A Trip to Aperture Cellars and 3 Other Healdsburg Wineries

In the heart of Sonoma, you’ll find the impossibly charming town of Healdsburg, California. Healdsburg is a cultural hotbed, loaded with award-winning wineries, studded with world-class restaurants, and dripping with art. Despite its small size of less than 12,000 inhabitants and its humble beginnings as a farm town, Healdsburg wineries have helped the town blossom into a year-round international destination. 

Healdsburg’s Unique Spirit of Collaboration

Winemaker Jesse Katz of the critically acclaimed Aperture Cellars attributes Healdsburg’s rise to wine country star status to a spirit of collaboration and dedication to sustainability. The first winemaker included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, a Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker, and a Wine Spectator “Rising Star”, you can trust Katz’s opinion when it comes to wine. He explains that, “Healdsburg is a wonderful example of how collaboration elevates a community. The synergy between farmers, winemakers, and chefs here creates a vibrant ecosystem where each contributes to and benefits from the other. Everyone’s commitment to sustainable practices and the art of their craft brought Healdsburg to a globally recognized region for the level of quality of the food, wine, and hospitality.”

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A true steward of the land, Katz lives on his vineyards with his wife and young daughter. He uses NASA-derived technology to assess the vineyards vine-by-vine, producing exquisite Bordeaux-style wines from his premier cool-climate, mineral-rich volcanic-soil vineyards. New releases create a buzz (and a lengthy waiting list!) as Katz connects the dots between sustainability, technology, and old-world elegance to produce some of the most coveted bottles of fine wine. 

Ready to explore the best of what this small town has to offer? Here are the wineries in Healdsburg, CA you need to know about (plus, the restaurants and hotels to hit along the way).

Where to Sip

While there’s no shortage of wineries in Healdsburg, CA, we’re here to help cut through the noise and highlight the region’s crown jewels. If you’ve already hit all of our Napa favorites and are ready to explore a new region, we can’t recommend these wineries enough.

Aperture Cellars

​​Founded by Katz in 2009, Aperture Cellars features 4,000 sq. ft. of one of the most famous Healdsburg wine tasting rooms, overlooking a jaw-dropping view of the estate’s expansive 42 acres. The floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the natural beauty of the northern Russian River Valley, where the vines are farmed with organic practices to produce a range of exceptional Bordeaux-style wines.

Aperture offers two wine-tasting experiences — the Soil Series Experience and the Site Series Experience. While the Soil Series takes you on a journey of Aperture’s broad portfolio of award-winning Bordeaux varieties from cool-climate vineyards, the Site Series introduces wine connoisseurs to its single-vineyard masterpieces. To enhance the experience, stroll through the tasting room’s fine art collection glass-in-hand for a true blend of the art of wine and photography. The gallery-like space features photographs taken by Katz’s father, Andy Katz, heralded as one of the world’s most collected photographers.

As a special treat, Aperture Cellars also occasionally pours Katz’s infamous Devil Proof, of which his 2018 vintage from Farrow Ranch received multiple 100-point ratings from The Wine Advocate, Jeb Dunnuck, and The Wine Independent.

Pax Wines

Calling all Syrah lovers to this laid-back tasting room with roll-up garage doors and a vinyl turntable spinning tunes. One of California’s premier producers of Syrah, Pax Wines was founded with a sense of kismet after the discovery of its Alder Springs Vineyards. Crushed by foot, ambient yeast fermentation unlocks the expression of the certified organic and biodynamic terroir. Pax’s portfolio has also expanded to include rare varieties such as Trousseau Gris, Pineau D’Aunis, and Mondeuse Noire.

Skipstone Winery

Amidst the mountains above Alexander Valley, this stunning family-owned estate boasts a farm-style stone tasting room surrounded by gorgeous vineyards. To experience the best of Skipstone’s portfolio, taste through their Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc wines — and don’t miss the Skipstone Oliver’s Blend Cabernet Sauvignon. Since the first 2005 vintage, this wine is a true symphony of flavor, blending up to 20 individual Cabernet Sauvignons from certified organic and bio small lot vineyards.

RAEN Winery

A Pinot Noir domaine, RAEN’s wines hail from premier certified organic “grand cru” vineyards nestled in the remote forest, hills, and meadows on the Sonoma Coast. RAEN’s wines convey expression, elegance, and length — its farming methods honor tradition by making a nod to how the monks cultivated the soil centuries ago. All this from fourth-generation winemakers and farmers Carlo and Dante Mondavi, who are dedicated to preserving the microflora from the vineyards to fully express in their wine. 

