Visiting Sonoma Wine County, Lodging at the Best Western Healdsburg, Dining- John Ash & Co, Grata, Costeaux- April 2012
Lodging:
After flying into Santa Rosa airport, the place to stay is the Best Western Dry Creek Inn in Healdsburg. The hotel is located about 10 minutes from the airport and offers nice accommodations, friendly staff, 2 outdoor heated pools and the best location close to all the wineries in the heart of Sonoma County. The are very hospitable and take all safety covid precautions for guests. The rooms were spacious, beds were comfortable and we had a nice fireplace. Other amenities included free parking, pet friendly and a non-smoking hotel. They usually include breakfast & fitness room but those were on hold with the pandemic but will be back open hopefully soon.
Nestled among the rolling hills and picturesque vineyards of Sonoma’s wine country, Best Western Dry Creek Inn is a charming hotel in Healdsburg, California. Inspired by the picturesque villas of the Tuscan countryside, our hotel is comprised of two beautiful buildings: Casa Siena and Villa Toscana, each with their own charms. Start your day with a complimentary Free Parking, lounge by two pools, energize in the fitness center, or unwind in the steam room or sauna. You’ll enjoy comfortable beds, ergonomic workspaces, and complimentary WiFi in one of our luxuriously sized rooms. As dusk falls, enjoy a glass of wine in our piazza or watch as the sun sets and the stars come out. www.drycreekinn.com
Dining:
We had the pleasure of eating at John Ash & Co., which is located at the Vinters Resort. The atmosphere and the ambiance are supreme. We sat outside with of view of the vineyards, which was unique. We started with the Classic Caesar Salad and signature house made Parker House Rolls. Do not miss the fried Calamari served with Coleslaw and the Alaskan Halibut with rice cakes and mixed vegetables. Enhance your dinner with side dishes such as the pan seared Brussel Sprouts or pan seared Diver Scallops. They also have a Wiener schnitzel on the menu, which is hard to find. You can check out their extensive wine list.
For your dessert, try their Apple Huckleberry Crisp, which is a not to be missed. Try one of their ports to finish your meal. Overall, the dining experience, and our server Alan, was very attentive and we highly recommend this fabulous place for a dining experience. It was our favorite meal of our whole trip. www.vintnersresort.com/
Grata Italian Eatery located in Windsor adjacent to Santa Rosa- Start with the burrata cheese with grilled bread and grilled octopus appetizers. Both fantastic. For entrees, they have a wide variety of great options.
We started with the spicy clams with pasta, eggplant Parmesan and porcini crusted sea bass over creamy polenta. All were super tasty while we dined on their outside patio and enjoyed the night. Enjoy a glass of wine or cider with your meal. This is a must stop for delicious Italian fare on your next visit to the area. You will leave fully satisfied. The word “grata” is an adjective-feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful.
experienced with feeling of gratitude; welcome. https://gratawindsor.com/
For breakfast, check out Costeaux French Bakery right in Healdsburg.
This French bakery has the best croissants as if you were in Paris. Try one of the coffee drinks to enhance your breakfast. I tried their omelet and smoked salmon on avocado toast. They just opened up outside seating with a nice setting. Check out the many pastries inside to take home. Definitely worth the visit and the croissants are to die for.
Wineries-
We visited the following wineries over a 2 day period. You can only drink so much in one day.
The visit To La Crema Winery was very nice with cool setting. The view of the vineyard was fabulous and they are known for their buttery Chardonnay. We also tried their Pinot Noir and they the provide 6 sample wines tastes (3 of each) . Our favorite was the Chardonnay. For more information check out these website.
About La Crema
La Crema is widely loved for handcrafted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. For more than 30 years, the family-owned and operated winery has focused exclusively on California’s cool climate coastal appellations, where ocean winds and fog allow grapes to ripen slowly on the vine. Winemaker Elizabeth Grant-Douglas continues to use boutique techniques to produce distinctively balanced and elegant wines. A leader in sustainable vineyard and winery practices, La Crema combines traditional farming methods with new technologies to conserve water, minimize energy use and naturally reduce pests. To learn more, visit www.LaCrema.com.
We then headed for the Kendall-Jackson Winery where the setting reminder us of a French Chateau & were greeted with a nice of glass Pinot Gris. It was delicious so we purchased a few bottles. We then experienced a wonderful lunch wine pairing with each course paired with a different wine.
