One of 17 redesigned guest rooms at The Sea Ranch Lodge. (Adam Potts)
The Sea Ranch Lodge, the centerpiece of Sonoma’s iconic modernist community, is welcoming overnight guests again following the recent opening of its redesigned guest rooms.
The debut of the 17 guest rooms marks the final phase of a multimillion-dollar renovation of the seaside property. The Lodge’s public spaces — a restaurant and bar, café, lounge and general store — reopened in October 2021 after a three-year closure.
The reimagined Lodge invites guests to slow down and take its modernist design and views of the rugged coastline. The property, which was built in 1968, aligns with the visionary Sea Ranch developers’ guiding ethos of “living lightly on the land;” their goal, when the coastal community was conceived in the 1960s, was to design dwellings that did not detract from the natural landscape or obstruct ocean views.
Ocean view through a fence at The Sea Ranch Lodge. (The Sea Ranch Lodge)
A courtyard, punctuated by a towering cypress tree, leads the way to the guest rooms, which are located in the property’s North Building. With the exception of two rooms that have been combined to create a meeting space, the original footprint of all of the guest rooms was preserved during the renovation.
“We really wanted to hold true to the original architecture, while bringing it into today’s world,” said Kristina Jetton, the lodge’s general manager.
No two rooms at The Sea Ranch Lodge are exactly the same, but the idea of “living lightly on the land” is expressed throughout each accommodation. From the cedar paneling on the walls to the oak flooring to the fir in the window sills, custom woodwork frames windswept meadows and churning seas.
San Francisco-based design collective NICOLEHOLLIS created the new look for the guest rooms and there’s a Bay Area connection to nearly everything in the redesign. Santa Cruz Woodworks built the headboards, closets and desks. Each room is decorated with handwoven textiles by Berkeley artist Jess Feury. Black and white photographs by Sea Ranch artist Arun Patel have been placed on shelves and walls. And Cloverdale’s Plank Coffee has created a custom Sea Ranch blend with roasted malt and molasses for guests to enjoy.
One of 17 redesigned guest rooms at The Sea Ranch Lodge. (Adam Potts)Guest rooms at The Sea Ranch Lodge feature a variety of local touches, including a custom coffee blend from Plank Coffee in Cloverdale and a bottle of Sonoma County wine. (Adam Potts)The bathroom in one of the 17 redesigned guest rooms at The Sea Ranch Lodge. (Adam Potts)
There are no television sets at The Sea Ranch Lodge. Instead, guests can take in the coastal views and look for birds, deer, whales and other wildlife through a pair of binoculars in each room. Each room also features beach bags and walking sticks; reminders to get outside and explore. Upon their return, guests can enjoy modern touches like heated bathroom floors and fireplaces that ignite with the touch of a button, as well as a complimentary bottle of Sonoma County wine.
Overnight guests can (and should) take advantage of the lodge’s robust programming schedule. Depending on the time of year, options range from morning yoga to trivia night to live jazz to workshops where they can learn new skills, like how to dye a scarf using locally foraged plants.
Click through the above gallery for a peek inside the reimagined Sea Ranch Lodge.
Rates start at $500 per night. Select ground floor guest rooms are pet-friendly with a $250 refundable deposit and $50 nightly fee. Advance notice is required. The lodge has two standard EV charging stations (four ports in total) that are available for an additional charge. 60 Sea Walk Drive, The Sea Ranch, 707-579-9777, thesearanchlodge.com
Wine bars are nothing new in Sonoma County—this is Wine Country after all—yet in the last few years, a wave of fresh venues has arrived on the scene. While they vary in ambiance and offerings, they share a contemporary approach to the traditional wine bar concept and a willingness to venture beyond typical grape varieties, wine regions and winemaking styles.
Here are eight next-generation wine bars to explore around the county, all opened since 2020. Click through the above gallery for a peek inside each venue.
