed 11/18/12. 2½ stars. $-$$

Terrapin Creek, 1580 Eastshore Rd., Bodega Bay, 707-875-2700, terrapincreekcafe.com. Owners Andrew Truong and Liya Lin have fashioned one of the most charming restaurants in Wine Country, and her cooking is a shining example of locally sourced ingredients used in refined and thoughtful dishes that never fail to please. Simple soups and salads come to life. Entrees are rich and bold, such as lamb sugo over pappardelle, and glazed baby back ribs. The cooking is pure Californian with a hint of French and Asian. Reviewed 3/24/13. 3½ stars. $$$$

101 Thai Way, 1198 S. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale, 707-894-9999, 101thaiway.com. This little storefront next to a Starbucks is turning out some of the best, freshest-tasting Thai food in Wine Country. The space is clean and upbeat, with snappy service and food better than you’d expect for such a modest restaurant. The vegetables are just-picked fresh, the portions generous and the prices inexpensive. Serving many Thai favorites, lots of daily specials and other Asian dishes, Thai Way is a real find. Reviewed 2/24/13. 2 stars. $-$$

The Girl & The Fig, 110 West Spain St., Sonoma, 707-938-3634, thegirlandthefig.com. The food has never been better at this successful restaurant, since proprietor Sondra Bernstein and executive chef John Toulze have been expanding their repertoire during world travels. The wines are all from Rhone grape varieties grown here, in France and in Spain. The full-flavored menu goes perfectly with the French country theme. Duck confit, steak frites, wild flounder meuniere, pastis-scented mussels — there’s so much to like. Reviewed 2/17/13. 3 stars. $$-$$$

Woodfour Brewing Company, 6780 Depot St., Sebastopol (in The Barlow), 707-823-3144, woodfourbrewing.com. It’s just what you want in a restaurant — something new and different. The brewery makes a range of distinctive beers and ales, and has a cupboard full of bottled beers from all over the world. The food is as ingenious as the beers, and beautifully displayed on the plates. It shows great creativity on the part of the chefs, as they combine unlikely ingredients into exceptionally delicious dishes. Reviewed 9/8/13. 3½ stars. $$

The wineries listed are open for public tastings, typically from around 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact the individual winery to confirm or for more details.

Arista Winery, 7015 Westside Rd., Healdsburg, 707-473-0606, aristawinery.com. Meander through the winery’s Japanese gardens before stepping into the warmth of the tasting room to sample Arista’s silky, sensuous, single-vineyard Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, some from estate-grown grapes, in addition to well-made Zinfandel and Gewürztraminer.

Bella, 9711 West Dry Creek Rd., Healdsburg, 866-572-3552, bellawinery.com. Duck into Bella’s cozy caves to taste, and on the weekends, enjoy small bites from the winery’s stellar chef, Bruce Frieseke. Cave and vineyard tours can be arranged by appointment with one week’s notice.

Buena Vista, 18000 Old Winery Rd., Sonoma, 800-926-1266, buenavistawinery.com. Historic Buena Vista has refashioned its wine caves into a darkened, romantic spot for barrel tasting and touring, and a section of the cave can be reserved for private, by-appointment tastes of library wines and barrel samples. Don’t miss the Champagne Cellars (kid-friendly and there is no charge) where the winery’s history can be further explored.

Cuvaison, 1221 Duhig Rd., Napa, 707-942-2455, cuvaison.com. Take a vineyard walk in Cuvaison’s Carneros vineyards, Friday through Monday, where the winery grows its estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, then sit down to enjoy tastes of the wines from the sleek, modern tasting room with spectacular views of Carneros.

DeLoach Vineyards, 1791 Olivet Rd., Santa Rosa, 707-526-9111, deloachvineyards.com. Producer of predominantly Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, DeLoach affords visitors the opportunity to learn the philosophies of biodynamic farming and take part in two unique experiences available daily. The M.F.S. Blending Experience ($100) is a 90-minute lesson in blending, bottling and labeling your own Pinot Noir. The Magic of Wine and Mustard ($40) explores the history of mustard in Burgundy, France, and includes a stroll through the vineyard and garden, the chance to make your own mustard from Dijon seeds, and a pairing of mustard-inspired food with a flight of DeLoach wines.

Dry Creek Vineyard, 3770 Lambert Bridge Rd., Healdsburg, 707-433-1000, drycreekvineyard.com. Dry Creek is maker of an impressive lineup of Zinfandel, but it’s always good to start with the winery’s dry Chenin Blanc, a rare, refreshing find in these parts.

Dutcher Crossing Winery, 8533 Dry Creek Rd., Geyserville, 866-431-2711, dutchercrossingwinery.com. Quiet, cozy Dutcher, with a fireplace in its tasting room, overlooks its own magnificent Dry Creek Valley vineyards, and produces a slew of fine wines, from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to Port and Petite Sirah. You might find winery dog Dutchess lounging near the fire or hanging out in the garden picnic grounds.

