We were generously gifted a certificate for a wine tasting & tour of the estate by a friend &…read morefinally had the chance to visit this weekend. Lichen estate is fairly small and quite far for us coming from the city but was well worth the drive! My husband & I took my mom here on this beautiful Saturday afternoon. Shawn was very knowledgable & welcoming! We took a seat outside on one of the picnic tables & Shawn brought the wine out to us. Left with a few bottles for ourselves & family and friends. Would recommend bring a small snack to pair with your wine or enjoy a little lunch on the estate. This was our first time visiting Anderson Valley so Shawn recommended Jumbo Win Win down the road for a quick lunch. Fantastic recommendation!

Great bubbles! Came…read moreby just after opening for a tasting ($25/person). I was very impressed with their sparkling wines. The Blanc de Noir was my favorite of the tasting. The Moonglow Pinot Noirs were ok, but not my preference. Love their label and Karen, the hospitality manager, is lovely. Worth a taste if you find yourself driving through Anderson valley!

No idea this was smack in downtown Fort Bragg. Step in and check out the museum as it is not…read morepricey. The immersion short movies are fun to experience. The bones are real and amazing to see as well as the work they do. Time well spent and a nice break from shopping. However the gift shop has some nice local items to choose from

Unfortunately, I wanted to share feedback from a recent visit to the NOYO Center for Marine Science…read moreduring our trip to FB. After seeing a post on Instagram, we were excited to visit and planned our afternoon around arriving at 2:30 p.m. on a Friday. Although the posted hours were 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., we found the Center closed with a sign indicating it would reopen at 3:10 p.m. We waited, ordering a smoothie at a nearby shop and returned shortly after reopening. Upon entering, I noticed the "No food or drinks" sign. Wanting to respect that policy, I asked the staff member at the front desk if there was a trash can where I could dispose of my smoothie cup. Rather than directing me to a nearby receptacle, she instructed me to use a public trash can outside and then began lecturing me about single-use plastics after noticing my disposable cup. The interaction was abrupt, unsolicited, and delivered in a tone that felt dismissive rather than welcoming. After locating a public trash can several storefronts away, I returned hoping to put the interaction behind us. While we were browsing the front area, the same staff member went outside to address a family near the entrance. From inside the Center, her tone and gestures appeared more like a reprimand than a courteous request, creating an atmosphere that felt unwelcoming. When I approached the desk to purchase admission, I mentioned that I work for a large land conservation organization that restores habitats, builds trails, protects open space, and supports sustainable agriculture. I told her, "We're on the same team." I shared that not because I expected different treatment, but because it underscored an important point: every visitor deserves to be treated with courtesy and respect, regardless of their background or profession. Staff members are often the public face of an organization's mission, and the way they interact with visitors directly influences how that mission is perceived. This experience did not diminish our support for marine conservation or the important work your organization does. However, it did leave us with a negative impression of the Center and, unfortunately, reflected poorly on the organization as a whole. I hope this feedback is received in the constructive spirit in which it is intended, as I believe a welcoming visitor experience is essential to building lasting public support for your mission.

What a wonderful place to learn the history of the area! Right near the skunk train so if you are…read morehere for that and lucky enough to be here when this place is open come in and check it out. The grounds and the flowers are beautiful. They also have a huge log slice out in the garden area for you to take a picture, to show you how big those massive trees used to be. The home has been very well preserved and they have rooms filled with artifacts from the area as well as pictures and stories. If you're just walking down Main Street and doing some shopping and you see the sign is open walk up the walkway. You won't be disappointed and it's free.

Very happy with my latest experience visiting the Guest House Museum. My fiancé and I visited this…read moreafternoon today and were welcomed in by John. He was kind and very knowledgeable. We learned some of the history of the guest house and how it was originally built as the official residence for the Union Lumber Company (formerly knows as the Fort Bragg Lumber Company). I really appreciate the knowledge John shared with us. The Guest House Museum is run by volunteers, there is no entree fee but they do accept donations. Inside you can also purchase postcards, pins, magnets, books, and more. There is lots to see at this museum. I highly recommend stopping by and seeing this amazing piece of history.

