10 Popular Tasting Rooms In The Russian River Area

Sonoma County and the Russian River areas are centered in the heart of wine country but where can you go to sample these sinfully delicious wines? This article will highlight 10 of the most popular tasting rooms in the Russian River area and what makes them special.

Porter-Bass Winery

Porter Bass winery is located on Mays Canyon in Guerneville. Although they don't have a spacious tasting room they do offer a taste of any of their exquisite wines by appointment any day of the week. Their wines are made through a gentle and slower fermenting process that allows the richness of the earth to be infused in every sip. Porter Bass is local serving top quality wine here in the heart of wine country.

Korbel Champagne Cellars

Korbel is located on River Road just outside of Rio Nido. They are known for having beautiful garden tours, delicious food in the gourmet delicatessen and some of the best champagne in Sonoma County. They offer public and private winery tours and tasting daily. One of the things that makes Korbel special is it's long history here in the area. The Korbel family settled here in the mid 1800's and have been perfecting the art of making champagne for more than two hundred years!

Moshin Vineyards

If you want to find the best of something then you must look to those who have a passion for creating it! Rick Moshin was a math teacher with a love for Pinot Noir. Today he and his family own 28 acres of grapes and have arguably the best Pinot Noir on the Russian River. Their farming methods are sustainable using gravity flow and solar energy.

Russian River Vineyards

The winemaker Giovanni Balistreri hand picks each site used to grow these gorgeous vines. With the ability to taste one grape and know how the wine will taste after the grapes have been put through the wine making process Giovanni has the ability to weed out bad grapes before they ever reach your glass ensuring rich flavor in every sip!

Jigar Wines

Enthralled by the farmers who work tirelessly to ensure a great harvest Jigar decided he wanted to make wine with a crew of this stature. He gathered a crew with a passion for growing and together they have produced amazing Russian River wines. Their catchphrase is "celebrate life" which is exactly what you will find yourself doing when you taste these wines.

Sophie's Cellars

Radiating modern chic and historic charm Sophie's Cellar is a place where the best of wine country can be found here on the Russian River. The grounds are decorated with gorgeous gardens that make sipping wine while taking a walk one of the days most relaxing moments. It is the perfect place to take a moment to really appreciate all that life has to offer.

Hartford Family Winery

Specializing in the Russian River's top production of old vine Zinfandel, Hartford Family Winery has made a name for itself among wine critics across the united states. Their tasting room is open daily for you to stop in and enjoy vineyard views while tasting their award winning Chardonnay and Zinfandel created from vines over 100 years old.

Kistler Vineyards

Kistler Vineyards doesn't have an open tasting room however they are so elite that one must make an appointment to have a private tasting at the winery. The winery began with Steve Kistler and his family and was later joined by Mark Bixler and Jason Kesner. Together these three well educated men have built their wine empire educating others on what delicious wine really tastes like.

Fort Ross Vineyards

With Vineyards positioned along the coast Fort Ross Vineyards make no bones about wanting to produce only wines of purity and elegance and they do it with amazing grace. In addition to their infamous wine club that draws people from all over the world inviting them to take a sip of the coastal wine country, they have a tasting room that is grandiose and welcomes visitors every day of the week.

Sonoma Coast Vineyards

This is the epitome of artisan wine from hand picked and sorted fruit to hand punch downs multiple times daily. Every grape is treated with care and hand crafted into gourmet wine. Wine spends extended development time in French Oak barrel with light filtration to pull out every level of flavor available.

Top 5 Hiking Trails In The Russian River Area

This is hiking season and with that comes the question "where are the best hiking trails in the Russian River area?" In Sonoma County we have been blessed to have some of the most amazing landscapes in the world from vineyards to rolling hills, rivers and creeks to the massive Pacific Coast. I have listed a few of the best hiking trails that I know of in the Russian River area but I encourage you to add your favorites to the comments below!

#1 Armstrong Woods

Armstrong Woods is full of great trails from the steep trail that leads up up up to a place where you can stare out at stunning views of West Sonoma County and the Russian River area to flat easy walks through the redwoods that are full of informational stands encouraging you to learn about the history of this great park. Armstrong Woods is full of picnic tables, small creeks and massive giants some of which have been around for thousands of years. It is a dog friendly place where dogs are required to be on leash but are welcome to come on out for a hike with you.

#2 Austin Creek State Preserve

Austin Creek State Preserve is another place with tons of great trails! The main trail is a 1100 foot climb insuring you get your daily exercise. Take East Ridge Trail to the top then cross over to Pool Ridge Trail and then take Redwood Grove back to the entrance. This is a pretty hearty hike so make sure to bring lots of water and pick up a map at the entrance so that you don't get lost. Happy trails.

