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Bella Vineyards & Wine Caves, Healdsburg: Bella’s winemaking team is focused on crafting small-lot wines, with an emphasis on estate-grown Zinfandel. Groups of eight or less are welcome without a reservation for a relaxed tasting in the hillside cave ($15), a one-hour cave tour and tasting that highlights the art and science of aging wine (by appointment, $35), or a barrel-blending experience ($55 by appointment). 9711 W. Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, 707473-9171, bellawinery.com. (Photo by Kent Porter)
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Deerfield Ranch Winery, Kenwood: Deerfield Ranch owner and winemaker Robert Rex focuses on blending clean wines (low in histamines and sulfites) crafted from small vineyard lots sourced from throughout Sonoma County, including estate-grown, organically farmed grapes. Don’t miss the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Mountain, or the 2006 DRX Meritage blend. The tasting room is centered in the winery’s expansive cave, where visitors lounge on overstuffed furniture. No reservations are required for groups of eight or less ($15-$20). 10200 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707853-5215, deerfieldranch.com (Courtesy photo)
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Flanagan Wines, Healdsburg: Nestled on a hillside overlooking Dry Creek Valley, Flanagan Wines’ well-appointed tasting salon is featuring “Special Wines for Special Occasions” this holiday season, with limited releases of small-production wines, including the 10th Anniversary 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, a 2014 Merlot and a 2014 Serenity Way Proprietary Red (a blend of Cabernet and Merlot), each crafted by winemaker Cabell Coursey ($40, by appointment only). 435 W. Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, 707-723-8800, flanaganwines.com. (Courtesy photo)
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Fog Crest Vineyard, Sebastopol: Set high on a vista overlooking Laguna de Santa Rosa, Fog Crest offers Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and rosé wines crafted by winemaker Jérôme Chéry. Open daily for wine tasting ($15), the intimate room features leather seating next to the fireplace. The winery also hosts “First Friday” evenings each month (5 to 7 p.m.; reservations recommended) with food truck menus or artisan cheese and wine available for purchase. 7606 Occidental Road, Sebastopol, 707-829-2006, fogcrestvineyard.com. (Courtesy photo)
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Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, Sonoma: Well known for its wide range of sparkling wines, Gloria Ferrer also offers Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Rosé as well as wines from the Ferrer family’s Spanish winery and its Australian affiliate, Katnook, which produces Cabernet Sauvignon. Groups of seven or less are welcome without a reservation ($25-$33). On December 9, the winery will host a crab feed ($125) in its wine cave. 23555 Highway 121, Sonoma, 707933-1917, gloriaferrer.com. (Courtesy photo: Gloria Ferrer crab feed)
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Imagery Estate Winery, Glen Ellen: Imagery is known for its love of crafting wines from uncommon varieties as well as its love of art. Consider combining the best of both with a casual visit to its expansive tasting bar or a private estate tasting (by reservation; $30) featuring premier wines, then visit the winery’s art collection and see if you can find the Parthenon in each work. 14335 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen, 707935-4500, imagerywinery.com. (Courtesy photo)
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Korbel Champagne Cellars, Guerneville: Korbel offers six different California Champagnes, varying in style from dry to sweet. For something truly different, go for the Rouge, a medium-dry sparkler made with Pinot Noir grapes. December 1-3, the winery is hosting a “holiday shopping spree,” featuring discounted wines and more, with carolers, cider, cookies and Santa on Saturday and Sunday. Tasting and tours are always complimentary for groups of less than 20. 13250 River Road, Guerneville, 707-8247000, korbel.com. (Photo by John Burgess)
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Lambert Bridge, Healdsburg: Specializing in Bordeaux varieties, Lambert Bridge features an expansive tasting room with a large fireplace, vaulted ceilings and a bar made of a single felled redwood tree. Glass walls provide a view into the barrel room where you can enjoy seated tastings ($40-$60 by appointment), or stay at the bar and choose your flight. 4085 W. Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, 800-975-0555, lambertbridge.com.
