Do you love Tuscany or Italian culture? What if I told you this slice of Italian paradise is actually hidden right here in the golden hills of California wine country? In this blog post I will explain how Healdsburg is a hidden gem in the heart of California's wine country—a Tuscany-inspired Little Italy.
Located just 10 to 15 minutes north of Santa Rosa, Healdsburg has quietly become a mecca for wine lovers, foodies, and anyone craving an authentic taste of la dolce vita. From the town plaza to the wineries of Sonoma County countryside, Healdsburg is a little pocket of Italy that some enjoy as a quick weekend getaway or day trip from the Bay Area.
But few get to really experience the Italian-inspired way of life and call it home. I used to live in the Bay area and first bought a place up here 8 years ago and want to show you why we & dozens of our clients love living here. While many know of the world-class Italian wine varietals grown in the same soil as they have in Tuscany, Only some know about its farm-to-table cuisine bursting with ingredients fresh from the California earth and of course the rolling countryside. There are a few key neighborhoods I’d recommend if you want to enjoy California’s slice of Italy.
The Pace of Life
If you currently live in the Bay Area, living in Healdsburg will feel like life slowed right down. It truly does feel like running on "Italian time." I always really notice the difference, even if I just go to Marin for lunch or go to a coffee shop, everything just feels a bit more manic.
I remember always thinking when I lived in London or in the Bay Area, how could you live somewhere that is so sleepy? Trust me it is very easy to quickly adapt to this leisurely rhythm, unlike the hustle and bustle of city living, or maybe it's just my age.
I am not quite sure we have gone all in on the Italian art of "dolce far niente" - the sweetness of doing nothing - but I definitely feel there are many leisurely Sundays spent outside enjoying pizza and drinking Italian-style wine at a winery.
Community and Culture
Healdsburg is very different from somehwere like Sonoma because it has a very distinct community feel. If you are interested in understanding more about the difference between the two iconic towns of Sonoma County, then take a look at the video below:
You only need to go into a coffee shop or hang out on the square to experience Healdsburg's friendly, tight-knit community mirroring the warmth of Italian villages. It’s easy to while away an hour sitting in the Plaza with an ice cream or gelato from my favorite ice cream shop, Noble Folk Ice Cream.
Healdsburg even has local events and festivals much like Italian festivals that center around musical and cultural events. For example, the Healdsburg Jazz Festival is a significant draw, similar to music festivals in Italy that celebrate local and international artists. The festival brings together jazz musicians for a series of performances over the course of a week in June. Healdsburg's Wine & Food Festival is now in its third year, which resembles Italian wine festivals, where the focus is on pairing local wines with regional culinary delights. Participants enjoy the best of local vineyards and chefs much like their equivalent in Italy. We don’t have a Giro D’italia and to the best of my knowledge the Tour de California has never been through Healdsburg but we do have a Wine Country century ride organized by the Santa Rosa Cycling Club that spends over 50 miles cycling across the greater Healdsburg area.
It’s easy to see the comparison with Italy as you cycle through the beautiful landscapes of Sonoma County, which echo the rolling hills and vineyards of Italy.
And of course, we have our farmers markets, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and art walks echoing the markets in Italian villages where locals and visitors alike browse artisan products, fresh foods, and artworks. These gatherings are not only social events but also celebrate local craftsmanship and agricultural produce
Food and Wine Scene
Food
It would be hard to ignore the love of food and fresh ingredients that make up such an important part of life both in Healdsburg and in Italy.
Healdsburg's culinary scene profoundly reflects its Italian influences, weaving together traditional Italian fare with the spirit of Sonoma County. The Journeyman Meat Co. stands out with its Salumi Club, where they offer a range of meticulously crafted Italian-style cured meats, a nod to Italy’s rich tradition of charcuterie.
Molti Amici, a relatively new Italian restaurant in town, continues the legacy of its predecessor, Campo Fino, a local favorite known for its authentic Italian dishes. By stepping into the space left by Campo Fino, Molti Amici carries forward the tradition of serving Italian cuisine but which is slightly more refined.
A fresh coat of paint has lifted the atmosphere to make a brighter, lighter dining experience still loved by locals and visitors alike. I can safely say this in the knowledge that a really good friend, who is Italian, is currently doing a major remodel so has no kitchen of his own. He has adopted Molti Amici as his kitchen for the time being. He assures me the food truly is, authentically Italian!
