NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Planning your trip to Northern California wine country
From LAX, American, United, Southwest and Virgin America have nonstop flights. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $96.
Healdsburg is about 50 miles north of San Francisco, about 1 1/2 hours' drive, on U.S. 101. All the wineries mentioned are within 10 miles of the center of town.
WHERE TO STAY
Hotel Healdsburg, 25 Matheson St.; (800) 889-7188, www.hotelhealdsburg.com. The sleek luxury hotel is on the town square. Airy guest rooms have 6-foot soaking tubs, flat-screen TVs and a modern sensibility. Rates from $397.
WHERE TO EAT
Oakville Grocery, 124 Matheson St., Healdsburg; (707) 433-3200, www.oakvillegrocery.com. At the downtown Healdsburg grocery, visitors find things like grilled aged cheddar and young asiago, applewood smoked ham and brie, and roast turkey with pesto mayo for picnics. Sandwiches start at $7.95.
Jimtown Store, 6706 State Highway 128, Healdsburg; (707) 433-1212, www.jimtown.com. The store would be too precious if it weren't filled with truly cool things such as fortune-telling fish and terrific food, including a prosciutto and brie sandwich slathered with fig tapenade. Sandwiches start at $8.
Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen, in the Hotel Healdsburg; (707) 431-0330, www.charliepalmer.com. Slowly braised Kurobuta pork cheeks, farm rabbit cannelloni, spring pea ravioli, everything served in this elegant minimalist space is local and amazing. Entrees around $28.
Bistro Ralph, 109 Plaza St., Healdsburg; (707)433-1380. Come for the martinis (a local favorite) and stay for the food. Ralph's does wine country comfort food: rib-eye, roast chicken and the "plate of a thousand fries." Entrees about $20.
WHERE TO TASTE WINE AND PLAY BOCCIE
Seghesio, 14730 Grove St., Healdsburg; (707)433-3579, www.seghesio.com.
Davis Family, 52 Front St., Healdsburg; (707)433-3858, www.daviswines.com.
Amphora, Family Wineries, Kokomo, Papapietro Perry, Peterson, 4791 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. Amphora, (707) 431-7767; Family, (707) 433-0100;
Kokomo, (707) 433-0205; Papapietro Perry, (707) 433-0422; Peterson, (707) 431-7568.
Pedroncelli, 1220 Canyon Road, Healdsburg; (707) 857-3531, www.pedroncelli.com.
Armida, 2201 Westside Road, Healdsburg; (707)433-2222, www.armida.com.
TO LEARN MORE
For more information about the area, visit www.wineroad.com.
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