Wellness, Sustainability + Style on a Weekend in Mendocino

While skyrocketing tourism has turned Napa and Sonoma from humble farmland to playground for the rich, Mendocino County is charting a different path forward. With a focus on locally grown and harvested food, organic wine and cannabis, and outdoor wellness experiences, Mendo enhances its good ecological fortune with modern sustainability and style.

The Madrones

Tucked inside the Madrones, a Mediterranean villa just west of Boonville, are two tasting rooms and a cannabis apothecary with vintage charm that are worth a stop. At the Bohemian Chemist, organic estate- and Anderson Valley–grown flower and concentrates, along with other healing lotions, potions, and edibles, are displayed in Art Deco style. Grab some “giggle smokes” for later then pop into the Mendo outpost of the Napa farm and vineyards at Long Meadow Ranch for a taste of the pinot noirs, chardonnays, and pinot gris they sustainably-produce on 69 acres near the Navarro River. If you have a little more time to spend, consider spending the night in one of the Madrones’ stately guest rooms, especially during their monthly cannabis-infused dinner, a seven-course meal turbo-charged with microdoses of marijuana.

Read the full article at 7x7.com.

Pack Your Bags for a Stoner’s Weekend in Weed and Wine Country

One of California’s most worthwhile road trips lies along State Route 128 West. Head toward Fort Bragg/Mendocino from the 101 Highway, and you’ll arrive in a verdant stretch of California farm country known as the Emerald Triangle.

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In Philo, The Madrones is a one-of-a-kind experience nested between sun-drenched vineyards and towering redwood forests. Past a stately wood gate is an art deco villa complete with spacious guest suites with sweeping vineyard views, a restaurant, wine tasting rooms, and a cannabis dispensary.

Read the full article at Thrillist.com

A Sparkling Wine Tasting Tour of Mendocino County

Boonville + Philo

While the small neighboring towns of Boonville and Philo have abundant wine (and food options), your choice of stays is a bit more limited. We love The Madrones(9000 CA-128, Philo), an eclectic little compound with just nine guest quarters in an English garden setting. Each room is stylishly designed with plush bedding and amenities including kitchenettes and balconies. You also enjoy the adjacent boutiques, tasting rooms, a restaurant, and even a cannabis-centric apothecary.

Read the full article on 7x7.com.

Cannabis-friendly hotels target high-end travelers

The Madrones and the Brambles, two boutique sister properties located just outside Philo, Calif., in Mendocino County, are following the wine hospitality blueprint.

The pair, which have a combined 14 accommodations and will work with advisors, have long successfully leveraged their wine country surroundings, offering guests access to two on-site wine tasting rooms.

More recently, however, co-owners Jim Roberts and Brian Adkinson have leaned into Mendocino's solid reputation for craft cannabis cultivation, opening a dispensary at the Madrones called the Bohemian Chemist. The dispensary showcases its own house brand, comprised of locally sourced products from cannabis grown at a nearby farm also owned and operated by Roberts and Adkinson.

Read the full article at Travelweekly.com

Cannabis Tourism Industry Developing More Appeal

Take The Madrones, a boutique property in Philo, California. The Madrones features nine private guest quarters, each of which can accommodate between two and four attendees, as well as The Brambles, which consists of five spacious two- and four-person cabins. For the “canna-curious,” located on The Madrones property is The Bohemian Chemist dispensary.

Through The Bohemian Chemist, groups can experience a weekend filled with seven-course meals, cannabis tasting and a farm tour of the five-acre Sugar Hill Farm (featured image), where the dispensary’s products are sourced. Chef Bronson Macomber, the person behind the tours, also offers cannabis-infused dinners, which features servings enhanced by micro-dosed meals. Non-infused and vegetarian meals are also available.

The Madrones also offers wine tastings from independently owned and operated winemakers Drew Family Cellars and Long Meadow Ranch. Full-site rentals of The Madrones or The Brambles are possible, as well as rentals of its six outdoor venues.

Read the full article on Smartmeetingscom.

