Add Your Heading Text Here
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
From the early 1960s when Mendocino became a magnet for creatives celebrating the back to the land movement, the art of farming has evolved into a wealth of local products that speak to the region’s unique terroir. Honey, yak, whiskey, farmstead cheese, hard cider, florals and cannabis farmers have put their stamp on made in Mendocino. Add in 12 diverse AVAs, 90 miles of prime Pacific Coastline and enough oxygen-rich redwood forests to reboot the brain, and a visit to Northern California’s crown jewel delivers a delicious slice of “straight from the source.”
From Sugar Rush to Piment d’Ville, a Mendocino version of the Basque spice Piment d’Espelette, a walkabout through the Boonville Barn Collective is a study in raising the bar on chiles, one plant at a time.
In the hamlet of Hopland, olive oil, sea salt and a variety of heirloom beans, including Tiger’s Eye, Zolfini and Tolosa are grown on property at Terra Savia. Set on 64 acres – 35 of it planted to vineyards – the Hopland-based estate is a working farm and olive mill.
Located just south of Point Cabrillo Lighthouse on scenic Highway 1 lies EarthSpoke Farms, an ethereal escape boasting expansive fields of more than 5,000 dahlia plants and hundreds of colorful annuals and perennials as far as the eye can see. The 10-acre farm specializes in curating and growing more than 200 dahlia cultivars using regenerative, sustainable farming practices.
Sniff some lavender at Mendocino Lavender. Set in Anderson Valley, this new 2.5-acre lavender farm shares space with Foursight Winery. Guests can tour the fields, which encompass six varieties including French Hidcote, Grosso, Provence and specialty strains that bloom white, pink and magenta, and an extensive native plant collection for the ultimate olfactory sensation.
Pennyroyal Farm, a polished venue marking the entrance to wine-centric Anderson Valley offers morning tours of their award-winning farmstead creamery that includes a walk-through of the solar-powered barn to meet the animals – 150+ dairy goat companions and 40+ dairy sheep and a sheep grazing flock of 200+ ewes on fun, full display.
At Petit Teton Farm, set in scenic Yorkville, the owners have worked the land growing a wide range of fruits, vegetables, ducks, rabbits, yaks and pigs, selling various types of meat and eggs in their quaint mountain setting for over 20 years. The small kitchen turns out preserves for sale and is open daily.
Set on Highway 128 in Philo, pull in for a fragrant slow-down in an eye-popping living outdoor museum. Gowan’s Heirloom Ciders are and made onsite with organic heirloom apples sourced exclusively from the Gowan estate heritage orchards. Sample eight different award-winning ciders from this family farm spanning six generations.
From Smoked Salmon Vodka to a Candy Cap Mushroom Bourbon, Schnaubelt Distillery is the stop for a spirited tour de force of Mendocino’s top crop of rum, gin, whiskey and vodka. Set in rustic Noyo Harbor, visitors can head straight to the source with a self-tour and tasting of the working distillery.
Legal cannabis has become a mainstream tourism niche for the state, especially the renowned Emerald Triangle which is legendary for producing the world’s best stash. Mendocino’s legacy farms are a testament to the commitment growers have made over multiple generations and now visitors can get an inside peek behind the “Emerald Curtain.” Start in Ukiah; from there, it’s onto the lush and storied Redwood Valley for a hands-on, fun and educational 4-hour trek which includes a farmer-led walking tour of a regenerative cannabis farm and onsite hash-making demonstration, followed by a tuck into a local dispensary and consumption lounge for a full farm-to-bud experience.
Keep Exploring the Magic!
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.