Kaz Vineyard & Winery

Our tasting bar attendant at St. Francis pointed us to this place. The tasting room is in a garage-like structure that makes you wonder if you have wandered onto someones private property. Being off the beaten path it is really for the adventursome. When we were there the owner Kaz was in the tasting room and graciously signed the bottles we purchased. Most notable was their white port. If you know port you know a white one isn't the norm. The owner is a colorful character.

St Francis Winery & Vineyards

Easy access for tour buses and a large tasting room and bar that easily accomodates groups and the general public at the same time. I enjoyed their zinfandels but didn't find to much else that I liked this year but I would stop in again.

Dry Creek Vineyard

I expected more from this spot. The wines were okay but nothing really stood out. Being one of the more well known wineries in the area I would have thought the whole experience would have been better. Nice location and there is an area to picnic out front.

Dry Creek General Store

We stopped into this store when tasting in the Healdsburg area. What a nice surprise, there is a deli counter with really good sandwiches and soups. Plenty of seating inside as well as on the porch. It doesn't look like much from the road but the food is definitely worth a stop when in the area.

Perry Papapietro Winery

Okay next to Domaine Carneros' 1997 Famous Gate Pinot this is my favorite. This is a tiny tiny tiny (did I already say tiny) little tasting room. We visited in Janauary so I have no idea what it is like during peak season. But the owner was so friendly and so was the tasting room dog. They have a couple of Pinot's but the 2003 Peter's Vineyard was my hands down favorite. Definitely check this place out. They are fairly new, started as a garage winery and just grew.

Family Wineries Dry Creek

We visited this place in January and were pleasantly surprised. The wines were unique and very reasonble compared to the rest of the area. This is a no frills location where a few wineries "taste" their vintages. Good quality and great prices. We really liked the Duxsoup 2004 Gamay Noir. This is a great red for under $13. We bought a few bottles and have enjoyed the surprised pos8itive responses from dinner guests who have never heard of Gamay. If you are looking for something white and crisp for summer picnics check out the 2005 Sauvignon Blanc - North Coast Ca' Bella Lago di Merlo.

Valley Of The Moon Winery

The location of this winery is off the main highway but the wines were interesting. We purchased a bottle of their port and really liked the etched bottle. It wasn't one of my favorites but I would say it is worth a stop.

Jensen's Minute Shoppe

Jensen's was a nice surprise. We usually stop by here to pick up groceries on our way to GVL. Although small they have almost everything you would need including a deli counter and tri tip bbq on fridays, not to mention a surprisingly good wine selection. I have found it tough to find a good glass/bottle of wine in the area but Jensen's seems to really put some thought into the selections they carry and being such a small store I found this impressive.

Colorado Wine Company

Okay it is close to home for me and it is conveniently located on Colorado Blvd. but even if I lived further away I would still make the drive. The shop is small compared to the crowd of regulars so the events and tastings can be cozy. The owners, John and Jen, are both great and very helpful. If you are looking for a quick bottle as a gift or housewarming they are sure to suggest something that will make you look like an all star. Check out their wine for a week 4 packs too. Click on the website link above to sign up for their bi-weekly newsletter or to check out upcoming events.

Spitz

This little place just opened in Eagle Rock. There is very little seating inside, but the patio space outside is large and very inviting. The sandwiches are very good. I have had the chicken and would definitely recommend it. Try the sweet potato french fries, I know it sounds weird by they are really good. Now my favorite reason to keep these guys in business is the Gelato! They have a few flavors some are regulars and others will be rotating. The Sorbettos are interesting, I plan to try the pomegranite on my next visit. Parking is a little dicey but for now street parking seems readily available. Spitz actually has three parking spaces, one of which is a handicapped spot.

PROS: Only place in the area with sweet potato fries!
CONS: Parking, but the food more than makes up for any inconvenience.