Australian natives and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Bill and Dawn Williamson create their award-winning Sonoma County wines from a dozen of their own sustainably farmed vineyards strung along the Dry Creek Valley, which is famed for it’s wine friendly conditions. With vineyards across three different microclimates, Williamson Wines specializes in many varietals, including Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhone style wines. Visitors looking to sample their wines don’t need to venture outside of Healdsburg however, as the winery’s tasting room is located downtown, where tasters can enjoy a complimentary wine sample, or reserve a table to try a more immersive experience, with artfully prepared food and wine pairings, including cheese plates dusted with Williamson’s famous truffle salt.
Practical Info
While the vineyards and winery are located in Dry Creek Valley outside of Healdsburg, they are only open to occasional visitors. For tastings, Williamson Wines operates a tasting room located at 134 Matheson St. in the Healdsburg Town Square. They are open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Address: 134 Matheson St., Healdsburg, CA 95448, USA
The Westside Road slices its way through the temperate Russian River Valley, and a stretch that runs parallel to the river is so valued for its grape-growing conditions that it has become known as the Miracle Mile. Make the drive here to find Gracianna Winery, a family-owned vineyard that produces some of the region’s best Pinot Noir. Owned and operated by the Amanda family, the winery produces a handful of award-winning varieties, including Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, however, the Pinot Noirs are a consistent favorite with wine critics and visitors alike.
Practical Info
The tasting room at Gracianna Winery is open seasonally from April through November. Visitors must make an appointment for tastings, which costs $15 per person and includes pourings of five Russian River Valley wines: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, And Sauvignon Blanc. For each person, the tasting fee can be waived with the purchase of two bottles.
Address: 6914 Westside Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448, USA
