It's all good on the Westside

Forgive me if you’ve heard me say this before. When I lived in the Napa Valley, I was conditioned to think that [good] wineries in Sonoma were few and far between. The resistance that Napa has for Sonoma reminds me of the rivalry between Northern and Southern California. As a Bay Area native who went to USC, I received flak from my friends about moving to Southern California. And while I lived in Los Angeles, I was constantly having to defend the upper half of the state. 

(So it seems the NorCal-SoCal antagonism is similar to the competition between Napa and Sonoma.)

Alas, this is not a blog post about East and West. This is about two fantastic wineries I recently visited on Westside Road in Healdsburg.

Westside Road is home to many wineries; although I wouldn’t recommend a walking tour, there are many tasting rooms within a very short distance of each other (and a quick jaunt from the Healdsburg Square). The selection of wineries located along this road is vast, featuring older establishments as well as some newer wineries.

Hop Kiln Winery is an historic landmark located about 6 miles from the 101. The winery has an old-world feel to it and beautifully appointed grounds, including a colorful rose garden and serene duck pond. Inside, you’ll find the tasting room has a kitschy feel to it; there are gourmet mustards and vinegars, wine knick-knacks, T-shirts and coffee table books. There is also a selection of cheese and salami. This is a great place to buy a bottle and some snacks and sit at one of the outside picnic tables to enjoy the pretty scenery.

The staff at Hop Kiln is super-friendly and accommodating. The atmosphere is inviting and relaxed with nice music playing in the background. You have the option of sitting at a high-top table or standing at the tasting bar. For $7, you taste your choice of five estate-grown wines (this is cheap compared to Napa tasting standards!).

I would recommend starting with the 2010 HKG Chardonnay ($28/bottle). It is light and crisp with nuances of green apple and lemon zest.

The 2010 HKG Chardonnay, North Bridge Selection ($34/bottle) is a richer style of Chardonnay with more new oak. Although you can quickly identify the vanilla and baking spice notes, this wine is very balanced and good acid.

Don’t miss the 2011 HKG Rosé of Pinot Noir ($24/bottle). With aromas and flavors of guava and sweet strawberry, this pink refresher is dry and delicious! The perfect summer wine. There’s also a Pinot Grigio available.

Like most wineries in Sonoma County, Hop Kiln offers a few vineyard-designate Pinot Noirs. Tasting these beauties side-by-side illustrates the diversity that different vineyard sites provide.

The 2010 HKG Pinot Noir ($34/bottle) is soft and supple. With juicy blackberry and black cherry flavors, it is very easy to drink. Good value for Russian River Pinot Noir and would pair great with everything from pizza to paella.

The 2010 HKG Pinot Noir, Twin Corners Selection ($42/bottle) is a little darker in the glass with ripe fruit flavors, lively acidity, and a touch of baking spice.

The 2010 HKG Pinot Noir, North Bridge Selection ($42/bottle) is firm and full-bodied. Great intensity and concentration with robust fruit flavors and a long-lasting finish. This would be a great match for duck breast or tri-tip. Yum!

For a completely different experience, check out TwomeyCellars (from the Silver Oak family). The tasting room is very modern; all smooth concrete and shiny surfaces. The wall behind the tasting counter is clear glass, so you can admire the sweeping vineyards views as you taste.

For $10, you taste all five of the Twomey current releases, starting with the 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($25/bottle). Bright and zesty, this white is a great palate cleanser and would be nice with oysters.

I tasted two vintages of the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. The 2009 ($51/bottle) has red fruit flavors with notes of caramel and lots of spice. I preferred the 2010 vintage ($46/bottle), which has bright acidity and tastes of ripe strawberry. Medium-bodied with a dry finish, I would pair the 2010 Anderson Valley Pinot with pork tenderloin.

The 2010 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($50/bottle) blew me away! It has attractive aromas of violets and rose petal with gobs of black cherry and red currant on the palate. The finish is huge, leaving your mouth begging for more!

The 2007 Napa Valley Merlot ($50/bottle) seemed a bit out of place in what I think of as Pinotland, but it was a wonderful wine to finish with. This Merlot is blended with 5% Cab Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is dense and broad-shouldered with bold flavors of cherry cola, blueberry, blackberry, and dark chocolate. You could easily pair this wine with a filet mignon or rib-eye.

Other wineries on Westside Road include John Tyler Wines, Matrix Winery, Armida Winery, Mill Creek Vineyards, and VML Winery. With so many to choose from and the town of Healdsburg just a few miles away (with such fabulous restaurants and luxurious hotels), this is a great avenue for back-to-back wine-tasting. Cheers!