Certified Tourism Ambassador Program

Yet another great reason to visit Sonoma; Front line employees all over the county, from hotels, restaurants and even the local airport, are participating in a CTA Network Program. It stands for Certified Tourism Ambassador, an is put on by the CTA Network nationally and locally by Sonoma County Tourism. It is a nationwide certification program for front-line ambassadors who have been trained and certified to help make sure our visitors have an exceptional experience while they're in here in our beautiful area.  You can rest assured that wherever you visit, the local CTA's will be providing you with the best service, as they all truly hope you have a fantastic time and leave with wonderful memories of Sonoma County.

Our very own Innkeeper Amanda has become certified, and passed the course with 100%!

2012 Honor Mansion harvest of our Rockpile clone Zinfandel.

Restaurant changes this year in Healdsburg!

There are lots of great and exciting changes happening to local restaurants this year, and some possibly not so great changes! Here’s a list of some of the changes that have happened recently, or will happen soon.

Cyrus Restaurant: They have announced that they will be leaving their current location in the Hotel Les Mars at the end of October. Owners Douglas Keane and Nick Peyton have kept all rights to the name, but have not officially if/when/where they will be opening another Cyrus location.

Ravenous: Longtime favorite Ravenous has left their larger location that most guests are familiar with and moved to their former location, Ravenette. This is a smaller restaurant, making it easier to manage, but also means reservations this fall may be harder to procure!

Bravas Bar De Tapas: In Ravenous’s prior location at 420 Center Street, Mark and Terri Stark (owners of local favorite Willi’s Seafood) have taken over and are doing a remodel of the entire restaurant. They plan to open Labor Day weekend with their new Spanish tapas bar.

Campo Fino: A new sister restaurant to Scopa. Located on Healdsburg Avenue, just around the corner from Scopa, this is an Italian tapas bar. They do not take reservations. This location offers a beautiful outdoor patio, featuring a bocce ball court!

Parish Café: Soon to open just south of the plaza on Mill Street, this is a Louisiana restaurant that will feature po boys, gumbo and beignets!

Petite Syrah (Formally names Syrah): A longtime favorite in Santa Rosa, this is another restaurant that will be closing at the end of the fall. Chef Josh Silvers, after a life changing weight loss, has decided to change it up, and open with a new, healthier, less expensive restaurant, but not sure on the name or opening date of the new restaurant yet. 

Wine Spectator 2012

The Honor Mansion has been featured as a top lodging in Sonoma County in Wine Spectator's June 2012 Issue! We are listed among the best of lodging, one of only 8 in the whole county.

-Sonoma Beckons, by Tim Fish//Photographs by Sara Sanger. Pages 30-58.

"Where To Stay; From Country inns to Luxury Hotels" By Augustus Weed Pages 40-41.

Whether you're planning a romantic weekend getaway or a weeklong tasting adventure, choosing the right place to stay in Sonoma can play a big part in defining your experience. Fortunately, Sonoma wine country has much to offer when it comes to lodging, whether you prefer an intimate, secluded inn near the coast or a luxurious full-service hotel with a first –rate spa.

            Location is another important consideration; Sonoma is larger and more geographically complex than Napa, and touring one of its many appellations can take more than a day. The town plazas of Healdsburg and Sonoma are good starting points for exploring the surrounding regions. Each town has its own distinct style, but both offer convenient access to tasting rooms, restaurants and nightlife.

Honor Mansion:

Just a few minutes’ walk from downtown Healdsburg, this charming inn blends the personal attention of a bed0and-breakfast with the amenities and services of a small resort. The well-manicured grounds feature a flower garden and vineyards, and guests have access to a variety of diversions, including bocce courts, a croquet lawn and a tennis court. Rooms in the inn’s Victorian main house are cozy and feature private baths or showers, while the lavish suites are separate from the main house and provide an extra touch of romance with their roomy outdoor soaking tubs, private patios and fireplaces. Biscotti and coffee are delivered to the rooms daily, and a full breakfast buffet is served in the inn’s communal room; it can also be taken outdoors on a deck overlooking a koi pond.

