Best wineries to visit in Healdsburg

Healdsburg is such a cute town and while it might seem much further up north, it’s only a few more minutes from Napa. I love the area for more relaxed vibes and different varieties of wines I can find at wineries there. Here are some of my favorite wineries to visit in Healdsburg:

  1. Reeve: One of my favorite wineries for Pinot and Sangiovese! Their wines tend to be light to medium bodied, fruity but complex. I don’t typically love Pinot but love all their wines. They also serve wood fire pizza on weekends.

  2. Lambert Bridge: They make one of my favorite Cab Francs. So smooth with depth and if you love Napa Cab Sauvignon, you will love this one! Ground is cute and the indoor tasting room set up is so cozy and worth the visit!

  3. Amista: Believe it’s the only winery in Healdsburg that specializes in sparkling wines. They have a separate sparkling flight and a red flight that focuses on Rhone varietals and blends. I really enjoyed tasting all of their wines and some of the bottles we brought home tasted even better than I remember it to be. Definitely worth a stop!

  4. De La Montoya: Their outdoor tasting area is super cute, surrounded by greens and the garden. They allow picnic and also sell small snack/food boxes so plenty of options for food to go with your tasting

  5. A Rafanelli: This small family owned winery is adorable with an amazing view of the vineyard and adorable cave. They typically have ~3 wines for you to taste and purchase (Cab, Zin, Red Blend) and they are all really good. Super friendly place that makes you feel like you are visiting a friend’s place!



Wine lovers travel itinerary for Italy's Amalfi Coast (Rome, Capri, Positano)

Typical wine trips in Italy involve Tuscany for scenic vineyard views and lots of wine. However, Amalfi coast has been on our travel list for so long and we decided September is probably the best season to enjoy the beach. While we saved Tuscany and other wine regions in Italy for our next trip, there were no shortage of food, wine, and drinks. Here’s a guide of few restaurants and hotels based on our 7 day itinerary that any travel or wine lovers can enjoy.

Rome

Rome was a transit city for us as we flew in and out of the city and we only stayed 1 nights when we flew in and another night before we flew out. However, we still got the enjoy the city with plenty of culture, food, and wine.

Roscioli: There are actually a number of wine tasting rooms/shops in Rome and we ended up trying Roscioli. They do food and wine pairing with advanced reservation. We ended up ordering a la carte but loved the wines and dishes we tried.

St. Regis: For our last night, decided to splurge and stayed at the St. Regis which was so worth it. Their bar/restaurant was so adorable and perfect to enjoy cocktails any time of the day. They even have Champagne sabering every evening which was a fun bonus and reminded us of our dream trip in St Regis Maldives (where they had sunset Champagne sabering every day).

Mimi e Coco: Small restaurant near Navona great for traditional pastas. I LOVED their lasagna and the carbonara was also to die for, went so well with red wine.


Capri

Capri Wine Hotel: This hotel was absolutely lovely and amazing for wine lovers but also for anyone looking for hotels in Capri besides the luxury options. Hotel is built on an old winery and you can see traces on the vineyard and barrels throughout. You can choose rooms with an ocean view and the breakfast buffet is to die for! Amazing spread of fruits, freshly baked goods, meats, cheese, made to order eggs, and the view was all such a treat.

Da Paolino: This restaurant and a bar is popular with tourists and locals for its lemon trees that surround the dining area. We didn’t end up eating here but went for an evening drink (Aperitivo) before dinner and I’d recommend the same! It was not as crowded (we were the only party there for the first 20 minutes or so) and you still get to enjoy the vibe

Il Riccio: This is a cliff side restaurant on the Anacapri side of the island located next to the famous Blue Grotto. We went for drinks at their adorably decorated rooftop bar then had lunch. Slightly pricey but the vibe, drinks, and food were all worth it!


Positano

Casa Mele: We had a food and wine pairing dinner here and the entire experience was amazing. We sat at the table with the view of the kitchen and went through innovative food menu with awesome wines.

Villa Rosa: This hotel has the best location (right next to the famous La Sirenuse) and if you get the ocean view rooms, you have the same $$$$ view you get from Bar Franco/La Sirenuse. Our balcony was HUGE and we loved getting breakfast delivered to the balcony every morning (included with the room rate).

