HEALDSBURG

As I mentioned, Healdsburg is where I stayed during my trip to the Sonoma County Wine Road. It’s centrally located and filled with wine tasting rooms, cute shops, and first-rate restaurants, including the award-winning Dry Creek Kitchen by renowned chef Charlie Palmer (a local resident), as well as Michelin-star rated Madrona Manor (other Sonoma County Michelin-starred restaurants include Farmhouse Inn in Forestville, and Terrapin Creek in Bodega Bay).

Healdsburg may seem like a sleepy town, especially coming from L.A., but that’s part of its charm. This is a getaway after all. And after spending a day wine tasting, how much action do you really want? Tomorrow will only bring more wine tasting so pace yourself.

Other local, non-drinking options include bicycling; hot air ballooning; and the nearby Russian River and Lake Sonoma provide swimming, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and other water activities. A short drive away and you can enjoy walks on the ocean beaches, hikes through old-growth redwood forests, visits to farmers markets and museums, or a day trip to San Francisco, Mendocino, or Napa Valley. But I came here to drink wine and eat, and luckily there’s plenty of that to be had.

A local institution to relax with great eats in Costeaux French Bakery, known for its award-winning breads (and beloved for its sourdough bread), cookies and cakes. This year, Costeaux’s Ciabatta was the Best of Show winner at the annual Sonoma County Harvest Fair. I enjoyed the Pain Perdu (French Toast), thick slices of delicious cinnamon walnut bread, berry compote with real Vermont grade A maple syrup) upon arriving in Healdsburg. And the Applewood Smoked Bacon is a must! This is as relaxing and charming as the simple life gets.

A great dining option for fine Italian fare is Baci Café & Wine Bar (‘baci’ means ‘kiss’ in Italian). A family run restaurant, they use local and organic products as much as possible, and serve authentic Italian cuisine.

The pizza from the wood-burning oven is delicious, as is the Vitello Piccata, pan sautéed veal, white wine, lemon, capers, chicken stock and vegetables, it reminded me of Dan Tana’s. Now that’s a compliment!
Another great dining option is Zin Restaurant & Wine Bar, founded by Jeff Mall and Scott Silva, sons of farmers and childhood friends. Chef Jeff, thanks to personal access to the freshest ingredients, has developed his own style of American cuisine that is utterly delicious.

Start with the popular Mexican Beer Battered Green Beans with mango salsa, along with the mouthwatering Roasted Figs with Zin cured ham, Sky Hill Chévre and Zinfandel balsamic—incredible!

The Mexican Cobb Salad with roasted chicken, tossed in buttermilk dressing, topped with guacamole, pickled vegetables, Eastside Farm tomatoes, grilled scallions, Cotija cheese and Zin bacon is hearty and a little spicy. It’s a meal all it’s own or great if you’re sharing.

I absolutely loved the Crispy Duck Leg & Braised Pork Belly—Liberty Farm duck leg, apple slaw with pickled onions, braised pork belly, creamy Falls Mill stone ground grits, and red-eye gravy. It paired so well with the Collier Falls’ 2010 Hillside Estate, Dry Creek Valley. This was the perfect example of fine wine and delectable, California cuisine pairing to perfection.

While I didn’t try it this time around, I do want to experience Partake by Kendall-Jackson. Think tasting lounge and Flight Club in downtown Healdsburg. It’s your chance to explore a wide range of wine flights paired with seasonal bites. I’m game. After all, that’s what a vacation in Northern Sonoma’s Wine Road is all about—adventure, culture and the refreshing and satisfying finish that comes from a terrific glass or bottle of wine.

Story By: Jose Martinez