This picturesque town in Sonoma County is the perfect home base for wine country adventures, world-class dining, and luxury resorts.
Situated just 70 miles fromSan Franciscoin the northern part ofSonoma County , Healdsburg serve as the merging tip of three far-famed valleys and their celebrated wines : Alexander Valley ( cabernet sauvignon ) , Russian River Valley ( pinot noir and chardonnay ) , and Dry Creek Valley ( zinfandel and sauvignon blanc ) . The tasting opportunity alone would be enough to win our care , but the town bluster more — world - class dining , four - star hotels , and vibrant acculturation — not to name a location that overflows with twenty-four hours trip options .
From bouncy music to mushroom foraging , here are 10 matter to do in Healdsburg and its surrounding area on your next weekend route trip :
Dine around the plaza
Healdsburg is dwelling house to a wealth of dining alternative , and several of them are fix on or right around the town ’s master plaza . Take , for exemplar , The Matheson , a 15,000 - substantial - foot , tri - level locus where chef Dustin Valette whirl out elevate Californian culinary art in the dining room , and wood - fire small plates atRoof 106 . Internationally acclaimed interior room decorator Cass Calder Smith helmed the venue ’s seem and feel , and we ’re thankful — a large , receptive kitchen and chef ’s counterpunch serve well as a focal point for the blank , with raw materials like white oak , stone , and leather extend a warm California welcome .
There ’s also his eponymousValette , which the chef opened alongside his brother , and has risen to become one of the town ’s favorite intimate restaurant , with friendly service , locally source plate , and a boutique list of small - production wines . Keep those fine dining vibes going with a splurge atSingleThread , a three Michelin - starred venue sport multi - course menu from chef Kyle Connaughton . The team ’s local farm inform much of the evening — situated in Dry Creek Valley , it boasts 24 acres and hundreds of unlike crop , ensuring ample inspiration from amuse bouche to mignardises .
Check into a luxe new hotel
The Montage Healdsburgrecently open up its doors , make for with it 130 Bungalow - style guestroom featuring storey - to - cap window , marble bathrooms , and walk - in showers . The on - web site restaurantHazel Hillis destination - worthy — chef Jason Pringle excels in deliver Northern Californian cuisine with French influences , and honors the changing seasons in the physical process . casing in point with dish like Chilled Pea Soup with morels and quinoa , Wild King Salmon with pumpernickel and sorrel , or Chou Farci with wild rice and cabbage . Do n’t miss dessert — with coffee berry gelee and cookies , the Hazelnut Semifreddo serve up a tour of texture .
slimly closer to townsfolk node will findThe Madrona , a new boutique hotel cross eight Akka that was originally built as a individual residence in 1881 during the Aesthetic Movement . Venerated interior designer Jay Jeffers handled the property ’s artistic , curating more than 200 antiques and relic from around the reality while bear on original elements throughout the spaces ( 24 guest elbow room in total ) . Come dinnertime , claver the restaurant , where Michelin - star chef Jesse Mallgren serves seasonally inspired menus with ball-shaped twists , featuring plates like Medjool date with togarashi and olive oil , Shishito Peppers with ginger and sesame , and oysters on the half case with orange leaf mignonette . The drinks listing is just as enticing , thanks to the Paxton Menu , a choice of rare and vintage spirits named after the property ’s original owners . Enjoy a round on the front porch or al - fresco terrace , with panorama of the storybook gardens .
Visit a world-class winery
Healdsburg is home to several big wineries , most of which are available for tours , tastings , or both — andJordan Vineyard & Winerywould be an excellent place to set about . Established in 1972 , the vinery and winery was inspired by France ’s great estates and their high - caliber service . Experience some of that cordial reception here with a tasting of the team ’s chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon , all alongside hilltop view and pairings from the on - site garden . For the full experience , volume the three - minute turn , which explore the intact estate and concludes with a thorough tasting of wines and the wine maker ’s home - grown olive oil .
Just a 10 - minute drive away you ’ll discover theFrancis Ford Coppola Winery , an expansive , sleek repair complete with a pool , bocce Margaret Court , and motion-picture show relics galore . Order some plate to pair with a few of their offerings ( they make more than 40 wines here ) , then carry on toReeve Wines , a majestic sample way and terrace surrounded by towering oak and manzanita . It ’s an every bit solid souvenir stop — the team ’s small - batch and creditworthy husbandry coming is one you ’ll require to remember .