Maestro’s at Villa Treville: Maestro is a restaurant of the Villa Treville hotel (which seems like an amazing place to stay). It is a little outside the main town so best to take a taxi but the trip is worth the ambiance and view. We had drinks and dinner here and would say it’s one of the top romantic dinner spots!

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View fullsize Love being surrounded by all the greenery in Napa this time of the year 💚 Small but adorable and friendly tasting room in St Helena! Part of the Schramsberg fam so you get to taste reds and sparklings Bonus point for being so close to Azteca, the
View fullsize Wineries that allow picnics (of offer food) are so clutch when you are trying to fill the day with more wineries🤣 This was a 3rd winery during my latest trip to Sebastopol and was possible because we got to bring food 🤗🙌 (from @pascaline.patisse
View fullsize Have you gone tasting in Sebastopol? Great area to visit and find small family owned wineries that are laid back and so friendly! This tasting room had an adorable garden and a unique lineup of great wines. Think Italian varietals, red & white
View fullsize This place makes you feel like you are transported to a small rural wine region 💫 Away from the main road, you will find this boutique family owned winery with a line up of unique varietals. (Have you heard of Picpoul Blanc?!!) Tasting started wit
View fullsize Found a little gem in Healdsburg 🥰 Was delighted by this adorable setting, and then found out tastings come with wood fired pizza on weekends! I mean…😍 and every single wine we tasted were so good! Added another winery to our membership lis
View fullsize I’ve been lazy about making weekend plans and Sonoma square is becoming my go-to for last minute weekend activity 😆 Was able to get a same day reservation at Sosie and so glad I did. Small new winery! Felt unique when we saw sparkling red, C
View fullsize Brought this amazing bottle to enjoy with this view 🥰 From a new boutique winery in Paso founded by a wine loving couple! Small line up as wines tend to sell out but got to taste three of their amazing wines. 📍: @topwinery 🍷: tasted Grenache, G
View fullsize I’ve been trying to better understand my preferences for sparkling wines so added Roederer to the list for my trip to Mendocino Tasting flight includes a side by side of the same blend in a regular bottle vs. Magnum and it was SO FUN to taste
View fullsize 🌟Save this place for your next trip to Northern CA🌟 Did you know there’s another Twomey tasting room in Anderson Valley? Twomey’s been on my list and when I saw they have another location on the way to the Mendocino coast, it was a mus
View fullsize Super chill and inviting tasting room! Bonus points for this view and a great #cabfranc 😍😆 Heard Cab Francs are getting sold out everywhere in Napa, go get them before they are gone! Or don’t… so I can get them 🤣 📍: @reverie_wine

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Where to taste sparkling wines in California

I’ve been a red wine drinker for a long time but recently have been appreciating sparkling wines a lot. I’m actually a seafood lover and even though it’s not a hard rule to pair seafood with red wine, I do feel weird about opening a bottle of a cab with sushi. Ever since learning that sparkling wine actually goes well with all kinds of food (think how you can drink soda or beer with any meal 😂), I’ve been stocking up on more sparkling wines. Also random side tip, ordering a bottle of brut sparkling wine also is an easy choice at a restaurant if there are both seafood and meat dishes on the table. This being said, I’ve enjoyed adding more sparkling wines to my wine tasting itinerary. Here’s some you can try if you are looking to taste a flight of sparkling wines in California

Napa

  • Domaine Carneros: Such a classic Napa stop with its iconic mansion with a beautiful view of the vineyards. Located in Carneros so great to start or end the day here. Worth putting on the list anyone in Napa!

  • Schramsberg: Tasting room is located in Calistoga but you can also get their sparkling slight at the sister winery, Davies, in St. Helena. They make high quality traditional method sparkling wines and I love the variety here

  • Chandon: Well-known and widely distributed wines with a beautiful view on the hillside

  • Mumm: Another well-known brand with a beautiful outdoor patio and terrace

Sonoma

  • Iron Horse: Located up the hills in Sebastopol, they specialize in sparkling wines, Chardonnays, and Pinots. Beautiful view of the Sebastopol vineyard area

  • Amista: Small family winery in Healdsburg with a sparkling flight in addition to the regular white/red wine flight. They have interesting Rhone varietals and it’s a fun stop.

