Competition in wine tourism has increased dramatically in recent years, throughout not just North America but a number of destinations around the world. Sunny and sublimely beautiful Sonoma County, however, continues to hold its own. What has changed a bit in this expansive county is the skyrocketing popularity of Healdsburg, a charming little town that’s cultivated an influx of high-quality wineries, country inns, and sophisticated restaurants in the past decade. Just to the south, the county’s largest city, Santa Rosa, is also enjoying renewed interest these days. Together, these two gay-friendly communities, about 75 miles north of San Francisco, make for a wonderful Wine Country getaway.
Activity in Healdsburg revolves around a vibrant, Spanish-influenced town plaza, which is shaded with an incongruous mix of palm and redwood trees. Healdsburg has a discernable gay and lesbian following - although the scene is less visible than in the Russian River resort of Guerneville, which lies just 20 miles southwest (convenient should you wish to hang out in a gay bar or stay at a predominantly gay resort).
Healdsburg invites a good walk along its dapper streets and past its enchanting boutiques. Because the town hasn’t become completely overrun by visitors (although it can get crowded on summer and fall weekends), most shopkeepers and restaurateurs are willing to spend a little more time chatting with visitors here than in more touristy parts of California. For a cultural break, visit the Healdsburg Museum, which contains local historical artifacts - including 8,000 original photographs - and is housed inside an imposing 1910 former library.
The small but lovely city of Santa Rosa anchors Sonoma County and is midway between Guerneville and the Napa Valley. Although low-keyed, it does offer a bit to see and do, and it also claims a visible GLBT community. Shoppers should investigate the city’s Historic Railroad Square, and garden gurus can check out the verdant Luther Burbank Home and Gardens, the fascinating estate of the renowned horticulturist.
Of course, wine-touring is a major reason to come here - some 80 local vineyards are open to the public. With so many wineries to choose from, it’s prudent to concentrate on one specific area each day, and limit tasting and touring to between three and five wineries.
In the greater Healdsburg area, there are several distinct winemaking areas, the most popular being Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Road, and Alexander Valley. In the latter area, one of the region’s star winemakers, Margaret Davenport (who’s also openly gay) oversees production at Passalacqua Vineyard & Winery, a comparatively small vineyard that makes highly sought Zinfandels, Chardonnays, and Cabernet Sauvignons. Seghesio Family Vineyards also produces superb Zinfandels, which have earned considerable acclaim - this respected yet very friendly operation has been producing wine in the northern Alexander Valley for more than a century.
Heading toward Guerneville and the Russian River, you’ll find several excellent wineries along Westside Road. Best bets include Gary Farrell, Porter Creek (amazing Pinot Noirs), and Hop Kiln Winery, which occupies a distinctive 19th-century ranch building. Other worthy wineries in the vicinity include Rodney Strong, popular for its Meritage, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon varietals; and Dry Creek Vineyard, which is as known for its magnolia- and redwood-studded grounds as for its award-winning Fume Blanc. Mauritson Wines is another star of Dry Creek Valley, producing excellent Zinfandels, Petite Syrahs, and Malbecs.
Alternatively, explore the wine-growing region south of the Russian River, just a short drive from Healdsburg and Santa Rosa. Fine vineyards in the towns of Forestville, Graton, and Windsor include Joseph Swan, La Crema, DeLoach, and Hanna. In Guerneville itself you can tour Korbel Champagne Cellars, which is headquartered in a century-old, creeper-covered brick building. An adjoining deli and microbrewery serves excellent salads and sandwiches (try the one with salami, Brie, tapenade, roasted peppers, and greens) on a tree-shaded deck.
One of the more distinctive ways to wine-hop in the area is on one of the biking tours offered by Getaway Adventures, which offers several itineraries in Sonoma and Napa, including a popular Healdsburg Sip ‘N Cycle ride that covers about 20 miles; the company also offers kayaking tours along the Russian River.
As is often the case in winemaking towns, Healdsburg is blessed with commendable restaurants, and meals generally cost a bit less than you might pay in San Francisco for comparable food. The slick Zin Restaurant and Wine Bar earns the devotion of foodies with tasty fare like Zinfandel-glazed beef short ribs with horseradish-mashed potatoes. An oasis of tasty and creative comfort food, Ravenous lives up to its mouthwatering name with robust burgers, tempting grills, and innovative veggie delights like roasted poblano pepper with potatoes, greens, and hominy and served with grilled-corn salsa.