Healdsburg
Maison Wine Bar
Launched this summer by a trio of SingleThread alumni, Maison highlights the wines of coastal California, paying special attention to producers that promote elegance and restraint over flash and power. Along with 30 wines and sakes by the glass, the bar offers rare bottles from California, Champagne and Burgundy. Great news for night owls: Maison stays open until 2 a.m. five nights a week.
Most restaurant wine lists include only a single page of wines by the glass; The Matheson offers an entire wall. Opt for the Wine Wall experience and you’ll have access to 88 wines by the sip, half-glass or glass—including some rare and expensive bottles—all available for self-pouring from the restaurant’s Napa Tech machines with the push of a button. Need help choosing? The Wine Wall team is there to help with recommendations for every palate.
Wine Wall at The Matheson in Healsburg. (Courtesy of Michael Woolsey)
Sebastopol
Piala Restaurant and Wine Bar
Piala highlights the food and wine of the country of Georgia, recognized as one of the world’s oldest winemaking regions and celebrated for its amber-hued wines. Take a seat at the cozy wooden bar to discover intriguing wines by the glass and bottle, along with delicious Georgian fare from meaty soup dumplings to khachapuri, a hearty, cheese-filled bread.
Outfitted with salvaged redwood tables, this rustic Barlow wine bar is an offshoot of the original Punchdown in Oakland. Natural wine is the specialty here, especially that of the “super natty” variety—made in minimalist style with nothing added or removed during the winemaking process. The bar serves wines by the flight, glass and bottle from local darlings such as Martha Stoumen Wines as well as like-minded European producers.
6770 McKinley St., Suite 130, Sebastopol, 510-788-7877, punchdownwine.com
J. Brix Sunrise Over Skin at The Redwood natural wine bar in Sebastopol. (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)
Redwood Wine Bar
Fans of low-intervention wines will find plenty to explore at Redwood Wine Bar and bottle shop in downtown Sebastopol. Grab a stool at the centerpiece bar or at one of the casual tables scattered throughout the sunlit space and choose from a thoughtful array of wines by the glass or bottle. What you won’t find are standard selections; instead, think skin-contact whites and carbonic reds. Equally impressive is the menu by co-owner Geneva Melby, formerly of Khom Loi, which features everything from house made pita and dips to Liberty Duck liver mousse to yellowtail crudo.
Region, Sonoma County’s first self-serve wine bar, is located in a bright, open space at The Barlow. Just purchase a card that resembles a hotel room key, insert it into one of the high-tech machines, and push the button to dispense the wine and pour size of your choice. With 50 selections—all hailing from Sonoma County vineyards—the menu provides a taste-for-yourself education in regional distinctions. Patrons can order food for delivery from The Farmer’s wife, Acre Pizza and other neighboring food vendors.
At Region wine bar in Sebastopol. (Shwtha Kotekar/Sonoma County Tourism)At Region wine bar in Sebastopol. (Shwtha Kotekar/Sonoma County Tourism)
Sonoma
Valley Bar + Bottle
International wines rub shoulders with local picks at Valley Bar + Bottle in downtown Sonoma. Uncommon grape varieties and low-intervention wines are the menu’s stars, along with snacks and main dishes inspired by ingredients from nearby farms. On warm evenings, the relaxed back patio is the place to be.
Champagne, sake and Peruvian food comingle at this sleek wine-and-tapas bar, set in the former Jade Room space in downtown Santa Rosa. Champagne tasting flights are the way to go, or choose from a dozen sparkling wines by the glass from France, Argentina, Spain, Italy and California. Bubbles pair perfectly with Peruvian ceviches, empanadas and chilled oysters.
643 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-623-9793, kanchasr.com
Quesabirria Plate at El Fogon Taco Shop in Santa Rosa on Friday, April 14, 2023. (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)
From quesabirria to Vietnamese crepes to a seafood boil, here’s what to eat right now in Sonoma County. Click through the above gallery for best dishes to order.
Sebastopol
Goldfinch
Walking into Goldfinch restaurant feels a little like cheating. The former occupant, K & L Bistro, was a workhorse community restaurant that somehow managed to elevate simple dishes into Michelin-worthy meals. It was always there for us with strong martinis and French onion soup.
