Father (79)/Sons (50's) trip to Sonoma in late August. We spend a Saturday in Healdsburg and our…read morefirst stop was at Blanchard. As it turned out we started at the best. Mark greeted us by the door of the tasting room/production facility which is just off the square. He spent time walking through the winery's history and how he and is brother run the business. By the end of the tasting we had talked about wine, food, music, documentaries, and much more. Mark made it feel like we were all siting around the kitchen table just talking about wine and life. I liked this setting (one group at a time with 100% participation) much more enjoyable than most other wineries we visited which have more of a bar/restaurant feeling where the server would just pour your tasting, give you the one sentence blurb they learned about it and then disappearing to help other tables for 10-15 minutes until it was time for your next pour. We started the tasting with their "White Wine" and Viognier. We then moved on to the reds including Pinot, Zin, Merlot, Malbec and Cab. They were all very well made and quite tasty. Ended up purchasing 3 bottles to go and a membership to be shipped later in the year. I'd definitely recommend others putting Blanchard on their list of places to visit in Healdsburg. Appointments are needed as Mark only does one group's tasting at a time.

If I could, I would give this place a million stars. This is the kind of winery I love-one that…read moredoesn't have all the unnecessary frills and keeps it real. Mark is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate in what he does. You do have to make a reservation ahead of time though for tastings. But it's definitely worth it! That one-on-one attention and interaction is priceless. The barrel room in the back was so cool. I love all the cute chalk drawings on the barrels. Mark walked us through the process of wine making and we even got the chance to try some from the barrel! Mark's co-owner, his brother James, lives in Denver-just a short drive from Colorado Springs, where I live! Honestly, I don't remember which wines I liked best because I liked all of them. But we ended up getting a bottle and have been saving it for a special occasion until we get the chance to go back. Definitely looking forward to returning soon!

I stopped by for a tasting with a group and we had a really nice time. We were served and toured…read morethrough the experience by a very kind gentlemen who shared a bunch of interesting history about the winery, the winemaker, and everything that we tasted. I'm not sure how much everything was, as it was paid for by work, so check on pricing if that factors into your decision. I think we had at least 6 tastings, possibly a couple extra. It was my third tasting of the day, so I didn't push things and I was already feeling toasty. I wasn't driving. :)

Adorable Japanese owned winery. This local spot is a small, appointment only winery and focuses…read moremostly on Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. You can do an outdoor or indoor tasting. We did indoors in the wine caves and tasted about 6 wines with a couple special member pours. Really delicious wines, and great staff. Definitely feels more like a charming local spot than the wild touristy areas of Napa and even Sonoma/kenwood. Definitely go support local!

My fiance and I came here for 4th of July weekend! We were so happy we were able to make a…read morereservation a couple weeks in advance (highly recommend making a resy - it can get busy!). Our first impression driving up was how beautiful it was! When we pulled in, it felt like we were in a vineyard in France! The location is beautiful and we were seated by the large floor-to-ceiling windows with a gorgeous view of the vineyards. The staff was attentive and very friendly - we got to learn a lot about wine from our hostess. I appreciated that she took the time to explain not only the wines and their sources, but also about the cheese(s) that we were eating. Since it was 4th of July, they had a special menu where they were serving burgers and ribs. My fiance enjoyed his meal! I got the cheese plate which came with a fruit spread, honey, and nuts. I usually do not like Pinot Noirs but I have to say their Pinot Noir and the Sparkling Rose were absolutely delicious! I will be ordering them again. I highly recommend Auteur if you are in/around the Russian River. It's peaceful and the staff is friendly and the gorgeous views and ambiance make it for a fantastic all-around-impressive experience!

Auteur was a fantastic experience. We got recommended this winery as we were just cruising around…read morethe Healdsburg and it did not disappoint. The wine was absolutely amazing and our server Alex was super knowledgeable, kind and attentive. We did a full tasting and ordered food all of which was fantastic. Highly recommend the cheese plate and the squash! We will definitely be back. Thank you Alex for a memorable experience!!

We were visiting Healdsburg with our dog, for the first time in years. We decided to book a tasting…read moreat Mill Creek Vineyards because they're dog-friendly and had heard good things. Yvonne was our host, delighting us with conversation while we sipped their delicious wines. The Zinfandel was so good! We really appreciated her sharing the history of the winery, and it was awesome to be able to see the actual block of grapes from property. We loved the grounds and really enjoyed sitting by the watermill. Highly recommend!

Mill Creek was the highlight of our wine tasting day in Healdsburg! It was a charming setting near…read morethe working mill wheel, wonderful service with fun stories of the both the winery and wines. As an added bonus, since we were celebrating our 10th anniversary, they poured a taste of a 2016 vintage which was so good we purchased a bottle!

