Make your home base for the long weekend or a summer break right here among world renowned vineyards, on Russian River Valley’s most famous wine trail. Summer 2010 is beginning to fill up. Best slots book early, especially during special events here on Westside Road, so plan your vacation now. Easily calculate the cost of [...]
Read the full story »
Local things to do, see, and experience while you’re staying at Westside Lodge.
Food and Wine news and info for the San Francisco Bay Area. When we’re not at Westside Lodge, we call San Francisco home, so we’re especially interested in all things food and wine related in the city.
Food and Wine Events, Fairs, Festivals, Farm Trails Events, Outdoor Events, and other special dates near Westside Lodge. These time slots book well in advance, so reserve early.
Favorite places to eat and drink including restaurants, cafes, delis, grocery stores and farmers’ markets.
Wineries on Westside Road, and wineries in the nearby AVA areas: Dry Creek, Russian River Valley, Green Valley, Rockpile, and beyond. Each page links direct to the winery. See interactive map for locations in context.
Saturday February 27 • Michael Kalanty • 3-4 p.m. • FreeHow to Bake Bread. Michael’s book focuses on the similarities among a group of breads, instead of overwhelming the reader with details. Whether for home use or professional training, The Five Families of Bread® System is a quicker, more reliable way to become a successful bread baker. Michael teaches artisan bread baking at the California Culinary Academy. |
||
Sunday February 28 • Michael Recchiuti & Fran Gage • 3-4 p.m. • FreeChocolate Obsession. Join San Francisco chocolatier Michael Recchiuti and cookbook author Fran Gage as we discuss the ins and outs of chocolate while snarfing samples brought by the authors! |
||
Fri. March 5 • Peter Reinhart • 9:30 a.m. • FreeThe highly respected author of The Bread Baker’s Apprentice (James Beard winner) and Artisan Breads Every Day, Peter will talk to us about breakfast breads - bake some to share, if you feel moved! |
||
Sat. March 6 • Max Watman • 3-4 p.m. • FreeChasing the White Dog: An Amateur Outlaw’s Adventures in Moonshine. Journalist Watman chronicles America’s longstanding love affair with distilled spirits, a love that he shares. As long as people have been making booze, the government has wanted to control it, and Watman colorfully illustrates a conflict that stretches from the Whiskey Rebellion through Prohibition. Hopefully he’ll mix up some illegal drinks for us, too! |
||
Mon. March 8 • Dinner with Daisy Martinez • 6 p.m.Please join us for a special dinner at Destino Restaurant with Puerto Rican chef Daisy Martinez to celebrate her new book, Daisy Morning, Noon and Night: Bringing Your Family Together with Everyday Dishes. Martinez—star of the Food Network’s Viva Daisy!—draws from her own Puerto Rican traditions as well as her annual family journeys to Spanish-speaking countries around the world for her ambitious collection of recipes. $95 - details & tickets available at eventbrite.com. |
||
Fri. March 12 • Andrew Smith • 5:30 p.m. • FreeAndy is the author of Eating History: Thirty Turning Points in the Making of American Cuisine, as well as Hamburger: A Global History and The Tomato in America. In Smith’s latest tome, he reveals new angles on legendary stories, like Sarah Hale’s successful efforts to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, the first food magazine (recently-shuttered Gourmet), to a recurring examination of the American obsession with French cuisine. Part of the Culinary Historians of Northern California speakers series - open to all. |
||
Sat. March 13 • Tara Austen Weaver • 3-4 p.m. • FreeThe Butcher and the Vegetarian: One Woman’s Romp through a World of Men, Meat, and Moral Crisis. Raised a vegetarian, writer and editor Weaver was always diet-conscious, so it was a bit of a surprise when, in her 30s, her physician recommend meat-eating for her suffering health; Weaver’s consequent foray into the world of meat is a toothsome take on the learning-to-eat-better memoir. |
||