About Kendall-Jackson Winery Kendall-Jackson is one of America’s most beloved family-owned and operated wineries. Founded by the late entrepreneur and visionary Jess Jackson and his wife Barbara Banke, Kendall-Jackson is based in Sonoma County and offers a range of acclaimed wines grown in the family’s estate vineyards along the coastal ridges of California. A leader in sustainable vineyard and winery practices, including solar cogeneration, water conservation and natural pest control, 100% of Kendall-Jackson’s vineyards in California are SIP (Sustainability in Practice) Certified and CCSW (Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing) recognized. Learn more at www.kj.com.
Gary Farrell Winery – They pride themselves on Pinot Noir as they are located in a cooler climate. A nice property and winery to visit.
About Gary Farrell Winery Gary Farrell Winery was founded in 1982 by Gary Farrell, who was a pioneer in the Russian River Valley wine region. For more than 30 years, Gary Farrell Winery has crafted small-lot artisan wines that capture the balance and stylistic elegance of some of the finest vineyard sites in the region. Farrell sold the winery in 2004, and today the winery is owned by Bill Price, the managing partner of Kistler Vineyard and owner of Three Sticks and The Adobe, Lutum and the famed Durell and Gap’s Crown vineyards; and a group of investors including Pete Scott, the former CFO of Beringer Wine Estates; and Walt Klenz; former president and CEO of Beringer Wine Estates. Winemaker Theresa Heredia is nurturing Gary Farrell’s legacy of producing small lots of Burgundian-styled, varietal expressive and regionally distinctive Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Additional information on the winery is available at www.garyfarrellwinery.com.
Francis Ford Coppola Winery– What a fabulous property with a museum style inside. The Tucker car showcases with many movie related theme memorabilia. You can spend a full day here tasting wine, having a culinary lunch and reserve the swimming pool. Right now, it is one reservation per family but that should open up to more reservations as things calm down.
About The Family Coppola
The Family Coppola encompasses all of the things Francis loves most—cinema, wine, food, resorts and adventure—and embraces quality, authenticity and pleasure as a backbone to each of these vibrant business endeavors. Anchored in Sonoma County, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, known for its superior level of quality and integrity, is, as Francis puts it, “a wine wonderland, a park of pleasure where people of all ages can enjoy all the best things in life: food, wine, music, dancing, games, swimming and performances of all types. A place to celebrate the love of life.” Additional information is available at www.francisfordcoppolawinery.com.
Robert Young Winery– Just an incredible experience from this family-owned winery. Karen gave us a great tour of the winery before we sat down for a fantastic wine tasting and bite to eat. The winery offers a selection of charcuterie board and other options with your tastings. Arrange ahead of time with your reservation as this was one of our favorites. Loved Rachel Young’s Rose and bought a bottle.
About Robert Young Winery –Robert Young’s success is built on generosity and connecting with people, whether that be family, friends, employees, colleagues, or guests visiting the ranch. Fred Young and his siblings founded Robert Young Winery in 1997 to continue the family tradition of excellence and hospitality. Today, visitors to our Geyserville winery in Alexander Valley are welcomed as members of the extended family and invited to experience the beauty of the vineyard ranch and the wines inspired by Robert Young. Additional information on the winery is available at www.ryew.com.
Overall Outlook and Review:
Life Opens Up in Sonoma County with all your experiences here in our region. The proximity to the airport is only one of their many highlights as a destination. From the Oscar flair of Coppola to the expansive views and women-led Gary Farrell to the extraordinary culinary gardens at Kendall Jackson and the ambiance of Robert Young, their wine regions boast a variety of experiences for the vinophile or casual wine drinker. As a place filled with natural oasis and laidback luxury, I hope this place is a perfect escape from the noise of day-to-day. John Ash, though no longer the chef there, has left his imprint on the culinary influences of Sonoma County as the “Father of Wine Country Cuisine”.
As they emerge from the pandemic and travel opens up (like our wines), Sonoma would love to encourage weekday travel, exploration, and their Safe Travels Promise. Overall, a wonderful experience including atmosphere, fantastic people we met and a variety of great food & wine with lodging nearby at the Best Western Dry Creek Inn.
A big thank you to Barbara (Director of Marketing & Communications Sonoma County Vintners) and Anna (Public Relations Manager Sonoma County Tourism). They both do a great job promoting the area and you can visit the Sonoma websites below to get more info on your future trip. www.sonomacounty.com and www.sonomawine.com
Photos by Jack Kelly