Your Guide To Less-Traveled CA Wine Regions, And What To Drink When There

Where to Stay:  The Madrones.

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For a town as tiny as Philo is, who’d expect to find this kind of world-class hospitality? From the exceptional Wickson restaurant and the perfectly curated Sun & Cricket Curiosity Shoppe to on-site tasting rooms for Drew and Long Meadow Ranch to the Bohemian Chemist Herbal Apothecary (wink, wink), you don’t actually need to leave this lovely sanctuary to have a great time.

Read the full article at Goldenstate.com.

Getting Lost in The Brambles

Exploring The Madrones, a stunning Cannabis retreat with gorgeous guest rooms, wine tasting, fine dining, and adventure

The majesty of Mendocino County, with its rolling hills, towering redwoods, and craggy coastline, has inspired Cannabis cultivators and winegrowers to plant roots for decades. 

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It’s this breathtaking confluence of characteristics, along with the romance of nature, that inspired Jim Roberts and Brian Adkinson to create their own experiential enclave here. That, and the fact that the area is great for producing two of their favorite things: Cannabis and wine.

Read the full article at Leafmagazines.com.

New Tasting Rooms, an Inn Amid Redwoods: Where to Sip and Stay in Anderson Valley

“The Madrones is a quiet inn with rooms surrounding a beautiful garden.” The property also boasts an onsite restaurant plus tasting rooms from Smith Story Winery, Drew Family Cellars, and Long Meadow Ranch. “A short distance from the ‘compound,’ we especially love the private cabins, ‘The Brambles,’ nestled in the redwoods that leave one with a peaceful sense of being away from it all.”

Read the full article at Sunset.com.

23 Best Things to Do in Anderson Valley, CA

The Italianate complex at the Madrones, near Philo, was originally a design center and creative think tank. The cloistered rural homestead, with its courtyards, arcades and kitchen garden, has received awards for architectural design. There are three distinctly different tasting rooms on the property, representing Drew, Smith-Story and Long Meadow Ranch wineries. The shop sells antiques, stationery, curios and gift items. There are a range of options for overnight accommodation at the Madrones, from family suites to cabins among the redwoods. Guests need to stay for a minimum of two nights. A schedule of garden tours and artisan workshops is advertised locally.

Read the full article at VacationIdea.com.

Anderson Valley & The Mendocino Coast Are The New California Dream

The original “California Dream” was a Gold Rush psychological fantasy, a microcosm of Horatio Alger’s myth of picking oneself up by one’s bootstraps (unfortunately popularized by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s) still weirdly entrenched in the cultural narrative of the U.S. But we all know that California, while still gorgeously beckoning, is the place you come to spend all your money, run from wildfires, and perpetually try to have enough time in between jobs to simply enjoy its bounty. However, if we flip the script, and the dream’s reward isn’t financial prosperity but rather spiritual gain, then the Golden State does, in fact, offer a home — most particularly in the Anderson Valley and along the Mendocino Coast.

Read the full article on Forbes.com.

So You Think You Know Mendocino?

Consider these 10 captivating ways to venture beyond your go-to favorites in this North Coast haven

With more than 3,800 square miles of rocky coastline, ancient redwood forests, and charming towns to traverse, Mendocino County is brimming with wonders that even some locals have yet to discover. Most folks who’ve spent time in this region have strolled along the lanes of Mendocino Village, taken a trip back in time aboard the Skunk Train in Fort Bragg, and meandered along the Highway 128 Wine Road in the Anderson Valley. Why not venture beyond your go-to spots to add new favorites? Here are 10 of Mendocino County’s most enchanting, lesser-known attractions.

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The Bohemian Chemist, Philo

Newly opened at the Madrones, this Art Deco-inspired spa and apothecary specializes in skincare products and treatments made with one of Mendocino’s most famous sun-grown specialty crops. No, not wine grapes—cannabis. Choose from four different skincare treatments, including the CBD Facial—a rejuvenating experience that provides anti-aging and anti-inflammatory benefits without any psychoactive effects.

