The Sonoma County city of Healdsburg is a classic example of the "hip" side of the California Countryside. Not so long ago, Healdsburg was a sleepy country town with an ag-based economy. Today Healdsburg is a bustling hot-list destination with city-chic hotels, bed & breakfast inns, shops and restaurants. Through it all, Healdsburg has managed to maintain its relaxed, small town charm as it has grown in size and fame.

Tucked between three lush valleys and surrounded by more than 80 wineries, Healdsburg is nestled in the heart of California's original wine country, just 65 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 101. The city was incorporated in 1867 and the long-awaited arrival of the Northwestern Pacific Railway in 1871 brought increased commerce and success.

Surrounded by rich soil and ideal terrain for growing premium grapes, Healdsburg is a great place from which to spend a day wine tasting. Visitors can taste (usually free or at nominal fee) vintages from California wine icons as well as labels you've probably never heard of (yet). There's also an award-winning brew pub right off the plaza where you can sip ale and munch on a basket of garlic fries.

The Healdsburg area's many wineries produce Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurtstraminer, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and sparkling wines, to name a few. Beautiful backroads that crisscross the county lead to spectacular winemaking facilities and small family-owned wineries. Many visitors say roads in this area have a magical quality, making the journey to the wineries half the fun. It's also easy. Areas with a concentration of wineries display old-fashioned road signs pointing the way.

One winemaker whose family has been in the business for generations, suggests that visitors take their time: "I recommend limiting wine tasting to three or four wineries each day so people can enjoy the experience without rushing. Ask what's going on in the cellar or if anything's happening in the vineyards." The winery may be bottling, topping barrels, harvesting or crushing.

Crush, which takes place late summer and early fall, can be an exciting time to visit the wine country. Winemakers vigilantly watch their crops, checking ripeness and testing the grapes' sugar content. At just the right moment, pickers work the vineyards, quickly harvesting before autumn rains arrive. Large machines then extract the juice, and the winemaking process is underway.

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