When it closed in 2022, it was a tough goodbye— the end of a lovely culinary relationship.
Less than a year later, Goldfinch has sashayed into its place. And it’s already stealing hearts.
The interior has received a stunning makeover, with open wicker pendant lights casting a golden glow above cozy tall-backed booths. Exposed brick walls and banquettes remain, but the tablecloths and carpet are long gone. It feels younger and fresher, a place for a date, perhaps, with plenty on the menu for all to enjoy. The drinks are just as strong, the staff just as experienced, and the large open kitchen with bar seating is just plain sexy.
Lime Cured Shrimp with avocado, cucumber, jicama and cilantro from Goldfinch restaurant in Sebastopol. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)Whole Grilled Bronzino with a side of Broccoli Tabbouleh and homemade pickles from Goldfinch restaurant in Sebastopol. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Dishes from chef Rodrigo Mendoza, formerly of Willi’s Seafood and El Charro Negro, are organized into Bites, Small Shareable plates, and Large Sharable plates. Bites ($8 each) include focaccia pull-apart rolls with rosemary and a simple dish of cracked cucumber with tart yuzu vinegar. Stock up on the Small Shareables ($12 to $18) including the gem-like fire-roasted beets with sweet caramelized yogurt, pistachios and pickled onions. Most smaller plates are plant-focused, like grilled maitake mushrooms with risotto, zucchini with burrata, or heirloom carrots with honey and garbanzo puree.
Larger entrées, like the vegetarian ricotta tortellini with fava beans, peas, and asparagus in a delicata squash puree, are as beautiful as they are delicious. The cocktail menu ($14 each) is a little heavy on the rum, bourbon, and whisky side—however, the Fizz Fuzz with tequila and orange-flower water is a summery quencher. The wine list is thoughtful, though not wildly imaginative, with decent by-the-glass pours.
The restaurant opened in late May, so falling madly in love with Goldfinch feels a little premature. But we’re certainly ready for a second date.
Heirloom Carrots with coriander honey and garbanzo puree from Goldfinch restaurant in Sebastopol. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)Crispy Fried Calamari with smoked chili remoulade and shaved parmesan from Goldfinch restaurant in Sebastopol. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Santa Rosa
Bag O’ Crab
Bag O’ Crab is exactly that: a steaming pile of seafood dumped onto a communal plate that’s a love-it-or-hate-it kind of thing. Wearing a large plastic bib and eating with your fingers is also self-selecting. If you’re up for it—or just find pulling off shrimp heads weirdly satisfying — Bag O’ Crab is your new favorite restaurant. The concept is pretty simple: You pick your seafood, pick your sauce, and wait for the hot mess to arrive. It’s literally hot. And messy.
Combos are the best bet, offering mix-and-match choices of Dungeness crab, king crab legs, clams, crawfish, shrimp and lobster ($31.95 to $83.95). Combos also include corn, potatoes, and sausage. Sauces are the critical decision — we recommend Louisiana flavor, which has a hint of sweetness. Spice levels are up to you, from mild to “On Fire XX.” Don’t be a hero, especially if you’re sharing.
Your order includes plastic gloves, wet napkins, and implements for the shelled seafood. The whole shebang is mixed in a large plastic bag and not-especially-ceremoniously dumped onto a metal platter in the middle of the table. Or you can eat the entire thing alone. Plan to make a mess and smell like Bag O’ Crab sauce for the next few hours — which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
1901 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 707-843-7267. bagocrabusa.com
El Fogon
Championing a favorite taqueria is a frequent pastime for Sonoma County residents. It’s about the perfect spit-grilled al pastor, the best salsa bar, the heftiest burrito, or the crispiest carnitas. But dissing someone else’s quesabirria spot? Let’s just say, you’d better be ready for a fight.