Read the full article at VisitCalifornia.com.

This Visionary is Expanding His Family's Commitment to Sustainable, Diversified Farming

Meet the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Long Meadow Ranch whose collaborative spirit pervades the agricultural community in the Napa Valley.

Like many kids, Chris Hall was expected to play a sport, study an instrument, and speak another language. But his family had a fourth founding principle: Raise an animal.

“I grew up with both of my parents cooking, and almost everything on the table was something that we grew ourselves, whether it was the tomato in the salad or the egg at breakfast or the pork chop,” he reflects. “That was one of the original ideas that has brought us to where we are today.”

Read the full article on Afar.com.

The Next Best Weekend Wine Tour: Mendocino

From a bluff-top hot tub on the Mendocino Coast, the brooding Pacific meets a delicate filigree of stars on the far horizon. The ocean is exclusively yours, in this secluded spot. With elaborately carved wood detail, and boulders and redwoods appearing inside and out (décor as compelling as it sounds), the Inn at Newport Ranch—north of the town of Fort Bragg, which is itself north of Mendocino Village proper—is one of a handful of new luxury properties that make a trip to this spectacular waterfront stretch of northern California a terrific idea now.

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The Madrones, Philo

This gracious Mediterranean-style compound is home to several tasting rooms. At Drew, you’ll find wines that lean biodynamic. Two Pinot Noirs stand out—The Fog-Eater and Valenti Ranch—for their savory, earthy profiles under red fruit. But don’t overlook the minerally, textural Albariño. Long Meadow Ranch pours Chardonnay and Pinot from the Tan Bark Ranch—acquired recently by the well-known Napa company—with its almost 70 acres of vineyards now certified organic. The Pinots here are elegant, light on their feet, coming in on the lower end of the alcohol spectrum. Don’t miss the unique Pinot Noir Blanc, and nab a bottle of killer house bloody Mary mix before you go. And in case you’d rather stay in the valley instead of out on the coast, know that the rooms in the inn at the Madrones are lovely (as are the grounds).

Read the full article at RobbReport.com.

Five Under-the-Radar Regions for Your Summer Vacation

Anderson Valley is nestled between redwood forests and stretches northwest along the Navarro River a little south of Boonville to the town of Navarro. Though many rave about its beauty, relaxed vibe and exceptional Pinot Noirs, it’s a low-key destination. There’s never a Napa-like traffic jam.

Jim Roberts and Brian Adkinson are the proprietors of The Madrones, opened The Brambles in 2017 as a cluster of quirky cabins in old-growth forest near Philo, California. His original project, the Mediterranean-inspired mixed-use Madrones, has evolved, too. Today, it boasts stylish guest rooms, as well as three tasting facilities for Drew Family Cellars, Smith Story and Long Meadow Ranch. There’s even a small spa with an apothecary that features cannabis products and treatments. The adjacent Stone and Embers serves some of the best food in the valley.

Read the full article at WineEnthusiast.com.

36 Hours in Mendocino County

Tall trees, mushroom ice cream, a Buddhist brunch: the possibilities are endless in this rural slice of Northern California.

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Take Philo-Greenwood Road back to Anderson Valley and taste your way out of town. The options can be overwhelming, but the redwood tasting room at Toulouse Vineyards and Winery is especially beautiful and its wines are excellent renditions of classic local varietals: Alsatian whites and pinot noirs. For three wineries in one Spanish-style plaza, stop at The Madrones complex, where Drew Family Cellars, Smith-Story Winery and the newly opened Long Meadow Ranch, which has estate-grown Burgundian varietals, share a plaza.

Read the full article at NYTimes.com.

2019’s Hottest New Venue Openings Across the Globe

The Madrones & The Brambles

Anderson Valley, California
This Anderson Valley private estate can accommodate up to 39 overnight guests and host events of up to 200 in a camp-style event space. To that effect, one could easily add some glamping tents to the mix to host additional overnight guests. Good for: weddings, social events, retreats, family gatherings.

