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.

10 Best Wine Travel Destinations 2015

Mendocino County has 107 wineries and more than 17,000 acres of vineyards, but it draws visitors for other pleasures like giant redwoods, Dungeness crab, wild chanterelle mushrooms, an exhilarating rocky coast and, yes, marijuana cultivation. Mendocino is laid-back, to say the least. A two-plus hour drive north of San Francisco through Sonoma County, traffic is practically nonexistent except for logging trucks. Tasting rooms and restaurants are rarely crowded, but lodging options are scarce except on the coast near the New England-esque town of Mendocino. Ukiah, in the warmer, drier inland valley along Highway 101, is the biggest city, with a whopping population of 16,000. Since 95 percent of the land in Mendocino County is rolling or mountainous, it offers plenty of bends in the road to explore.

Where to Stay

Anderson Valley’s most pampering hotel is The Madrones near Philo, which has the feel of an Italian villa and underwent a recent expansion by owner-designer Jim Roberts.

Read the full article at WineMag.com.