El Fogon is my newest obsession, featuring the epic machete, a forearm-length corn tortilla filled with meat (al pastor!), cheese, sour cream, tomato, and cilantro. A street dish common in Mexico City, the blade-shaped machete can easily feed two. The salsa bar is stocked with spicy sauces for dipping or dousing and adds a kick to the camarones al mojo de ajo (shrimp in a creamy garlic sauce). The biggest winner, of course, is the crispy, cheesy quesabirria.
623 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707-575-0574, elfogonca.com
Michelada at El Fogon Taco Shop in Santa Rosa. (Christopher Chung/The Press Democrat)
Mandarin Kitchen
In a village outside Hanoi, Vietnam, an unassuming food vendor cooks what local chef Tony Ounpamornchai considers the best banh xeo he’s ever had. The sizzling Vietnamese crepes stuffed with seafood and vegetables have been a street food staple for centuries, favored by farmers working long days in the fields.
Ounpamornchai’s newest restaurant in Santa Rosa’s Montgomery Village shopping center (formerly Tony’s Galley) aims to evoke these types of experiences. He’s getting personal with the menu, pulling dishes from his childhood — learning to make his mother’s massaman curry or picking freshwater spinach from the pools surrounding his family’s floating home in Thailand.
The restaurant celebrates the expansive culinary landscapes of Vietnam, Malaysia, Bali, Singapore, Cambodia, and Laos.
Can’t-miss dishes include Ounpamornchai’s own version of banh xeo with prawns, bean sprouts, and cabbage; grilled sea bass wrapped in banana leaves; eggplant and sea scallops in soy and hoisin sauces; and the airy green tea cheesecake.
Kung Pow Ribeye with onion, zucchini, bell pepper, mushrooms, chili and peanuts from chef Tony Ounpamornchai’s Mandarin Kitchen in Montgomery Village in Santa Rosa. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)Grilled Sea Bass in Banana Leaves with jungle curry paste and assorted mixed vegetables in black bean sauce from chef Tony Ounpamornchai’s Mandarin Kitchen in Montgomery Village in Santa Rosa. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Petaluma
Tea Room Cafe Pop-Ups
For more than a decade, chef Mark Malicki’s underground-ish weekend dinners at the Casino Bar & Grill in Bodega have been a coastal secret. Malicki recently expanded his weekly lineup to include a new pop-up location at Petaluma’s Tea Room Cafe on Tuesday nights. In the tiny kitchen, Malicki moves like an octopus, managing to cook multiple dishes at the same time, his arms deftly moving from one pan to another.
Recent menus have included a soft-shell crab and corn soup, swordfish à la plancha, baked oysters, chanterelle mac and cheese, and mussels with green coconut curry. Prices range from $10 to $27, and payment is cash or Venmo only.
Check Instagram @malle.mal for weekly menus. 316 Western Ave., Petaluma.
French baguettes from Sarmentine in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy of Sarmentine)
Santa Rosa’s Sarmentine Bakery, known for its Parisian baguettes and luxe patisserie, will open a second Sonoma County location at The Barlow in Sebastopol.
It will replace Red Bird Bakery, which had ceased using the space and is consolidating its operations between a recently opened Santa Rosa locale and its existing Cotati bakery.
“We really weren’t looking, but The Barlow reached out to us and said they were very interested in having a French bakery. It all happened very fast,” said Louis Zandvliet, who co-owns Sarmentine with his wife — and head baker — Alexandra.
The expat French couple opened the bakery at 52 Mission Circle in 2021 after their Kickstarter campaign raised more than $30,000 from community supporters.
A former midwife, Alexandra sold fresh baguettes and sweet pastries as a cottage business during the pandemic.
The 3,500-square-foot building at the multiuse restaurant, shopping, wine and maker venue includes retail and production ovens. In addition to Red Bird, the expansive bakery has also been home to Acre Pizza (which recently moved to a smaller kitchen across the street) and Village Bakery, which left after a catastrophic flood destroyed the business and several others in 2019.