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Longboard Vineyards, Healdsburg: It’s all about wine, waves and soul at Longboard’s surf lounge. Owner and winemaker Oded Shakked crafts a wide assortment of wines to enjoy. New releases include two Syrahs: 2014 Goosechase Vineyard and 2014 Savage Coast, as well as the 2014 Mavericks Cabernet Sauvignon and a late disgorged “Brut Z” dry sparkling (for zero dosage). The casual tasting room is adorned with a collection of surfboards and has a large flat-screen television featuring surf videos — but the wine and hospitality take center stage here. 5 Fitch St., Healdsburg, 707-433-3473, longboardvineyards.com. (Courtesy photo)
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Patz & Hall, Sonoma: The Sonoma House a t Patz & Hall is an elegant former residenceturned- tasting salon that’s open by reservation daily for groups of up to 10 to enjoy four tastes of the winery’s exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay ($35), or Thursdays through Mondays for the Salon Experience, which features six wines paired with gourmet food for up to nine guests, served by the warming fireplace ($75). 21200 Eighth St. E., Sonoma, 707-265-7700, patzhall.com. (Photo by Conner Jay)
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Ram’s Gate Winery, Sonoma: Feel as if you’re in a mountain lodge while taking in the Carneros views at this well-appointed winery across from Sears Point. There are multiple experiences and spaces to enjoy by appointment Thursdays through Mondays ($40-$295, some are seasonal and many offer food pairings — highly recommended), and each space is warmed by a roaring fireplace. Reservations required. 28700 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 707-721-8700, ramsgatewinery.com. (Photo by Christopher Chung)
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SIGH Sonoma, Sonoma: SIGH is celebrating five years in business, and its new space is the perfect spot to satisfy your appetite for sparkling wine and Champagne. There’s more room to sit and sip, with a curved bar also pouring still wines and beer on tap and a price range to suit any budget. Order a bottle and a staff member will saber it for you (and show you how in the process). Late-night hours (till 9:30 p.m. weekdays, 10:30 p.m. weekends) mean plenty of time to enjoy your surroundings. 120 W. Napa St., Sonoma, 707-996-2444, sighsonoma.com. (Courtesy photo)
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Sonoma Aperitif, Penngrove: Every season features a new array of flavors and finds at Laura Hagar’s Sonoma Aperitif. Her wines are infused with fruits, herbs and flowers (with a touch of spirits) and range in flavors from savory to sweet. Expect things like bergamot and citrus this time of year. Each offering is crafted using a blend of 700-year-old traditional methods with a modern and tasteful twist (by appointment only). 111 Goodwin Ave., Suite A, Penngrove, 707-322-8696, sonomaaperitif.com. (Photo by Conner Jay)
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Spicy Vines, Healdsburg: Winemaker Doug Hackett’s lively tasting room features spiced wines, traditional varietals and beyond, including the newly released “Kiss the Flower” wildflower mead and a Cabernet Franc sourced from a 2,400-foot-elevation vineyard atop Pine Mountain. Its walls are adorned with artist installations and, on Saturday nights, there’s live music 6-9 p.m. Choose from wine cocktails, curated flights, small bites and more. A holiday party on December 16 will include special wine-based cocktails. Reservations are required for select experiences. 441 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-927-1065, spicyvines.com. (Courtesy photo)
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The Donum Estate, Sonoma: Nestled in the heart of Sonoma County’s Carneros region, The Donum Estate is renowned for winemaker Dan Fishman’s small-lot, single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Its newly opened Donum Home is a tranquil space for intimate wine tasting experiences surrounded by the 187-acre property’s vineyards. While there, it’s a must to make time for exploring the winery’s sculpture garden, curated by president and winegrower Anne Moller-Racke and featuring artists such as Ai Weiwei, Zhan Wang, Arturo Di Modica, Fernando Botero and Jaume Plensa. Reservations are required. 24500 Ramal Road, Sonoma, 707-939-2290, thedonumestate.com. (Courtesy photo)
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Three Sticks Wines, Sonoma: Located in the meticulously restored, historic Vallejo-Casteñada adobe in downtown Sonoma, Three Sticks Wines features intimate wine tasting experiences ($40-$200, some with food pairings) that involve history, art and a true sense of home. There are several places throughout the property, including a cozy fireplace, where you can enjoy Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon crafted by winemaker Bob Cabral. Don’t miss artist Rafael Arana’s mural as you enter the property from the private auto court. Reservations required. 143 W. Spain St., Sonoma, 707-996-3328, threestickswines.com. (Courtesy photo)
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Westwood Estate, Sonoma: Westwood Estate’s tasting salon in downtown Sonoma pays homage to the winery’s Annadel Gap Vineyard, where all its grapes are sourced. The biodynamic vineyard has an array of microclimates and nuances, which are expertly honored by winemaker Ben Cane’s enthusiasm and attention to detail. Choose a flight featuring the winery’s small-production Burgundian and Rhône varieties ($30, reservations recommended). 11 E. Napa S t., Suite 3, Sonoma, 707-933-7837, westwoodwine.com.
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Williamson Wines, Healdsburg: Williamson’s winemaking team crafts more than 40 varietal-specific and blended wines. Tasting-room guests are offered seated experiences, each of which comes with food pairings. There’s no cost or reservations required for groups of less than eight (six on weekends) for the complimentary “Fridge Foods and Fine Wines” tasting. Or, with reservations, more elaborate experiences are on offer for $50-$125 — including a helicopter ride for two ($395) followed by a legacy tasting featuring an array of wines with food prepared by the winery’s chef. 134 Matheson St., Healdsburg, 707-433-1500, williamsonwines.com. (Courtesy photo)
