Mendocino Wine Country

Visiting wineries in Mendocino is nothing like Napa or Sonoma. It’s much, much more rural…probably like Napa was in the 70’s. But, it’s a beautiful area and well worth the visit. Mike and I spent a month in Gualala which is about 40 minutes south of the town of Mendocino right on the Pacific coastline. I didn’t want to leave! It’s a fascinating area. Beautiful forests, incredible organic produce, amazing wildlife and those breathtaking coastal views. We even found a delicious Mexican food restaurant called Libby’s.

The wine region in the area is the Anderson Valley and it’s about 25 minutes from the town of Mendocino and about an hour from Napa on the 101. This is a cooler climate, so the wines that stand out are Pinot Noirs, Gerwerstraminers and Sauvignon Blancs.

Wineries we enjoyed

Roederer

Beautiful sparkling wines—the world famous Cristal Champagne is made by this company in France.

Schramsburg

Again, beautiful, award winning sparkling wines.

Esterlina

A longtime winemaking family in this region. Beautiful pinot noirs and a breathtaking view from their tasting balcony.

Handley

Milla Handley was one of the first female winemakers in the business in this country. Lovely winery with wonderful Pinot Noirs, Sauvignon Blancs and Gerwerstraminers.

Golden-Eye

An attractive vineyard with a lovely outdoor patio that is known for its outstanding Pinot Noirs. These wines are hard to find here, so buy some to bring home. The Duckhorns who produce that wonderful Duckhorn Merlot also own this vineyard.

Navarro

One of the original vineyards in Anderson Valley and a highly respected producer.

There are some good places to dine in the town of Mendocino. Most of the restaurants use locally grown organic produce, and it makes a huge difference in the flavor intensity.

We enjoyed Café Beaujolais, a charming cozy French restaurant in Mendocino. Also, the historic Mendocino Hotel has a charming restaurant. We had a delicious prawn and mango dish on our visit.

On the wine trail, you’ll see a small town of Philo – stop for lunch at Libby’s. The Mexican food is wonderful. We had a prawn dish with a delicious adobo chile sauce that is still memorable! Libby’s also has a fun wine list – something you don’t often see in a Mexican food restaurant.

On down the road in Boonville (also known for beers because the region produces a ton of hops), we found a wonderful Pinot Noir at Zina Hyde Cunningham, and right next door is a delightful place to have a light lunch.

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