You would never get the impression that this was a small boutique winery. Not with its impressive gateway and…More entrance road that winds through gently rolling hills of lush vineyards. But while Lancaster is one of the smaller wineries in Alexander Valley, its Estate wines are legendary. Lancaster wines are produced in limited quantities and sold principally to wine club and mailing list members.</p> <p> </p>

Eight miles from downtown Healdsburg, along the rural Westside Road, Porter Creek Vineyards, is one of the oldest…More wineries in the area—and still one of the smallest. Alex Davis is the owner and winemaker, having taken over from his father in both jobs; his daughter is now learning the ropes.</p> <p>The tasting room is an artistically decorated rural cabin overlooking rows of vines, with engaging, knowledgeable Jonathan DeMichael guiding visitors through the concise wine list. Most of the wines are estate-grown, including several bottlings of pinot noir that rate high among experts. Production is limited to below 4,000 cases, and Porter Creek wines are usually found only in higher-end restaurants. Despite this, the wines are affordably priced, and the winery has developed a loyal clientele of online and local customers. </p>

A number of winery tasting rooms are found along Westside Road, the first being Mill Creek Vineyards. In fact, Mill…More Creek is technically in the Dry Creek Valley appellation and its selection of wines are the big reds. The tasting room has a rustic air, with a rebuilt water mill spilling into a photogenic pond and plenty of room for picnics.</p> <p>With case production under 10,000, the winery maintains a family atmosphere: Bill and Yvonne Kreck are the owners, son Jeremy, the winemaker, and son, Brian, is the webmaster. Most wines are estate grown, and tasting room manager Kim Collins is always ready to give customers a sample.</p>

Half a mile south of Healdsburg on Old Redwood Highway is Limerick Lane, where you'll find the winery of the same…More name toward the end of the road. Limerick Lane Cellars is marked by a small parking lot in front of a modest white house, where the recently remodeled tasting room looks out on Collins Vineyard. The winery is noted for the zinfandel that grows here -- 90% of Limerick Lane's production is zin -- full of the berry and spice flavors characteristic of the region.</p> <p>Owner Michael Collins purchased the run-down property in 1978, and, at first, just sold what grapes he could to others. He decided to produce and bottle wine himself about a decade later, and by 1993 was producing the first estate wines at Limerick Lane. The winery also produces releases of syrah, pinot noir and a rose of grenache. A small amount of the Hungarian grape Furmint is also produced for a dry white and a late harvest dessert wine, though these are not always available.</p>