• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

Gay Wine: 5 Things Not To Miss In Sonoma

Ed Salvato June 26, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-06-25 at 2.40.55 PM

Discover white, red, rosé …. and rainbow-tinged wine of gay-popular Sonoma County. From San Francisco drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and an hour through beautiful rolling hills to a darling little town called Healdsburg, a former farming village and the most charming of many lovely towns in the County.

As recently as 15 years ago, there wasn't much to speak of around these parts but then the Hotel Healdsburg opened in 2001 and world-famous chef Charlie Palmer came to town; soon two Michelin stars followed, transforming this one-horse town into a two-Tesla vacation haven with fantastic wineries.

It's but one hamlet in a county of charming inns, farm fresh food, boutique shops, plenty of wineries and a surprising number of LGBT residents, winemakers, chefs and business owners, without the tourist crowds of neighboring Napa.

If you plan a trip, here are five things not to miss, especially the number-one time for gay people to visit next year.

Screen Shot 2015-06-25 at 2.41.12 PM1. Hotel Les Mars: Healdsburg is centered around a main town square, while all around it you'll find
restaurants, bookstores, artisan crafts makers, boutique shops, and hotels. The Hotel Les Mars is the best hotel around, a Relais & Chateaux French maison-style hotel with ornate rooms full of dark wood armoires, antiques, 17th-century art, and shelves of tattered books along with a new restaurant, Chalkboard, a hip, rustic chic dining room that was once the Michelin-starred Cyprus.

2. SHED: In this progressive, sun-drenched, farm-to-table lunch spot next to Hotel Les Mars, market, and green space, the owners are lifelong farmers who've blended their philosophies on fresh produce with the simplistic virtues of California cooking. SHED has its own garden and also sources fruits and vegetables from the farmer's market across the street. It's among the most innovative and artful lunch counters in the state with nice options.

3. Hamel Family Wines: South of Healdsburg you'll find another Sonoma Country gem. Hamel Family Wines is an elegant, modern vineyard offering winetasting of their mostly Bordeaux varietals paired with locally sourced foods. It's only been open for a few years but it's already known for high-quality wine production, passionate winemaking and a decidedly warm welcome to LGBT visitors.

4. Corner 103: In the city of Sonoma, you'll find this elegant, modern tasting-room opened spring 2015 by Lloyd Davis, a highly-respected winemaker who happens to be gay. You'll enjoy seven wines with perfectly paired food offerings, in an unintimidating and intimate environment, served by handsome waiters. Be sure to walk around the gorgeous town square across from the restaurant.

5. Gay Wine Weekend 2016: This year's version of the event just concluded but it's not too early to plan to attend next year, perhaps making it part of a visit to San Francisco or a longer road trip along California's gorgeous coastline. It includes three days of events for LGBT visitors and locals (and their straight friends). Celebrate with world class wine and culinary delights, music and dancing in a private estate vineyard, VIP receptions, wine tasting excursions, champagne brunch, and a wine auction and pool party among your new best gay and lesbian wine-loving friends.

This weekly travel column is brought to you by ManAboutWorld, an immersive digital gay travel magazine for iOS and Android devices from Billy Kolber, Ed Salvato, Kenny Porpora, and nearly 75 Global Correspondents.

Screen Shot 2015-06-25 at 2.41.31 PM

For even more insider recommendations in California and other destinations in the U.S and around the globe, download ManAboutWorld Magazine on iTunes (iOS) or Google Play (Android). 

ManAboutWorld is now on the iPhone and Android phones! To download for the iPhone, click HERE. For Android phones, click HERE.

Image credits: All photos courtesy of Mark Vogler of Gay Wine weekend. Top: Toasting at Gay Wine Weekend; Middle: Sonoma chefs; Above: Sonoma Vineyards

Topics: Music, towleroad More Posts About: California, Food and Drink, Gay travel, Gay wine, Healdsburg, Hotels, san francisco, Sonoma County, Travel, Travel: California, Wine

Related Posts
  • Miami: Active, Sporty Getaway To An LGBTQ-Welcoming Destination Fighting To Stay That Way
  • San Francisco votes to let police use ‘killer robots’
  • Viticultural change: Gay vintners show off diversity of German wine
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Mel B will “always be open” when it comes to her sexuality. The Spice Girls singer, 48, who reunited with her bandmates including the group's ex-singer Victoria Beckham for the fashion …Read More »
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Megan Thee Stallion is being sued for allegedly creating a hostile work environment and forcing her cameraman to watch her having lesbian sex. The 29-year-old ‘Savage' rapper faces the salacious claims …Read More »
  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Jonathan Bennett's life was “changed forever” by his role in ‘Mean Girls'. The 42-year-old actor starred as heartthrob Aaron Samuels in the 2004 cult classic – which followed Lindsay Lohan, Rachel …Read More »
  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass a gift basket after he came out as gay. The 44-year-old NSYNC star revealed the legendary singer showed his support when Lance decided to reveal …Read More »
Previous Post: « Obama Applauds Gay Marriage Ruling: ‘We’ve Made Our Union a Little More Perfect’ – VIDEO
Next Post: Marriage Plaintiff Jim Obergefell Speaks Outside SCOTUS After Historic Equality Ruling: VIDEO »

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent

  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

    Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

  • Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

    Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

  • JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

    JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

  • Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

    Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

Partner Links

  • OMG, WATCH: Google’s Veo 3 turns the “Distracted Boyfriend” meme to life in new AI video
    Google‘s Veo 3 has summoned the fires of Hell, wasted oceans-full […]
  • Two-time Tony winner Donna Murphy publicly support LuPone-bashed Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis
    I’m a tremendous Patti LuPone fan as readers of this blog […]
  • On the Rag, Vol. 859
     This week's rag 'n' mag roundup features Vlad Parker, Ashley Parker, David […]
  • OMG, WATCH: Charli xcx wants a Final Destination series with ‘It Girls’
    @charlixcx just a thought.. ♬ original sound – Charli XCX Charli […]
  • OMG, new music: Lorde releases video for ‘Man Of The Year’
    The second single from the forthcoming album is “an offering from […]

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Ptown Hacks 2018

Read

  • Travel
  • Film
  • Law – LGBT Rights
  • Columns
  • Specials

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Log in

×
×