Linda Cermak, co-owner of Red Bird, said that she’d found a “forever home” for her growing retail and wholesale baking business in Santa Rosa after taking over the former Criminal Bakery & Noshery earlier this year.
She said the kitchen now has commercial bread ovens and space to grow.
“We’ve been looking for a place for 10 years, and when we landed in Santa Rosa, we knew we loved this area,” she said of the offbeat SOFA District on Sebastopol Avenue.
“It’s a space as big as the Barlow, and we were barely surviving there,” she added.
Sarmentine’s owners, excited to start a new venue, hope to open in October. “October-ish opening,” he said.
Still, Zandvliet said they’re concurrently expanding their existing location by nearly double, taking over the vacated suite behind them and adding additional kitchen and staff space, so the couple is busy with those plans as well.
“We were already in the process of expanding in Santa Rosa, but we just had this opportunity, and it would be crazy not to go because, well, it’s the Barlow,” he said.
At Molti Amici in Healdsburg. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
This restaurant has closed.
It feels safe to assume Jonny Barr is the only certified sommelier/former pro wrestler you’ll ever meet.
The owner of Healdsburg’s Molti Amici is proud his alter-ego, “Crimson,” was once part of the Empire Wrestling Federation, home to chair-breaking, smack-talking WWE-esque entertainment fighters including Super Beetle, Trailer King and Anthony Idol.
That was a lifetime ago, in the late 1990s, well before he earned a hard-won certification as a professional wine steward. He later became both sommelier and general manager of SingleThread, a three-Michelin-star restaurant in Healdsburg.
But the athletic performer and general manager titles both served him well as a business owner in the competitive culinary landscape of Sonoma County.
“It taught me hard work, mental and physical strength, teamwork, always pushing forward,” he said. “And looking good in Spandex.”
From left, chef Sean McGaughey, Jonny Barr and Melissa Yanc are the team behind Molti Amici in Healdsburg. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)The front door at Molti Amici in Healdsburg. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Wrestling is a theme with Barr and chef Sean McGaughey, who created the menu at Molti Amici. One of the many Easter egg discoveries at the former Campo Fina space is a bathroom with tiny wrestlers printed on the wallpaper.
“The bathroom is a story of friendship. It’s about the ’90s WWF Mega Powers tag team,” Barr said. “I look at Sean as Hulk Hogan, and I’m Macho Man Randy Savage.”
Barr and McGaughey met when both worked at SingleThread and remained close friends after McGaughey and his wife, Melissa Yanc, opened Quail and Condor Bakery, Troubadour and Le Diner, a prix-fixe dinner hosted at Troubadour.
When Barr took over the 330 Healdsburg Ave. location, he immediately considered the couple collaborators, along with chef de cuisine Matthew Cargo and bar director Danielle Peters.
It’s a winning combination, with an Italian-influenced menu that reflects the seasonal moment — currently midsummer — with stone fruit, corn, squash blossoms, tomatoes and berries showing up throughout the menu.
There are more evergreen items, too, like a whole spatchcocked chicken with potatoes and mushrooms ($60) or a 20-ounce Wagyu strip steak ($120) meant for sharing, as well as wood-fired pizzas, either with seasonal items (corn, zucchini, tomatoes) or more the traditional Margherita or sausage pizzas.
All Patched Up with Lyres Aperitif Rosso, Giffard Aperitif, Strawberry-Balsamic Shrub and Bitters with a Capriccio with Gin, Aquavit, Tomato Water, Lemon, Caperberry and S&P Bitters from the bar at Molti Amici in Healdsburg. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)Topping a Margherita pizza with parmesan from Molti Amici in Healdsburg. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
As for drinks, there’s a wide range, from refreshing low- or no-ABV cocktails (plus higher-octane sippers) to beer and wines on a well-researched list of Italian and Sonoma County bottles.
The slim interior of the restaurant is charming, but it’s the patio where all the action happens. Fringed yellow umbrellas rim the bocce court, and banquettes with lime-striped cushions add a pastel Wes Anderson vibe.