Cyrus serves splendidly good French fare and might just be the most romantic dining room in town, while Bovolo, which is tucked into the back of Copperfield’s Bookstore, turns out stellar thin-crust pizzas with such inventive toppings as roasted squash, bacon, sage, and ricotta salata. You can enjoy a delicious meal at Costeaux French Bakery, from French toast with fresh raspberries and blueberries at breakfast to lunch specialties like seared ahi salad and Monte Cristo sandwiches. The major draw here are the exquisite desserts, such as dark-chocolate tortes and pumpkin cheesecake with a gingersnap crust. For planning the perfect picnic, head to Oakville Grocery, which stocks everything from gourmet sandwiches to a fine selection of cheeses and charcuterie.
Willi’s Seafood and Wine Bar serves tapas-size portions of such tasty fresh-fish fare as hamachi ceviche and clam-garlic flatbread topped with bacon and scallions. It’s part of the Stark restaurant group, which also includes the snazzy Stark’s Steakhouse in Santa Rosa’s lively Old Railroad Square - this is a fine spot to sample double-cut Colorado lamb chops with pomegranate glaze, or a dry-aged, bone-in rib-eye steak weighing in at 20 ounces. Around the corner, the natty Syrah Bistro serves well-crafted, inventive Wine Country victuals, such as tasso-ham-and-onion-stuffed quail with a black-eyed-pea and tomato ragout. For a light snack, drop by Flying Goat Coffee, which brews high-quality java - the kinds of rarified beans that elevate coffee-sipping to wine-tasting among connoisseurs.
After dinner, your options for nightlife are quite limited in these parts, although you can always make the 30-minute drive to Guerneville and check out the popular gay bars there, such as the rollicking Rainbow Cattle Company and the slick, pansexual Club Yamagata. Black Cat Bar & Grill, which is a 20-minute drive south of Santa Rosa, is interior Sonoma County’s closest thing to a gay bar. It’s lesbian-owned but popular with all kinds, and there’s live music most nights. The crowd is a mixed bag of ages and styles.
Healdsburg has several gay-friendly inns, including the luxurious Madrona Manor. With its striking mansard roof, pointed dormer windows, and sweeping wraparound porch, this imposing three-story 1881 mansion looks like the ideal setting for a Gothic horror movie. Many of the antiques that fill Madrona Manor’s 21 rooms are original to the house. One of the Wine Country’s finest Italianate Victorian houses, Camellia Inn is a first-rate small hotel. The inn and its two outbuildings are filled with Oriental rugs and eclectic antiques. More than 50 varieties of picture-perfect camellias lace the premises.
Arguably the most romantic place to stay in town, the Honor Mansion rolls out the red carpet to wine-loving gourmands with its truly magnificent suites and rooms. You might book the Tower Suite, fashioned out of a historic water tower and with a loft sitting area with a fireplace and a wet bar, or one of the four capacious Vineyard Suites, all with private patios that hold spa tubs for two. Lavish breakfasts, which you can enjoy on a picturesque sun deck in warm weather, complete the experience.
Technically in Guerneville but very close to the wineries on Westside Road, you’ll find the elegant, gay-owned, and reasonably priced Sonoma Orchid inn, which is set on a shaded hillside in the Russian River valley. You can choose from cozier, more affordable rooms in the 1906 original inn, or larger and more private suites in separate cottages. Breakfasts - which feature eggs laid by the inn’s own organically raised chickens – are the perfect start to your day in this region known for its acclaimed wineries, funky shopping, and scenic hikes beneath towering redwoods.
