Healdsburg's Hidden Wineries
Healdsburg is suddenly a red-hot wine tourism destination, and
with good reason. Great wines, fine dining, and four-star
accommodations have converged to make this authentic small town
a Wine Country lifestyle capital. Most visitors never venture
more than a couple of blocks off the Healdsburg Plaza. But
those who do are richly rewarded. Here are our picks for
wineries off-the-path in and around Healdsburg.
Mosaic Vineyards / deLorimier Winery
The flagship wine at the former deLorimier Winery was so good,
the new owners renamed the winery for it. Blended wines
produced in small lots are the winemaker’s strong suit
here. Mosaic is a couple of miles from anywhere else, but
it’s worth a special trip. Great picnic facilities with
vineyard and mountainside views. 2001 Hwy. 128, Alexander
Valley; 800-546-7718, 707-857-2000.
Moshin Winery
Rick Moshin makes great Pinots, and you’ll want to taste
them all. Gentle gravity-flow, no-pumps processing safeguards
the delicacy of his wines. While you’re there, sample the
Banyan label wines made by Rick’s friend and fellow
winemaker Kenny Likitprakong especially to accompany Asian
cuisine. 10295 Westside Road, Russian River Valley;
707-433-5499.
Huntington Wine Cellars
Owned by a team of successful wine industry innovators, this
in-town winery with art gallery is blazing a trail by placing
"Drinkable Art" images on its new labels. The images are
specially designed to communicate the character and spirit of
the wines. The wines themselves are great, winning over 50
awards in 2006 alone. 53 Front Street, Healdsburg;
707-433-5215.
Manzanita Creek Winery
The wines at this warehouse winery are as good as the marketing
is quirky. Don’t be deterred by the industrial exterior.
Walk through the door and you’re standing in a
picturesque, working winery. At the rustic bar amongst the
barrels, you’ll taste exeptional Zinfandel, Petite
Sirah, Syrah, and Pinot Noir wines poured by the owners. 1441-A
Grove Street, Healdsburg; 707-433-4052.
Longboard Vineyards
You might think wines made by a fanatical surfer would be casual in style. At Longboard Vineyards, you’d be wrong. Here the wines are refined and elegant, and also delicious. Longboard is open only Thursday through Sunday, but they are open late - 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. It’s a great after-hours spot to hang-out with locals in a very cool tasting room. 5 Fitch Street, Healdsburg; 707-433-3473.