Where to Dine

Great wine is enhanced by great food (these five amazing Napa Valley restaurants prove that point!), and Healdsburg’s foodie community has stepped up to the plate. Healdsburg’s culinary star status is cultivated by the collaborative network between farmers, chefs, and winemakers. 

Katz notes, “The collaborative spirit extends beyond individual relationships. Farmers, winemakers, and chefs often work together on events, farm tours, and wine dinners, fostering a community where knowledge is shared, creativity thrives, and everyone supports one another. This interconnectedness not only enhances the quality of what they produce but also enriches the local culture and economy, making Healdsburg a standout destination for food and wine enthusiasts in the world.”

SingleThread

This 3 Michelin-Star restaurant led by married chef and regenerative farmer duo, Kyle and Katina Connaughton, delivers culinary magic and art on every plate. The 52-seat restaurant straddles the line between relaxed and luxurious, drawing inspiration from Japanese cooking techniques and its 24-acre regenerative farm. Act quickly to book a table — SingleThread has a waitlist and releases its availability on the 1st of every month for the following month.

Sushi by Scratch

A phenomenal omakase spot dreamed up by chefs and owners Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee, Sushi by Scratch has been called “transcendental” for its inspired nigiri dishes. For a truly intimate dining experience, sit at the ten-person counter and marvel as the omakase master chef creates each mouthwatering dish. 

Troubadour Bread & Bistro

Think Parisian-style baguette sandwich shop by day, transformed into a chic French-Californian bistro by night — that’s Troubadour. Dine in for dinner for an elegant and elevated prix-fixe nightly menu, or drop in for lunch to enjoy a coffee and take home a freshly-baked sourdough loaf. Led by husband-and-wife owners Executive Pastry Chef Melissa Yanc McGaughey and Executive Chef Sean McGaughey, the pair honed their culinary skills at SingleThread and brought their unique vision of gastronomic excellence to their own project in 2022.

The Palm Terrace at the Madrona

Perfect for an al fresco lunch or dinner, The Madrona estate offers a breathtaking Californian backdrop to make the most of your time in Healdsburg. Begin in Hannah’s Bar to start your meal with a glass of fabulous local wine or a signature vintage cocktail. Once seated on the terrace, peruse the globally inspired menu of dishes made with the freshest produce, all regeneratively farmed in the estate’s garden. From your spot on the terrace, it’s easy to feel like you’re starring in a glamorous movie, complete with lush garden views and artful accents curated by renowned interior designer Jay Jeffers.

Where to Stay

Montage Healdsburg

Minutes away from downtown Healdsburg, discover this luxurious 258-acre natural escape with 130 bungalow-style guest rooms and suites. This luxury hotel is also a working vineyard tended to by none other than Jesse Katz, whose first 2021 release of Surveyor’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc was grown on Montage Healdsburg’s estate vineyard. Guests can experience unique beekeeping experiences and dine at the resort’s signature restaurant, Hazel Hill, with views of majestic oak trees amongst rolling vine-covered hills. Indulge in a treatment at the 11,500-sq. ft. Spa Montage or book a private cabana at its elegant edgeless pool overlooking cabernet sauvignon vines.

The Madrona Hotel

An art lover’s paradise, this 1881 historic mansion was reimagined as a stylish, adult-only 24-room and suite boutique hotel in 2022 by co-owner and interior designer Jay Jeffers. The hotel is home to a dynamic art collection curated by the Dolby Chadwick Gallery, and the smart placement of pieces means every corner is designed to artfully wink at its guests. Think whimsical antiques and playful colors that evoke sophistication and cheer. Stay in unique rooms in the Mansion and Carriage House with views of the vineyards, or opt for a secluded bungalow hidden somewhere in the hotel’s eight acres of elegant regenerative gardens.

Getting There and Getting Around

If you’re sold on a trip to Healdsburg, we have good news for you — the Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS) is a mere 15-minute drive from downtown Healdsburg. Visitors can also opt to fly into either the San Francisco or Oakland airport and enjoy the ninety-minute scenic drive. Each airport has your choice of car rentals such as Enterprise, Avis, and more. Ubers, taxis, and luxury private cars are also plentiful so everyone can sip safely as you travel around Healdsburg. Pro tip: if you fly Alaska Airlines, you can check in a case of wine at no charge.

Have you ever been to Healdsburg, or are you planning a future trip? Leave a comment below to share your own tips or ask the Organic Authority community for advice!

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