Russian River and Santa Rosa wineries

originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
Steve and Jim,

Although Gail and I would love to get together, I doubt my brother and sister-in-law would be up for it, although I can ask I guess. They are more grandchild geeks than wine geeks. We're only there for four nights and haven't seen them since they moved west a few years ago. Thanks for the recommendations and keep them coming.
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Jonathan, you haven't asked, but IMO the best restaurant in Oakland is Commis. The chef was formerly at Manresa and staged at famous places in Europe (El Bulli, etc.). He has his own point of view, which I think of as elegant, sometimes almost minimalist, California cuisine with some Asian influences and plenty of technique.

We had dinner with Mark at Camino, which is run by a fellow who spent more than a decade at Chez Panisse. Everything is cooked with wood. The food is sometimes equally exciting, but in a totally different idiom than Commis.
 
Fresh out of University, a friend and I were on a road trip and found ourselves in Santa Rosa. I was vaguely aware that wine was made in the surrounding areas and so embarked on my very first winery visit: Korbel.
I had a thoroughly lovely time and remember finding a beautiful spot in their vineyards, near a stream, and drinking a few bottles with a picnic (white Zinfandel or Grenache by the looks of recently discovered photos!).
On the dubious basis of these distant memories, I thoroughly recommend you go there...(I think it was/is very easy to get to from the town centre)
 
originally posted by Jim Hanlon:
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
Steve and Jim,

Although Gail and I would love to get together, I doubt my brother and sister-in-law would be up for it, although I can ask I guess. They are more grandchild geeks than wine geeks. We're only there for four nights and haven't seen them since they moved west a few years ago. Thanks for the recommendations and keep them coming.
Click to expand...

Jonathan, you haven't asked, but IMO the best restaurant in Oakland is Commis. The chef was formerly at Manresa and staged at famous places in Europe (El Bulli, etc.). He has his own point of view, which I think of as elegant, sometimes almost minimalist, California cuisine with some Asian influences and plenty of technique.

We had dinner with Mark at Camino, which is run by a fellow who spent more than a decade at Chez Panisse. Everything is cooked with wood. The food is sometimes equally exciting, but in a totally different idiom than Commis.
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My brother wants to take us to Chez Panisse. Remember, this is a visit with family. He would like to do some touristy things visiting wineries, which is why I asked. I deeply appreciate all these responses and do ask that you keep them coming. And I'll ask if he wants to get together with local wine geeks. But this is not a trip where I'm on my own.
 
Russian River Brewing. Vinnie may be the most talented fermenter of things in California and its not like you can find it on the east coast (for less than a fortune). I like Pliny a lot, but to me the special stuff is his belgian inspired beer and his barrel aged and/or spontaneously fermented stuff.

As for wines, I'd second Swan and Wind Gap (especially if you are able to taste the Ryme wines).

Also, if the Teldeschi winery still has mid nineties library releases for sale, then they're an interesting visit, though the wines this decade seem to be made in a completely different style.
 
Go to Healdsburg. That's the north end of the Russian River Valley. Find a good spot for lunch - I handle the wine list at Campo Fina, so I'm biased towards that place, but there's plenty lovely to chew on all over. Then head out to Unti, Preston, and Ridge. These are picturesque wineries - Unti less so - that all create honest wine that is very emblematic of the area and are within 15 minutes of each other and the town. There's muscle aplenty in these wines, but there's also balance. You'll feel like you tasted good wine and ate good food and your family will feel like they've done the classic wine tasting thing.
 
Hi professor,
Last time I was out that way we visited Dry Creek Valley to taste some Zinfandel.
We went first to the Family wineries co-op where they pour wines from six different small wineries including Dashe which is great. A friendly and knowledgeable guy was pouring. From there we stopped at the Dry Creek Valley General store which is really a deli and picked up sandwiches and salads (excellent food I thought) and went just down the road to Truett-Hurst winery which had decent wine but also a spectacular spot to picnic by a bubbling stream and enjoy lunch with a glass of wine. We had a great day. I really liked seeing the old gnarly Zinfandel vines in that beautiful valley.
 
We also stopped at Russian River Brewery.
I liked the beer and agree with what Saul said, the Belgian barrel aged stuff is tops, but the place was packed to the gills and standing room only which detracted from the fun.
 
originally posted by Michael K.:
I handle the wine list at Campo Fina, so I'm biased towards that place, but there's plenty lovely to chew on all over.
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I agree. I went there for lunch a three weeks ago not knowing what to expect. The sandwich I had was good and the wine list was unexpectedly broad and pleasing for a casual restaurant situated inside of a wine region.
 
In Healdsburg, one winemaker directed me to El Sombrero. Zero atmosphere but good ceviche, carnitas and al pastor. Drink Jarritos.
 
I think that we're leading the Prof merrily down the primrose path now. His original query was for places relatively close to Oakland, and now we're talking about Healdsburg. He may be willing to trek 90 min with his in-laws through the traffic morass that is Santa Rosa; I dunno, but those caveats should be made explicit. Good recommendations, though: I've filed them away.

Mark Lipton
 
Yes, I was struck by the invitations to Santa Rosa. I have a horror of the traffic there, though perhaps the 101 expansion will give a temporary respite.

My reccos above are either in or within a couple of miles of Oakland, if the Prof wishes to stay close to home rather than get a "Wine Country" experience.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
Yes, I was struck by the invitations to Santa Rosa. I have a horror of the traffic there, though perhaps the 101 expansion will give a temporary respite.

My reccos above are either in or within a couple of miles of Oakland, if the Prof wishes to stay close to home rather than get a "Wine Country" experience.
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And I am particularly interested in visiting Dashe. I'll probably try to do it regardless of any driving through wine country.

We'll see what my brother is up for.
 
well, if you headed all the way to santa rosa you might as well go another 15 minutes north to healdsburg and dry creek valley. much more picturesque than santa rosa. the wineries in santa rosa are in industrial parks. if santa rosa is as far north as you want to go then i would , again, highly reccommend salinia. not only can you taste the salnia wines but kevin has all the npa juice on tap there. he is also great to talk with.

also, if by visiting dashe you mean the dry creek tasting room, i think you will be disapointed. try and see him at his oakland facility. (maybe thats what you meant).
 
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