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Detour destinations MONTAGE HEALDSBURG: PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTIAN HORAN MARINE LAYER WINES: PHOTO BY GRETCHEN GAUSE PHOTOGRAPHY HEALDSBURG PLAZA: PHOTO BY KIM CARROLL ALL OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY Autumn Sojourn in Sonoma Wine and dine in charming and historic Healdsburg I HAVE EXPLORED NAPA COUNTY over the years, but until recently, the pandemic put Sonoma on hold. I was eager to explore this rich farming area where the cash crops are wine grapes planted on 60,000 acres in 18 distinct wine growing regions, or American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). According to the Sonoma County Wine Growers' Association, there are now 1,800 wine grape growers, many from multi-generation families who have been farming the land for centuries. My husband and I booked a four-day visit to Healdsburg in Sonoma County's heart, about two hours by car from the San Francisco airport. As we entered the region, we passed row upon row of grapevines stretching across rolling hillsides. We checked into Montage Healdsburg, a sprawling 258-acre resort which opened to the public in early 2021. e property has 15.5 acres of private vineyards and 130 bungalow-style guest rooms designed to blend into their surroundings amid thousands of oak trees and manzanita. In fact, the exteriors match the bark of mature oaks. Rustically modern rooms with organic touches open onto terraces with outdoor furniture and firepits, a peaceful spot to sip a local cabernet sauvignon or chardonnay from nearby vineyards. Bathrooms also include private outdoor showers, another way to bring nature in. We took a shortcut through vineyards to the main building which houses the lobby, bar, restaurant, and meeting rooms, sampling sweet grapes as we passed. While most of the vines are still quite young, the resort will eventually harvest and produce its own wine. e Scout Field Bar is smartly furnished with modern furniture in earthy tones including leather chairs, sofas, and tables of wood and stone. Chef de Cuisine Jason Pringle helms Hazel Hill, the resort's signature restaurant, highlighting "the bounty of the seasons" with a menu of California-focused, French-inspired dishes. We sampled fish, steak, and fresh-picked salads, and sipped wine, some from vineyards just a few miles away. For recreation and relaxation, the resort has a family pool and an adults-only zero-edge pool, a state-of-the- art fitness center, Spa Montage, and a salon, as well as opportunities to practice yoga on the vineyard lawn, play pickleball or bocce ball, try your hand at archery, or take a spin on an electric bike through picturesque wine country. Montage Healdsburg will arrange a "Sip and Cycle" e-bike tour, pack a gourmet picnic basket to enjoy among the vines, and book special tastings and tours at local wineries. e Paintbox engages children ages five to 12 with poolside games, arts and crafts, movies, and of course, s'mores. BY ANDREA NAVERSEN @ranchandcoast ranchandcoast.com 66 NOVEMBER 2022 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE At Montage Healdsburg, warm hospitality meets the scenic beauty of Sonoma wine country