Katy & Eddie
Things To Do
Reeve Wines
This place stole our hearts from the very first time we visited (the day after we brought Murphy home!) with our friend Elizabeth Fitzgerald while she was visiting from Chicago. The wines are fantastic across-the-board, and if you visit on the weekend, their outdoor pizza oven will wow your tastebuds. Plus the half mile drive onto their property under a canopy of trees may be one of our favorite stretches in all of wine country.
Hirsch Vineyards Tasting Room
Sonoma pinot simply doesn’t get better than this. The tasting room is unassuming, but the wines are anything but. A quick 15 min walk (or 3 min drive) from Healdsburg Square, Hirsch is a can’t-miss spot for anyone fond of rugged, coastal, terroir-focused wines.
LIOCO Wine Tasting Room
Masters of Pinot Noir and innovators of stainless steel Chardonnay aging, we love visiting their tasting room just off Healdsburg Square whenever possible. Let them know what you like, and they’ll build a tasting flight catered to your preferences from their extensive list of sites and bottles - their recommendations are always on point!
Marine Layer Wines
Brand new on the scene but quickly becoming one of the go-to spots in town, Marine Layer pours elegant pinot noirs and chardonnays in a cozy, hip tasting room right on Healdsburg Square. Have an hour to kill? Do yourself a favor and head straight here.
BloodRoot Wines
This is an awesome tasting room just off the Square that we’d highly suggest you pop into while in town. Everything from the rose, to chenin blanc, to the undertow red blend is incredibly drinkable!
Little Saint
Little Saint is a sweet addition that just opened this spring. It’s about a block off of the Square and is a big airy space with a casual vibe. This is the perfect spot for a group to meet up for coffee, a glass of wine, or a light bite during the weekend!
Barndiva
Fun and lively with a rustic chic vibe, this is a great spot for lunch or dinner just off Healdsburg Square. We visited for a meal last year and loved the food - apparently the Michelin judges also got the memo, as Barndiva was awarded their first Michelin Star in 2021!
Bravas Bar de Tapas
A fun spot just off of Healdsburg Square to pop in for Spanish tapas and gin tonics! The back patio is a great spot for a relaxed, delicious lunch. We did exactly that while hunting down our venue for the big day!
Lo & Behold Bar + Kitchen
A fun new cocktail bar that just opened up a few months ago! This is across the street from the hotel we are staying at during the wedding.
Black Oak Coffee Roasters
A cute cafe just off the Square that will support your the coffee addiction while in town!
Costeaux French Bakery
Williamson Wines
Guest Rec, Christine Vinnecome: If you find yourself in Healdsburg Square, this place is a must! The owners are Australian, and they know how to make wine (their sparkling Malbec is amazing and super unique). They pair all of their wines with cheese and different types of spreads - how can you go wrong?
Valette
This is one we haven't made it to yet ourselves, but we've heard incredible things. Make reservations ahead of time, it fills up early!
Aperture Cellars
A hip and modern winery that is somewhat new to the Healdsburg area but has quickly garnered national acclaim as the winemaker, Jesse Katz, was named to Forbes 30 Under 30. We love the concept for the space -- the walls are covered with photographs taken by Jesse’s father, an apt inspiration for their rapidly expanding label. Once you taste the wines, the acclaim and success make perfect sense. The 5 min drive from Healdsburg Square is a no-brainer.
Papapietro Perry Winery
Guest Rec, Christine Vinnecome: Known for their award-winning Pinots, their tasting room has great views of vineyards right off of Dry Creek Road. Christine has been a member here for almost a decade - joining long before she could afford their wines :) . Make sure to book a tasting appointment in advance!
Unti Vineyards
Guest Rec, Christine Vinnecome: Another Dry Creek Road gem! Unti Vineyards is a small, family-owned, and operated winery specializing in Mediterranean-style wines. The first time Christine stumbled into the tasting room, she was paired with the founder - George. The sweetest old man, who is passionate about growing the best grapes for his wines. It's a small, 60-acre vineyard, so make sure to book an appt in advance!
Seghesio Family Vineyards
Coyote Sonoma
This is a fun bar to pop into at the end of the night!
The Madrona
This just reopened to great acclaim! We haven't been able to visit yet, but it's at the top of our list. You can read more about what to expect on Eater's website and make reservations through Resy.
Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards
Russian River Brewing Company
For those who gravitate towards beer over wine, Russian River Brewing is a can’t miss destination. The home of Pliny the Elder (and, for a couple weeks every year, the intensely coveted Pliny the Younger), Russian River has built a reputation as one of the world’s premier IPA brewers. Shout out to Loran and Janelle for putting this special place on our radar!
Pax Mahle Wines
If you can make time, we’d highly suggest trekking over to the Barlow district of nearby Sebastopol. The beautifully converted industrial district holds restaurants, breweries, shops, and one of our personal favorite tasting rooms in the Bay Area, Pax Mahle Wines. If you’re looking for off-the-beaten-path varietals made with an unerring dedication to biodynamic farming principles, Pax is the go-to spot.
Scribe Winery
A true Carneros gem, Scribe has everything you can want in a wine country experience. A gorgeous property, delicious wines from chardonnay to rose to pinot noir, locally-grown eats, and an incredibly welcoming staff. Our besties Christina and Sean hosted a gorgeous and incredibly memorable dinner here during their wedding weekend, and we’ve spent more afternoons than we can count drinking wine and watching the sun set over the palm trees that line their entry drive. There is no better place to spend a sunny Sonoma afternoon.
Hamel Family Wines
Hamel was a godsend during the pandemic - we first visited this beautiful property with Christina and Sean over the fourth of July in 2020, and were immediately hooked. In addition to their gorgeous views and delicious wines, we (*cough* Katy *cough*) couldn’t get enough of the homemade ricotta and crackers.
Cuvaison Estate Wines
Guest Rec, Christina & Sean Patterson: You want rolling hills and vineyard views? Cuvasion delivers. Katy and Eddie introduced us to this gem and we have shared countless glasses of wine together there ever since. They love a Chardonnay (and they do them well!), but we recommend dabbling in their Brut Rosé and Pinots. Revel in the bask of the warm sun, a light breeze that calms your soul, and a low pressure vibe that leaves you feeling like wine country should.
Valley
If you spend any time in the Sonoma Square, we cannot recommend this restaurant and bottle shop highly enough. Founded and operated by two Scribe alums, they’ve brought a sorely lacking concept in wine country to life: a restaurant specializing in wines from outside Napa and Sonoma Valley. We’ve since enjoyed a number of lovely meals on their patio, and gotten hooked on XO sauce, which they pile on top of a soft boiled egg -- a snack made to perfection.
Chase Cellars
Ashes & Diamonds Winery
Turnbull Wine Cellars
During a weekend stay in Napa, Eddie booked us a tasting and tour at this gorgeous Napa property. Across the street from the wine country classic haunt Mondavi, Turnbull is known for its delicious cabs and beautiful buildings designed by the founder and an SF-based architect.
Chappellet Winery
The windy drive to Chappellet is not one we’d suggest if you’re plagued with a hangover, but otherwise the trek to the top of this gorgeous hill is well worth the effort. We visited during the Thenell’s first trip to Napa in 2018 and Ed was so enamored that he went home with a dad hat emblazoned with the Chappellet name. Maybe he’ll rock it over the wedding weekend? Only time will tell …
Matthiasson Winery
Oxbow Public Market
This is a classic wine country stop and one we’d highly suggest as an easy if you make it over to Napa. In addition to a sweet market of local goods, there are a variety of restaurant pop ups within. It’s a fun spot to visit, wander around and grab a bite. Our favorite spot within is Hog Island Oyster Co.
Gott's Roadside
Can’t go anywhere with Eddie, without having a reliable burger joint within spitting distance. Gott’s is a fun option if you’re in Napa (at Oxbow Market) or St. Helena to pop in, grab a burger, fries and a milkshake before you get back on the wine train.
Saintsbury Winery
Mayacamas Downtown
The Prisoner Wine Company
Taub Family Outpost
Layla at MacArthur Place
Guest Rec, Christina & Sean Patterson: This spot is a dream come true. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and every glass of wine in between...in fact, you may just stay for them all. With the prettiest garden and simply very good food, it leaves an impression that's hard to shake. Cozy up in an oversized patio chair and live your best Nancy-Meyers-inspired life.
axr napa valley
Migration Winery
Katy visited Migration in fall 2021 with a bunch of her Regis pals (Jessica, Bridget, Kelly, Kayla and Christina) and our resident Napa tour guide Marina. As part of the Paraduxx family of wineries, this offers a lovely patio for catching up with friends.
Glen Ellen Star
La Taberna
Stone Brewing – Napa
Oenotri
Shadowbox Cellars
