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Mendocino-Anderson-Valley
Mendocino County's beautiful Anderson Valley is destined to be one of California's premiere wine growing regions. Situated between the South Coast and the Ukiah Valley, Anderson Valley is restful yet scenic, even though it lacks the ocean views of other portions of the county. The real estate market here is booming, as tired city dwellers recognize the advantage of living in this lush, green, uncrowded region.
Highway 128 is the major thoroughfare through the region, passing through nearly all the towns here and treating visitors to the opportunity to stop at the many Anderson Valley wineries that line the winding road. Be prepared for some hairpin turns on this 57-mile road as it takes you through some of the prettiest country in Mendocino, starting at Highway 101 in Cloverdale and eventually depositing you near Albion, where the mouth of the Navarro River meets the Pacific Ocean.
More and more wine aficionados who are traveling to California for tasting tours are choosing to explore this region in addition to or instead of heading straight to the Napa or Sonoma Valleys, long the preferred region for California wineries. Mendocino wineries are beginning to make a mark on the California wine industry.
Heading northwest from the tiny town of Cloverdale, the first town you'll reach is Yorkville, home to more than a handful of up-and-coming fine wineries. If you need a break after the 14 miles of windy road that takes you to Yorkville, stop for some excellent wine tasting experiences. With a population of about 300, the town also boasts some pretty B&Bs as well as a few other lodging options, if you choose to stay here.
The beautiful valley of Boonville will be your next stop and one in which you'll want to take some time to explore. Spend a few moments visiting the Anderson Valley Brewing Company, opened in 1987, where you'll enjoy some of the best ales in California. The Brewing Company also sponsors the annual Boonville Beer Fest, which happens each May at the local fairgrounds. The taps flow freely all day and the music is fine!
A few Anderson Valley wineries are located here in Boonville as well, though you'll find many more just a bit north of the town. Boonville, however, is also home to the valley's only museum, the Anderson Valley Historical Museum, which displays vintage farm equipment and memorabilia.
This region is famous for its annual festivals and many of them happen here in Boonville, a town of about 1400 residents. Wine Tasting Championships occur in July and the old-fashioned Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show takes place each September. The Pinot Noir Festival, held in May, educates would-be growers as to the fine art of wine making and offers tasting events to the general public. The popular Wild Iris Folk Festival touts 'great folk artists in a small, friendly setting.'
Lodging is available via a few small inns or hotels and you'll find more restaurants and cafes here than in Yorkville.
As you continue heading northwest towards the town of Philo, you'll encounter pretty Hendy Woods State Park, the ideal place for rest and some lunch. With its legions of huge redwood trees, this park has two miles of nature trails and 25 picnic groves near the banks of the Navarro River.
When you reach Philo and nearby Navarro, located 5 miles apart, you're in the heart of Anderson Valley's wine country. A dozen wineries are easily reachable from Highway 128 and some visitors choose to stop at each and every one, comparing the unique wines that each produces. Some of the wineries have even played host to weddings, with the beauty of the vineyards as the perfect backdrop for this romantic occasion.
The wineries of Anderson Valley have been consistently lauded for their excellent products - especially during the last decade - winning awards at various wine festivals and tastings and enticing more and more wine connoisseurs to head to the region to sample the best that Northern California has to offer. While many of the wineries haven't yet made a name for themselves, word is spreading quickly.
A handful of small inns are available for lodging in Philo, and though restaurants are scarce in both towns, a number of small stores and delis offer plenty for hungry tourists to eat.
The northernmost city in the valley and the only Anderson Valley town not easily accessible from Highway 128 is tiny Comptche. About 19 miles due north of Navarro, this town of about 600 is surrounded by Montgomery Woods State Reserve, a beautiful blend of fern forest and redwood groves where guests can enjoy a leisurely stroll and some magnificent scenery.
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