Living in San Francisco, we have lots of perks but one can be viewed from many angles – such as a late, late summer. Finding ourselves in August and a little sick of the grey days while craving some sun, we decided to leave our lovely but foggy city and head to wine country with my little sister (Sarah) and brother in law (Ryan) for a day trip to Healdsburg. While the drive was about an hour and a half out of the city it was well worth it. We arrived to warm sunshine and stunning views. While I love the city, you can just feel yourself relax as you drive roads that are lined with rows of vines.
Here’s the plan we followed for a gorgeous day trip to Healdsburg.
Leaving SF on a Sunday morning, we hit the road at 9:30am. We were early enough to skip traffic and had plenty of time to slow down and enjoy the scenic part of the journey.
The first stop was VML Winery (dog-friendly, though Rufus didn’t make this trip) – we arrived at 11am. If you are looking for a quiet winery to start your day, this one hits the spot. Stunning views and a tranquil garden that we meandered through between glasses on our way to play a quick game of corn hole. The tasting is $10 each but is waived with a purchase. The wine was fantastic, and we picked up a bottle of their sauvignon blanc to take home as a treat for another day.
After our tasting and soaking in the sunshine, we headed down the road for about 15min and stopped at the Dry Creek General Store. Don’t expect to be the only one here, but it’s worth the stop. We wanted to grab some lunch to take with us to the next winery, and this place is the spot for sandos and picnic necessities. I recommend ordering first and then taking your time to check out all the trinkets for sale.
Truett Hurst Winery
Taking our lunch with us, we went to the sister winery of VML, Truett Hurst (also, dog-friendly). After a quick taste of a few whites and a rose, we snagged a bottle of their sauvignon blanc (big surprise) and headed to a table out back. It’s always nice to visit a winery that allows you to set up your picnic and enjoy the scenery over a glass or two (or three). Live music and a stroll around the grounds made for the perfect afternoon stop. We may have picked up another bottle of S.B. to take home (duh). What is also not to love about a winery with great wine at a great price point?!
Shed
After the second winery, Sarah was itching to take me to the square where she knew I would love all the little shops. The first stop, though, was pure heaven – Shed. It was also at this stop where the guys headed to a brewery (Bear Republic), and Sarah and I oohed and ahhed over each dish, jam, and treat on display. Shed also has a casual cafe in the center of the shop. Each dish looked like perfection; topped with fresh berries and edible flowers. With iced coffees in hand and a few goodies to take home it was hard to leave, but somehow we managed.
Stopping in another shop, Gathered, Sarah picked up a cute top and I picked up a bracelet. I loved the interior of the shop and could have snagged a few more items easily if I hadn’t been restraining myself.
Since we spent a good amount of time shopping, we opted to skip another winery and some traffic to grab a pitcher of Sangria at Bravas along with some delish tapas for an early dinner. While you can expect more of a crowd on Saturdays, it was easy to find seating on their back patio this Sunday.
This day in Healdsburg was simply perfect in every way; I can’t recommend a quick day trip enough.
I hope you enjoyed this manicured guide for a day trip in Healdsburg, CA.
