According to the National Climatic Data Center, January is the wettest month of the year here in Healdsburg. On average, we receive between 8 -9 inches of rain at the start of each year.  And even when the forecast calls for clear skies, which it has all this week, there is still a morning layer […]

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A friend of Emily and mine came up from San Francisco yesterday to what she referred to as “God’s Country”. I feel just like that about Healdsburg every time I crest the big hill right around Petaluma, as if shedding all the noise and traffic of the big city.  I breathe a sigh of relief […]

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Healdsburg sits along the crossroads of three important AVA’s in Northern California.  Bordering the Dry Creek Valley, the Alexander Valley and the Russian River Valley makes this little town brimming with wine and a fair amount of the top culinary talent in the country. Emily and I were hanging the other night at Zin Restaurant with our […]

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November is indisputably my favorite time of year here in Healdsburg. The mornings are cool and crisp and the sun gradually warms up through the day. The vineyards are changing into their fall colors. There might even be a rain shower here and there,which brings out the slow braises and rich reds for me and […]

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One truth about Syrah is that it is a late ripening varietal.  Harvest began for most other wineries (Mike’s included) in mid-August.  Most of the white wines and even some of the reds are already in barrel.  I was slightly jealous watching the crew at Michel Schlumberger go through the motions and fun of cellar […]

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