Life
is good along West Sonoma County’s
“Pinot Trail”
Award-winning pinot noirs.
Beautiful byways. Great places
to eat. Those are some of the
things that are quietly making
west Sonoma County an Epicurean
lifestylist’s paradise.
In fact, we’ve dubbed West
County “the Pinot Trail.” That’s
because as you drive this area’s
scenic routes, you’ll come across
some of this country’s best
makers of pinot noir (and
sparklng wine
makers who use pinot noir and
pinot blanc). They’re located
within minutes of restaurants
and destinations that have a
distinctly different charm and
flavor from Wine Country sites
further east.
Let’s explore!
Pinot Vista and Sebastopol:
Your Base for Exploring the
Pinot Trail
Surrounded by acres and acres
of pinot noir and pinot blanc
vines, and only a five-minute
drive from Sebastopol’s bustling
and sophisticated cultural scene,
Pinot Vista is the perfect base
from which to enjoy life along
the Pinot Trail.
West Sonoma’s Pinot Noirs
(and Sparkling Wine)
“At their best, Sonoma
Coast pinot noirs display
loads of lovely ripe cherry
fruit without the powerful
extract and huge ripeness
of Pinots from warmer regions.
The soft but evident tannins
provide gentle textural
contrast and structure to
support the juicy fruit.
Our recommended wines also
have palate cleansing acidity
and balance, which are additional
characteristics people appreciate
in well-made pinot noir.”
—San Francisco Chronicle,
July 13, 2006
The wineries below are located
in the west county and each
of them makes a pinot noir (or
uses pinot noir to make
sparkling wine).
Some of these wineries are so
small you have to make private
arrangements to visit them.
Others are more accessible to
the public. We’ve provided contact
information so that you can
get in touch with them.
(Generally speaking, wineries
designated “Closed to public”
are boutique wineries that are
too small to maintain regularly
operating tasting rooms. However,
you can try arranging private
tastings with the winery owners
by using the contact information
supplied in their web sites.)
Good Eating Along the Pinot
Trail
West County’s agricultural
abundance is quickly becoming
world-famous. Prize-winning
cheeses, lush varieties of old-fashioned
apples and other deciduous fruits,
free-range beef and poultry,
vegetables from rich alluvial
soils and some of the best wines
on earth are all located within
minutes of one another.
Local restaurants take complete
advantage of West County’s embarrassment
of culinary riches. Here are
a few of them:
In Sebastopol
101 Main Bistro & Wine
Bar
French restaurant
101a S. Main St.
707-829-3212
Review:
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/07.17.97/dining-9729.html
Bistro V
Showcases Sonoma County organic
farmers, fishermen, winemakers,
beekeepers, dairies, cheese
makers and mushroom growers,
using only the freshest ingredients.
2295 Gravenstein Hwy. S
707-823-1262
www.bistro-v.com
Review:
www.northbaybiz.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3735&Itemid=120
K & L Bistro
119 So. Main Street
707-823-6614
Review:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/12/21/NB152972.DTL
Screamin’ Mimis
All-natural ice cream and sorbet
6902 Sebastopol Avenue
707-823-5902
Village Bakery
Organic, European-style hearth
breads, pastries, desserts
7225 Healdsburg Avenue
707-829-8101
In Graton
These two small places have
earned a regional reputation
for very good food in an out-of-the-way
location.
Underwood Bar and Bistro
9113 Graton Road
707-823-7023
Willow Wood Market Café
9020 Graton Road
707-823-0233
In Forestville
Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant
7871 River Road
707-887-3300
www.farmhouseinn.com
Review:
http://www.forkandbottle.com/restaurants/sonoma/farmhouse_inn.htm
Mosaic Restaurant and
Wine Bar
Hwy 116
707-887-7503
See a New York Times write-up
mentioning the Mosaic, as well
as Forestville:
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/06/30/realestate/30havens.html
In Freestone
Wildflour Bread
140 Bohemian Hwy
707-874-2938
www.wildflourbread.com
Not a restaurant, but a great
stop in Freestone:
Osmosis The Enzyme Bath
Spa
209 Bohemian Hwy,
707-823-8231
In Occidental
Bistro des Copains
3782 Bohemian Way 707-874-2408
www.bistrodescopains.com
Union Hotel
Family Dining, Pizzeria, Café,
Saloon
3731 Main Street
707-874-3444
www.unionhotel.com
In Jenner
River’s End
11048 Highway One
707-865-2484
In Bodega Bay
Tides Wharf and Restaurant
800 Highway One
707-875-2751
www.innatthetides.com/tideswharf.html
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