  • Gloria Ferrer: I personally have not been but included on the list as it’s one of the popular spot south of Sonoma downtown

  • Roederer: Technically located in Anderson Valley so need to drive further north from Sonoma but worth a stop if you are heading there. They make the famous Louis Roederer Cristal!

New boutique wineries in Paso Robles

I first learned about and visited Paso in 2013 when I was working for a company that owns a winery out there and it’s been so fun and cool to see how Paso has evolved with more and more new amazing wineries. They say the barrier to entry is a bit lower compared to Napa, enabling more young up and coming wine makers to create and build their own brand.

I’ve previously shared a list of Paso wineries to visit if you are looking for dark and bold Napa style red wines, but Paso also is great for Rhone style varietals (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) and blends. and some of the new boutique wineries are making excellent wines across various varietals.

  • Torrin: Super friendly tasting room started by the wine maker from Law just a few minutes down the road. They focus on Pinots and GSM and was overall a great experience if you are looking for an intimate small winery

  • Clos Soléne: Tasting room in a romantic setting with a romantic story behind it! Wine maker and his wife met in France and moved to Paso to start their own winery. Lovely french style wines

  • TOP: They often sell out of wines because of their small production but also because the wines are really good! Tasting room is slightly off the main vineyard/tasting area but close to town. If they happen to have a few different bottles open for tasting, definitely a good stop

Paso has an industrial park Tin City where wine makers host tastings before they build their own tasting room. Worth stopping by to taste wines from different producers in one spot!

Anderson Valley wineries to visit during your trip to Mendocino

Mendocino is about 3 hours drive from San Francisco and is a great weekend trip! It’s not as well known as Big Sur but I think the coast is equally beautiful and, mostly importantly, home of amazing wineries!

Anderson Valley is a perfect stop to break up the drive to the coast from SF. Mostly family owned and operated, tasting rooms tend to be smaller with more affordable tasting fees ($10-30) compared to Napa and Sonoma. During my 3 different Mendocino trips in the last few years, I’ve visited more than 15 wineries and below are my top picks!

  • Goldeneye: Part of the Duckhorn family, they focus on Pinot Noirs. Love their expansive backyard vineyard, one of the most picturesque wineries in the area! Tasting fee is only $10 and waived with purchase

  • Twomey: Part of the Silver Oak Family, this location focuses on Pinot but you can also taste Silver Oak wines here as well. Setting here is also beautiful with an adorable flower tunnel and wall in to the tasting area. Tasting fee is cheaper than the Sonoma and Napa location, $15 for Twomey only and $40 for Twomey + Silver Oak, and waived with purchase

  • Navarro: Great place to picnic and stop by for a casual tasting. View is great, tasting fee at the bar is free, wines are great and affordable!

  • Roederer Estate: Yes, the same Roederer of the Cristal Champagne. Great flight of sparkling wines ($20) and you can also order food.

  • Lichen: Small family owned winery with an adorable tasting area and a unique view of the open road and mountains! Great Pinot (both red and white!) and sparkling wines. $15 to taste

  • Pacific Star Winery: This is technically not in Anderson Valley but if you are staying or visiting the Mendocino Coast/Fort Bragg area, amazing place to visit. It’s a winery right on the Pacific coast! The ground is expansive and the view is to die for. Casual wines, good to go with a group and picnic. $12 to taste

Wineries for Cabernet Franc lovers (or for Cab Sauv lovers looking for something different)

Cabernet Franc tends to get less attention while its child grape, Cabernet Sauvignon, is a crowd favorite for big bold red wine drinkers. It’s one of my favorite varietals for that exact reason. I started buying more Cab Francs because you usually get more bang for the buck compared to Cab Sauv. However, I’ve actually come to like Cab Francs more than Cab Sauv on most occasions. It is still bold but isn’t as heavy as Cab Sauvs and usually so drinkable without food. I still love a good Cab Sauvignon but can’t grill ribeyes everyday!

Cab Francs are harder to come by at wine shops and retail stores and same when it comes to wineries. Although it is becoming more popular these days, you don’t typically expect to find a bottle of Cab Franc at any winery. Here’s the list of wineries that make Cab Francs I like!

