Stomping Grapes and Jumping in Puddles on a Rainy Weekend in Healdsburg
Syd’s Story... For Kids!
“The first time I visited Healdsburg with my family was in the fall of 2016. I was really excited to go for the first time because our friends Brooke and Diego live there. We also met up with our friends Ellie and Dani. We stayed close to Ellie and Dani. In fact, we stayed right next to them! We stayed in a little cottage that was a short walk from the downtown plaza. We shared a fire pit that was in the middle of our two cottages. We got to go to the Martorana Winery to see how wine is made and we had a lot of fun picking grapes.
I had so much fun on my first trip to Healdsburg that I couldn’t wait to go back!”
Mom’s Notes and Practical Tips
...a #laterblog by Mom
Our rental just outside of downtown.
We had been wanting to visit Healdsburg for years, but somehow had never found our way there. Our dear friends own a winery in the Dry Creek Valley and we had an open invitation to get an insider's look at how all the magic happens. Finally, in October of 2016, after our annual trip to Big Sur was canceled due to massive fires and resultant mudslides, we made the spontaneous decision to spend a weekend in this unbelievably charming town.
Since the trip would be a short one, we were not coupling it with time in San Francisco, so we flew directly into the Sonoma County Airport, located just outside of Santa Rosa. It's tiny and no-frills, but it was perfectly convenient and was less than a 20-minute drive to where we were staying in Healdsburg.
Kids' room inside the cottage we rented.
Healdsburg is home to several boutique hotels that are full of character and feature fantastic amenities. However, on this trip, we were meeting up with another family of four and we found the perfect vacation rental to meet our needs. The property was just a few blocks from downtown and featured two separate adorable little cottages. The cottages shared a yard between them with a covered-over fire pit and free space for kids to play.
Once we were settled in, we decided to go explore the town. Downtown Healdsburg is compact in size, but abundant in shops, cafes, and beautiful surroundings. In the center of town is Healdsburg Plaza, a tree-lined square featuring a gazebo, park benches, and grassy areas that the kids loved running around in. Being from Southern California, we don't get to see much in the way of fall colors, so the kids loved seeing the red, yellow, and orange leaves that were scattered throughout the town.
Once we had stretched out our legs in the plaza, we made our way to Flying Goat Coffee, a cafe that had been recommended by our local friends. Their coffee was delicious and, since temperatures were dropping and storm clouds were looming, we let the kids indulge in some marshmallow-laden hot chocolate.
We popped into Shelton's Natural Food Market for some groceries and walked the few blocks back to our home for dinner with friends, followed by stories around the fire pit, which we were glad was covered over as an all-out storm was upon us!
The next morning, we woke to wet streets and sunny skies and made our way to a quick breakfast in town at SHED Café. SHED offers a seasonal menu, with ingredients sourced locally from organic farms. The café is located in the center of a vibrant space that also features a curated collection of shops offering housewares, pantry provisions, and gardening tools. If you're looking to take something home that was made by a local artisan, this is the place to shop!
After filling our bellies at SHED, we headed out to our friends' winery, Martorana Family Winery & Vineyards. We have known the Martoranas for years and we couldn't wait to have them show us around their little slice of wine-making heaven.
We cruised out of town and into the country as acres of tantalizing vineyards beckoned us from both sides of the road. We were greeted by our friends and their wonderful staff once we arrived at the winery and we quickly got started learning all about the detailed process by which they make their wine.
The kids enjoyed picking grapes off the vines, running around the property, and playing hide-and-seek in the barrel room while the adults were treated to a true behind-the-scenes look at the full operation, courtesy of the Martoranas.
We learned that the Martoranas are committed to organic farming practices and that 100% of their wines are produced by grapes grown organically, without the use of pesticides or chemicals. The winery produces a diverse variety of wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. We were impressed by the Martoranas' commitment to practice sustainable farming methods and to preserve their soil for the next generation of winegrowers.
Of course, our visit would not have been complete without some tastings! We relished in the opportunity to sample both reds and whites while nibbling on complementary bites in between sips. The tasting room is welcoming in its simplicity and rustic charm. It is open nearly every day of the year from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and is available to be booked ahead of time for larger groups. The grounds are equally inviting and are the perfect place for a picnic lunch, which the winery can provide with advanced notice. Just a short walk from the tasting room, you can enjoy a glass of wine on the banks of Dry Creek - just be prepared to have your kiddos dip their toes in, as ours enjoyed doing!
I can't say enough about this enchanting town. Whether you are looking for a couples' getaway, a girls' trip, or a family vacation, there is something for everyone. If a trip to Healdsburg is not in the cards for you any time soon, you can have the great flavors of the Dry Creek Valley shipped directly to your front door by the Martorana Winery. Their wines will please even the most particular of palates and their olive oil is otherworldly - it makes a great hostess gift or stocking stuffer!