Read the full report at VenueReport.com.

4 Men's Outfits for Spring 2019 | EPIC Men's Fashion Lookbook Ferrari Edition Part 1

Influencer Alex Costa and Ferrari came by The Madrones to put together a lookbook for Spring Men’s Fashion.

Planning A Wedding In Nature? Get Hitched in Mendocino

Mendocino County is one of the most splendid destinations in the county for its miles and miles of rugged coastline, charming inns and glamping spots, locally driven restaurants, and eternal views. Whether your style is high-toned or hippie, Mendocino has an outdoor wedding spot that will tickle the fancy of you and your betrothed. And because it is only a few hours drive from the San Francisco Bay Area, you can easily get guests up to Mendo from SFO. It feels remote, but it's not too remote, logistically speaking — a perfect combination for wedding-planning.

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If majestic redwoods are your jam, look no further than Anderson's Valley's The Brambles, set in a 12-acre redwood grove with a proverbial river running through it. The open-air Redwood Pavilion and Hidden Grove (which straddles Indian River) are magical sites for exchanging rings. The property's two guest facilities have a Victorian-meets-industrial steampunk aesthetic, and overflow can stay at Faller’s Cabin and Logger’s Cabin on adjacent Mill Ridge. Right next door is sister property The Madrones, with three winetasting venues and more lodging possibilities.

Read the full article at Forbes.com.

8 of the Most Unique Things to Do in Mendocino, California

Ever since visiting Mendocino County for the first time several years ago when living in San Francisco, I’ve often considered Mendocino among the most unique corners of California. However, after this most recent trip, partnering with Visit Mendocino, I think it may be the single most unique, interesting part of the West Coast, if not all of America.

I believe the ingredients that make Mendocino County so interesting are many of the same ingredients that you’ll find in most of the world’s most interesting places. Mendocino affords a combination of natural beauty, culture, history, and unique things to do that are reflective of its region, but also unique to the destination itself. In other words, Mendocino offers experiences that can only be offered here.

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The Madrones

In full disclosure, after first coming to The Madrones many years ago to write about it for 7x7, I’ve become friends with owner Jim Roberts. While The Madrones wasn’t expressly part of the trip, I had to stop by one of my single favorite destinations in all of Northern California, especially since Long Meadow Ranch, a Napa winery, had just been added.

The best way to describe The Madrones is to call it a “wine country destination,” but not the type of wine country destination you’ll often find in California. That’s because it’s part accommodations, part restaurant and part collection of wine tasting rooms. The latest addition is Santé, a spa and salon, and Long Meadow Ranch, which is a well known ranch and winery out of Napa. Additionally, just on the other side of Indian Creek is a collection of new unique accommodations, The Brambles, set below the cover of a small redwood grove.

Read the full article at WhiskeyTangoGlobetrot.com.

The 52 California wineries you need to visit in 2019

A few of the wineries with tasting rooms here at The Madrones are included in this list of California Wineries recommended for enophiles traveling in 2019.

Drew
Jason and Molly Drew make some of the best wines in Mendocino County, and they’re known — rightfully so — for their gamey, meaty Syrah. Visit their small, storefront tasting room in the Madrones complex in Philo, near the deep end of Anderson Valley, though many of their wines come from outside of this Pinot-centric valley. The Valenti Ranch Syrah is a special treat.

Long Meadow Ranch
The newest addition to the Anderson Valley tasting room roster is an old-timer from Napa Valley: Long Meadow Ranch, which purchased a formidable 145-acre estate here in 2015 with the goal of adding cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to its portfolio. Noted winemaker Stephane Vivier makes the wines from this vineyard. (Long Meadow Ranch also bought the Napa Valley Chardonnay winery Stony Hill Vineyard last year.) At the tasting room in the Madrones complex, you can sit at a big communal table and choose either an Anderson Valley-only flight or a flight that includes the Napa Valley wines. Espresso is also available, if you need a pick-me-up. The winery still runs its original St. Helena tasting room too.

Read all recommendations at SF Chronicle.com.