Molti Amici is a seersucker suit and straw hat summer moment with a little WrestleMania thrown in — just what you’d expect from a guy who can pour a bottle of Dom Pérignon with all the panache of Randy Savage.
Best Bets
Bar bites ($6 – $15): If you’re just looking for a cocktail and a nibble, these bar bites are more than an afterthought. Gnoccho Fritto ($9) are triangles of fried dough paired with Mortadella ham and fresh Parmesan. The focaccia with garlic butter ($8) is also a savory carb to fill you up.
Local halibut with chile oil ($17): Fresh-off-the-boat bites of raw halibut swim in a baby pool of mild chile oil, adding depth and a little crunch to this simple small-plate dish.
Stone fruit, fennel pollen, ricotta and mustard greens ($17): Fresh slices of peach and plum get a sprinkling of bitter greens and dollops of smooth ricotta cheese.
Housemade pasta ($21 – 23): The kitchen is creating stuffed pasta dishes that are far more complicated than simple spaghetti, like casoncelli with corn, polenta and basil; a giant ravioli with summer truffle and sage brown butter; and their new tortellini en brodo (in broth) with smoked eggplant and tomato confit. They’re all little works of art made with deft hands delicately working the dough.
Pizza ($19 – 22): Half the fun of sitting outside is watching the speed of pizzas going in and out of the wood-fired oven. They’re big enough to feed two if you order an appetizer, but they also can be a hearty dinner for one. Broken into white, red and green-sauce styles, they range from outlandish (saltimbocca, sweetbread, sage, ham and fontina) to downright perfect (corn, ham and crème fraîche). They’re not overdressed and have just a handful of ingredients atop the bubbling dough, like a red pizza with hen-of-the-woods mushrooms and sweet onion or our absolute favorite, the green pizza with fresh basil, onion, frilly mustard greens and lemon zest.
Tiramisu, Marsala and Espresso from Molti Amici in Healdsburg. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Dessert ($12): At first look, Yanc’s deceptively straightforward-sounding tiramisu, panna cotta and zabaglione might not seem worth the calories, but leave room and have a little fun. Though I rarely order panna cotta, this version is thick and creamy, with a tart zing, perfect seasonal berries and a kick of Montenegro, an Italian liqueur.
Cocktails ($14): The Campari and prosecco with orange (no name, just an emoji of a hand making a very Italian gesture) is required. We also loved the Roman Around — a mix of tequila, caramelly Averna, sweet Cocchi Americano liqueur and fresh basil, peach and lemon.
If you go: Reservations are strongly suggested because tables book up almost immediately. New reservations open 30 days in advance, so plan accordingly. However, 25% of seating is reserved for walk-in diners, though you may have more luck later in the evening rather than during peak dinner hours.
A selection of baked goods from Pascaline Patisserie and Cafe. (Sierra Downey/Sonoma County Tourism)
The trip to Forestville’s French patisserie, Pascaline Patisserie and Cafe (4550 N. Gravenstein Highway, Sebastopol), has always been fraught with peril — at least for my car’s interior. Chef Didier Ageorges and new pastry chef Lea Schleimer make croissants so flaky they threaten to shatter into crumbs if you even look at them hungrily.
Pascaline’s pastry case is filled with buttery Kouign-Amann, crown-like caneles and other goodies that leave greasy fingerprints and brown flakes everywhere as you inevitably snack on them while you drive home.
Pascaline recently opened a new outpost — in Santa Rosa, closer to home for many of us.
French onion soup and a croque-madame at Pascaline Bakery and Cafe in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
Lunch begins at 11 a.m., with soups, salads and sandwiches like the iconic French onion soup and croque-monsieur with ham, Swiss and Bechamel sauce on crispy Pullman bread. The opening menu is abbreviated but will expand as the staff gets up to speed. Currently, there are no espresso drinks, but coffee is sold.
