CleverRoot

f a l l 2 0 1 7 | 7 3 of Mendocino County's Anderson Valley—the part clos- est to the Pacific Coast—there's a little-known 95-acre vineyard and winery hidden away in the hills. Getting there is a bit like making a fairy tale journey through an enchanted forest, but the destination is truly magical: People have been falling in love with this special place for more than a century. From San Francisco, the easiest route to Lazy Creek is via Highway 101 North to Cloverdale. Take the exit for Highway 128 and wind your way westward through 40 miles of redwood forest until you come to the miniscule town of Philo. Just past Philo, turn onto the two-lane dirt road at the Lazy Creek Vineyards sign. Your eyes will need to adjust in the shady, sun-dappled forest light, and your tires will rattle as you cross the bridges (there are three) over the Lazy Creek. You'll go far enough to wonder if you've made a mistake, then suddenly, the dim forest gives way to a sunlit enclave nestled amongst rolling, vine- covered hills. There's the tasting room, decked out with red umbrel- las and surrounded by landscaping full of native plants in shades of blues, purples, pinks and yellows. In front, the rusted but picturesque pickup truck sits ready to deliver its load of old wine barrels. Beyond, the weathered buildings speak to the property's 100-year history and, in the reed-fringed pond nearby, turtles line up on a log to bask. They pay no heed to the winery cat sauntering by nonchalantly. Lazy Creek is home to the second-oldest vineyard in Anderson Val- ley, although it's located almost at the western limits of vine viability. The Italian Pisoni family lived there from the early 1900s until they sold in 1969 to a Swiss couple, Hans and Theresia Kobler. The sale Rhonda and Don Carano, owners of Lazy Creek Vineyards and Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery. PHOTO COURTESY OF LAZY CREEK VINEYARDS At the "deep end" Lazy Creek Winery is a charming enclave nestled amongst vine-covered rolling hills in Anderson Valley.

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