Or check out an in-town tasting room
While a sojourn to the vineyard is sure as shooting in order of magnitude around here , tasting rooms on the plaza propose an experience just as memorable . Check outMarine Layer , the demonstration of Baron Ziegler ’s longtime dream to create wines honoring the area ’s coastal influence ( specifically , the Pacific ’s thick blanket of fog that rolls in on the even ) . steady down into a gorgeous place replete with warm , earthy shade , and sampling through the squad ’s handiwork — mineral - driven , modest - batch wines ( with some bottle produced in quantities as small as 50 cases ) . Pair them up with a mezze denture , sport rotating seasonal ingredients from local newcomerLittle Saint . From there , meander just footsteps away toLIOCO , where married man - and - wife duo Matt and Sara Licklider portion offerings produced from their winemaking cooperative in Santa Rosa . gestate a glare on chardonnay , Pinot grape noir , and carignan — all of which are sourced from fortune have older vines and heritage clones .
Support an animal sanctuary
Dine well while supporting diversity
If you have plans to manoeuvre to the region very soon , be indisputable to check outJ Vineyards & Wineryfor their " stir the Lens ” dinner serial , events aimed to spark conversation around equitable representation in the world of dining by spotlighting various culinary techniques and philosophies . NYC - based chef Shenarri " Greens " Freeman leads the dinners on the weekend of September 29 - October 2 and October 6 - 9 , add her plant - ground , holistic access to the board .
Forage for mushrooms—then dig in
The ‘ shroom - rum will do well to book a check atHotel Healdsburg , where the team head up a two - hourforaging questatNotre Vue Estate & Winery . In the process , discover what form of trees and terrain to seek out , how to vet your mushroom , and tips to assure winner in your hunting . It all serves as helpful intel once back on property , whereDry Creek Kitchenwill help oneself to prepare a three - course repast featuring your foraged find .
Catch a show atLittle Saint
This restaurant - sports meeting - performance venue opened on Earth Day — a meet launching , as the squad prioritizes plant - based offerings , based on their farms ’ ever - evolving stock-taking . Chefs Kyle and Katina Connaughton ( of three Michelin - starred SingleThread ) are behind the venue ’s food and drink programs , meaning that disregardless of your order , you ’re in for something excellent ( think Farro Verde with grill clavus or Red Lentil Hummus with harissa ) . The squad works alongside Jenny Hess on the internet site ’s computer programming , a racy batting order which wander to include wine-colored tasting , book signings , and live medicine every Thursday night . Keep an eye on thecalendarfor upcoming shows , and whatever you terminate up catching , experience good about your purchase — proceeds benefitSaint Joseph ’s Arts Foundation , a non - profit support local creatives and humanistic discipline community of interests .
Spend some time in Glen Ellen
Good food , wine , and history can all be found a short distance away from Healdsburg in Glen Ellen , once home to Jack London ( generator ofCall of the WildandWhite Fang ) . He made such a St. Mark on the country , in fact , that visitors today can now explore theJack London State Historic Park , the author ’s former cattle farm that set claim to 1,400 acres and more than 26 miles of trails . After those kinds of aerobic effort , kick back with a massage atKenwood Inn & Spa , where several discussion rooms , two spacious spa cabanas , and individual bath ( accomplished with vineyard views ) await . Opt for the Valley of the Moon massage , a 50 - minute service fuse several techniques ( e.g. Swedish , mysterious tissue paper , and lomi lomi ) , or the Ultimate Bliss massage , a customizable , 110 - moment revitalising handling incorporate soothing aromatherapy oils . Linger onsite a while longer to enjoy the property ’s lush courtyards , flame pit , and fountain before making your way to dinner at theFig Café , where chef Sondra Bernstein ( of Sonoma’sGirl and the Fig ) puts forth seasonally drive French home base like Duck Confit with delicata squash or Beef Bourguignon with baby carrots .
Peruse theHealdsburg Farmers’ Market
Founded in 1978 , this market is a hoarded wealth trove for those seek the H.M.S. Bounty of the region , thanks to a medley of fruits and vegetables , cheeses , dearest , olive crude oil , bread , fish , and eggs ( and a strong survival of the fittest of cooked and packaged foods ) . But the draw here goes above and beyond shopping — the squad makes a point of organise events like cook demos , alive music , and produce - theme merriment ( think “ Zucchini Races ” and autumn pumpkin cut up contests ) .
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Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Cesar Rubio
Christian Horan
Jordan Vineyard & Winery
Gretchen Gause
Sally Seymour
Emma K. Morris
Kenwood Inn & Spa (10400 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, CA)
