WINDSOR VISITOR’S GUIDE
Windsor, just North of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, is a perfect destination for wine lovers. Just a short drive from Napa and San Francisco, Windsor is surrounded by vineyards and wineries, making it a great place to experience Sonoma wine country. If you fly directly into Wine Country, your place will arrive at the Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Windsor. There are plenty of wine tasting rooms to choose from, as well as a variety of restaurants and hotels. Visitors can explore the grounds of local wineries, including the Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley, and sip on pinot noir and sauvignon blanc. The town is home to a number of historic and architecturally interesting buildings, including the adobe Chateau and Jacuzzi Cellars. For those looking for a rustic getaway, Two Rock may also be a destination to consider. Visitors can also enjoy the sustainable gardens and caves, as well as book wine tastings and tours. With so much to offer, it's no wonder that Windsor is becoming a popular destination for wine lovers in 2023.
Windsor Hotels
Here is a list of hotel accommodations in Windsor, Sonoma, along with their distance to Halleck Vineyard in Sebastopol:
Hampton Inn & Suites Windsor - Sonoma Wine Country
Located in the heart of Windsor, approximately 9 miles southeast of Halleck Vineyard, the Hampton Inn & Suites Windsor offers modern accommodations and easy access to the area's many wineries and vineyards.
Holiday Inn Express Windsor Sonoma Wine Country, an IHG Hotel
Also located in Windsor, approximately 9 miles southeast of Halleck Vineyard, the Holiday Inn Express Windsor Sonoma Wine Country is a great choice for travelers looking for comfortable accommodations and easy access to the area's many attractions.
Holiday Inn Windsor - Wine Country, an IHG Hotel
Located in the heart of Windsor, approximately 9 miles southeast of Halleck Vineyard, the Holiday Inn Windsor - Wine Country is a great choice for travelers looking for modern accommodations and easy access to the area's many wineries and vineyards.
Hilton Garden Inn Sonoma County Airport
Located in Santa Rosa, approximately 12 miles east of Halleck Vineyard, the Hilton Garden Inn Sonoma County Airport offers comfortable accommodations and easy access to the area's many attractions, including the Russian River Valley wine region.
Vintners Resort
Approximately 14 miles east of Halleck Vineyard, the Vintners Resort is a luxurious hotel offering stunning views of the surrounding vineyards and hills. The hotel also features a spa, a restaurant, and easy access to the area's many wineries and vineyards.
Windsor American Viticultural Areas (AVAs)
The town of Windsor, California, is located within the larger region of Sonoma County, which has a total of 18 designated American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).
An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States that has been recognized by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) for having unique geographic, climatic, and soil conditions that distinguish it from surrounding regions.
AVAs are used to identify and promote wine growing regions and to help consumers understand the unique characteristics of the wines produced in these areas. Wineries that use grapes grown within an AVA are allowed to list that AVA on their wine labels, provided that at least 85% of the grapes used were grown within the AVA.
These are the AVAs that overlap with Windsor, California:
Russian River Valley AVA
This AVA is located in the heart of Sonoma County and is known for producing some of the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the region. Loamy, mineral-rich Goldridge soils, cool foggy mornings and bright, sunlit afternoons help Pinot Noirs from this region achieve the peak of perfection; the terroir is perfect for the notoriously finicky Pinot Noir grapes.
Sonoma Coast AVA
This AVA encompasses the rugged coastline of Sonoma County and produces a wide range of wines, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Awards, the largest wine competition in the world, Halleck Vineyard 2019 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast Clone 828 was awarded Double Gold, and their 2019 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast Hillside Cuvee awarded Gold
Chalk Hill AVA
The Chalk Hill AVA is a wine appellation located in Sonoma County, California. The region is known for its unique soils, which are rich in volcanic ash and chalky white rock. These soils, combined with the area's warm climate and long growing season, produce exceptional grapes that result in high-quality wines. Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape variety in the Chalk Hill AVA, with many wineries also producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. The area is home to several notable wineries, and visitors can enjoy tastings, tours, and beautiful views of the surrounding vineyards.
Alexander Valley AVA
The Alexander Valley AVA is a wine appellation located in Sonoma County, California. This region is known for producing high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay wines. The area's climate is characterized by warm, sunny days and cool nights, which allows grapes to ripen slowly and develop complex flavors. The soils in the Alexander Valley AVA are also varied, with volcanic ash, alluvial deposits, and river rock contributing to the unique terroir.
Dry Creek Valley AVA
The Dry Creek Valley AVA is a wine appellation located in Sonoma County, California, known for its exceptional Zinfandel wines. The region's Mediterranean climate and well-draining soils make it ideal for grape growing. In addition to Zinfandel, the Dry Creek Valley AVA is also known for producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay wines. Many of the area's wineries offer tastings, tours, and stunning views of the surrounding vineyards.
These American Viticultural Areas offer a wide range of vineyards, wineries, and tasting rooms to explore, making Forestville an ideal destination for wine enthusiasts.