Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hopland
Cute Hopland is the gateway to Mendocino County's wine country and flaunts its eco-
minded, green-living ways at every turn. Hops were first grown here in 1866, but Prohibi-
tion brought the industry temporarily to a halt. Today, booze drives the local economy
again with wine tasting as the primary draw.
Sights
For an excellent weekend trip, use Hopland as a base for exploring the regional wineries.
More information about the constantly growing roster of wineries is available at
www.destinationhopland.com
. Find a map to the wine region at
www.visitmendocino.com
.
Real Goods Solar Living Center
ENVIRONMENT CENTER
(
www.solarliving.org
; 13771 S Hwy 101; 9am-6pm; )
This progressive, futuristic 12-acre campus is largely responsible for the area's bold green
initiates. The Real Goods Store, which sold the first solar panel in the US, is an impressive
straw-bale house showroom that also has free Frey Wine tastings. The suggested donation
for tours of the center (11am and 3pm Friday to Sunday, April through October) is $3 to
$5.
Sip! Mendocino
WINERY
(
www.sipmendocino.com
;
13420 S Hwy 101; tastings $5; 11am-6pm)
In central Hopland, this is a friendly place to get your bearings, pick up a map to the re-
gion and taste several wines without navigating all the back roads. Amiable proprietors
guide you through a tour of 18 wines with delectable appetizer pairings and a blossom-
filled courtyard.
Saracina
WINERY
(
www.saracina.com
;
11684 S Hwy 101; 10am-5pm)
The highlight of a tour here is the descent into the cool caves. Sensuous whites are all bio-
dynamcially and sustainably farmed.
