Just 110 miles north of San Francisco and 28 miles north of Cloverdale lies California’s hidden gem of a wine region. The drive there is not for the faint of heart – you’ll be on a twisty, windy road for the last 28 miles and, if you’re anything like me, you’ll get carsick. I promise though, what awaits you there is worth the journey.
Most Anderson Valley tasting rooms do not require reservations and a lot of them either offer free tastings or will waive the small tasting fees with the purchase of wine. You can be super last minute the way I am and pop in day of! There are SO many great places to visit in Anderson Valley, so I have narrowed it down for you to my Top 10 spots (and included some bonuses, because why cut myself off):
- Handley Cellars: Located at the far end of Anderson Valley is Handley Cellars. Handley is known not only for their variety of Pinot Noirs, but also all of their aromatic white wines. They make pinot gris, pinot blanc, riesling and gewurztraminer – many of the Alsatian varietals. The staff there is all incredibly kind and knowledgeable…they have set a bar for me in how much I expect people working at a winery to know. An added bonus: we have even been lucky to stay in the ranch house on site several times!
- Smith Story Wine Cellars:
My boyfriend is a member at Smith Story and we love visiting their Anderson Valley Tasting room in the Madrones (the Madrones is one of my favorite places to stay in Anderson Valley and houses a few tasting rooms, as well as Stone and Embers restaurant.) Smith Story makes, Sonoma County, German and Anderson Valley wines, so there is a lot of diversity in what you can taste. If you’re lucky, you may even get to snag a few moments with the winery’s beloved dog Sandwich too. - Greenwood Ridge: I joined Greenwood Ridge a year ago and have loved all of my visits both before and after I became a member. Greenwood Ridge makes everything from Zinfandel to Cabernet blends to a tropical fruit bomb Sauvignon blanc and a syrupy sweet late harvest riesling. Want only whites? They can do that. Want to make your way through the list? They can do that too. If it’s too crowded at Navarro or you want something a little more off the beaten path, head next door to Greenwood Ridge.
- Long Meadow Ranch: LMR is the new kid in town in Philo. Their Anderson Valley tasting room just opened up in the Madrones last year. When we visited, my mom and sister were treated to a custom flight that only included whites and their rose. I opted for a more traditional flight that allowed me to try their rose and a couple of their local pinot noirs. Bored of pinot? You can also try their Napa wines from this tasting room.
- Toulouse Vineyards: Toulouse features an amazing patio with river and forest views from up on high. Their wines? All excellent. While they mostly do pinot, they also have a pinot gris, petite sirah and gewurztraminer that impress. It’s easy to miss the turn off for this place, so look out for a sign featuring a flock of geese. Pro tip – if they have their Hungarian Oak pinot, ask nicely if you can sample this. It’s super different and my favorite of all the pinots I have tasted from there.
- Stone and Embers: Hungry after walking around and visiting the many tasting rooms in the Madrones? Good news – there’s pizza onsite. Stone and Embers makes homemade pizza with dough that ferments for 24 hours. They have a broad range of pizzas, but my personal favorite is the “fat tony,” which includes turducken, homemade sausage and pepperoni. Already going through wine withdrawal? They have you covered – there are lots of great deals on local wine, particularly on Smith Story Rose and Helluva Vineyard Pinot.
- Poleeko Roadhouse: For those seeking a more upscale experience, I highly recommend the Bewildered Pig. For those who just want good food and casual vibes, check out Poleeko Roadhouse. Located on the main drag of Philo, Poleeko Roadhouse serves up classic American fare for reasonable prices. The favorite amongst our group was the reuben sandwich made with house cured corn beef…seriously such an awesome sandwich! Anyone who needs a hearty meal to soak up all the pinot, look no further 😉
- Roederer Estate: Roederer Estate makes some of my favorite bubbles anywhere. They have a beautiful property on top of a hill, with beautiful views overlooking the valley. While they do have a $10 tasting that you can do which offers a few different kinds of sparkling wine and two still wines, my favorite way to enjoy Roederer is to buy a bottle and sit outside (weather permitting.)
- Pennyroyal Farm: What is your favorite wine pairing? Let me take a wild guess…is it wine and cheese? I mean, of course it probably is. There is a reason wine and cheese is such a classic pairing. Pennyroyal brings those two things together. Pennyroyal has a goat farm onsite that makes some of the best cheese I’ve ever had. You can sit out on their patio which has views of both their goat farm and their vineyards. Grab a cheese plate and glass of rose or sauvignon blanc (or do a flight if you simply cannot choose), sit back and enjoy.
- Anderson Valley Brewing: Tired of all the wine? Yeah, me neither. But, maybe someone in your group is. If that’s the case, make a pit stop at the Anderson Valley Brewing Company. This brewery has won
numerous award and is has a wide variety of sours. I actually think of their Framboise Rose Gose as the beer for rose drinkers.
Writing this blogpost has me ready for a trip back up there, who is coming with?!
