As we wrap up 2018, I had to add one last winery tour.  Consider it my holiday gift, just for you.  You’re welcome!  While Northern California wine country is bustling with activity in the spring and summer, winter is actually a great time to get away and enjoy the region too.  Instead of sitting out in the sun drinking a chilled glass of Rosé, cozy up to the bar and enjoy a spicy Zin; sit by the fireplace in a tasting room and savor a smooth Syrah.    One great place to explore this winter (and beyond) is Sebastopol, a small town in Sonoma County.   TK and I spent a day last summer sampling some of Sebastopol’s finest at a Taste the Place event.  One of the best deals I’ve seen yet on our wine adventures, $25 gave you the option to visit as many of the 12+ participating wineries in the area as you’d like.  After a whirlwind of an afternoon,  I’ve come away with a Sebastopol wine tasting itinerary to add to your collection.

Dutton Estate Winery

We started our day at an old favorite, the only winery on this tour that was a repeat visit.  Dutton Estate Winery made such a great impression on our first visit, we decided to check out their wine and food pairings for the Taste the Place event.

The chilled vichyssoise was amazing.  That’s not a sentence I’ve ever used before.  Taste the Place made me fancy.   By the way, that’s chilled potato soup, but vichyssoise sounds so impressive, doesn’t it??  Dutton didn’t disappoint with great wine selections and perfectly paired small bites.  It was pretty clear that little $25 was going to carry us through some amazing tastings, so we kept it moving eager to see what else was in store.

Red Car Wine

Red Car Wine is a cute boutique tasting room, with a warm and pleasantly quirky vibe.  Interesting design, art and jewelry on display and friendly staff welcome you to the space.

Don’t miss their Rosé of Pinot Noir, it was a definite favorite in a day full of great wine.

Friedeman Wines

We pulled up to Friedeman Wines, greeted by the sight and wonderful aroma of sizzling links on a grill, making Friedeman an immediate favorite for TK.  Friedeman paired their wines with gourmet sausages from Panizzera Meat Company in the neighboring town of Occidental.   The timing was perfect.  As much as we had enjoyed our small bites earlier, it was time for a big bite.   This may be the first time I’ve ever had wine paired with sausage, but it won’t be the last.  So good!

Friedeman’s tasting room is located in The Barlow, in downtown Sebastopol.  Twelve acres of restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms and shops- you could easily spend the full day there.  I’m excited to head back to The Barlow and explore all the local gems it has to offer.  They’ve got a full calendar of events; I’ve got my eye on the Meet the Makers Food Tour for my next visit.

Halleck Vineyard

Halleck Vineyard was a must-visit, mainly because it’s usually appointment only.  And that was before I knew about the view- which would have been worth the visit on its own.

Situated on an acre of rolling hills, the family-owned and operated Halleck is simply put- breathtaking.

And if the view wasn’t enough, we were treated to wonderful wine selections paired with organic artisan cheeses and handmade chocolate.  I did say we were fancy today, didn’t I?

All in all, we made it to four wineries in Sebastopol- which may be a record for us.  We usually amble along through two or three slowly, which is a good pace.  Wanting to take full advantage of the Taste the Place event, we moved more quickly than usual.  I don’t regret it at all, as we were introduced to so many new gems in the area.  That said, I’d love to revisit these wonderful wineries at a slower pace and settle in a bit.  A trip back in December or January might be in order, wine country is the California version of a Winter Wonderland.  Who needs snow when you have wine??