Wed. March 24 • Marcia Gagliardi • 6-7 p.m. • FreeThe Tablehopper’s Guide to Dining and Drinking in San Francisco: Find the Right Spot for Every Occasion. Come meet the woman behind Tablehopper, the weekly newsletter about everything foodie in the Bay Area! With her unique blend of enthusiasm, insider knowledge, and sass, Marcia bases her recommendations on the reason you’re going out, who you’re dining with, and how much money you have to burn. |
||
Sat. March 27 • Lorna Sass • 3-4 p.m. • FreeWhole Grains for Busy People. For those intimidated by cooking with whole grains, veteran cookbook author Sass (The New Vegan Cookbook; Whole Grains Every Day, Every Way; etc.) breaks down the what and how of whole grains in this accessible title brimming with healthy and appealing dishes. A primer on grains, including where to buy and brand recommendations, prefaces a collection of 125 recipes, each designed to take the home cook under 30 minutes to prepare. |
||
Sun. March 28 • Arthur Allen • 3-4 p.m. • FreeRipe: The Search for the Perfect Tomato. The tomato. As savory as any vegetable, as sweet as its fellow fruits, the seeded succulent inspires a cult-like devotion from food lovers on all continents. This is a robust tale of how tomatoes get to the table and why some don’t taste very good when they get there. |
||
Thurs. April 1 • Edible Art Contest! • 6-7 p.m.Yes, another great contest - this one challenges you to create a dish that references art or literature (like Warhol’s Marilyn made with chocolate Smarties!). Free to entrants; $5 to look, judge, and eat. |
||
From the La Paulee site:
La Paulée is [Daniel Johnnes'] homage to La Paulée de Meursault, a convivial Burgundian fête shared by growers and their guests. At La Paulée guests will sample current releases and older vintages from over twenty of the most sought after Domaines of Burgundy. The wine service will be [...]
They’re here, they’re free, and they include Westside Lodge!
The 2010 Sonoma County Visitors’ Guide and Map are available by mail and at hundreds of locations in and around Sonoma County. Pick yours up while you’re visiting, or visit the Sonoma County Visitors Guide page to request one by mail.
Westside Lodge is a Featured Vacation [...]
The 2010 Golden Glass will celebrate the efforts of over 100 international wine producers who strive to protect, nurture, and revive the indigenous and classic varieties of their regions. The wineries will be clustered in designated, regional areas throughout the [...]
Saturday January 30 • Punch Contest!! • 4:00 p.m.
Are you an amateur mixologist just itching to show off your skills? Or a professional bartender with a lazy Saturday afternoon? Make up a bowl of your favorite punch (alcoholic or non), and bring it to our punch contest! Free to punch entrants; drinkers-only pay $5 at the [...]
On Saturday, February 27, 2010 consumers, press and trade will gather for the remarkable 8th Annual Passionate about Pinot Noir Summit at the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center in San Rafael, California. An extraordinary array of palates will gather to assess “the best of the best,” from the8th Annual Pinot Noir Shootout.
The 8th Annual Pinot Noir [...]
We’ve yet to get a hold of Gracianna’s wines, but they have been quietly making a new and solid mark among the winemakers on Westside Road. On Vinography, Alder ranked the 2007 Gracianna Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley ($42) an 8.5, in good company with many established winemakers’ creations. We also see that Gracianna took a few [...]
Photo from Kim Kaldo-Alvarez, Sonoma West
Nightingale Breads is a newcomer to Forestville, doing business on Front Street, the section of highway 116 that runs through central Forestville (just under 4 miles from Westside Lodge). They’ve already won popular attention on many of San Francisco’s food blogs, and enjoyed medals at the 2009 Sonoma Harvest Fair [...]
The Seghesio family has been involved in the winemaking business in Sonoma County since 1886. Edoardo Seghesio first immigrated to the “Italian Swiss Colony” to work in the vineyards, and rose through the ranks to winemaker. In 1895, he and his wife finally purchased a home and surrounding vineyards in Alexander Valley, now knows as [...]