#3 Kortum Trail

For me it is always fun to go out and hike along the coastline and listen to the waves crashing up against the shore. Kortum Trail begins at the entrance to Blind Beach. You will want to bring a friend and have them park at the end of the trail and carpool to the beginning as it is a 10 mile hike so you may not want to hike back to the car after you are done. The trail crosses many state beach parking lots and continues through to Carlevaro Way off of Highway 1. It is a great hike for those who can't decide between a day at the beach and a nice long hike!

#4 Pomo Canyon Trail

Pomo Canyon Trail is in Duncan's Mills. Take Willow Creek Road to Pomo Campground Road and it's about a half a mile to the trailhead near the campground. The trail is about 6 miles long and passes through the redwood forest, then over grasslands decorated with boulders, and then climbs up until you can see the ocean waves of the Pacific Coast. The trail ends at Shell Beach and is a wonderful place to have a picnic. If you don't plan on hiking the 6 miles back you will need to park a car at Shell beach and carpool to the trailhead.

#5 Old Cazadero Road

At the end of Old Cazadero Road in Guerneville there is a barricade across the road. This road was replaced years ago and has since been inoperable however, it is a great place to go hiking, biking or just out for a stroll. The road is high up and offers gorgeous views of the rolling hills here in the Russian River area. If you felt moved to take a really long hike you could go all the way to Cazadero from there.

Make sure to bring water with you and be careful not to disturb the wildlife. Happy Hiking Everyone!

New Community Garden On The Russian River

Amy and Jesse Stearn are opening a community garden here on the Russian River. This is big news for all of us here in the redwoods because many people do not have any sunlight at their homes due to the gorgeous trees that surround us. This will give everyone the opportunity to have a beautiful garden full of vibrant veggies, fruits and flowers. The plots are $35 per month and they include a locked gate, all the water that your garden can drink and hours of direct sunlight every day!

How It Began...

This friendly couple and their family of three small children and their dog Bailey had put down roots and settled in Utah content and happy with their lives. Little did they know that a weekend trip to the Russian River would have them upending their lives and moving to the small town of Monte Rio! On their trip they saw the property and all of the natural beauty of the area and simply fell in love with all of it, so they decided to move here. In 2013 they bought the double parcel and began creating a life for themselves here on the Russian River. They had a well installed in the parcel where the community garden is so that they could put in a Cider Apple orchard. Once the well was in full working order Amy and Jesse realized that they had way more water and space then they needed so they decided to share what they had with the Russian River community. They offer a place where the people who are not fortunate enough to have sunlight can go and plant their own garden making gardening an option for the community at large.

"We are fortunate enough to be able to afford a large property and we want to share it. We don't want to be one of those families that buys a big property and then hides out. Besides that, we like being in this community. Hopefully down the road we will be able to expand the garden and maybe have community events, music or a farmers market here." ~Amy & Jesse Stearn

The Garden

Russian River Gardens is located off of 116 just outside of town in Monte Rio. Each plot has two 4 foot by 20 foot raised garden beds with Nursery Mix soil that is rich with nutrients. Each plot has it's own water spigot and fence with a gate so it can be locked. All 20 plots are in direct sunlight and the raised beds keep out wildlife such as gophers. Each plot costs only $35 per month and that is all...there are no hidden fees and anyone can garden.

View The Russian River Garden Rules

The garden is fully organic helping it to blend with it's natural surroundings causing very little impact on the earth. One reason why is that the Stearn family does not use pesticides on their garden and do not want them on their Cider Apple orchard. They believe that pesticides are not necessary and there are so many alternatives that they see no reason why anyone would need to use them. Another consideration that they had was the preference of those who are gardening. They didn't know who would be planting and what their beliefs about pesticides would be and they didn't want the chemicals blowing over onto someone else's garden unintentionally and causing trouble. So no pesticides and any organic sprays must be approved before application to protect the integrity of the community garden.

Explore The Russian River Community

Top Home Remedies To Keep Your Summer Pest Free

WE LIVE IN THE FOREST! That means that there are bugs! Now that doesn't mean that they are welcome on our decks, in our homes or buzzing around our heads! Here are some great natural, organic home remedies that will keep the bugs out so you can sit back and soak up the sun here on the Russian River.

Ants Be Gone

Ants are by far the most annoying of all of the pests that tend to hang around the Russian River. Here are a few suggestions on how to get rid of them naturally without harmful chemicals that could damage the forest.

1. Ants have a natural aversion to cucumber, mint and cloves...place bitter cucumber slices, crushed mint leaves or clove powder near the point of entry and they will keep their distance from your home.

2. Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup sugar and place at various intervals around your home. Ants cannot separate the sugar from the baking soda and will bring it all back to their ant hill, however baking soda is deadly to these guys!

3. For long term removal and repellent spread diatomaceous earth around your home. This substance is non-toxic and is safe to use with children and pets.

Shoo Fly Go Away

Flies are incredibly annoying when you are trying to have a picnic, relax on the deck or play in the pool. You don't have to put up with them though! Here are some natural non-toxic ways to rid you of these pests.

