Wine is forever linked with food and hospitality as a sign of good cheer, warmth, and generosity. Winemaking is both an art and a passion and has been so around the world since ancient times. From the Chinese to the Greeks to the Armenians, ancient cultures valued wine as much as do current ones. Since the mid-1800s, California’s famous Wine Country has become known in the ranks of the world’s vintners. Tours of this region are perennial favorites with gourmands, laid-back travelers, and wine lovers alike. Healdsburg, in particular, is a favorite locale.
A Delightful Destination
When California dreaming involves wine, Healdsburg is a popular choice. This Sonoma County city, founded in 1857, is situated on the Russian River. It offers accommodations, farm-fresh food, beautiful vistas, outdoor activities, shopping, and, of course, top-rated wineries. In fact, three of the top American winemakers call Healdsburg home. It also is consistently rated as one of the 10 best American towns. Finally, three of the region’s most significant wine-producing regions—Alexander Valley, Dry Creek, and the Russian River—are here.
Lovely Lodgings
As Irish playwright, critic, and political activist George Bernard Shaw said, “The great advantage of a hotel is that it is a refuge from home life.” Fortunately for travelers, Healdsburg has a plethora of lodgings designed to please every taste. Healdsburg is home to a number of bed and breakfast establishments that offer more of an intimate experience than do larger hotels. These types of accommodations are a good way for visitors to mingle and learn about the area and make new connections, whether single or traveling with their families.
Fresh Food and Flowers
The food choices in Healdsburg range from haute cuisine to comfort dishes. In addition, the region is also famous for its quality olive oil. Visitors can even schedule olive oil tastings at various estates. Flowers also are cherished crops in the area. Tourists can visit farms and luxuriate in the pure, easy relaxation that only nature can bring. Spending time among gentle ducks and chickens and acres of organic plants and flowers makes for a peaceful, comforting day.
Outdoor Enjoyment
Healdsburg is easily walkable, with its 18th-century plaza and blocks of pleasant homes and buildings such as museums. Merchants rent bicycles for enthusiastic sightseers, and some lodgings provide bicycles, with the fee added into each night’s charge. Road cycling is always popular, as visitors and locals alike enjoy seeing the parks and views farther afield. Vendors offer hot air balloon rides, and visitors can swim, canoe, and kayak the Russian River as well as walk on beaches, climb rocks, and look for birds and whales.
Superb Shopping
Healdsburg boasts numerous shopping opportunities. Boutiques and stylish shops abound, along with numerous art galleries. In fact, Healdsburg has a monthly art walk from May to December that features more than 20 downtown galleries. For book lovers tired of conglomerate stores, wherever brick and mortar stores can still be found, Healdsburg also is home to several independent booksellers.
Wonderful Wineries
Healdsburg is famous for its vineyards and wineries. Some offer accommodations to guests. Healdsburg boasts an excellence-driven tradition of winemaking, and those wanting to find the top Healdsburg wineries will find the task immensely enjoyable. From tours to tasting rooms to shops and, in some cases, lodgings, visitors will be introduced to the world of the California vintner and invited to share in a love of good taste.
A Taste of the Good Life
Wineries in California’s Sonoma County, specifically in Healdsburg, carry on the old world tradition of making tasteful, quality wines that are forever linked to relaxation, bonhomie, and generosity. Some locations even offer lodgings so visitors can stay in the middle of the action, in the heart of a beautiful vineyard. Food lovers, wine aficionados, and travelers who relish luxury can enjoy a taste of rich ambiance in Healdsburg.