In the town of Healdsburg, which is situated at the northernmost point of Sonoma County, wine enthusiasts may effectively partake in a full day of wine tasting without having to worry about driving through car service healdsburg ca . Healdsburg, California, is a little town with just over 11,000 residents that has undergone quite the transformation, replete with trendy hotels, upmarket restaurants, and a highly walkable downtown with more than 30 wine-tasting facilities. Additionally, it has developed into a well-liked gastronomic destination with many farm-to-table eateries, wineries, wine-tasting facilities, and cafés.
I am excited to be writing up a Healdsburg travel guide today and covering all the best things to do in Healdsburg! And by best things to do with Healdsburg car service, I mean where to eat and drink.
Healdsburg has an incredible food scene, and its climate is, of course, great for growing wine—particularly cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but you’ll also find some great old vine Zinfandel and world-class Cabernet Sauvignon.
Healdsburg is part of Sonoma County, and it’s located 1.5 hours north of San Francisco, making it one of my absolute favorite weekend getaway spots.
If you’re visiting San Francisco and want to take a wine-country trip, you must consider car service Healdsburg CA, for hassle free trip.
While Napa may be calling your name because that’s what you’ve heard of and are familiar with (and it does have its beauty and charm—we love Napa too!), Healdsburg, in my opinion, offers several pros over Napa Valley:
- More laid back and friendly.
- You can find much more reasonable prices for tastings, restaurants, and hotels.
- It’s much easier to get appointments for wine tasting, and many places welcome walk-ins (versus Napa can be booked out for 2 – 4 weeks)
- The downtown Healdsburg Plaza is cute and walkable, so you can hop around to the different tasting rooms without worrying about driving.
Have I sold you on Healdsburg yet? 😉 If you haven’t been, you absolutely must plan a trip! And this Healdsburg guide is going to help you out.
Where to stay in Healdsburg:
Hotel Les Mars
Where to stay? If you’re looking to splurge for a fancy weekend, Hotel Les Mars is an absolute favorite place.
It’s gorgeous and fancy. The rooms are beautiful and have a fireplace, the bathroom features a unique jet jacuzzi, and they include a lovely little French breakfast in the mornings and happy hour with wine and cheese in the evenings.
Harmon Guest House
Are you looking for something more economically priced? Harmon Guest House, h2hotel, and Hotel Healdsburg (all under the same ownership) will be your best bets in Downtown Healdsburg.
Ultimate Guide How to Spend Full Day in Healdsburg:
Breakfast at Costeaux French Bakery
First, grab some coffee and delicious pastries at the cutest bakery—Costeaux.
If you’re looking for something heartier than their (delicious) croissants, you may love their quiche.
Wine Tasting at Hartford Family Wines
Day one will taste rooms around Healdsburg’s plaza, starting with Hartford Family Wines.
You may love big reds, so I was excited to see they had some old vine zin on the tasting menu, and it was pretty awesome. You can buy a bottle to bring home!
Lunch at Barndiva
Head to one of the favorite Healdsburg restaurants for lunch—Barndiva! If it’s nice out, sit outside on their lovely back patio. Afterward, stroll through the art gallery and wine bar next door.
Shopping Around Downtown
There are tons of cute little shops to pop into around the plaza and after having so much fun in the city you can get some gifts for your loved ones and can get discount deals on different stores as well.
Wine Tasting at Cartograph
Into Pinot Noir? You’ll love Cartograph.
Alan and Serena are the sweetest husband and wife team running the show here and making elegant Pinot from the Russian River Valley.
Wine Tasting at Williamson
I love this Williamson Wines tasting room in downtown Healdsburg. The people are friendly, the wine is excellent, and they do small bites + wine tasting pairing for free. Yep, free. They may have delicious condiments like beet mustard and truffle salt.
Dinner at Valette
Valette is a Healdsburg restaurant favorite. Brothers Dustin Valette and Aaron Garzini opened this spot a few years ago, featuring a chic space with exposed concrete and fantastic food.
You’ll be treated to seasonal dishes with fresh ingredients sourced locally.
Usually, their famous scallop puff pastry dish is part of the tasting menu, which is to die for. You will love everything Chef Dustin Valette makes.
Things to Do with Car Service Healdsburg CA :
Wine Tasting at Coursey Graves
Stoff with a tasting in downtown Healdsburg, and then we explore some wineries outside the downtown area. Coursey Graves has a beautiful new tasting room that’s worth a visit.
You may like that their reds feature Cabs, Syrah, and a couple of blends, and they also offer a wine + chocolate pairing.
Lunch at Mateo’s
Loooove Mateo’s! This is not your average Mexican restaurant.
Chef Mateo Granados (formerly a chef at Dry Creek Kitchen) launched his restaurant featuring Latin fusion back in 2011, and it is a killer. The flavor combinations are delightfully bold and unexpected, with just the right kick.
Chef Mateo shared some genuinely mouth-watering dishes with clients, and we loved every single one of them.
If the Sikil P’ak is on the menu when you go, definitely order that as an appetizer—it’s a pumpkin seed dip with grilled homemade tostadas.
AfterNoon Wine Tasting
Time for some to choose your adventure wine tastings.