January Newsletter

In this newsletter: Valentine's Day, Summer Wine Club Packages, Traveler's Choice Awards, and more!

We are already off to a great new year! Thanks to you, our wonderful guests, we have been chosen as a top U.S. hotel for service on Tripadvisor.com's Traveler's Choice Awards for the second year in a row! This is all because of the wonderful reviews our guests have written about us, and we could not be more humbled and appreciative. In addition, we've also been included as a Michelin recommended lodging in the 2012 edition for the 4th year in a row! We promise to continue to hold ourselves to this high level of service and truly do appreciate the acknowledgement. We hope you are also off to a great start for this year, and we look forward to hosting you soon! This summer, enjoy a Luxurious Wine Country Vacation Experience with thumbprint cellars and the Honor Mansion! thumbprint cellars, a unique local winery, has reserved the Honor Mansion for an intimate, amazing 5 days of wine maker dinners, private tours, hands on blending workshops, and more! You'll even get to challenge their winemaker Scott to bocce! This is a once in a lifetime experience, so book early as space is limited. *Bookings must be made directly through Thumbprint. June 20-25, 2012. Click Here for more information, and to book your room! thumbprint winemaker Scott. Think you can beat him at bocce? Directly Above: blending seminar with winemaker. Above: Wine maker dinner. 891 Grove Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448• Phone: 800-554-4667 Click Here To Visit Our Website! • Forward this message to a friend Valentine's Day Come let us pamper you! Let us think of all the details, so that you can come spend some quality time with your loved one during one of the most romantic times of the year! * Enjoy a candle light, rose petal turndown, either at arrival or another time of your choosing during your stay. * Handmade truffles and local sparkling wine with keepsake flutes. * All complimentary with any stay beginning between February 10th and the 16th, 2012. *Click for more information Connect with the Honor Mansion!

Sonoma, Beer County

Many folks may consider Sonoma County as just wine country, but that just is not true. Sonoma county is also home to some amazing micro-breweries!

Here in Healdsburg, we have the Bear Republic Brewing Company, home of the Racer 5 IPA, and an award winner at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival.

Santa Rosa is home to 3^rd Street Aleworks and Russian River Brewing Company. Russian River is already infamous to the beer snob for their Pliny the Elder double IPA, and it’s harder to find Pliny the Younger (which will be released on February 3, 2012 and available for 14 days on draft at the brewery only, so mark your calendars!). They are also home to some very tasty pizzas, calzones and beer bites (pizza dough with various toppings). Don’t forget though, this is still Wine Country, and you can find Seghesio Zin and La Crema Pinot at Russian River as well!

3^rd Street Alworks offers an array of locally named beers, from Annadel Pale Ale to Bodega Head IPA and Goat Rock Dopplebock, as well as pool tables and lots of TVs for your game viewing pleasure.

One of my favorites for atmosphere is Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma. A long drive from Healdsburg, but a great stop on your way into the area. They have a fun, casual beer garden and feature a local band every evening. Here, try their most well known IPA, or for something a little different go for A little sumpin’ sumpin ale, or the hairy eyeball for something a little darker!

So, next time you’re wine tasting in Sonoma, don’t forget to take a break from all that wine sipping, and grab a beer!

Early 2012 local events!

Today I was perusing upcoming Wine Country events, and have to admit I’m pretty excited about the first weekend of February. Not only is it Super Bowl Weekend (and with the way the season is going, I’d be excited to see either Green Bay or San Francisco go all the way!), but it’s also the weekend of Silver Oak’s bi-annual release party (always a blast!), AND the 23^rd annual crab festival at the Sonoma County fairgrounds!

But let’s not forget about January, which features one of my favorite Wine Road events, Winter Wineland. This economically priced event is an excellent way to visit local wineries, but what really makes this event stand out is that each winery features either a local artist, or an educational display, and really showcases Sonoma County. The event happens the weekend of January 14^th, and tickets are already on sale! Discounted, advanced ticket sales end January 9^th, so don’t forget to get yours ahead of time!