A Brilliant Evening at Valette in Healdsburg, Sonoma County

Sometimes it rains, even in California, but that doesn’t have to get in the way. In fact, there are a lot of upsides to taking a winter trip to wine country, and running the risk of a little precipitation. The light crowd factor is definitely a bonus. What you may lose in sunshine you definitely gain in easy travel and personal service.

After a blissful afternoon tasting wine, scrutinizing antique stores and dodging the occasional rain shower, we headed over to The Matheson, on Healdsburg Plaza, to check out their wine wall.

The wall includes 88 wines, carefully preserved with argon gas, and a sophisticated dispensing system. 

The process is simple, cash up a wine card, wave it by your preferred selection, and choose your pour. You can do a splash, a half glass or a full one. Quaff and repeat.

The wall has a broad selection, from an obscure Greek wine to local favorite Kistler Chardonnay to pricey but yummy Chateau d’Yquem. It’s the perfect opportunity to sample old favorites or taste something you’ve always wanted to try.

Dinner at Valette

By this time, the skies had opened up, but we were undaunted. Our dinner reservation was waiting at Valette.

Just a few steps away from the wine wall and the plaza, Valette is one of wine county’s most storied restaurants, and deservedly so. 

Looking over the menu, you might have trouble making a decision. No worries, go for the Chef’s 5-Course Tasting Menu. With two people getting different menus, you end up sampling ten amazing dishes. Add on wine flights for the full experience.

We sampled Hawaiian ahi poke, prime beef tartare with truffle and pan roasted Mt. Lassen trout, among other dishes. My favorite was the scallops en croute, or was it the coriander crusted duck breast? Hard to say, each course was a revelation. 

The service was polite, as you would expect, but also incredibly precise. Our server had detailed knowledge about the food and wine and brought each course with a certain flair.

We left Valette fully satisfied, and reveled in the experience. Yes, it was a stormy winter day in wine country, but the confines of a warm restaurant, with incredible food and a few splashes of the region’s finest juice made it all worthwhile.