We first heard about this on the Huffington Post, and laughed ourselves silly when we saw it… enjoy!
Upcoming events, as published on the Omnivore Books website. Where will you ever find a better place to do your Christmas shopping?
Visit Omnivore’s site
Wednesday December 2 • The Dumpling: A Seasonal Guide • 6-7 p.m. • Free
What makes a dumpling a dumpling? Why are dumplings found in every region around the world? How did this [...]
This morning, we found the Business Section of the newspaper amongst the remains of our busy Thanksgiving, and saw a great article profiling one of the city’s foodie microcosms: Bi-Rite. This store, creamery, and art space has proven that a single company and devoted group of people can turn a single location into an epicenter [...]
From the 231 Ellsworth newsletter:
January 15th, 2010: 5-Course Dinner Paired with Moshin Vineyards Wines
Located in Russian River Valley, Moshin Vineyards specializes in small lot hand crafted wines. Rick Moshin’s dream became a reality in 1989 with the purchase of a ten acre plot of land in Sonaoma County. Today, the winery controls 28 acres of [...]
Omnivore Books is one of our favorite little detours in Noe Valley. It’s easy to get lost in here, even though the whole shop is smaller than the living room at Westside Lodge. Stop by, enjoy a reading, and support our local bookstore. You can find Omnivore Books in Noe Valley on Cesar Chavez St., [...]
From the Winejudging.com site:
Save the Date! February 20, 2010.
The Public Tasting of the largest competition of American wines in the world is much more than just a wine tasting – it’s a wine and food experience. Featured at this event will be a sampling of hand crafted creations from premier artisan food purveyors, which will [...]
The Russian River can be fished year-round, and with some expert help, you’ll be taking home dinner (or at least a great story about the one that got away!) You’ll find Steelhead, Salmon, Bass, and Catfish. King’s Sport in Guerneville can provide you info on which fish you can keep, when you need a license, [...]
PinotFest 2009
A Public Tasting of a Sexy Wine
San Francisco’s original, all-pinot noir bacchanalia returns to Farallon Restaurant on Saturday afternoon, November 21, 2009. The extensive tasting of pinot noirs from over 50 of Oregon and California’s best producers is held from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. In addition, the afternoon features sumptuous hors d’oeuvres to complement [...]
Wednesday, October 14th 6:30-8:30pm
The Galleria at the San Francisco Design Center
101 Henry Adams Street, SF
VIP early admission 6pm
This food & wine event is a celebration of Wine and Spirits Magazine’s Top 100 Wines. Admission includes tastes from San Francisco restaurants including Flour & Water, Nettie’s Crab Shack, and Kitchenette, to name just a few. Additional [...]
Taste of the Bay is an opportunity to sample food and wine from some of the Bay Area’s premiere producers. Who will we be looking for?
Sarah Schafer, the Chef from Anchor and Hope will be at the event. Sarah’s menu at A&H is a melange of classic seafood dishes blended with sophisticated new preparations. The [...]
From the Press Democrat, 9/29
This farm, which sells to about 40 restaurants in the Bay Area, operates its own farmstand from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily on bucolic Westside Road, starting in late July through early November.
“It’s like walking out your back door and picking out of your own garden, without all the work,” [...]
Wild Flour on CNN
We happened upon Wild Flour Bread on the way back from a “research” outing to Osmosis Day Spa, and were stunned to find some of the best bread we’ve ever happened upon. (and we live in SF, less than 2 miles from the line-around-the-block Tartine Bakery)
Beautiful gardens surround the barn-like building, where they [...]
Winery Tour Hours: Winery tours are offered daily, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., and Wine Shop/Tasting Room hours are from 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Garden Tour Hours: The Garden Tour is offered daily, 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday (mid-April through mid-October).
Location: 13250 River Road, Guerneville, CA 95446 (about 5 minutes west [...]