Francis Ford Coppola Winery, 300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, 707-857-1462, franciscoppolawinery.com. A stellar spot in summer with its Hollywood-size pool, Coppola also excels at hospitality no matter the time of year or weather. It’s an ideal spot to duck in and enjoy the wines, the homey Italian fare at the onsite restaurant, Rustic, and view Coppola’s movie memorabilia, including his well-earned Oscars.

Fritz Underground Winery, 24691 Dutcher Creek Rd., Cloverdale, 707-894-3389, fritzwinery.com. Step into Fritz’s subterranean winery, complete with cozy fireplace, and enjoy its red blends, award-winning Zinfandels, fine estate rosé and late-harvest wines. By reservation, winemaker Brad Longton will even show you how to blend your own Pinot Noir ($175/person).

Handley Cellars, 3151 Highway 128, Philo, 707-895-3876, handleycellars.com. The stomping ground of Mendocino County wine pioneer Milla Handley, Handley is the place to taste Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Alsatian whites, including Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer. The tasting room includes Handley’s impressive collection of international folk art. The first weekend of every month takes a page from her collection, offering “Culinary Adventures,” a pairing of Asian, African and New World cuisine with her wines.

Hartford Family Winery, 8075 Martinelli Rd., Forestville, 707-887-8030, hartfordwines.com. Tucked away in the woods, it seems, Hartford is a consistent high-quality producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and old-vine Zinfandel, sourcing from the Green Valley sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley where it is based, and from other cool-climate locales such as the Anderson Valley. Seated in-depth tastings, including some with food pairings, can be arranged by appointment.

Heitz Wine Cellars, 436 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena, 707-963-3542, heitzcellar.com. Open since 1961, Heitz is a Napa Valley legend in Cabernet Sauvignon and will also share tastes of its Sauvignon Blanc and rare Grignolino and Grignolino Rosé from its mahogany-accented room. On a cold winter’s day, don’t miss the Ink Grade Port made from Portuguese varieties planted on Howell Mountain.

Inman Family Wines, 3900 Piner Rd., Santa Rosa, 707-293-9576, inmanfamilywines.com. From organically farmed grapes grown on the estate Olivet Grange Vineyard, Kathleen Inman makes elegant Russian River Valley Pinot Noir in addition to other Pinots, a Pinot Gris and her acclaimed Endless Crush Sparkling Brut Rosé. A vineyard farmhouse is available as a “bed-and-get-your-own-breakfast,” as the Inmans like to say.

J Vineyards & Winery, 11447 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg, 707-431-5400, jwine.com. A glass of bubbly is always a good thing, and this is a well-appointed spot at which to have it, as well as taste J’s Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, and the very rare, wintery J Pear Liqueur. The J Bubble Room will pair wines with exquisite three-course, locally sourced dishes.

Joseph Phelps Freestone Vineyards, 12747 El Camino Bodega, Freestone, 707-874-1010, josephphelps.com. On the way to the coast, Freestone Vineyards makes what you would expect – cool-climate Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, and the tasting room will also pour selections from parent winery Joseph Phelps, the Napa Valley producer of Cabernet Sauvignon and the famous Insignia proprietary red blend. On the second Sunday of every month, Freestone features local foods paired with the Sonoma Coast and Napa Valley wines. Upcoming dates feature clam chowder and crab cakes paired with Chardonnay.

Lambert Bridge, 4085 West Dry Creek Rd., Healdsburg, 707-431-9600, lambertbridge.com. Cozy Lambert Bridge offers comfort and warmth in the wintertime, with a fieldstone fireplace roaring in the redwood-paneled tasting room. Then there are the dogs, a motley crew usually on hand, and the Barrel Room Wine and Food Pairings, during which one can taste Lambert Bridge’s richly elegant Cabernet Sauvignons and Zinfandels with seasonal bites to match. Do a Signature Tasting on the weekend and you’ll be seated in the candlelit barrel room for a sampling of five small-lot wines.

Landmark Wine, 101 Adobe Canyon Rd., Kenwood, 707-833-0053, landmarkwine.com. In the shadow of Sugarloaf State Park, Landmark makes Chardonnay (including the famous Overlook bottling) and Pinot Noir, and is increasingly becoming known for its Rhone-inspired reds, including Syrah and Grenache. In addition to its tasting room, Landmark offers picnic spots and bocce, and has an onsite guest cottage and a suite above the winery, each available for booking.

Merry Edwards Winery, 2959 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, 707-823-7466, merryedwards.com. Winemaker Merry Edwards is a pioneer in Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, excelling at coaxing rich berry flavor and voluptuous texture from the grapes. She also produces some of the best Sauvignon Blanc in the county, and has recently added Chardonnay to her lineup. Don’t miss the opportunity to discover her skill and view some of the vineyards surrounding the winery.

Navarro Vineyards, 5601 Highway 128, Philo, 707-895-3686, navarrowine.com. An always popular destination for picnics, Navarro makes great wines at great prices, from Anderson Valley Pinot Noir to late-harvest Gewürztraminer. Try them all and pick up picnic eats from the tasting room, which also carries local Pennyroyal Farm cheeses that are made by the winery founders’ daughter.