The new location is in the former space of Worth Our Weight, a beloved culinary training program and working cafe for at-risk youth directed by Evelyn Cheatham, who died in 2019. Many local chefs, including Ageorges, John Ash and Duskie Estes, worked with the students and hosted pop-up events at this spot near Montgomery Village. We can’t help but think Cheatham would be happy to see such sweet joy in the neighborhood again.
Eighteen chefs will compete to make the best meaty bites at the upcoming Heritage Fire Tour at Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena on Aug. 20.
The heavy-hitting cast of flame-fervent cooks includes Napa’s Garrison Price of Bear at Stanly Ranch, Erik Hangman of Imagination on Fire, Sticky Business Barbeque, Oakland’s Mago and others from the Sacramento area and beyond.
General admission, $125, includes unlimited tastes of heritage breed animals cooked over open fires, curated dishes, beverage pairings and live entertainment.
VIP access for $175 includes early entrance, exclusive beverages and in-person meetings with chefs, winemakers, brewers and farmers.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery in Healdsburg. (Jordan Vineyard & Winery)
Jordan Vineyard and Winery has made this year’s World’s 50 Best Vineyards list, which was announced April 12 at a ceremony in La Rioja, Spain’s premier wine region.
Coming in at No. 20, the Healdsburg winery was recognized as a “continent winner,” or the top vineyard in North America. It was the only Sonoma County winery to make the list this year and only one of two U.S. wineries in the top 50 (Oregon’s Brooks Wine came in at No. 28).
South America dominated this year’s list with six vineyards in the top 10, including the winner, Catena Zapata, a Malbec-producing winery in Mendoza, Argentina.
This is the second time Jordan Vineyard and Winery has made the World’s 50 Best Vineyards list. Last year, it took the No. 46 spot.
“We are very honored that Jordan has been recognized among the top 50 wineries on the prestigious World’s Best Vineyards list for the second consecutive year,” said John Jordan, chief executive officer at Jordan Vineyard & Winery. “Ranking first in North America this year is a testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to preserving the timeless essence of Jordan and our dedication to improving year after year.”
The World’s 50 Best Vineyards ranking, now in its fifth year, is organized by UK-based media group William Reed, which also releases the prestigious World’s 50 Best Restaurants and World’s 50 Best Bars lists. To make each year’s selection, judges assess the quality of the wine at each estate and the all-around visitor experience, including opportunities to learn about winemaking and grape-growing, and pair wine with food.
“The World’s Best Vineyards continues to highlight wine tourism destinations around the globe. We’ve found that local and international tourists are looking for experiences that offer a whole host of activities,” commented Andrew Reed, managing director of wine and exhibitions at William Reed, in a press release.
At Jordan Vineyard and Winery in Healdsburg. (Courtesy of Jordan Vineyard & Winery)Member’s of Jordan’s loyalty program can book overnights stays in the winery chateau. (Courtesy of Jordan Vineyard & Winery)
The World’s 50 Best Vineyards described the ethos of Jordan Vineyard and Winery as “the spirit of France in Sonoma” on its website and highlighted the winery’s commitment to protecting flora and fauna.
Founders Tom and Sally Jordan designed the Bordeaux-inspired winery chateau 50 years ago. Today, the winery is focused on land preservation and sustainability, while offering guests top-notch culinary experiences, Russian River Chardonnay and Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Guests to the Healdsburg winery estate can choose from a variety of experiences, including a tour of the 1,200-acre estate aboard a Mercedes Sprinter. Members of the winery’s loyalty program, Jordan Estate Rewards, can stay overnight at the French-style chateau, which recently underwent a $1 million remodel.
Find the complete 2023 World’s 50 Best Vineyards list here. Click through the above gallery to see photos of Jordan Vineyard and Winery.
Jordan Vineyard & Winery, 1474 Alexander Valley Road Healdsburg, 707-431-5250, jordanwinery.com.
Margherita Pizza served at Glen Ellen Star in Glen Ellen. (Crista Jeremiason/The Press Democrat)
Sonoma County’s Bib Gourmands have been announced for 2023, following the July 18 release of the annual California Michelin Guide. Once again, there are no new additions to Sonoma County’s lineup of eight restaurants considered to be restaurants with “good food at a moderate price.”
