Sonoma's Backyard, Bottled and Priced Fairly
Healdsburg · Sonoma · Small Plates / New American
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 26, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Chalkboard’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walk in and the wine list feels like a confident local — it knows where it is and doesn't pretend to be somewhere else. Sonoma County dominates the page, which is exactly right when you're sitting in Healdsburg. The presence of a sommelier on staff means this isn't a list that got assembled by a food-focused manager who also had to order paper towels.
Around 100 labels anchored in Sonoma with smart detours into Burgundy, Champagne, and Italy for range. Rochioli and Ramey represent Russian River Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc the way they should — with credibility, not just name recognition. Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel is the kind of bottle that reminds you Zinfandel is actually great when someone takes it seriously. The global selections — Taittinger Brut NV, Burgundy options — add depth without trying too hard to go international for its own sake.
Fifteen to twenty options by the glass puts this solidly above average, and the $12–$20 range reflects the actual quality on the page — you're not paying Napa prices for Sonoma pours. The Rochioli Sauvignon Blanc at $16 a glass is the move; that's a wine that regularly clears $38 at retail and it's showing up here at a price that doesn't feel like a shakedown.
Rochioli Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley — $16/glass
Rochioli is one of Russian River's benchmark producers and this bottle retails around $38. Getting it by the glass at $16 — roughly the price of a mediocre cocktail — is genuinely good math. Order two.
Copain Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
Anderson Valley Pinot tends to get overshadowed by its Russian River neighbor, but Copain works with a cooler, foggier climate that produces leaner, more Burgundian Pinot. Most tables walk past it for the familiar names. Their loss.
Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel
Ridge Lytton Springs is a legitimately great wine — but at $80 on the list versus a $45 retail price, it's the steepest markup on the board. For a 78% jump on a wine this widely available, you're better off grabbing a glass of Rochioli and saving the Ridge for your next trip to the winery.
Ramey Chardonnay Russian River Valley + Housemade pappardelle
Ramey Chardonnay has enough oak and richness to hold up to a cream-forward pasta without disappearing, but it's not so heavy that it bulldozes the dish. The buttery texture of fresh pappardelle and the wine's weight land in the same zip code.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Chalkboard isn't trying to be a destination wine bar — it's a polished Healdsburg restaurant that takes its wine list seriously enough to stock Rochioli, Copain, and Ridge alongside Taittinger and actually price them like they want you to order a second bottle. Send a friend here and tell them to start with the Sauvignon Blanc.
Sonoma Plaza / Downtown Sonoma · Sonoma · Wine Tasting with Rotating Chef-Driven Pop-Ups
Bedrock is not a wine list — it's a focused argument for why old-vine California deserves your full attention. If you're in Sonoma and you skip this, you're doing it wrong.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Healdsburg Plaza · Sonoma · Fine Dining / New American
Dry Creek Kitchen is the rare restaurant where the wine list is genuinely worth the trip on its own merits — deep, local, curated by someone with taste and access. If you're in Sonoma and you care about wine, this is a must.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Healdsburg · Sonoma · Sandwiches / Wine Bar
Troubadour is the kind of place that makes you reconsider your lunch plans — in the best possible way. If you're in Healdsburg and you care about what's in your glass, this sandwich shop deserves your full attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Healdsburg · Sonoma · Spanish tapas
Bravas is a Wild Card in the best sense: a casual, loud, share-everything tapas bar in the middle of Sonoma Wine Country that actually built a wine list with a brain. It won't blow your mind, but it will keep your glass interesting all night without emptying your wallet.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Healdsburg Plaza · Sonoma · Upscale farm-to-table / modern California
The Matheson has built one of the most genuinely exciting wine programs in Sonoma wine country — the Wine Wall alone is worth the trip, and the depth of the broader list shows real intention. The markups on trophy bottles are hard to ignore, but if you play the Wall smart, you'll drink far better here than almost anywhere else in Healdsburg.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Healdsburg · Sonoma · Modern American
Valette is the wine country restaurant experience done right — deeply local, properly staffed, and serious about what's in the glass, even if the markups ask you to pay for the zip code. Send your friends here if they're already in Healdsburg; just tell them to skip the Phelps.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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