Healdsburg At-A-Glance
In recent years, Healdsburg has emerged as one of the top wine touring destinations in California on the strength of three factors: geography, accessibility and charm.
Geographically, Healdsburg sits at the convergence of three great winegrowing regions: Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Russian River Valley. Scores of wineries in these regions are located within minutes of the town center. The Napa Valley is only a half-hour away via a scenic drive along Highway 128 through Alexander Valley and Knights Valley into the picturesque town of Calistoga. Wineries of the new Chalk Hill appellation are just a turn off Highway 128 away along meandering Chalk Hill Road. An hour’s drive to the north takes you to even more premium wine regions in Lake and Mendocino counties. All told, well over a dozen major wine regions comprising literally hundreds of wineries are within easy striking distance of town.
Healdsburg is about 65 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Except during peak commute hours, it is an easy 90-minutes-or-less drive along major highways from downtown San Francisco, the San Francisco International Airport, or Oakland International. It is only 10 minutes north of the Sonoma County Airport, which offers non-stop commercial air links with Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Easy access to transportation to and from major cities of the West makes Healdsburg a natural destination for urban wine enthusiasts seeking to escape into the Wine Country for a day, a weekend, or longer.
Perhaps because it so accessible, Healdsburg has gone to great lengths to preserve its small town charm and rural heritage. Strict growth limits have kept it compact enough that virtually every corner of town is within walking distance for its 10,000 inhabitants. And, with the town of Sonoma, it is one of only two towns in Sonoma County to preserve its original town square. Today the Healdsburg Plaza remains the focal point for community gatherings. Surrounded by interesting shops, good restaurants and high quality lodging, the Plaza is also the focus for visitors. A walk around the square immerses you in a mix of rural and urban amenities that is the very essence of Wine Country lifestyle.
Travel-Wise Tip: The Healdsburg area (including Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River valleys) and Sonoma Valley are the main wine regions of Sonoma County. From Healdsburg to the town of Sonoma is about 40 miles and, in usual driving conditions, driving time is about an hour. While it is certainly possible to tour Sonoma Valley through day trips from a base in Healdsburg, it is not advisable. It is far better to devote two or three days to each area and to reserve accommodations close to where you’ll be touring. Visiting the Wine Country is all about relaxing and enjoying the wine and lifestyle amenities of the different regions you visit. That becomes difficult if a significant portion of your day is spent driving.
Top Picks For Wine Tasting
As in other parts of the Wine Country, there are so many good wineries in and around Healdsburg that it is difficult to select just a handful to visit. Here are our suggestions for wineries in the regions immediately adjacent to Healdsburg, as well as for tasting rooms in Healdsburg proper.
| Alexander Valley is best known for its Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Good places to sample these and other great wine varieties include: |
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| Dry Creek Valley is almost synonymous with Zinfandel, a uniquely American wine. Several Italian and French varietals are also produced here. Here is where you can taste the intriguing diversity of this region: |
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| Russian River Valley is world-famous for Pinot Noir. Other varietals in this region include Chardonnay, a cooler-climate take on Zinfandel, and even sparkling wines. Here’s a short list to get you started in this region populated by many small and a few big wineries: |
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| Healdsburg proper, not surprisingly, offers wines from all three of the surround regions—and then some. Here are just three of the more than 20 tasting venues you can visit in town: |
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Where To Dine
Here are some of the restaurants we consider to be among the best in the Healdsburg area. Please see our Top Restaurants page for a more comprehensive listing of highly rated restaurants in and around Healdsburg.
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Beyond Wine Tasting
Some services that may make your visit to Healdsburg more enjoyable:
Spas
- Massage Envy
- 640 E. Cotati Avenue, Cotati; 707-795-7700
- 247 N. McDowell, Petaluma; 707-763-6274
- 5761 Mountain Hawk Hwy, Suite #103, Santa Rosa; 707-537-0555
- Osmosis Day Spa, 209 Bohemian Hwy, Freestone; 707-823-8231
Limousine Tours & Transportation
- California Wine Tours, 707-253-1300
- Destiny Wine Tours, 707-254-0442