Helpful and friendly staff. excellent food and wine. Lovely grounds- great views from the patio.read more

I visited last year and loved it. Went back on a special trip, wayyyy out of our way this past…read moreTuesday and everything said open including a sign on the road which read "Open- Walk ins welcome" Went inside. No one. Waited for 20 to 30 mins. Walked around. Called the phone number. The lights were on and the music playing but not a soul on the property inside or out. Very strange. They also don't sell any of their wines locally so I couldn't buy anything sadly. Wine is good but like wtf?

Family-run winery that invites you into their home for private, by-appointment tastings!…read more I was recommended this winery by a friend and scheduled an appointment by emailing the owners directly. Molly's response was prompt and I had my tasting appointment scheduled within the hour! *Note: they only accept appointments on Fridays and Saturdays* Upon arrival, you pass through the property's outer gate and are instantly welcomed by the fuzziest welcome comity, the family's golden retriever Brit! Just continue driving slowly towards the tasting room - the pup knows to stay clear of your vehicle. The tasting is $30/person, waived for every 3 bottles purchased, and includes 4 wines. Their tasting boasts wines from a selection of vineyards across Mendocino Ridge, and the four I sampled on this particular visit included: 2021 Valenti Ranch Viognier 2022 Valenti Ranch Pinot Noir 2021 Faite De Mer Farm Field Selections Pinot Noir 2021 Perli Vineyard Syrah They utilize native yeast fermentation, a traditional method that allows the grapes to express a sense of terrior and spontaneity! I enjoy exploring cold-climate syrahs, and purchased a bottle of their Perli Vineyard Syrah to share with a friend. We drank half the bottle that first night, enjoying the deep rich purple fruits and soft minerality of the cool climate syrah. Unfortunately, this wine is meant to be imbibed immediately! By the second day, the wine had already oxidized and we did not finish the bottle. Still a fun experience and nice wines, just be sure you will finish the bottle before opening!

Focus. Commitment. Dedication. Grit. These are words we often associate with competitive athletics…read moreor high stakes business, not the elegant and refined world of fine wine. Maybe we still recall these words being thrown in our faces by angry parents or exasperated teachers who instructed us to invest our time wisely in something of lasting value rather than fritter it away on short-term, sometimes even self-destructive, thrills. When many of us set off on wine tasting adventures, we don't want to be reminded of how much hard work went into the contents of each glass, or to be told a true but humbling story of how it took decades of work digging, grafting, pruning, and pressing before the secrets of the vine begin to unveil themselves and the critics finally began to take notice. Why not surround oneself with light-hearted romance instead? Why not fantasize, as Robert Mondavi and his second wife, Margrit, once encouraged wine drinkers to do, about the pleasures of the Good Life in pleasure-soaked places like Napa? Well, for one, as the folks here at Drew might tell you if you asked them directly about it, all of those things are exaggerations and outright lies, even if some of them might be well intentioned. Wine making is artful, to be sure, but it's not art. It's work, and lots of it. This doesn't make the contents of the glass any less pleasurable and worthwhile. In fact, the wine takes on more meaning and seems more expressive if you sense how much inspired effort went into its production, without actually having to do all that hard work yourself. Drew wines are like that. They are crafted primarily from higher elevation vineyards above Anderson Valley with complex, uplifted seabed soils and cooling ocean breezes. They are grown from cuttings selected from high-quality heritage vineyards in California, from so-called suitcase clones smuggled in from Europe, or from clones rigorously selected and certified by viticultural experts at UC-Davis. The vineyards are tended in ways that minimize their impact on the environment using organic and no-till methods, and the wines are made using a similar set of hands-on but non-invasive techniques that are designed to showcase the quality of harvested fruit and unique mineral content of the soils in which they were cultivated. The resulting wines are not cult collectibles that command mind-bindingly high prices that only the elite can afford. Instead, they are priced accessibly given the production and labor costs involved and open to all who arrange ahead of time for $15 tastings at Drew's modest but attractively styled space in the Madrones resort, restaurant, and shopping complex between the small Anderson Valley towns of Boonville and Philo. Drew is a tiny independent operation that relies on club memberships, restaurant sales, and word-of-mouth recommendations to stay viable. In a wine world largely controlled by well capitalized conglomerates like Constellation, Gallo, Jackson Family Wines, and LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), on the one hand, or by wealthy vineyard and winery owners, on the other, it is important to remember that the majority of wine industry professionals, like those who run Drew, have dedicated years of their lives to improving wine quality and catering to the needs of a diversifying wine enthusiast public. They don't set out to shape the wine buying habits of the masses or try to place their limited annual production of wines at Costco or Trader Joe's in the sub-$20 price range. Their goals are different and far more ambitious. When you taste a Drew Chardonnay, Pinot, Syrah, or Rhone varietal blend, they don't assault your senses or flaunt their abundant attributes, but they aren't lean, austere, or stingy wines, either. They have multiple facets to their highly individualized personalities. They are models of poise, precision, balance, structure, and restraint. And they taste, smell, and feel the way that site-specific grape varietals are supposed to do if tended properly while they grow in the ground, are harvested from the vine, and then left to ferment and age in the cellar until they are ready for release. Like all good and lasting relationships, Drew wines likely will take time to get to know well. But if they make a connection with you, as a wine drinker, it will also be immediate, intense, and obvious, like love at first sight. You will never know if you don't visit. Will you take that risk? My advice? Roll those dice. Fork over the $15. It may change the way you think about wine. If not, there is always Long Meadow Ranch's tasting room right next door with a Napa Valley wine or two with which to comfort you.