Portalupi Wine Co., 107 North St., Healdsburg, 707-395-0960, portalupiwine.com. Occupying a storefront near the Raven Theater in downtown Healdsburg, Portalupi brings Wine Country to town, pouring its selections of Pinot Noir, Barbera, Zinfandel and other Italian-inspired blends, some of them sourced from other parts of California including Lodi and the Sierra Foothills. It also offers a 1.89-liter (the equivalent of 2½ regular 750-milliliter bottles) rustic red called Vaso di Marina.

Preston of Dry Creek, 9282 West Dry Creek Rd., Healdsburg, 707-433-3372, prestonvineyards.com. Longtime grower, farmer and winemaker Lou Preston maintains this lovely Dry Creek outpost for all his agricultural bounty, which includes wine, bread and olive oil. Look for Madam Preston, a blend of Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier and Grenache Blanc.

Ram’s Gate, 28700 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, 707-721-8700, ramsgatewinery.com. Ram’s Gate was designed for lingering, with a host of spacious areas, many of which are grouped around a fireplace. Then there’s the food, prepared to order by the on-staff chef for seated, guided tastings. Order a picnic lunch to take into the vineyard or out by the pond. The wines alone are a reason to stay, a collection of single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay and even a brut sparkling wine.

Robert Sinskey Vineyards, 6320 Silverado Trail, Napa, 944-9090, robertsinskey.com. This stalwart Napa winery along the Silverado Trail makes delicious Vin Gris of Pinot Noir, a wine type not easy to find in the valley, and offers a Farm to Table Tour ($75) by appointment. Visitors can also grab a plate of small bites from the Vineyard Kitchen ($25), without an appointment. Other wines to expect include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Commander Zinskey.

Round Pond Estate, 875 Rutherford Road, Rutherford, 888-302-2575, roundpond.com. Set in the heart of Rutherford in grand style, Round Pond makes Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and olive oil, and has bites prepared onsite from its organic gardens. The Olive Mill can be visited for tastes of oils and vinegars. The winery’s open-air terrace lounge is set for daily Il Pranzo lunches, an opportunity to enjoy the estate’s bounty and other local products. During inclement weather, the lunches are moved indoors.

 

Schramsberg Vineyards, 1400 Schramsberg Rd., Calistoga, 800-877-3623, schramsberg.com. Among the first in California to specialize in sparkling wine, Schramsberg occupies hallowed, historic ground, home to the oldest hillside vineyards in the Napa Valley and some of the first caves dug for storing and aging wine. Take a tour by appointment, and don’t miss the Mirabelle Brut Rosé and other gorgeous sparklers before moving on to taste the J. Davies Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.

Sheldon Wines, 1301 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-865-6755, sheldonwines.com. Tiny Sheldon makes mighty, playful wines, calling itself a micro-winery. The wines are eclectically delicious, ranging from Pinot Noir and Grenache to Graciano, and the energizing Weatherly Rosé, made from the Graciano grape and offering notes of watermelon Jolly Rancher candy and pomegranate.

Stonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate, 7111 Highway 128, 707-473-3333, stonestreetwines.com. Near Alexander Valley’s popular Jimtown Store, Stonestreet excels in mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and invites visitors to taste through its single-vineyard bottlings. Carve out extra time to take the two-hour Mountain Excursion and Picnic ($90; 10:30 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday), a revelatory traipse through Stonestreet’s 6,000-acre estate with lunch and wine.

Stuhlmuller Vineyards, 4951 West Soda Rock Lane, Healdsburg, 707-431-7745, stuhlmullervineyards.com. Hidden away in the heart of the Alexander Valley, once part of Cyrus Alexander’s original ranch, Stuhlmuller has picnic grounds and a modern tasting room: perfect conditions for trying its high-scoring Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Chardonnay, produced by winemaker Leo Hansen.

Thomas George Estates, 8075 Westside Rd., Healdsburg, 707-431-8031, thomasgeorgeestates.com. Set in a converted 1920s-era hop kiln, the father-son team behind Thomas George specializes in Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from specific, sought-after sites, and limited amounts of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Zinfandel and Syrah. Expect to see dogs and sheep while you visit.

VJB Vineyards & Cellars, 60 Shaw Ave., Kenwood, 707-833-2300, vjbcellars.com. In an Italian-inspired, courtyard-centered villa in the heart of Sonoma Valley, VJB serves coffee and pastries in the morning, panini, pasta and pizza during the day, and sips of its Italian-inspired wines. The winery also sells co-proprietor Maria Belmonte’s line of sauces, pestos and tapenades, and houses a shop for gelato and specialty chocolates.

Woodenhead Vintners, 5700 River Rd., Santa Rosa, 707-887-2703, woodenheadwine.com. This small winery is a respected producer of Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, and a recently introduced Russian River Valley French Colombard. Nikolai Stez, who learned the ropes from Burt Williams of legendary Williams Selyem, makes the wines.

ZD Wines, 8888 Silverado Trail, Napa, 800-487-7757, zdwines.com. Having just celebrated its 45^th harvest, ZD is a Napa Valley mainstay, known for its Cabernet Sauvignons, Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, most notably the Abacus limited-production Cab. The Abacus Tour focuses on the winery’s reserve wines, pairing the Abacus with cheese and chocolate.