  1. Titus: One of my favorites, love all their reds. Cab Franc is $58/bottle but personally think it drinks like a much more expensive wine

  2. Amizetta: New found favorite! $80/bottle

  3. Black Cat Vineyards: Wine maker describes her Cab Franc as cooking wine, it’s that smooth and I totally agree. Wines tastings are mostly only reserved for members, contact me if you want to visit!

  4. Gibbs: Gibbs’ Cab Franc has to be my favorite considering their price point. I can’t believe it’s only $32/bottle. No official tasting program but take referrals, contact me if you are interested!

  5. Terraces: This one is a recent find, overall tour/tasting experience is fun and all their wines are great! Cab Franc is one of their premium offerings at $85/bottle

  6. Ballentine: Another great value in St Helena near Titus. $55/bottle

  7. Ehlers: Their profits go to cardiovascular research foundation and wines are amazing. $65/bottle

  8. Kenzo: More $$$ compared to others but can’t go wrong with any of their wines. Believe it was close to $300 but they do sell half bottles for exactly half the price

  9. Paradigm: Same wine maker as Kenzo, Heidi Barrett. Sold out online but believe it was around $60/bottle

  10. Delectus: They are known for their Cab “French Wedding” but Cab Franc is also excellent (and less expensive) $78

  11. Chappellet: Chappellet is known for their Pritchard Hill Cab Franc, $85/bottle

Wineries to visit in Southern Oregon

My husband and I typically fly out of town for most long weekends but with Covid, ended up doing more distanced road trips in 2020. One of our favorite finds was Medford and Ashland in Southern Oregon. It is about ~6hr drive from SF but we broke it up by staying in Shasta and we LOVED it. Of course the wineries in the area motivated us to drive further north and we ended up visiting 6 wineries and 1 tasting room in 24 hours 😂. We’ve always loved Willamette Valley wines but was surprised to find interesting varietals other than Pinot in Southern Oregon. Tasting fees and bottles were all so affordable compared to Napa so we kept making stops during our drive.

Here’s the list of places we visited, tasting fees were around $10-15 for all of these wineries and waived with a bottle purchase.

  1. Dancin Vineyard: Great stop for lunch! and also the only winery that was focused on Pinot during our trip. Tasted 3-4 different Pinots and left with a few bottles

  2. Quady North: Cute tasting rooms in downtown Jacksonville. Variety of whites and reds but have 3 different Cab Francs + a sparkling Cab Franc. We ended up joining their club!

  3. EdenVale: Super cute ground and great view of the vineyard. They have a long list of white and red wines for you to choose from

  4. LongSword Vineyard: Good whites, had an interesting Chardonnay with a slight fizz/sparkle

  5. Red Lily Vineyards: Great Spanish style red wines. You can also choose to taste/drink wine with the view of Applegate River

  6. Devitt Winery: This was more like a house with a vineyard! We love small wineries but I would say this one was a micro. Owner/winemaker poured us wines that you probably won’t get to taste anywhere else

  7. Wine Garden Tasting Room: Super cute tasting room where you can taste wines from 3-5 different wineries. Selections vary and we enjoyed the variety!

More wineries in Oregon
Quady North
Quady North
Beaux Frères
Beaux Frères
Soter Vineyards
Soter Vineyards
Bells Up Winery
Bells Up Winery
Natalie's Estate Winery
Natalie's Estate Winery

Best wineries for cute photos in Napa and Sonoma

I don’t think I’ve met a winery that does not look great on photos. But out of 100+ wineries in Napa & Sonoma, these are the ones I like especially because the grounds, views, and etc. I tried to include a variety of backdrops so you can take your pick 

Views

  1. Chappellet: Located on the Pritchard Hill, the view from the back of the winery consists of endless vineyards, the lake, and the mountains. $75 tasting fee

  2. Hamel: Tasting room is located on top of a hill of their vineyards, offering a great view of the vineyard from the tasting/picnic area.  $75 tasting fee

  3. Amizetta: Located up in the mountains so it’s a bit more of a drive to get there but for a good reason. The view is to die for as much as their wines. $75 tasting fee waived upon purchasing 3 bottles.

I’ve also gotten recommendations for Kuleto, Signorello, and Cade for their views but have not been yet.