A delicious visit, between Westside Lodge and Sebastopol. Don’t miss the apple or pumpkin butters, and the best-selling red raspberry vinegar.
From the Kozlowski Farms Website:
Located five miles north of Sebastopol near the town of Forestville, the Kozlowski Farm itself is steeped in California history. We’re part of the old El Molino Rancho, a large ranch [...]
The Dry Creek Olive Company invites you to stop by… this is a great stop to make when you’re tasting over on Dry Creek Road.
From the Dry Creek Olive Company Website:
Please stop by our newly opened tasting room to sample them for yourself. Our tasting room is located at Timber Crest Farms in Healdsburg, California. [...]
The Bishop’s Ranch
5297 Westside Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
Phone: 707-433-2440
Link to Website
From the Bishop’s Ranch Website:
Who We Are
On a sunny knoll nestled among the forests, farms and vineyards of Sonoma County is the Bishop’s Ranch — owned by the Episcopal Diocese of California since 1947. This retreat and conference center provides a variety of meeting facilities, comfortable [...]
Visit Madrona Manor Restaurant Page
Reservations: (800) 258-4003
1001 Westside Road Healdsburg, CA 95448
From the Madrona Manor website, about their restaurant:
Stylish, high-end cuisine in a cozy, old-world setting.
Guests have all five of their senses enlivened at Healdsburg’s most romantic destination. Madrona Manor provides a welcome retreat for enjoying exquisite cuisine that will please the most discriminating palate. Inventive [...]
This 5-day adventure will lead you through Vineyards in 5 different growing areas of Sonoma, and does include lodging in local hotels and inns, but if you choose to extend your trip or create your own walking wine tour vacation, Westside Lodge is a great place to call home during your stay.
Link to the 5-day [...]
Although we’re booked already this weekend, this an event worth mentioning. Ride from UCSF in San Francisco through Dry Creek Valley, all the way to Lake Sonoma.
On Day 2, Waves to Wine rides along Westside Road for about 9 miles. Rest Stop 3 is just 2.3 miles from Westside Lodge at Wohler Bridge, and the [...]
This year, the Jazz and Blues Festivals will be combined for one powerful weekend of music. Book early–this weekend is sure to book quickly.
From the Omega Events site, as of May 27th, 2009:
Sat. September 12 (Jazz Festival):
AL JARREAU - 5 time Grammy Award winning vocalist
JAZZ ATTACK - a high-energy collaboration featuring three stars of contemporary [...]
This is a new event, so there’s not much info posted except what we’ve read on the event’s site at http://sfnaturalwineweek.wordpress.com/
8/24 Monday – Terroir
8/25 Tuesday – Biondivino
8/26 Wednesday – Uva Enoteca
8/27 Thursday – Arlequin Wine Merchant
8/28 Friday – Nopa
8/29 Saturday afternoon – The Jug Shop
8/30 Sunday – [...]
Special Info: Great place to sit outside, especially if you can score a patio table during the free Tuesday night summer concerts in the square. The $8 Angus burger with house-made bread & butter pickles on a Costeaux sourdough bun is a steal.
The Focus: American bar food, elevated with local, fresh, high-quality ingredients.
Westside Lodge recommends: [...]
Special Info: Top choice for a date or quiet night to catch up: Cena Luna is not near as noisy or crowded as many other restaurants in the square, and the food is outstanding. Michelin Rated.
The Focus: Refined Italian with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal and local ingredients. You can spend from $15 to $50 [...]
Duskie and John do an American Gothic pose, Zazu Style
Special Info: Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday are PIZZA & PINOT nights. Zazu makes pizzas paired for pinot noir and offers a paired tasting flight of pinot.
The Focus: Our kitchen emphasizes ingredients grown within a 50 mile radius of the restaurant unless a [...]
What better way to truly experience a vineyard than to walk through it with an experienced guide? Zephyr Adventures/Sonoma Wine Country Walks offers 1, 3 and 5 day vineyard walks and walking tours through different vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley and nearby vineyards.
