A Truly Zinful Day

For those willing to venture from the safe confines of the tourist track, hop on the 128 past Calistoga and your venturing will be rewarded. Though the destination is the treat itself, this drive will awe the unsuspecting and suspecting alike. Running only two lanes, CA-128 takes you through some of the best scenery I've seen in Northern California.

Twisting and turning for almost 20 miles, the road is tree-lined the entire way. Hills on one side, grapes on another, and moss eerily drooping down between gnarled branches of the surrounding trees gives a Wizard of Oz-type entrance to Napa's lesser-regarded neighbor. And the road's final destination is truly Zinful. Healdsburg, though a bit less desireable than Napa both in distance and reputation, to me is the crowned jewel of wine country.

With gazebo in town square, boutique shops on the periphery, and cute restaurants speckled in between, shoppers, wanderers, winers, and diners will arrive feeling welcomed and leave feeling satisfied. Unlike Napa, where it can be hard to get away from the beaten track, a quick five-minute drive out of town square takes you to dozens of wineries nestled in the hills.

Old and new vine Zinfandel is what the area is known for, and with the famous Rockpile AVA close by the wines are delectable to say the least. Fruity and big yet not overpowering in tannin, you can't go wrong with Sonoma Valley Zin. My personal favorites: Rosenblum in the square, Sausal for something smaller, and Mauritias for sheer quality. The experience at Jordan can't be beat (check out our picture with the wine maker!). And although Ridge didn't meet my over-hyped expectations, the wines were still good and the view of the vineyard is not to be missed.

An out-of-town guest is a good excuse to go (thanks Suzanne for coming along!). But locals really have not excuse for skipping out. After all, a trip to wine country is not complete without a little Zinning.