There are so many great wineries in Healdsburg so I will recommend a handful for the rest of your afternoon, and you can pick and choose which ones sound up your alley!
About a 20-minute drive north of downtown Healdsburg, you’ll find
These are beautiful spots to spend an afternoon. Bella Vineyards’ seating, and drinking wine in a wine cave is always fun.
And Ferrari-Carano has an incredible estate with award-winning gardens that you can stroll through while sipping your wine. Francis Ford Coppola Winery is also a fun option—especially during the summer as they have a pool, and it’s hard to imagine anything more fun than sitting in a cabana poolside Rosé.
Wine Tasting at Ridge Vineyards or Robert Young Estate
Heading back towards downtown, you’ve got many great options on your way. I’d recommend Ridge Vineyards at Lytton Springs or Robert Young Estate.
Ridge is surrounded by its beautiful 115-year-old vines. They produce many different varieties (sometimes a girl needs a break from Pinot, you know?), and we had a lovely wine + charcuterie pairing and tasting here.
Plus, their barrel room is super cool to check out! They have a couple of locations, including the one at Lytton Springs in the Dry Creek vineyard.
Robert Young Estate is a lovely spot to spend an afternoon. Their views are stunning, with ample outdoor seating on the patio overlooking the vineyards.
They have several different tasting options, and you can enjoy their Scion Experience, which includes a flight of single-block reserve wines paired with light bites.
Dinner at Dry Creek Kitchen
Enjoy dinner and a fancy night out at another Healdsburg fan favorite, Dry Creek Kitchen.
Chef Charlie Palmer opened this restaurant in 2001, serving refined California fare.
The restaurant is elegant and beautiful, and sitting outside on a lovely evening is enjoyable. Their menu changes seasonally, but you can expect a delicious and fabulous wine list featuring Sonoma County wines and fantastic service.
Unique Things to Do with Healdsburg car service:
Hike at Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve
By this point in the trip, you might be looking for some outdoor activities to help break up some wine tasting (or work off some of the wine tastings).
Healdsburg’s Open Space Preserve is the perfect place to do that and enjoy some time in nature, along with beautiful views.
Amy’s Wicked Slush
For a little late afternoon sweet treat, head to Amy’s Wicked Slush. It’s soft served with Italian ice on top, covered in one of their many syrup flavor combos. A local fan favorite, you can expect a line here.
Then after you’ve had this deliciousness, I recommend grabbing something to-go from Journeyman so you can have it for lunch later between wine tastings.
Wine Tasting at Jordan or Chalk Hill
This area has many beautiful options, including Jordan Vineyards and Chalk Hill Estates. Both feature sprawling acres, stunning views, outstanding service, and fantastic wines, so you can’t go wrong.
Make reservations here, as both places are by appointment only, and you can book out weeks in advance.
Journeyman
Aren’t you glad you stopped by Journey for a wine-tasting man on your way out of Things? This upscale salumeria and meat shop makes some incredible pizzas and sandwiches, perfect for enjoying a day of wine tasting.
Just be sure to check if the winery you’re going to allows you to bring food for a picnic, as some do not.
We’ve also just pulled over on beautiful Dry Creek Road and sat on the hood of the car, enjoying the beautiful scenery while munching on our sandwiches. Sometimes we’ll also grab something to eat on the way home and out of town.
Wine Tasting at MacRostie
MacRostie is gorgeous, and you need to go. Stunning views abound, and we just had such a wonderful afternoon here soaking up the scenery and their bright and balanced wines.
You can bring a bottle of their Rosé home because it was just fab.
More Wine Tasting Options:
Ok, ready for last wine tasting to round out your Healdsburg trip? Of course, you are!
I’ve got a few more for you to choose from
Gary Farrell is an OG winemaker in Healdsburg wine country. Their tasting room is another spectacular one, with fabulous views of the Russian River Valley.
J Vineyards offers several different tastings, including their sparkling varietals, which are always fun to mix. DaVero Vineyards features a very organic and old-world approach to winemaking and farming, which you can hear about if you book a tour with them.
Alley 6 Distillery
We’ve covered a lot of wineries, but if you’re craving some spirits, be sure to check out Alley 6 Distillery!
Please stop by their tasting room to sample their handcrafted Rye Whiskey and Harvest Gin. You can also request a tour of the distillery!
Dinner at Chalkboard
Chalkboard is another favorite restaurant of mine in Healdsburg! They serve a lot of delicious small plates that are meant to be shared, and their homemade pasta is so delicious. Get at least one or two of their pasta, including the cocoa trifoglio with duck confit.
Final Thoughts:
The city’s numerous vineyards, breweries, and restaurants, which provide some of the best cuisines and drinks in the area, are open to visitors. Healdsburg CA, may see the most extraordinary regional art and culture at galleries, museums, and theaters.
It offers a wide range of outdoor activities with car service Healdsburg CA , including hiking, bicycling, and kayaking, in addition to its cultural attractions. The Russian River and the Gently Sloping Hills of Sonoma County are only two examples of the city’s magnificent surroundings.
Overall, there is no question that Healdsburg, California, has fantastic things in store for you. This lovely city has much to offer everyone, regardless of your interests in cuisine, wine, art, or outdoor adventure.