The 3-day and 5-day tours include lodging in nearby Santa Rosa or [...]
Williams Selyem wines in the making
Williams Selyem is a well-respected maker of Pinot Noir and other boutique wines, including the highly rated “Westside Road Neighbors” Pinot Noir. They do not maintain a tasting room. Visits to the winery are by appointment only, for Mailing List members only. It can take a while to “make the [...]
Anyone who knows Russian River Valley Pinot Noir has heard the family name Bacigalupi. This family is responsible for some of the best-known and most highly regarded vineyards in the area, and has produced both Chardonnay and Pinot grapes that have been the basis for award-winning wines for decades. Some of the Russian River Valley’s [...]
Arista Winery Grounds
Arista Winery is located directly on Westside Road. In January of 2009, Arista received 90+ ratings on every one of its 2006 Pinot Noirs. While tasting these beautiful Westside Road wines, enjoy Japanese gardens and water garden, picnic on the grounds, or plan a private event here.
From the Arista site:
Come taste our handcrafted [...]
Feel like a leisurely horseback ride through one of the local parks? Austin Creek State Park and Armstrong Woods State Park both offer horseback rides of various lengths from short to pack rides.
ARMSTRONG WOODS PACK STATION
Jonathan and Laura Ayers; guides/ outfitters/ owners - Since 1983
Box 287, Guerneville, CA 95446
(707) 887-2939
reservations made by phone only
visit site
C. Donatiello is one of our very favorite destinations on all of Westside Road. From the moment you get out of your car and begin ascending the herb-planted stairs to the tasting room, you’ll notice the incredible attention to detail of fragrance, color, and design that this winery also brings to everything it produces. Much [...]
Armida boasts incredible views, award-winning wines, and Bocce Ball! Try their “Poizin” zinfandel on your next visit.
From the Armida site:
Armida invites you to come to our Healdsburg Tasting Room and play on our beautiful bocce ball court, a great way to spend the afternoon! Our professional size bocce ball court is complete with balls and [...]
TGE bottle
From the Thomas George Estates site:
In 1972, Davis (Bynum) purchased the property on Westside Road where the Thomas George Estates Winery and Baker Ridge Vineyard are now located. In 1973, he turned two former hop kilns into a winery, the first to be established on Westside Road, and in 1990 planted 9 acres of [...]
This event is part of the week-long “Pinot Days” festival in San Francisco. For more information about the whole festival, be sure to visit the Pinot Days website at pinotdays.com
note: Westside Lodge is booked for this time slot already.
Friday, June 26, 2009 12:30pm-8:00pm
Meet at C. Donatiello Winery - 4035 Westside Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448 Cost: [...]
If you’re staying at Westside Lodge, or traveling through the Russian River Valley on the following dates, you will have easy access to Moshin Vineyards’ “Moshin Pictures”; movies at the vineyard.
$20 admission ($15 for Moshin Wine Club Members) includes a glass of wine, and all the popcorn you can eat. You’re also welcome to bring [...]
Dahlias at Dragonfly Farm
Dragonfly farm is located at 425 Westside Road, just past the turnoff for Dry Creek Road and right before you reach Healdsburg. This lush, laid back farm and floral company is a wonderful place to spend an hour strolling, and enjoying their gardens + birds, butterflies, and a few small animals. Check [...]
winebloggers conference logo
We (heart) Wine Bloggers, and would love to have you come check out Westside Lodge, just a few minutes away from Santa Rosa and the conference, right here on Westside Road, home to miles of vineyards and some of the area’s best winemakers and tasting rooms.
Special Wine Blogger Rate & Stay length during [...]
Rochioli Map
Rochioli (Roh-key-oh-lee) Vineyards and Tasting Room is located just before Hop Kiln Winery–and is easy to miss if you’re not looking closely. Watch for the gravel driveway and cobblestone wall with bronze plaque at the entry.