Architecture, buildings, and grounds

  1. V Sattui or Castello di Amorosa: Both owned by the same owner, V Sattui is a Tuscan style while Castillo de Amorosa is a medieval castle. $45 tasting fee for V Sattui, $55 for Castello di Amorosa

  2. Chateau St Jean or Ledson: Another set of wineries with a castle-like ground near each other. Ledson castle is a French Normandy structure and Chateau st Jean feels like rustic gardens of country villas in Italy and the south of France. $45 tasting fee for Chateau St Jean, $30 for Ledson

  3. Caymus or Peju: Lots of green backdrops and walkways filled with greenery. $50 tasting fee for Caymus, $40 for Peju

  4. Domaine Carneros: This one is a popular one so you’ve probably seen/heard of it. Known for sparkling wines and the Chateau. $40 tasting fee

Small Boutique Wineries in Napa

Larger wineries in Napa have well structured programs for tasting and winery experience but sometimes it’s super fun to visit smaller boutique wineries where you get to meet people who are part of the wine making process and get a more intimate experience. And you get to support small family owned businesses! If you are looking for a more unique personal experience, these are some of my favorite small boutique wineries to visit in Napa

  1. Elyse: Tasting is held at a charming house with a friendly winery dog. Really good red wines, $40 tasting fee is waived with 3 bottle purchase.

  2. Matthiasson: I visited before they built a formal tasting room and offered appointment only complimentary tasting on their vineyard patio. Can’t speak for the current experience but enjoyed the wines! (looks like current tasting fee is $50 but paused due to COVID)

  3. AXR: Small production winery but you can sometimes find their wines online. Really enjoyed their Chardonnay and Bordeaux varietal reds. $75 tasting fee is waived upon bottle purchase

  4. McKenzie-Mueller Vineyards & Winery: Located in the Southern part of Napa, tasting experience is like visiting a farm house. You taste where wine barrels are stored and can hang out in the cute garden. $30 tasting fee, waived with purchase

  5. Gibbs Vineyards: Family owned and operated winery that usually takes tasting appointment through referrals. Quality to price ratio is amazing with most bottles at $20-35. No formal tasting program but tasting fee is waived with purchase

  6. Black Cat Vineyard: One of my favorite hidden gems where owner/wine maker hosts tastings herself. Ended up joining the club after getting a chance to visit. Really good red wines from Cab Franc, Cab Sauvignon, Red Blends, and Syrah. Typically only take members and referrals for tastings.

I’m always looking to add more to this list so please send me recommendations if you know of any!

Napa and Sonoma wineries with affordable tasting fees

Let’s face it, wine tastings in Napa and Sonoma are not cheap. Believe there used to be a list of wineries with free tasting but most are outdated by now. Typical Napa tastings are now around $45-$80 making a trip almost a splurge (especially if you are visiting multiple wineries) vs. a fun casual trip. If you are looking to taste some wine and have fun while not spending a lot, here’s my list 

I’m going to keep updating list with more wineries so make sure to follow me on Instagram for updates and other recommendations! Keep in mind that wineries do change their menu and fees so use this list as a reference but always check with the winery or their website for the latest policy.

Napa

  1. Rombauer: You might have seen their bottles at different retail stores. They are known for Chardonnays and Zinfandels and their tasting is super affordable at $20 (which is a price of 1.5 or 1 glass at a restaurant) and the ground with a picnic area is super cute. Seems like they now also offer wines by the glass instead of the tasting experience 

  2. Paloma Vineyard: They offer free vertical tasting of their Merlot (as of Feb 2021). Small family owned winery so it’s a private and intimate experience. Please do leave with a bottle if you like them!

  3. Vincent Aroyo: Located a bit further north in Calistoga, you can taste variety of whites and reds and $20, waived with a 3 bottle purchase. Casual and super friendly hosts!

  4. Lola Wines: Another charming tasting house in downtown Calistoga where you can taste for $30, waived with a 3 bottle purchase. Have a variety of whites, Pinot, and Cab.