Its hard to ignore, Baci Cafe & Wine Bar, an old-school, family-run restaurant, encapsulating the family and communal essence of Italian restaurants. Baci is one of those Italian restaurants that literally has every Italian Pasta dish you could ever think of on the menu. It’s not particularly sophisticated but it is the perfect family Italian comfort food! It’s always full, so a lot of people must agree.
Wine
Two Healdsburg wineries, DaVero Farms & Winery, and Portalupi Wine, are examples of the deep-rooted Italian influence in the region's viticulture. Healdsburg's wine history is richly tied to its Italian immigrant founders, who brought with them not only their vines but also their age-old winemaking traditions. These early pioneers were instrumental in establishing the wine culture that thrives in the Healdsburg area today, blending Old World techniques with the New World's unique terroir.
DaVero focuses on Italian varietals, adhering closely to the Italian principle of growing grapes that are suited to the land's inherent characteristics. Their approach is reminiscent of Italian practices, emphasizing biodynamic farming to produce wines like Sangiovese and Barbera—varietals that are quintessentially Italian but express distinct Sonoma County traPortalupi, on the other hand, crafts wines that encapsulate both the spirit of Italian winemaking and the bold flavors of California. They are known for their Barbera and Pinot Noir, showcasing a fusion of Italian varietal heritage with the robust, fruit-forward characteristics favored in Californian wines.
Proximity to Nature and Beauty
The landscape surrounding Healdsburg and the broader Sonoma County beautifully mirrors the quintessential scenery of Italy’s famed vineyard-covered hills, with a significant similarity being the oak trees and the olive trees that you often see lining the vineyards. This integration of olive trees with vineyards is a practice reminiscent of Italian agricultural traditions, providing not only a source of olives for local olive oil production but also contributing to the biodiversity that benefits the vineyards.
Like the iconic regions of Tuscany and Piedmont in Italy, Sonoma County enjoys a Mediterranean climate, characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Average summer temperatures hover around 80°F, with cool evenings that drop to about 50f, providing an ideal climate for grapevines to thrive.
The combination of scenic rolling hills, interspersed with rows of grapevines and olive trees, and a favorable climate makes the Healdsburg area not only a visual twin to the Italian countryside but also a parallel in viticultural excellence.
What Are The Choices When It Comes To Homes
But where should you live in Healdsburg if you want to soak up the Italian atmosphere daily? I’ve got personal experience of both rural and city living having had two homes in rural Healdsburg and one in downtown and helping over 50 families buy & move here.
You have 3 main options when living in Healdsburg:
- Rural
- Resort style living
- And Downtown
Rural Healdsburg Living
If you are looking to move here from the city you might be drawn to living a more rural life being surrounded by vineyards. You will definitely be able to get more privacy and more space and even the opportunity to set up your own hobby vineyard.
These types of properties are not cheap though. You could expect to pay upwards of $2m. While it sounds perfect, some people just want a lock up and leave and don’t want to have to worry about maintaining a large property. If you do live more rural, it means you need to be more organized because you don’t want to be making a half-hour round trip to get some milk. The great things though is that you have privacy and space, which is hard to beat.
Resort Living In Healdsburg
Up until recently, this was not an option for anyone considering Healdsburg. However, over the past couple of years, Healdsburg has attracted investment from three separate developers building luxury homes in Healdsburg giving you all the benefits of resort living with amenities right on the doorstep. The three developments are: Mill District and Montage and then there is Enzo, which is more like a retirement community.
Mill District
The downside is that these are all condos so you don’t have much of your own outdoor space and you will pay a large monthly HOA fee on top of the multi-million dollar purchase price. The upside is that they truly are locked and leave.
Downtown Living
I would say most people dream of living a 10-minute walk to the Plaza. The pros are obvious in that you are within walking distance to shops, restaurants, and tasting rooms. If you are moving to Healdsburg then living right in downtown makes it really easy to meet people as well as attend the numerous community events that take place.
Those benefits come at a price though with houses right in the downtown area probably costing 25-30% more than the equivalent house outside of the downtown area. For some people, the size of the lots and the urban density is too much. On top of that, Healdsburg’s historic residential area is quite eclectic with multi-family 70s housing situated adjacent to a $3m Victorian home.
I have lived in downtown and then at the end of last year, I moved to a more rural property overlooking vineyards just a 5-minute drive from downtown. I recorded a separate video all about the pros and cons which you can see below
There is no right and wrong. I could definitely not live a 20-30 min drive from downtown because I do like to come into town. In many ways, I am trying to get the best of both worlds with a rural feel but it is still very easy for me to get into town.