Rochioli is a third-generation Sonoma winery, and we’re sure they’ll be here as long as they keep producing the [...]
In the DeLoach Vineyard
DeLoach Vineyard & Wines is located on Olivet Road, between River Road and Guerneville Road. We’ve visited this beautiful and welcoming winery, and had the pleasure of tasting wine as well as touring the impressive organic garden. If you’ve got time, this is an excellent place to learn about biodynamic growing practices, [...]
Lambert Bridge is a Dry Creek Valley winery that produces a solid assortment of both whites and reds. The grounds are beautifully landscaped–and you’ll usually see their signature antique truck parked under the arbor which is covered in purple wisteria during the summer.
Coming at lunchtime? Visit the Dry Creek General Store just across the actual [...]
Mom’s Apple Pie is a little stop where highway 116 and Guerneville Road intersect, just between Westside Lodge and Sebastapol. Stop in for a piece of berry pie, apple pie, or a sandwich and refreshing drink.
The pies here are cooked-fruit pies, with flaky crusts and fresh apples from local growers. Try the Gravenstein pie.
Visit the [...]
Enjoy the bounty of Dungeness Crab paired with the best wines from Sonoma County!
Crab and Fennel Fest site
“A sun-drenched, wine-soaked cinematic magic carpet ride!” - IFC News
The town of Sonoma itself is about 1 hour away from Westside Lodge, but while you’re here in Northern California, a visit to the Russian River Valley is definitely in order. Take some time to explore the vineyards on Westside Road as the shoots begin to [...]
View Larger Map
Have a business or other site you’d like added to this map? Just leave a comment right here.
Cedar Enzyme Bath at Osmosis
Osmosis has been recognized by Travel & Leisure among the top 10-day spas in the U.S.
Enjoy a cedar enzyme bath, massage, facial, or other body treatment at this Japanese-inspired sanctuary just a few miles away from Westside Lodge.
Armstrong Woods is a great place to go for a serene or strenuous hike, depending on what you’re up for. The entrance is easy to find: just take River Road west to the second stoplight in Guerneville at Armstrong Woods Road. Take a right, and keep driving until you see the park entrance on your [...]
Hop Kiln Winery
Stop by Hop Kiln winery, a lovely spot on Westside Road just past Rochioli and below Sweetwater Springs Road. The road bends almost a full 90 degrees here, and you’ll see the giant building, that looks somewhat like an old barn.
Before the wine business became the big deal near Healdsburg, farmers raised [...]
Moshin Tasting Room
Moshin Vineyards is just a couple of miles up Westside Road from Westside Lodge. Look for the large metal sculpture of a hummingbird, hovering over the entrance to the tasting room.
Tasting at the Winery daily from 11:00am - 4:30pm
Tours are available by appointment. 707-433-5499
What makes Moshin different? From their website:
“Rick Moshin’s winery is [...]
Porter Creek's Biodynamic Principles Respect Nature's Surprises
Porter Creek is located on Westside Road, about 1/3 of the way between Westside Lodge and Healdsburg. The tasting room is one of our favorites–friendly, unpretentious, with extraordinary wine and an ever-present smell of cardboard, barnwood, and yeast. We *heart* Porter Creek.
Our favorites? Carignane (pronounced like Care-In-Yan), and [...]
Gary Farrell Winery is less than 2 miles from Westside Lodge, right up Westside Road.
This esteemed winemaker is known for small production Pinot Noir. Their wines are outstanding in taste and quality, and the tasting room staff is friendly, professional, and highly educated about the winemaking process. If you are a true wine afficionado and [...]
Although your stay at Westside Lodge does include free use of our 2 kayaks during the summer months, sometimes a more serious paddle is in order–or you want to bring along the whole family.
Burke’s Canoe Trips offers guided canoe and kayak rentals, and you’ll benefit from a ride upriver when you’re done for the day! [...]
