A LOOK INSIDE THE HEALDSBURG WINE & FOOD EXPERIENCE
by Trevor Felch
Surrounded by vineyards, farms, and ranches and boasting a robust dining scene (including the three-Michelin-starred SingleThread), Healdsburg has firmly established itself as the epicenter of food and wine for Sonoma County, making it the perfect place to host a festival of nonstop eating and drinking. That abundance was on display throughout the second annual Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience (HWFE) in late May, thanks not least to the representatives from more than 200 wineries and 40 chefs on hand for the four-day occasion.
After a chilly, unusually rainy winter and early spring, the trademark California sunshine greeted some 2,200 attendees from both nearby and afar. Setting the stage for the weekend ahead was an opening reception at the Montage Healdsburg, where several West Coast wines were poured and guests enjoyed bites from local chefs like Crista Luedtke and Domenica Catelli against the splendid, twilit backdrop of Mount St. Helena.
The next day, festivalgoers had the chance to enjoy a leisurely al fresco lunch among the vines via early-afternoon excursions to such marquee estates as Kendall-Jackson, Ferrari-Carano, and Jordan Vineyard & Winery or take a tour of Dutton Ranch before a feast courtesy of acclaimed chef Matt Horn of Horn Barbecue in Oakland. Later, back in the downtown area, one fun event held in the backyard of craft-cocktail bar and restaurant Lo & Behold shook things up as a small but strong group of bartenders showed guests that while Healdsburg might be wine country, the locals also certainly know how to make a mean cocktail; one captivating standout was Lo & Behold’s own Garden Envy with Belle Rive Gin Méditerranéen, dry vermouth, génépy, horseradish, celery shrub, cucumber, and lemon. Meanwhile, an insightful panel delved into an oft-highlighted pairing that’s classic for a reason: Champagne and caviar.
Photo Credit: GAMMA NINE PHOTOGRAPHY
Saturday’s Grand Tasting was deservedly the headline event, practically taking over the city for half a day as it served up not only excellent wines and bites—including fantastic mushroom pizza from the acclaimed PizzaLeah in Windsor and myriad cheeses from Marin County’s renowned Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company—but also culinary demonstrations led by such notable chefs as Stephanie Izard, Maneet Chauhan, and Joe Sasto and seminars on topics like Pinot Noir and sustainability. The festivities continued through the evening with a concert by country music stars Maddie & Tae at Rodney Strong Vineyards and a magnum party at the Bacchus Landing tasting-room complex.
The weekend wrapped up with a brunch sponsored by the Foley Family Charitable Foundation at Chalkboard restaurant near the town’s gorgeous plaza, where a significant amount of the fetstival proceeds went to the HWFE Future Farmers of America Scholarship, benefiting local high-school students pursuing careers in farming and agriculture. It was followed by what was arguably the most unique and terroir-centric event of all: a seminar that was all about Zinfandel. Highlighting a fascinating variety that flourishes right outside of downtown in the Dry Creek Valley, it was a proper farewell toast to four fun, food- and wine-filled days in Healdsburg.