For our quick weekend in Napa & Sonoma, I was looking for a couple new places to visit in addition…read moreto our club wineries. Because we were staying in Windsor overnight and had a wine club release party at Martin Ray starting at noon, I looked for small places off the beaten path but still close to where we needed to be. I happened upon Campana Ranch thanks to Yelp. Reading the reviews, I thought that this winery fit everything I was looking for - mom-and-pop style, good atmosphere, kind staff. I sent an email to inquire about a visit, and Sher responded quickly. We arrived a few minutes early and were content to sit outside the gate until 10AM rolled around (yes, we're those people). Steve was outside working to set up the tasting area and saw us waiting. He came to let us in (still a couple minutes before 10) and greeted us with a handshake and smile. We were off to a great start! He explained how Campana Ranch came to be and pointed out some of his barrels-in-progress. He gave us the option of sitting outside on the little patio or inside with a heater - we opted for the inside of his small, quaint, work space. He sat with us for almost 2 hours and guided his through his fantastic wine. Steve knows his art (and his grapes) and provides a bit of magic in each bottle, showcasing the grapes, the terroir, and his craft. We joined the club - how could we not?! He is such a personable and welcoming gentleman, and let's be honest, his wine is excellent. If you like non-commercial, quaint, bold reds, and truly feeling welcomed and then educated, Campana Ranch is the place for you. Thank you, Steve, for being such a great teacher and host!

This was our first stop on a wine tour and it was our least favorite. I'm all about the experience…read moreand unfortunately on this day the experience was missing. We were seated poured wine told the name of the wine and that was it. I would have loved the story about the wine history and taste. I also don't want to have to use a stinky porta potty either. Note there are no bathrooms just a outdoor porta potty.

Fantastic husband & wife small winery with great selection of fine wines at various price points…read more The tasting room is conveniently located at Bacchus Landing, with a lovely outdoor garden space and a chill, welcoming indoor space. No snooty vibes and the actual winemakers are there to chat if you have questions. Do a tasting or hang out and drink a bottle with friends - most days there is a yummy wood-fired pizza place selling next door if you get hungry. No hard sell on the wine club, but with the careful curation and doable commitment levels, it's a no brainer. Whether you are casual wine drinker or a serious enthusiast, this is a must-try in Healdsburg.

Husband and Wife Wine Making Team Top Notch!!!…read more Stopped in to taste with Eric and Allison yesterday, I used to sell some wine to Eric in his K&L days. I have been in the business for 25 years and I am still passionate about fine wine. The Smith Story wines never disappoint. If you are looking for varietal correct, complex, muti-layered wines that are food friendly, look no further. We were blown away by his Grenache Blanc, Russian River Pinot and the Merlot. Their Cab Franc is one of the best California examples hands down. Please go check them out!! WKU unite!!!!

A friend is a member and he invited me to join him for one of their events. It's tucked away so…read moreunless you know it's there, you wouldn't know it's there. The owners were beyond gracious and had small bites and an array of wines to taste. We sat outside on the picnic tables and enjoyed the gorgeous weather. They also have the cutest golden doggy that goes by for pets. They are also pet friendly and loved that people bring their fur babies. Overall, a great spot if you're in Forestville and can go walk around downtown after. Highly recommend!

Ryme made my first wine tasting a great experience! Came with some friends with a toddler, and it's…read morea plus that they accommodate children as well. The toddler was kept busy with a nice coloring book :) The wine tasting included 5 wines (3 whites and 2 reds) and a plate of olives, crackers, and cheese. Delicious! I'm not usually a fan of olives but the olives I had here changed my mind completely! Every wine was clearly explained to us and they knew what they were talking about when we asked additional questions about the wines. We had a pleasant experience and would highly recommend! It wasn't too busy when we went and we had a large table to ourselves. Wasn't too loud either so we were able to enjoy each other's company.

Stressed Vines is super dog friendly (please stay off the furniture). It's been quiet the couple…read moretimes we have gone and they often bring a bed out for our older pup to rest on. She doesn't typically go into any bed and plopped right in to nap, always a good sign. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The focus is Pinot and Chard and there is a lovely bubble too across two flights. Highly recommended trying one of each flight in your group to find your faves across both. They don't offer a wine club discount as you see that if you get your wine shipped. They have events throughout the year including in the summer with the music in the plaza series, members can reserve a seat from them and take a bottle or glass to enjoy the vibes.

Wow, this was such an accidental find and well worthwhile. I stumbled into stressed minds after…read morehaving lunch and were promptly welcomed by the owner. We opted for tastings which started with a complementary glass of bubbly. The owner was so knowledgeable and friendly and we thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the comfortable lounge and tasting fantastic wines. We will definitely return!