I'm a big fan of this winery! Phil has been making wine for years and honing his craft over the…read moreseasons! If you get the chance to try his wines will be well worth your time!

Great representation of Anderson Valley pinots!…read more Made a tasting reservation for a group of 4 at 3pm on a Sunday afternoon. While we were tasting, a few walk-ins dropped in, but otherwise, it was fairly quiet and had lots of time to talk wine with Mark! In my opinion, the Pinots were an excellent representation of the best Anderson Valley has to offer! Weir and Oppenlander are two of my favorite vineyards, with classic umami and strawberry plum notes characteristic.of the region. I was unfamiliar with Langley vineyard, but it was also a delicious Pinot with more of a bing cherry cola flavor. Overall, we enjoyed Mark's company and local wine knowledge as well as the wines themselves. Our group ended up purchasing 3 bottles - one each of the pinot noir! Worth a visit if you're in Anderson Valley wine tasting!

Came here on a day when we were one of two parties in the whole place. Staff = pretentious or just…read morerude. Unsure which but the gal took forever to bring the next wine and acted like she did not want us there. Wine = phenomenal. Would brave the staff to get another bottle. Ambiance = gorgeous, especially the outdoor patio. Ran into a lovely couple who lived in my hometown (wife was from the same area) and ended up haveing a wonderful time talking to them. So, our experience was excellent but not due to the staff in any way.

White Pinot?! What?!…read more Maggy Hawk is a recently-opened Pinot House, part of Jackson Family Wines, and they make a White Pinot! We were a big group so just bought bottles to share. Next time I'll do a full tasting! What I tried and enjoyed: JOLIE PINOT NOIR "Expressive, silky, and refined. Jolie is an elegantly transparent Pinot Noir that opens with light-footed red fruit and rhubarb, then blooms into bright raspberry, strawberry and floral notes." - from website WHITE PINOT NOIR ANDERSON VALLEY, CALIFORNIA "A unique combination of aromatics: white peach, jasmine, Meyer lemon, rose petal, blood orange and wet stone. An entirely original and truly beautiful sensory experience." - from website The White Pinot was so unique and refreshing on a hot day! Give it a try! Maggy Hawk is located in Philo, in beautiful Anderson Valley, across the street from The Madrones (a small compound of guest rooms, a boutique, tasting rooms, and a restaurant). We had a delicious lunch at Wickson, at The Madrones, then crossed the street to meet friends at Maggy Hawk. They have bocce courts and some seating in the front, more seating and a small bar inside the cozy tasting room, and tables and a pizza oven on their back patio. I look forward to returning to do a full tasting, hopefully when they're making pizzas! Cheers and thanks for the warm hospitality!

Some of the best Pinots I have ever had and Van always makes tasting fun, he is ne of a kind and I…read moremean that in the best possible way.

Most amazing wines and interesting wine maker. This is a must for a wine tasting in Anderson Valley.read more