Receiving the awards for 2023 were 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.
These North Bay restaurants also were Bib Gourmand award winners: Napa County’s La Calenda in Yountville; Marin County’s Playa, Pig in a Pickle, Sushi Ran and Village Sake; and Solano County’s Michael Warring in Vallejo.
While most people are familiar with the Michelin stars, the Bib Gourmand award is lesser known. 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.
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 or Washington, D.C. and statewide, in the case of California. Restaurants now need to serve two courses, a glass of wine or dessert for around $40 or less to be considered for the Bib Gourmand category.
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 of foodie destinations. This year, the California Michelin Guide lists 143 Bib Gourmand restaurants in the state. A great meal under $40 isn’t easily found in California.
Click through the above gallery for some excellent deals courtesy of Michelin.
Summer socializing under shady umbrellas requires three things: fruity cocktails, friends, and tasty nibbles. After painstakingly pub-crawling and happy-hour stalking, we’ve assembled this idiosyncratic — and possibly cocktail-goggled — list of bar bites and cocktail pairings in the county.
Best salaryman experience: Okonomiyaki + Kyoto Sour
Fern Bar
Japanese okonomiyaki is the ultimate last-call bar snack. The lovechild of an omelet and a pancake, this ugly-duckling dish redeems itself with crispy, gooey savoriness and drizzles of sweet Kewpie mayo. Wash it down with Fern Bar’s green tea-infused gin cocktail. Oishii!
6780 Depot St., Suite 120, Sebastopol.
Okonomiyaki and Kyoto Sour at Fern Bar in Sebastopol. (Fern Bar)
Top secret rendezvous: Trompo Street Tacos + The She Devil
Geyerville Gun Club
The rare combination of a chef-driven menu and top-notch bar program means you can’t go wrong at this far-flung outpost. Sidle up to a barstool and grab one of their daily street tacos (or Reuben fries, or Korean tacos, they’re all good), then dive into a sneaky minx of a margarita with smoky mezcal, citrus, and a sprinkling of ghost pepper.
21025 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville.
Top ’90s nostalgia: Banh Mi Sandwich + Raspberry Lemon Drop
Kettles
Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches tick off all the boxes for bar-snack perfection, filled with barbecued pork, pickled veggies, and pâté stuffed into a French roll. Though we swore off lemon drops in 1998, it was impossible to resist a sticky-sweet cocktail (sugar rim and all) made with low-proof Soboloff vodka.
1202 W. Steele Lane, Santa Rosa.
A night owl perch in a sleepy town: Spicy Pimento Cheese + Li Hing Margarita
Starling Bar
After most of Sonoma has gone to bed, head to this cool-kids neighborhood bar. There’s something oddly satisfying about the East meets Midwest combo of a sweet-sour margarita dusted with li hing (made with dried, salted plums) and the pimento cheese with tortilla chips.
19380 Hwy. 12, Sonoma.
Smashburger and Bedstuy Old Fashioned at Willi’s Wine Bar in Santa Rosa. (Willi’s Wine Bar)
A virtual trip to Brooklyn: Smashburger + The Bedstuy
Willi’s Wine Bar
Wrapped in grease-spotted brown paper, Willi’s tiny-but-mighty burger is topped by a bagel-inspired “everything” bun and stuffed with special sauce, lettuce, onion, and cheese. Kick back a barrel-aged whiskey Old Fashioned, and you’re on the A train to Prospect Park.
1415 Town and Country Dr., Santa Rosa.
Best all-around: Crab Rangoon Dip + World’s Best Vodka Soda
Lo & Behold Bar + Kitchen
A deconstructed version of the Chinese restaurant favorite, this crabby dip comes with fried wontons for dipping. The entire menu is a bar-snackers dream, with upscale versions of chicken tenders, poutine, tacos, and noodles.Keep it simple with their signature vodka, tonic, and unicorn tears-infused soda.