  5. Domaine Chandon: Mostly known for sparkling, their flights range from $20-35. Expansive ground with picnic chairs and indoor tasting bar

  6. Mckenzie Mueller: $30 waived with a bottle purchase. Small family owned winery. They have a charming barn with a grass area and view of the vineyard

  7. Cosentino: $30, waived with a bottle purchase. They have a variety of bottles between $16-40 for you to choose from.

  8. V Sattui: Their tasting flight isn’t technically under $30 but you can purchase a bottle fo Rosé or sparkling for ($30-40) to enjoy in their picnic area

Sonoma

  1. BR Cohn: Their most recent experience options include $35 for tasting and also offer $10/glass options. View is pretty great as well so it will be a fun experience as a couple or small group

  2. Cline Cellars: Have various options starting at $15, waived with purchase 

  3. Ledson: They have multiple tasting options and the cheapest option is $30. They also used to have a casual $5 tasting inside their wine shop

  4. Jacuzzi Family Vineyards: I have not visited yet but their tasting fee is $20/person

*List is based on the information from early 2022 and would recommend double checking directly with the winery to confirm 

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View fullsize Love being surrounded by all the greenery in Napa this time of the year 💚 Small but adorable and friendly tasting room in St Helena! Part of the Schramsberg fam so you get to taste reds and sparklings Bonus point for being so close to Azteca, the
View fullsize Wineries that allow picnics (of offer food) are so clutch when you are trying to fill the day with more wineries🤣 This was a 3rd winery during my latest trip to Sebastopol and was possible because we got to bring food 🤗🙌 (from @pascaline.patisse
View fullsize Have you gone tasting in Sebastopol? Great area to visit and find small family owned wineries that are laid back and so friendly! This tasting room had an adorable garden and a unique lineup of great wines. Think Italian varietals, red & white
View fullsize This place makes you feel like you are transported to a small rural wine region 💫 Away from the main road, you will find this boutique family owned winery with a line up of unique varietals. (Have you heard of Picpoul Blanc?!!) Tasting started wit
View fullsize Found a little gem in Healdsburg 🥰 Was delighted by this adorable setting, and then found out tastings come with wood fired pizza on weekends! I mean…😍 and every single wine we tasted were so good! Added another winery to our membership lis
View fullsize I’ve been lazy about making weekend plans and Sonoma square is becoming my go-to for last minute weekend activity 😆 Was able to get a same day reservation at Sosie and so glad I did. Small new winery! Felt unique when we saw sparkling red, C
View fullsize Brought this amazing bottle to enjoy with this view 🥰 From a new boutique winery in Paso founded by a wine loving couple! Small line up as wines tend to sell out but got to taste three of their amazing wines. 📍: @topwinery 🍷: tasted Grenache, G
View fullsize I’ve been trying to better understand my preferences for sparkling wines so added Roederer to the list for my trip to Mendocino Tasting flight includes a side by side of the same blend in a regular bottle vs. Magnum and it was SO FUN to taste
View fullsize 🌟Save this place for your next trip to Northern CA🌟 Did you know there’s another Twomey tasting room in Anderson Valley? Twomey’s been on my list and when I saw they have another location on the way to the Mendocino coast, it was a mus
View fullsize Super chill and inviting tasting room! Bonus points for this view and a great #cabfranc 😍😆 Heard Cab Francs are getting sold out everywhere in Napa, go get them before they are gone! Or don’t… so I can get them 🤣 📍: @reverie_wine
View fullsize If you like tasting older vintages, add this place to your list. They recently opened for tastings in 2020 with the release of 2012 vintage! We got to taste wines from 2012, 2013, 2015 with the owner/wine maker 📍: @grossokresser 🍷: Refreshing an
View fullsize What a treat to taste wine on the vineyard where grapes come from 🥰🙌 Are you sick of me talking about #cabfranc yet? 🤣 I came across this small winery in Paso that releases two different cab francs and had to schedule a tasting 😆 Casual tasti
View fullsize Stayed at this dreamy @vrbo vineyard house in Paso 🥰🙌 Located next to @turleywine it was minutes from amazing west side wineries and had the best view 🤗
View fullsize Adorable winery with the most adorable story behind it 💕 📍: @clossolene 🍷: Variety of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvédre blends, rosé 💰: $40 to taste, waived with 3 bottle purchase
View fullsize Small tasting room with the nicest people 🥰 Even before we got there, they sent us an email asking for our preferences and also to recommend other wineries in the area! Owner/winemaker used to make wines for Law, another popular winery in Paso, an