The Little Black Book:
Black Cat Bar & Grill 707-793-9480, blackcatbar.com
Bovolo 707-431-2962, bovolorestaurant.com
Camellia Inn 800-727-8182, camelliainn.com
Club Yamagata 707-824-1671, clubyamagata.com
Costeaux French Bakery 707-433-1913, costeaux.com
Cyrus 707-433-3311, cyrusrestaurant.com
Dry Creek Vineyard 800-864-WINE, drycreekvineyard.com
Flying Goat Coffee 707-575-1202, www.flyinggoatcoffee.com
Gary Farrell 707-473-2900, garyfarrellwines.com
Gay Russian River web page gayrussianriver.com
Getaway Adventures 800-499-2453, getawayadventures.com
Healdsburg Area Chamber of Commerce 707-433-6935, healdsburg.org
Honor Mansion 707-433-4277, honormansion.com
Hop Kiln 707-433-6491, hopkilnwinery.com
Joseph Swan Vineyards 707-573-3747, swanwinery.com
Korbel Champagne Cellars 707-887-2294, korbel.com
Madrona Manor 800-258-4003, madronamanor.com
Mauritson Vineyards 707-431-0804, mauritsonwines.com
Oakville Grocery 707-433-3200, oakvillegrocery.com
Passalacqua Vineyard & Winery 877-825-5547, passalacquawinery.com
Porter Creek Vineyards 707-433-6321, portercreekvineyards.com
Rainbow Cattle Company 707-869-0206, queersteer.com
Ravenous 707-431-1770
Rodney Strong Vineyards 707-431-1533, rodneystrong.com
Russian River Chamber of Commerce 707-869-9000, russianriver.com
Seghesio Family Vineyards 707-433-3579, seghesio.com
Sonoma County Tourism Bureau 800-576-6662, sonomacounty.com
Sonoma Orchid Inn 888-877-4466, sonomaorchidinn.com
Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau 866-996-1090, sonomavalley.com
Stark’s Steakhouse 707-546-5100, starkssteakhouse.com
Syrah Bistro 707-568-4002, syrahbistro.com
Willi’s Seafood and Wine Bar 707-433-9191, williswinebar.net
Zin Restaurant and Wine Bar 707-473-0946, zinrestaurant.com
Andrew Collins is the author of Fodor’s Gay Guide to the USA and eight additional travel guides. He can be reached at OutofTown@qsyndicate.com.
Velvet Ibiza
Creator and Producer
Carine De Mesmaker created Velvet Ibiza in 2015 and has produced it ever since. She is also the mastermind behind Velvet Sixty Nine, the woman’s party in Brussels founded in 2010. Carine has been putting on parties in bars and clubs since the early 80s and owned her own club, Gate, from 1999 to 2004. Her goal is to create a safe space for queer women and to throw amazing parties.
Where to Stay
Velvet Ibiza pool partyPhoto courtesy of Velvet Ibiza
The host hotel is Cala Martina located in the historical Hippie Market, where you can find all things hippie. Hippie Market was founded in 1973 and is the largest and oldest market on the island. Cala Martina is arranged in bungalow-style houses with pine trees and natural landscapes. The pool is situated on the edge of a cliff with amazing views. The demand is so great that a second hotel was reserved. Paraiso Beach is a 4-star boutique hotel next to the host hotel and is only a short walk to all the events. There are five floors with views of the swimming pool or the forest.
For more information and how to book, visit Velvet Ibiza
The Event’s DJ Line Up and Program
Tuesday May 2, 2023
15:00 Welcome at the pool DJ TBC
17:00 Pool DJ Boogshe
18:30 Dinner
21:00 Pool I’m Single & Ready to Mingle (speed dating)
21:00 Pool DJ SharaOpening Party
23:00 Club DJ NOMNY (B)
01:00 Club DJ Quivr
Wednesday May 3, 2023
Hippy Market from 08:00 to 18:00
10:00 Excursion 1
11:00 Yoga with Marta
15:00 Pool DJ Mia Wallas
17:00 Pool DJ NOMY
18:30 Dinner
21:00 Pool Message Party DJ Boogshe
Club Message Party
23:00 Club DJ TBD
01:00 Club DJ TBD
Thursday May 4, 2023
10:00 Excursion 2
11:00 Yoga with Marta
15:00 Pool DJ Mia Wallas
15:00 Pool Waterpolo
16:00 Wedding chappel
17:00 Pool DJ Quivr
18:30 Dinner
21:00 Pool DJ TBC STUDIO 69 (Disco)
CLUB Studio 69 PARTY
23:00 Club DJ TBD
01:00 Club DJ TBD
Friday May 5, 2023
10:00 Excursion 3
11:00 Yoga with Marta
15:00 Pool DJ Mia Wallas
15:00 Beach Volley
16:00 Pool Waterpolo
17:00 Pool DJ TBD
18:30 Dinner
21:00 Pool Jungle Party DJ TBD
CLUB Jungle PARTY
23:00 Club DJ SAHRA
01:00 Club DJ NOMY
Saturday May 6, 2023
11:00 Yoga with Marta
15:00 Pool DJ TBD
17:00 Pool DJ TBD
18:00 The famous duck race
18:15 Photo Moment
18:30 Dinner
21:00 Pool DJ Jennifer Cooke
CLOSING PARTY
23:00 Club DJ TBD
01:00 Club DJ’s QUIVR/Sahra Back to Back
Financial Planning for the LGBTQ+ community
Financial planning is a great way to start your year on the right foot, but if you’re a part of the queer and childfree, you might need to make a few more adjustments than your hetero friends.