1. Pure Eucalyptus oil drops on an absorbent cloth laid out around your picnic area or on your deck will act as a repellent to any flies buzzing around.
2. Open containers of sweet basil and clover should be placed next to pet food dishes to keep the flies away.
3. Hang satchels of crushed Bay Leaves, Cloves and Eucalyptus in doorways and next to windows to keep the flies out of the house.

Mosquitos

Mosquitos are THE WORST! They bite, they leave big itchy bumps and the are totally irritating. The best way to get rid of mosquitos is to "remove any standing water" professionals say. We live near a giant body of water! Not only that but many people have pets with water dishes, bird baths and other forms of standing water that cannot be removed. Here are some helpful tips on how to stay naturally mosquito free this summer!

1. Keep mosquitos off your deck and out of your yard with citronella beeswax and soy candles. Place them where there is less of a breeze aka low to the floor/deck.

2. Garlic oil (stinky I know) mixed one part to 5 parts water in a spray bottle will keep them off your body and out of your home, while strips of cloth saturated with the same compound and placed around a specific area will keep them away from that area for 4-6 hours.

3. Neem Oil is natural and contains sallanin which is a natural mosquito repellent.

Information for this blog courtesy of eartheasy.com

Guerneville Lodge & Campground

Al Cooper, a soft spoken retiree here on the Russian River bought the Guerneville Lodge in 2008. His goal was to retire, hang out on the river and create a welcoming atmosphere for generations of locals.

"The lodge doesn't advertise...we don't need to...we are constantly turning away business because it is so popular." ~Al Cooper

Al's marketing is done the old fashion way...friends telling their friends what an amazing location this is! Word of Mouth has kept this lodge booked solid since 2008 and yet it remains one of the most sought after locations for camping and lodging on the Russian River.

Events

Over the years Al has owned the Guerneville Lodge there have been more than 80 weddings held on the grounds, as well as family reunions, birthday parties, and other events. When an event is booked then that party rents the entire lodge. No other rooms will be booked out so reservations must be made in advance if you would like to get a spot.

Popular weekends such as Women's Weekend, Bear Weekend and Russian River Jazz and Blues are often off limits as far as booking events so you will need to check the Russian River Chamber's website to check your dates against the local events.

So if you are thinking about visiting the Russian River and are planning on staying at the lodge make sure to make reservations early and bring a swimsuit because the lodge sits right on the edge of the Russian River and the water is flowing.

"We are the best! We are the best for vacation with the redwoods and the wineries. We are just the best place in Sonoma County. I would tell visitors be safe in the River...someone drowns every year and we caution you to be safe as you enjoy your summer."~Al Cooper

Dog-Friendly Russian River

I don't know who let the dogs out on the Russian River but they are here and we are so excited that they are. The Russian River is widely known for being "dog-friendly" but many don't know how friendly we really are. For example many of the local restaurants, bars and shops keep a dog bowl either outside or right inside the door for our furry friends to re-hydrate while out on the town. Beaches are not known for having the silly signs warding against dogs and many of the vacation rentals on the Russian River even encourage you to bring your four-legged family members along with you! This article will explore some of the places that are dog-friendly here in our community.

Dog-Friendly Lodging On The Russian River

As I mentioned before many of the vacation rentals are dog-friendly and they will state if they are on this listing. Airbnb and VRBO have some fantastic dog-friendly vacation rentals that are fun to stay in with your buddies. Also, the following inns and cottages have publicly invited all canines and their humans to come and visit.

• Dawn Ranch
• Boon Hotel and Spa
• Sea Ranch Lodge
• Fern Grove Cottages
• Inn at Occidental
• Highlands Resort
• Village Inn
• Timber Cove Inn

Dog-Friendly Restaurants

Being a dog-friendly restaurant is difficult because of the health standards required by the state and federal governments however the Russian River has quite a few of them including but not limited to the ones listed below. This is a dog lover community and we welcome you and your dogs to come dine with us!

• Flavors Unlimited
• Garden Grill
• Betty Spaghetti
• Boon Eat + Drink

***Certified Service Dogs Are Welcome At All Establishments On The Russian River***

Dog-Friendly Campgrounds and Beaches

Camping this summer? Here are some great campgrounds that are dog-friendly on the Russian River where you and your furry family member can relax and enjoy the great outdoors. Dogs are allowed on all beaches except for Goat Rock. They are also not allowed on coastal trails however the actual beaches welcome all friendly breeds.

• Casini Ranch
• Schoolhouse Canyon
• River Bend Campground

Pet-Friendly Wineries

Wine tasting plans while in the heart of Wine Country? Well, you don't have to leave your dog at the Inn or in the car! Here are a few wineries that are pet-friendly.

• Korbel
• Lambert Bridge
• Topel
• Bartholomew Park
• Mutt Lynch

I hope this helps you to make some decisions about your upcoming trip with your four-legged friends. Can't wait to see you all on the river and until then keep your tail wagging!