Boontime!

Stay at the Boon Hotel and Spa in Guerneville Wine Taste in Russian River

Boon Hotel + Spa Tent Cabin Glamping

Tucked about a mile from downtown Guerneville in the heart of Russian River, the sublime Boon Hotel + Spa is an oasis among redwoods. With social distance and safety protocols nicely dialed, there are a few stylish glamping tents and the sweet little Boonito, for those who like their overnights to be boho but not van-life. Boon’s main rooms are quiet and modern, with private patios and old-school record players (we listened to a lot of young Willie Nelson).

In the morning, a gourmet breakfast is dropped off at your door. Explore on two-wheels with one of Boon's on-site bikes, pedaling into nearby Guerneville for food and shopping. Order a delicious BBQ chicken pizza at Rio Nido Roadhouse; eat on their patio or at a picnic table on their large lawn. And don't miss Big Bottom Market, home of Oprah's favorite biscuits. Get a butter & jam with coffee or grab a biscuit sandwich to go. Owner Michael Volpatt has a great new cookbook for the times (and a good holiday gift), Cooking in Place: 50 Days, Stories, and 70+ Recipes to Keep You Sane in Challenging Times.

Back at the Boon, lounge by the pool or soak in the hot tub under the stars. After some spa, spend time in Russian River's wine country: see our two winery recommendations below. Boon-yeah! 

undefined

BEST WINE TASTING EXPERIENCES NEARBY: Airy cabanas and the most creative gourmet food and wine pairing: Flowers Vineyards and Winery has been making outstanding pinots and chardonnays since 1989, but they only just opened a beautiful tasting haven a year ago, and it is worth your wine o’clock!

Check out these Sonoma County Trip Ideas

You’ll be greeted with a glass of rosé, then be seated at your cabana overlooking the property, vineyard, and beautiful, bright gardens favored by hummingbirds. The Flowers Flight is a guided outdoors tasting experience of Flowers coastal estate pinot noir and chardonnay. For a splurge you won’t regret, or forget, try the outdoors Bottles & Provisions experience, tasting Flowers’ estate wines along with creative local seasonal bites. This also includes a half bottle of wine for guests … so yes, plan to stay awhile. 

For those who want to take their tasting experience to higher ground, Enriquez Estate Wines has the perfect private picnic setting, perched atop a knoll overlooking grapevines. It's ideal for those who like extreme privacy for their tasting.

The first-generation Mexican American family-owned and run winery is a labor of love, innovation, and enthusiasm. It's also small-production for a truly crafted approach. Cecilia Enriquez, at just 33, is the winemaker, creating 500 to 700 cases annually, including pinot, tempranillo, muscat, and a rosé. Book a private tasting, ATV tour + Reserve Tasting, or do their self-guided vineyard walk and picnic.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: In the episode "Secrets of Sonoma County" Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss their adventures in the Russian River. Part of the podcast was recorded from the Boon Hotel and Spa!

It’s a simple five-minute stroll with a picnic basket prepared by Enriquez and up to a lovely lookout with a table. 

wine taste Enriquez Russian River Sonoma

Boon Hotel + Spa has some dog-friendly rooms. No dogs in tent cabins. No dogs at Flowers. No dogs at Enriquez.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  3. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

    View
  4. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View