1. Geyserville Inn
City: Geyserville, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (707) 857-4343, (877) 857-4343
Address: 21714 Geyserville Avenue
Description: Situated at the north end of the town of Geyserville and surrounded by vineyards, this hotel is ideal for visiting Dry Creek and Alexander Valley wineries as well as hitting the bike trails that crisscross this rural countryside. It’s also close to Lake Sonoma (see the Parks and Recreation chapter). The 36 rooms have a Wine Country feel, decorated in shades of vineyard green and the russet colors of autumn. There are also two new suites. Rooms are graced with various amenities—for example, patios or balconies and fireplaces—and there is also a swimming pool and spa. The views are lovely, and the rural atmosphere is very relaxing. A continental breakfast is served each morning. The Hoffman House restaurant is just steps away.
2. Hope-Bosworth House
City: Geyserville, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (707) 857-3356, (800) 825-4233
Address: 21238 Geyserville Avenue
Description: Driving down Geyserville Avenue, you’ll have no trouble recognizing the Hope-Bosworth House—it’s the Queen Anne with the picket fence covered with “roses of yesteryear” varieties that were popular when the house was built in 1904.All four of the guest rooms are a step into the past. The original oak-grained woodwork is evident everywhere, from the sliding doors in the hallway to the upstairs bedrooms. Polished fir floors and antique light fixtures enhance the period furnishings. A country breakfast is served in the formal dining room and includes fresh fruit, egg dishes, homemade breads and pastries, and coffee or tea.
3. Hope-Merrill House
City: Geyserville, CA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (707) 857-3356, (800) 825-4233
Address: 21253 Geyserville Avenue
Description: In its former life, it was a stagecoach stop of the 1870s. Now it’s an enchanting inn, listed on the Sonoma County landmarks register. Anyone interested in architecture will recognize the squared-off look of Eastlake Stick style, popular between 1870 and 1885. J. P. Merrill, who was a land developer, saw to it that he had the best of everything for his house, and he built it entirely of redwood. The inn has eight rooms, all with queen-size beds and private baths. Four rooms have fireplaces, two have whirlpool baths, and one has a sitting room. There’s also a swimming pool. Breakfast is superb, served in the dining room.
4. Clos Du Bois
City: Geyserville, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (707) 857-3100, (800) 222-3189
Address: 19410 Geyserville Avenue
Description: Clos du Bois got its start in Sonoma County as a vineyard operation in the early 1970s, with 590 acres of vineyards in the Alexander Valley. Today, it is one of Sonoma County’s most productive wineries, having begun a huge expansion in 2006 that will effectively double its capacity to 3.5 million cases of wine annually. It is located on a 40-acre site in the heart of the beautiful Alexander Valley and has approximately 1,000 prime acres of vineyard in Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys. The winery produces Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay (and a reserve), Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon (and a reserve). Clos du Bois also pours the J. Garcia line of wines in its tasting room, with labels featuring colorful artwork created by the late Jerry Garcia of Grateful Dead fame.
5. Geyser Peak Winery
City: Geyserville, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (707) 857-9400, (800) 255-9463
Address: 22281 Chianti Road
Description: Though particularly known for its Chardonnay, Geyser Peak produces a number of fine varieties, including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, Petite Verdot, and Petite Sirah. It sources its grapes from Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley, and the Sonoma Valley. A lovely picnic area overlooks the Alexander Valley, and the Panoramic Trail (winding up behind the winery) and the Margot Patterson Doss Trail (named for a well-known San Francisco walker and writer) will appeal to hikers.
6. Pedroncelli Winery
City: Geyserville, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (707) 857-3531, (800) 836-3894
Address: 1220 Canyon Road
Description: In 1927 John Pedroncelli, a native of Lombardy, Italy, bought the vineyard property that was to bear his name. At that time the vines planted there had been yielding grapes for more than 20 years. During Prohibition, the winery sold grapes to home winemakers; after the repeal, it sold wine in bulk to other wineries. Today the winery uses grapes harvested from the Dry Creek Valley to produce primarily red wines, including excellent Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, and Pinot Noir. Tucked 2 miles up Canyon Road from US 101, the charmingly rustic Pedroncelli Winery offers picnic tables for a pleasant lunch.
7. Frick Winery
City: Geyserville, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (707) 857-1980
Address: 23072 Walling Road
Description: On a narrow lane, up the road a piece from Pedroncelli Winery, is this gem of a property. It’s a one-man operation with no frills but great hospitality. Bill Frick does just about everything here, from processing the grapes he makes into his wine (Viognier, Syrah, Cinsaut, Carignane, Grenache, and others) to manning the tasting room (Saturday and Sunday afternoons only). Frick Winery has just a little over five acres of vineyards, with a production of 1,900 cases. As he pours, Bill will tell you the whole story of how he sold his beloved 1957 Chevy to buy the place. This is a delightful stop when you’ve had your fill of the glitzier wineries.
8. Trentadue Winery
City: Geyserville, CA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (707) 433-3104, (888) 332-3032
Address: 19170 Geyserville Avenue
Description: Founded in 1969, the family-owned and -operated Trentadue has achieved an outstanding reputation not only for rare and unusual wines but also for highly regarded, better-known varieties. Visitors are offered complimentary tastings of classic reds (including Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese), and for a small charge you may try Ports. The Chocolate Amore Port in particular is darn good.
9. North County Properties
City: Geyserville, CA
Category: Relocation
Telephone: (707) 857-1728
Address: 21069 Geyserville Avenue
10. River Rock Casino
City: Geyserville, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (707) 857-2777
Address: 3250 Highway 128
Description: I wouldn’t normally encourage you to play fast and loose with your hard-earned cash, but River Rock is such a different sort of attraction—or distraction, if you will—that it’s worth mentioning. When you’ve had enough worshipping of the grape, head up the hillside outside Geyserville for some Las Vegas–style gambling (watch the signs for Dry Creek Rancheria). The casino was first erected in 2002 as an extravagant tent, and a huge parking structure soon followed. In spring 2008, the Indian tribe that owns the casino broke ground on a $300 million luxury resort hotel at the site. Disputes between the casino’s rural neighbors and battles with the county board of supervisors have been going on for years, but River Rock looks like it’s here to stay. It’s free to walk in the door, but after that the cost is up to you.
11. Lake Sonoma Fish Hatchery
City: Geyserville, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (707) 433-4533
Address: 3333 Skaggs Springs Road
Description: Here’s a chance to peek in on all phases of fish life, depending on the season. In summer you’ll see the small, young fish; later in the season, from late October through March, you’ll be able to watch the coho salmon and steelheads return to spawn and climb the fish ladder. The coho salmon will die after spawning, but the steelheads will live to return to the sea. Once the eggs have been laid and fertilized, the fish hatchery starts collecting them once a week. Year-round hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. There is no charge. Visitors also will enjoy a display of Native American artifacts, plus information on local geology.