Let’s take a look at some strategies you can use in the new year to get your finances in order in a way that fits your lifestyle.
The Challenges You Might Face
Facing your challenges
Photo by x ) on Unsplash
Depending on where you live, there might be certain legal protections and benefits in place that can help you with financial planning. However, not all states offer those protections, which can do more harm than good and create a few challenges for you as you plan for your financial future.
For example, if you’re not legally married, you aren’t eligible for things like inheritance laws and social security benefits. No matter how long you’ve been with your partner, it’s required by law that you be married to receive those protections. Furthermore, many states have not yet established anti-discrimination laws. This means that, depending on your location, you might not have protection against things like:
- Housing costs
- Access to credit
- Healthcare access
Putting a strong, legal-approached financial plan in place now will not only help to prepare you for the future but will give you a better idea of the challenges you might have to face as you get older. It’s often worthwhile to find a financial advisor who specializes in working with LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples. They’ll be able to help you make smart decisions with your money and keep you up-to-date with the laws and protections in your state.
A financial advisor can also help with roadblocks you might face if you’re on a budget and need money quickly. For example, pulling money out of a retirement account early generally isn’t a good idea. If you make early withdrawals, a 10% early distribution tax is added. However, if you have a permanent disability, qualifying medical costs, or need financial assistance with caregiving, you may be able to draw from it early without penalty. A financial advisor can point you in the right direction and protect you from penalties.
Making Investment Purchases
While you may have more disposable income without children to provide for, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do your due diligence when making larger purchases. These larger, investment purchases may not always follow the same trajectory as traditional, heteronormative purchases do — e.g., weddings, big houses, and then family-sized vans. Of course, you can choose to follow this trajectory or stray from this path according to your specific lifestyle. In any case, you want to watch out for discrimination when making any big purchases. Make sure to vet the company you are working with. Look at reviews and ask around in the community. Also, do your research on protections against discrimination.
For example, find out what U.S. laws protect LGBTQIA+ homebuyers. Anti-discrimination laws can only build on federal housing laws, so check your state for extra protections. When buying a car, make sure you don’t fall victim to scammy sales tactics. Even though LGBTQ+ credit discrimination is illegal, there are still systemic issues that cause credit issuers — including car dealerships — to have misconceptions about the community. It’s best to remain vigilant just in case.
For instance, you may have just one income to rely on and are in the market for a used car. When purchasing a used car, ask smart questions to avoid financial mistakes. Consider asking the car salesperson:
- What is the vehicle’s history — including service records, wrecks, or even reported theft of the vehicle?
- Are there any previous or current problems you have noticed with the vehicle?
- What services were done to prepare the car for sale?
- What is included with the car — including any preinstalled upgrades, warranties, or the number of keys on hand?
- What is the policy to return a car after purchase?
These questions may seem invasive, but they are actually investigative and, often, necessary. Avoid covert discrimination in the form of “pulling the wool over your eyes” because you are unfairly perceived as uninformed at the car dealership — come prepared. This goes for any costly purchase, so do your research and prepare for any curveballs that come your way.
Starting Fresh Financial Habits in the New Year
No matter the challenges you face — either legally or personally — one of the best ways to boost your financial wellness in the new year is to create healthier habits. Create a budget for yourself that allows you to live the lifestyle you want while preparing for the future. Maybe you’re thinking about having children someday and want to start saving now. Maybe you know that parenthood isn’t for you but you want a comfortable retirement. Some of the best ways to save, even when you’re on a tight budget, include:
- Cutting down on excessive expenses
- Finding a side gig
- Asking for a raise at work
- Chipping away at debt
- Eating at home more often
- Adjusting your paycheck withholdings.
It’s never too soon to start planning and preparing for the future — whether you live alone, with roommates, with a partner, or with a spouse. Keep these tips in mind to overcome financial hurdles and make the most of your financial vision, this year and beyond.