Eight miles from downtown Healdsburg, along the rural Westside Road, Porter Creek Vineyards, is one of the oldest 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.
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.